What inspires a former chemist to transform their career into a mobile & Salesforce application developer?
I am often asked this question when I share my story. Likewise in chemistry, we are trying to utilize a toolbox of techniques to solve complex problems, and transform them into simple solutions , making everyday life just that little bit easier! [Also quite a food and enjoy cooking and treat the kitchen like my lab, to stay with the theme and stay relatable much of my knowledge shared will be marrying my three worlds together, food, science and tech. where food analogies meet tech there is perfect chemistry that give understanding ]
I’m a self taught programmer currently stepping her game up! To pursue my interests, I completed a Mobile Application Developer Training program to specialize in and contribute towards a growing industry. I am a certified Salesforce Administrator and I’m currently working towards my Platform Developer I Certification, check out my progress at https://trailhead.com/me/katrinacopeland. There’s more going on behind the scenes of my Trailhead so please feel free to reach out and find out what Im currently working on.
“Programming by understanding and not by memorizing” is my motto! particularly during this period of training, which stems from me having a ‘full picture’ mentality. A quality that was the catalyst in my successful chemistry career, transforming from a Lab Technician to a Trainer & Consultant on the behalf of leading organizations in the industry.
I’m excited to repeat history in Salesforce Development.
A Chemist in Salesforce Development?
Thats right!
I am a former Analytical Chemistry Consultant & Trainer, now a Salesforce Admin/Developer. Both occupations possess the powerful skills of complex problem solving, critical thinking and active learning therefore the transition was somewhat easier. The best of my chemistry years were conquering the challenges that it brings when things don’t go according to the ‘blueprint’. Although not so fun at the time, the satisfaction and the rewards at the end were priceless!
“For every problem solved a deeper layer of understanding is gained“
If chemistry already brought this satisfaction then why did I transition?
I trained many chemistry technicians on the operation of laboratory software as well as the hardware, and I often helped clients configure their software to meet their specific needs. However, with out of the box software there we many limitations. It was this technological aspect of the role that triggered my interest in software development. Suddenly I recognized that the opportunities to evolve into the tech world were all around me and so the transition was inevitable.
And if changing career wasn’t challenging enough…
I also crossed the North Atlantic Ocean and started a new life in Canada. A move inspired by a relative and a desire to experience life in a different environment. It was an incredibly difficult decision to:
a) leave the company I had enjoyed working for
b) give up the lifestyle that I had built back in England
c) essentially ‘hit the reset button’ on my life. However making this biggest commitment in my life has brought me to where I am now and for that I am grateful! #noregrets
Why I Started Concepts Over Code?
I decided to start this blog as a reflection of my programming journey, a source of encouragement for others, and to serve as a reference when training oneself to program by understanding. When you begin learning how to program it is common to think you should focus on the syntax and try and memorize code, but true growth will come from having a good grasp of the concepts that lie behind the code. Projects will suddenly become much easier as you learn the why’s behind it all. The syntax can always be googled.
What topics will I focus on?
As my current profession and interest lie within the Salesforce Platform, my posts will predominantly be in relation to Salesforce development. Best practices for Salesforce always encourage developers to use native features (aka declarative customizations) before extending the platform with custom code. Therefore I will also cover some Administration topics, where the same use cases can be fulfilled by clicks over code.
And finally…I’m a firm believer of theres nothing that the Salesforce platform cannot do, so when it comes to reflecting business processes in the platform, I’m all about automating as much of it as possible.
Keep visiting to find posts on:
- Tips for those starting out
- Already started but facing barriers
- When impostor syndrome creeps in and you need some encouragement
- Cheesy & relatable breakdowns of programming concepts
- And more!
@KatCodeland
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