Lena Caponigro

I attribute my success to staying persistent, staying focused, and never losing belief. Winning new business isn't easy—it's a grind every day. It requires patience, resilience, and the ability to keep moving forward, even when you're waiting for responses, facing rejection, or navigating long sales cycles. One of the biggest challenges is maintaining the belief that the opportunity will come through and that you can achieve your goals, even when progress feels slow.

For me, success has always come from staying committed to the process and refusing to give up. And when that persistence pays off, there's nothing more rewarding. Recently, I closed an account that I had been pursuing since I joined Steritech five years ago. It was a long journey, but when the deal finally came together, it was incredibly rewarding and reinforced the value of patience and perseverance.

I also believe strongly in the power of relationships. Throughout my career, I've focused on building genuine connections and earning the trust of my clients and colleagues. I want people to know that I will always do the right thing by them, follow through on my commitments, and serve as a trusted partner. In many cases, I believe those relationships are what ultimately win the business. That's one of the things I love most about what I do—the opportunity to build meaningful relationships and share in the journey along the way.

I've also been fortunate to learn from exceptional mentors throughout my career. Their guidance and example have shown me the importance of resilience, confidence, and never giving up. Their influence has helped shape my career path, taking me from inside sales to field sales, then to regional sales, and now to a national sales role. Looking back, each step has reinforced my belief that persistence, strong relationships, and a commitment to continuous growth are the foundation of long-term success.

The best advice I've received throughout my career is to stay true to yourself, stay focused, be persistent, and believe in your ability to succeed. I've also learned the importance of commitment. Sales can be challenging, and at times it can feel like you're on an island by yourself. There are highs and lows, periods when business is thriving and others when opportunities stall or accounts are lost. During those moments, it's important to stay focused, maintain a strong work ethic, and keep moving forward.

One of the greatest lessons I've learned is that setbacks are a part of the journey. When things don't go as planned, you have to pick yourself up, learn from the experience, and keep going. Success doesn't come from avoiding challenges—it comes from having the resilience to push through them and the confidence to believe that better days are ahead.

I've been fortunate to have several incredible mentors throughout my career. They have consistently reinforced the importance of believing in yourself, trusting the process, and never giving up. Their guidance has helped shape not only my career, but also the mindset that has carried me through challenges and contributed to my success. The belief that anything is possible with hard work, persistence, and determination is a lesson I carry with me every day.

My advice to young women entering this industry is to trust that hard work truly pays off. Stay consistent, remain curious, continue learning, and invest in building strong, meaningful relationships. Success rarely happens overnight, and there will be times when progress feels slower than you'd like. But dedication, persistence, and a willingness to keep showing up every day will create opportunities over time.

Most importantly, believe in yourself and don't be discouraged by setbacks. Some of the most rewarding accomplishments come after overcoming challenges and staying committed when things get tough. If you're willing to put in the work, stay resilient, and keep moving forward, opportunities will come—and often in ways you never expected.

One of the biggest challenges in my field is staying persistent, staying focused, and not losing belief. Winning new business is rarely easy—it's a daily grind of prospecting, following up, and staying engaged even when responses are slow or opportunities take longer than expected. You have to maintain confidence in yourself and trust the process, even when the results aren't immediate.

Success in sales often comes down to resilience. You have to stay focused on your goals, remain persistent through setbacks, and never lose sight of the belief that the opportunity will come. While that can be challenging at times, it's also what makes the victories so rewarding.

For example, I recently closed an account that I had been pursuing since I joined the company five years ago. It was a long journey, but when it finally came together, it was incredibly rewarding. Experiences like that remind me that some opportunities take time to develop and that persistence truly pays off.

Despite the challenges, there's nothing more satisfying than winning new business and helping clients find solutions that make a difference. Those moments validate the hard work, patience, and determination that go into building a successful career in sales.

The values that matter most to me are building strong relationships and always doing the right thing for people. While hard work and persistence are essential, I truly believe that success is built on relationships. Throughout my career, I've focused on developing genuine, long-term connections, and I take pride in being someone people trust. They know I'll be honest, follow through on my commitments, and always have their best interests in mind. In many cases, I believe those relationships are what ultimately win the business. That's one of the things I love most about what I do—the relationships you build and the journey you share along the way. The business is important, but the connections you make with people are what make the work meaningful.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my niece and two nephews. Although I don't have children of my own, being part of their lives brings me a lot of joy. My fiancé and I love spending time outdoors, especially during the summer months. We enjoy taking advantage of the warm weather, whether it's attending local events, exploring new places, or simply relaxing. And if there's one thing people quickly learn about me, it's that I'm a passionate football fan. I'm originally from the Chicago area and have season tickets to the Chicago Bears. Most people think that's a little crazy, especially considering I've never played sports a day in my life—but I wouldn't miss a game.