Chey McCabe
Chey McCabe is a Business Development Specialist with over six years of experience in sales and business development, currently working at DemandZEN. She specializes in identifying and qualifying high-value prospects through targeted research, cold calling, email outreach, and social selling, while collaborating closely with account executives to schedule meetings with ideal-fit clients. With a career built on adaptability and continuous learning, she has worked remotely since 2019 and has developed a strong ability to navigate diverse industries and client needs across multiple business environments.
Throughout her career, Chey has held an insurance license in 13 states and previously gained experience within the insurance sector before returning to her core passion in business development. She is currently pursuing a degree in Business Management and Administration at Tidewater Community College, expected to graduate next year. Her professional journey is shaped by her global upbringing as a military brat, including time spent living in India, which fostered her adaptability, cultural awareness, and grounded perspective in both her personal and professional life.
Chey is recognized for her drive, resilience, and commitment to continuous improvement, earning membership in her company’s President’s Club in recognition of her performance. She values mentorship and collaboration, attributing much of her success to guidance from colleagues and leadership, and she is passionate about helping others grow within the field. Outside of work, she is a strong supporter of the LGBTQIA+ community and the LGBT Life Center, and she places high importance on family, personal fulfillment, and maintaining balance through time spent near the beach, which she considers essential to her well-being.
• Insurance License (13 U.S. States)
• Tidewater Community College – Business Management and Administration (In Progress, Expected Graduation Next Year)
• Influential Women 2026
• President’s Club Award (DemandZEN)
• Influential Women Network
• Supporter and ally of the LGBTQIA+ community
• Supporter of LGBT Life Center
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my colleagues and an exceptional mentor who has guided me throughout my career. Learning directly from experienced professionals has been incredibly valuable, and their coaching has helped me grow in ways I did not expect. Being surrounded by supportive people who are willing to share knowledge has played a major role in my development and success.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve received is to lead with confidence and understand that it is okay to pause when speaking. This advice helped me realize that I do not need to rush through communication and that taking a moment to gather my thoughts actually makes me more effective, composed, and confident.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this field is not to be discouraged by gender expectations or limitations. If a man can do it, you can do it even better. This is a competitive and sometimes male-dominated industry, but confidence, persistence, and belief in your own abilities will allow you to succeed and stand out.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge in my field right now is learning new software and technology. Not every business development or sales development company uses the same software - everybody's always using a different CRM, a different dialer, a different chat room kind of setup. It can be challenging to constantly adapt to new systems, but I've learned that you're going to make mistakes along the way, and unless you make those mistakes, you're not going to learn. As for opportunities, I think the biggest one is just taking the small wins, because those small wins can turn into really big wins down the road. A lot of people don't realize how necessary business development is for companies, so there's huge potential for growth. For me personally, the opportunity is always being able to learn something new in this field - knowledge is power, and you're not working with the same clients every single day, so there are multiple different clients and industries to work with.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
In my work life, being in control of my success and my money, my commission, is incredibly important to me. I also value being able to teach those who may have never done this before - I love being able to help others in any way, shape, or form that I possibly can. In my home life, my son and my husband are my biggest values. They are my biggest cheerleaders, especially my husband who supports me in anything I've ever done and has never questioned my decisions. My son really shows me what unconditional love is, and so does my husband. I would also say the beach is a huge value for me - I'm 5 minutes from it, and it's my therapy. Everything's just so quiet there, and I'm able to think, get fresh air, and get that much-needed vitamin D. Finding peace on the beach is essential to my well-being.