Tell us a bit about yourself and what you're up to now
I've worked in sales for over 25 years and am currently VP of Sales for Epignosis, a learning technology company that works with customers all around the world. Previously I've led teams in other SaaS businesses as well as in the Staffing and Recruiting sector.
Outside of work I'm a big football fan and spend time watching my favourite team and coaching my sons youth team. I also love film and theatre and try to get to see new releases as often as I can.
What was your journey into a career in Tech Sales
I worked in recruitment for many years and in that industry your 'product' is people. That can create some unique challenges in delivering on promises to customers so when the opportunity to move into the tech/SaaS space arose I was excited by the opportunity of working with a product that could just be 'turned on' and be available to my customer. There are still challenges of course but I love working in an industry where your products and solutions are constantly evolving and where you can find new ways to add value for the businesses you work with.
What would you say are the best things about working in Tech Sales
Lots of things! The variety of customers you work with, the constantly evolving product landscape, the opportunity to use technology within the sales process too. Our world is driven by tech these days so it's great to work in an industry where we can help customers make sense of the tools and possibilities that are out there.
What advice would you give to someone who is just about to start their career in sales
If you're driven, curious, have a desire to add value and like engaging with lots of different types of people, a career in sales could be a great option. For tech sales specifically though, its important to remember that the most important thing is still the people you deal with, not the products you sell. Being able to build relationships, understand your customers world and build solutions that solve their problems and add value is critical.
Why did you decide to join Tangent as a Mentor and why should others join as Mentors too
Having worked in recruitment for so many years and having also interviewed and hired a large number of people over my years in SaaS, I felt I had a lot of experience and insight that I could use to help people looking to get into the industry.
Ready to make a difference?
A few hours a month, a lifetime of impact. Tangent connects you with aspiring Business Development Reps from socially diverse backgrounds for short-term mentoring and an employee referral.
Sign up to be a Tangent Mentor today 👇
