Her Story
About Claire
Claire Granich serves as a Mid-Market Inside Sales Account Executive at Paylocity, where she helps established organizations evaluate and implement payroll and human capital management solutions that align with their operational needs and long-term objectives. With more than five years of experience at Paylocity, she has developed a well-rounded understanding of both the client experience and the sales process, having previously served in the Emerging Markets division and in implementation-focused roles. Her background in implementation gave her valuable firsthand knowledge of the platform, enabling her to approach sales from a consultative perspective and translate complex product capabilities into practical solutions for clients. She is particularly passionate about serving as an advocate for business leaders and believes that effective sales begins with listening, asking thoughtful questions, understanding challenges, and helping clients determine the solutions that best fit their organizations. Throughout her career, Claire has demonstrated a strong commitment to professional growth, leadership, mentorship, and relationship building. During her time in implementation, she coached and trained colleagues, supported complex client situations, helped oversee client implementation timelines, and contributed to the development of mentorship initiatives for new employees. Her earlier experience with The Walt Disney Company and in public relations and marketing further strengthened her communication, customer service, presentation, and relationship-management skills. She earned a B.A. in English with a minor in Public Relations from Loyola Marymount University, an academic background that complements her ability to communicate effectively, understand diverse perspectives, and build meaningful professional relationships. Her performance in sales has also been recognized through two consecutive President’s Club achievements, reflecting her dedication, consistency, and ability to deliver strong results. Claire attributes her success to her Christian faith, which provides a steady foundation of peace, optimism, resilience, and purpose, particularly in an industry characterized by both significant achievements and challenges. She is equally grateful for the support of her soon-to-be husband, family, and friends, whom she considers an important part of her personal and professional journey. Claire places a high value on faith, integrity, and communication, believing that these principles are essential to building trust and sustaining meaningful relationships. Outside of work, she is passionate about giving back through her involvement with Northwestern Boxer Rescue and the Arbor Day Foundation. She enjoys gardening, reading, and spending time with her two boxers, Otto and Cooper. Through her career, community involvement, and personal values, Claire exemplifies a thoughtful and people-centered professional who combines expertise, empathy, and a genuine commitment to helping others succeed.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Claire
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to trusting my instincts, grounded in my faith and relationship with God. As a Christian, my faith provides a steady foundation, particularly in sales, where there can be significant highs and lows. Maintaining a sense of peace, joy, and optimism helps me remain focused, resilient, and motivated through every challenge. I am also incredibly grateful for the support of my soon-to-be husband, family, and friends, both in Idaho and California. Ultimately, I believe success is about more than professional accomplishments; it is about maintaining a peaceful heart, a sound mind, strong relationships, and a positive outlook on life.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have received is to listen more than you speak. I have been fortunate to learn from many outstanding leaders and mentors throughout my career, particularly in sales, who reinforced the importance of truly understanding people before offering solutions. In sales, I believe the goal should not be to pressure someone into making a purchase, but rather to ask thoughtful, insightful questions, listen carefully to their needs, and help them arrive at the solution that is right for them. I would much rather approach my work as a trusted consultant than simply as a salesperson. This principle extends beyond my career as well, because listening creates deeper understanding, stronger relationships, and more meaningful connections in both professional and personal life.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering the industry is to be patient with their career growth and understand that success rarely happens overnight. You may not step into a director-level role immediately after college, and that is perfectly okay. Every experience, even an entry-level or unconventional position, can provide valuable skills, perspective, and opportunities for growth. I encourage women to stay curious, ask questions, embrace opportunities that may not initially seem like the obvious path, and commit fully to whatever role they take on. You can learn something from every experience, and the most successful professionals are often those with the broadest range of skills and experiences. Stay open-minded, remain willing to learn, and never be afraid to ask questions because there truly is no such thing as a “stupid” question.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest opportunities in my field right now is improving the sales process by creating greater clarity, efficiency, and product expertise. In my current role, I work with more established organizations and larger teams, which often means navigating multiple decision-makers, longer approval processes, and more complex buying cycles. I see an opportunity to help identify the key stakeholders, establish clear communication and agendas, and create a more efficient path from initial conversation to close. I also believe that deep product knowledge is essential to becoming a trusted consultant rather than simply a salesperson. The more thoroughly you understand and experience a product firsthand, the better equipped you are to identify unique solutions and effectively guide clients. I am passionate about sharing that knowledge with my teammates through peer mentoring and additional training, encouraging them to engage directly with the system, explore its capabilities, and develop a deeper understanding of the products they represent.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that matter most to me are faith, integrity, and communication. My faith provides the foundation for how I approach both my personal life and my work, while integrity guides me to lead with honesty, authenticity, and accountability. I also place a high value on clear and thoughtful communication because I believe it is essential to building trust, maintaining strong relationships, and creating lasting success. Together, these values shape how I interact with others and how I approach every opportunity and challenge.
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