Breanna Hopkins
Breanna Hopkins is a Global Sales Trainer at Dell Technologies with nearly five years of experience in the technology industry and approximately 14 years of progressive sales experience across multiple sectors. In her current role, she leads global training initiatives for software sales teams, supporting onboarding, continuous learning, and professional development programs. She is responsible for equipping sales professionals with the knowledge and tools needed to effectively position Dell’s software solutions, stay aligned with evolving technologies, and deliver consistent value to customers worldwide. Her work directly contributes to strengthening sales capability, performance consistency, and organizational readiness across global markets.
Her career in technology began at Dell Technologies when she transitioned into the tech industry as a new mother of three young children, ages two, four, and six. She started in the commercial software segment, where she supported customers in managing software agreements and optimizing licensing solutions. Eager to broaden her expertise, she later expanded into Dell’s hardware portfolio, gaining hands-on knowledge of servers, laptops, and enterprise infrastructure during a nine-month rotational experience in 2024. She subsequently returned to the software organization, where she focused on state and local government and education clients across Rhode Island and New Jersey, working within state contracts to help public sector organizations manage and streamline their software environments. Throughout her tenure, she has earned multiple promotions, reflecting her strong performance, adaptability, and commitment to excellence.
Prior to her career in technology, Breanna built a strong foundation in sales and customer engagement through diverse roles beginning in high school, including automotive sales, restaurant service, and hospitality. These early experiences shaped her ability to communicate effectively, build trust with customers, and thrive in fast-paced, service-driven environments—skills that have been instrumental in her success within enterprise technology sales and training. Beyond her professional life, she values a balanced and meaningful lifestyle. She enjoys reading, hiking, painting, crafting, and traveling with her husband and three children. She is also currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree, reflecting her continued dedication to personal growth, lifelong learning, and professional development while managing a dynamic global career and family life.
• Western Governors University - Secondary Education and Teaching
• Dell LGBTQ ERG
• Dell Working Moms ERG
• Dell Hispanic Heritage ERG
• Sponsoring children's team sports through husband's company
• Parent council involvement at children's school
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to perseverance and not getting discouraged. I really put that drive and determination into succeeding and don't take no as an answer. If I get a no, it just means not right now - it doesn't mean no indefinitely. I think one of the biggest obstacles is probably ourselves and that self-doubt, questioning yourself like 'should I be here? Am I gonna be good at this?' But I've learned to take that extra step, believe in myself, and get outside of my comfort zone. I tell the people I work with today: be comfortable with being uncomfortable. Be confident, even if you don't know something - confidently say 'hey, that's a great question, I'm not quite sure, instead of giving you the wrong answer, I'm gonna find it out for you.' That mindset has really been key to my success.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is that the sky's the limit - don't limit yourself and don't think that where you're at is the end. Even if you make it to the highest position within your role, you could still step out of that role and keep going. Someone told me: 'If you are the smartest person in the room, then you're in the wrong room.' I took that into basically everything and it's been the biggest helpful thing for me. It means you should always continue learning and growing. I even tell my kids this - when you make friends, keep your friends of course, but also make friends with older kids or kids that do other things, so you can learn from them.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is that confidence is key. Walk like you're supposed to be here. Believe in yourself - that's the biggest key. You can do anything that you set your mind to. I've even talked to my own daughter about this. I think one of the biggest obstacles is probably ourselves and that self-doubt, questioning whether we should be here or if we're going to be good at this. You need to take that extra step, believe in yourself, and get outside of your comfort zone. Be comfortable with being uncomfortable. Be confident, even if you don't know something - confidently say 'hey, that's a great question, I'm not quite sure, instead of giving you the wrong answer, I'm gonna find it out for you.' Don't let fear hold you back.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think one of the biggest challenges in my field right now is ourselves and that self-doubt. It's people questioning themselves - 'should I be here? Am I gonna be good at this?' Even when I first started in sales, I faced that uncertainty about whether I wanted to take that extra step. The challenge is getting outside of your comfort zone and being comfortable with being uncomfortable. You have to be confident, even when you don't know something, and be willing to admit when you need to find out more information instead of pretending you know it all. The biggest obstacle is probably ourselves sometimes - we hold ourselves back more than anything external does.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity is probably the most important value for me, both professionally and personally. Especially in sales, you can sometimes get a bad rep people think 'oh, you're just here for the money but I truly advocate for my customers and make sure that while I do have a paycheck that I need for my kids, the quality of service I'm providing is what they actually need. I'm not going beyond that and risking my integrity or anything like that. I also value friendliness all around as a person in my industry, as a mom, and as a friend. I make sure I maintain my integrity and friendliness in everything I do.