Her Story
About Kelly
Kelly Cotterell is the Director of Sales for Government at Xerox, where she leads a team of client managers serving government cabinet agencies across 11 southeastern states. With more than 25 years of sales leadership experience, she specializes in revenue growth, strategic territory management, and C-level relationships. Kelly works closely with CIOs, state officials, and key decision-makers to deliver innovative technology and business solutions while driving sales performance, forecasting, contract management, and long-term customer success. Before joining Xerox, Kelly built an impressive entrepreneurial and executive leadership career. She owned and operated her own business in Cincinnati for more than a decade before successfully merging it with another organization, where she went on to serve as Vice President of Sales for seven years. Throughout her career, she has earned a reputation for developing high-performing teams, fostering lasting client relationships, and creating collaborative environments built on trust, accountability, and consistent results. Her leadership philosophy is rooted in the advice she received from her parents: stay focused, deliver on your commitments, always be someone others enjoy working with, and most importantly, smile. Outside of her professional responsibilities, Kelly is a dedicated wife, mother of three amazing grown children, and a committed friend who balances a fulfilling family life with a passion for professional growth. She is actively involved in her community, volunteering with organizations such as the Miracle League of Raleigh and Night to Shine and supporting charitable initiatives through golf tournaments benefiting veterans and breast cancer awareness programs. An avid golfer, Kelly participates in a women's golf league and values the opportunity to build meaningful relationships both on and off the course. Her commitment to community engagement, and personal development reflects her dedication to making a positive impact in the lives of others while fostering strong connections wherever she goes. Guided by integrity, optimism, and a genuine passion for meeting new people and helping others succeed, she continues to make a lasting impact on her clients, colleagues, and community.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kelly
01What do you attribute your success to?
I learned from my parents to keep my head down, work hard, and always carry a smile. Stay focused on what matters, bring positivity to every relationship, and treat people with respect. When you consistently follow through and deliver on your promises, trust follows. Be the light in the room and the person others genuinely want to work with.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Read the room, understand your audience, and listen more than you speak. The ability to adapt your message and approach is one of the most valuable skills you can develop. When something goes wrong, take ownership and be part of the solution. Don't wait for others to step in and fix it. Strong leaders recognize issues early and take action to make things right.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Be the authentic version of yourself. You don’t have to be perfectly polished to be successful. What matters most is striving to be the best version of yourself, remaining open to feedback, and maintaining a willingness to learn and grow at every stage of your career and life. People build trust and lasting relationships with those they genuinely enjoy working with, so authenticity, humility, and a positive attitude can be just as valuable as technical expertise. Lastly, it's simple, smile, your resume is your smile so be genuine. People may forget what you said, but they will always remember how you made them feel.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of my biggest challenges is having such a deep bench of exceptional talent to choose from. The strength and capabilities across the team make decisions difficult, as there are many highly qualified individuals who consistently demonstrate the skills, dedication, and potential to succeed.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Balance, faith, change, humor, opportunity and excitement
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