How To Become A Salesforce Developer

If you think coding is a career reserved for math whizzes or computer science graduates, this episode of Mums on Cloud Nine will surprise you. Sally ElGhoul joins Heather Black and Lyn Constantine to peel back common misconceptions and share her journey into the world of Salesforce development. Her story moves from Egypt to the UK, then Canada, with every chapter shaped by curiosity, determination, and a passion for making tech more accessible.

Demystifying the Developer Path

Sally ElGhoul began her tech career at a time when resources for Salesforce developers were scarce, yet she found a way forward through self-learning and trial and error. The narrative centers on the misconception that you need a technical degree or a genius-level grasp of mathematics to succeed in coding. She insists that what really matters is curiosity, perseverance, and a love of puzzles. Coding can seem intimidating from the outside, but Sally ElGhoul argues that anyone willing to ask questions and learn something new can take this path. The key is starting with small, manageable concepts and building confidence bit by bit.

Building Community and Confidence

What stands out is Sally ElGhoul’s commitment to making development approachable for everyone. Her project, Code with Sally, started as a blog before expanding to live sessions that invite learners from all backgrounds. She describes watching people log in from across time zones, eager to participate even at odd hours, and how these moments inspired her to provide content in both English and Arabic. For Sally ElGhoul, teaching is not just about giving back—it is also a way to connect, learn from questions, and help others navigate the early hurdles without feeling overwhelmed.

Finding the Right Learning Style

The conversation explores the importance of finding a learning style that fits. Many in the Supermums community struggle with self-led training and crave instructor-led guidance. Heather Black and Lyn Constantine both share how finding the right mentor or course makes all the difference in moving from “I don’t get this” to real understanding. Sally ElGhoul emphasizes that a basic familiarity with Salesforce admin tools is helpful, but you do not need to be certified before starting to learn code. Her beginner sessions move slowly, breaking topics down into digestible pieces and encouraging learners not to measure themselves against seasoned developers.

The Role of AI and Staying Grounded

As the tools surrounding coding evolve, particularly with the rise of AI platforms like ChatGPT, Sally ElGhoul cautions against shortcuts. She teaches her community to use these resources as accelerators for learning, not replacements for foundational knowledge. AI can suggest solutions, but judgment comes with experience and a grounding in best practices and security.

Creating Value for All Roles

You do not need to be a hands-on developer to benefit from understanding code. Project managers and admins gain new vocabulary and the ability to communicate intelligently with technical teams simply by learning the basics. The episodes reinforce that confidence and capability grow from exposure, conversation, and steady practice—not from innate genius.

An Invitation to Try

As the conversation closes, Sally ElGhoul reiterates her invitation: her YouTube channel and live sessions are open to all, free of charge for now, with an emphasis on supportive live interaction and the freedom to ask “simple” questions. Her husband also offers sessions for beginners, broadening the support available.

This episode is a gentle but powerful reminder that tech careers are built one step at a time. If you are curious about development, or simply want to build technical confidence as your career evolves, resources like Code with Sally can help you take that first step—no matter where you are starting from.

• Sally’s personal journey in tech & her move across three continents
• Demystifying coding: Biggest misconceptions about becoming a developer
• The essentials you need to start learning Salesforce development
• Overcoming self-doubt and impostor syndrome as you embark on a tech career
• The importance of accessible, community-driven resources for learning to code
• How AI tools like ChatGPT are changing the landscape of development work
• An intro to key developer skills: Apex, Lightning Web Components, integrations, and more
• Why learning basic coding can benefit not just aspiring developers, but admins, project managers & anyone working in Salesforce
• Free live sessions, YouTube content, and how to join Sally’s community