We're shining the spotlight on Yacine F., Senior Salesforce Administrator at dentalcorp's Support Centre. Yacine tells us about his passion for learning, how to increase productivity for the company, the importance of being curious in a new role, and how failure increased his determination to achieve his goals.
Tell us about your background — how long have you been with dentalcorp, and what were you doing before you joined?
I started as a consultant with dentalcorp in the summer of 2019 and transitioned to full-time in 2021. I previously worked in a similar role in the banking industry as a Salesforce Business Analyst.
Can you tell us about your role on the team and what a typical day looks like?
I'm the Salesforce subject matter expert at dentalcorp. I work closely with the Corporate Development and Corporate Communications teams as they use the system regularly. A typical day for me includes meeting with one of my stakeholders to discuss their unique needs of our portal managed by Salesforce. I gain an understanding of their requirements, test the proposed changes and try automation options to help demonstrate a proposed solution for my stakeholders.
What motivates you in your role?
Increasing the company's productivity by maximizing our Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system and utilizing those metrics as a sales tool. I also really enjoy mastering any new Salesforce features as they are rolled out.
What advice do you have for new team members joining dentalcorp’s Support Centre?
I strongly encourage new team members to be curious, learn about the business and try and gain an understanding of what other departments do. I was new to the healthcare industry when I started, and I did-n't ask very many questions because I was a contractor and I was a bit shy. Everyone is very friendly at dentalcorp, so that makes it easy. I think each employee should have a career plan for the future, as dentalcorp supports its employees’ professional development. I am also a big fan of face-to-face collaboration.
How do you like to spend your spare time?
Ever since I was a kid, I've loved watching movies, that’s how I learned to speak English as it is not my first language. In my spare time, I still really enjoy going to the movie theatre as well as staying active and healthy. I go to the gym regularly, I enjoy hiking with friends and, whenever I can, I visit my family in Paris as much as possible.
How has dentalcorp supported your professional development?
dentalcorp has been very supportive of my career development as the organization’s business needs align well with my professional goals. My department leader is really great at providing the guidance, tools, and resources I need to accomplish my goals.
What's one of the most impactful life lessons you have learned, and how has it influenced your professional career?
Over the years, I've learned that determination and hard work will get you where you want to be, no matter how long it takes. The times when I failed to achieve my goals only served to increase my determination and fortitude. About ten years ago, I was hungry for a career upgrade, but I wasn’t sure of what to do. That’s when someone in my network suggested I pursue Salesforce certification and apply for jobs in the field. That’s what I did. It wasn't easy — but thanks to the mindset I developed over the years, I tackled this ambitious career upgrade with a solid plan.
