Her Story
About Christina
I have been in sales for the last 10 years, specifically, though I feel like I've been doing sales my whole life as a young waitress before I got into the professional world out of college. I've been at TriNet now for 5 years this September. Before TriNet, I worked for a small tech startup that was a client of TriNet, which is how I came across the name of the current company that I work in. Prior to that, I did door-to-door commission sales only, marketing and selling T-Mobile products business to business. I loved it. At the end of the day, it got me out, I was walking miles a day, I was introducing myself to different business owners, and putting on a suit every day. It was a tough job itself, but ultimately I looked at it as I'm getting paid to make friends, walk some miles in California sun, and just have fun. As a consultant, my day-to-day changes quite a bit. If I'm not running sales calls and meetings, I'm typically out doing lunches and dinners and events with my potential clients, as well as all of my strategic partners. I facilitate introductions between potential clients with different partners that I have within the ecosystem that I've built, from community builders to investors to strategic partners like fractional CFOs, CPAs, and accountants. I go with the theme of me being a super connector. Every time I go into a conversation or I meet someone, I'm always thinking how I can help them, and who do I know that can help them, and I try to make at least one introduction with everyone that I meet that might be a value or a resource for that person.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Christina
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to maintaining a positive attitude day in and day out. My first employer really helped me as a mentor with understanding having to have, and maintaining, a positive attitude. Going to door-to-door sales and commissions only, that was definitely one of the hardest jobs that I've done, but keeping up a good attitude is the most important thing. I also believe in integrity as my number one value, making sure that I am always doing what's best for my potential clients, my partners, and my company as a whole. Being respectful, being kind, being genuine, being helpful, and being professional are all critical. This is my brand, and this is my company, and I love what I do. At the end of the day, I take my job very seriously.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've received is to ask questions and always constantly be learning. It's about taking control of your opportunity and understanding your opportunity, and really just being grateful for where I'm at.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
For young professionals, it's about failing forward and getting out there. I look at my job and my role as a way of becoming the walking billboard of my company. Day in and day out, I really do own the title that I do and have, and everything that I do. I could be at a local bar just chatting it up with someone, and I'll talk about my job, and next thing you know, they're the best potential client that I could have ever found. I think just getting out there and owning the brand and owning the role is key. I have big goals for my life, becoming a leader in the space, and becoming this influential woman to help young professionals. I'm very much of a helper, I'm always looking to help others, and I'm the kind of person that takes my shirt off my back.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The challenges as a salesperson are the highs and the lows. You could be working with a potential client for 6 months or over to a year, and something uncontrollable happens, and you just have to do what's best for the client. For example, I've been working with a company now for over a year trying to sign them up with our company for their HR, payroll, and benefits solution. They gave us a verbal and were going to move forward with a June 1st start date for 3 companies that are commonly owned, and just yesterday they told me that they need to put a pin in moving forward with our company and coming on as a client for this year, and that they would still bring themselves on and sign up with our company for January of next year. Working a long time to get to that yes, and then having something happen for that to be delayed is challenging. But again, going back to what's most important in my values, whatever is best for the client is what we're going to move forward with.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity is number one. I make sure that I am always doing what's best for my potential clients, my partners, and my company as a whole. Being respectful, being kind, being genuine, being helpful, and being professional are all important to me. This is my brand, and this is my company, and I love what I do. At the end of the day, I take my job very seriously. Staying active is super important to me personally. I love hiking and national parks. Just last year, I took a camper van across 3 national parks across 12 days and hiked over 60 miles within just about 8 days itself. I love my side gig doing photography, mostly landscapes. I also do some acrylic and oil painting. I like to try to keep creative.
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