Her Story
About Leslie
I went into sales right out of college and have worked in many different industries, from a car dealership all the way up to a Fortune 20 company at Verizon, where I spent 7 years. As I look back, I realized that problem solving, being a consultant, and helping people find what they need through relationships and negotiation really gives me a lot of career satisfaction. I like to work with people. My degree is in nonprofit management, but I kind of went the opposite in my career because I had to pay for that degree. Whenever I get the opportunity to marry both professional accomplishment and nonprofit benefit, I get the most personal satisfaction from that. I won a gold award with Altria Group Distribution that I'm particularly proud of because I won that recognition from my team and my leadership for a project for our entire section that resulted in a large donation to local charities. Now, in my current role at BEC Technologies, I work with potential MSPs, managed service providers, distributors, and resellers to introduce and educate them about our wireless product portfolio, gain distribution, and ultimately grow our brand. I'm kind of the face of our organization within the channel as we reintroduce our brand into the marketplace.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Leslie
01What do you attribute your success to?
I have a motto I've had for years, which is just to sell in a way that helps you sleep at night. Essentially, that's just about keeping integrity at the core of what you do. And if something doesn't feel right, step away from it. Amy Poehler had the quote, you know, good for you, not for me, and something might be a great opportunity, but not right for you. That's okay, and trust your gut, and do what feels right for you. I think customers understand that and appreciate that, and that trust is worth more than a sale or a commission.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
You can't ask too many questions, but make sure you ask more than one person. And don't be afraid to be a sponge. Don't be afraid to learn. I struggled with imposter syndrome for a long time, and when you embrace that as a vector for growth for yourself, that's when you really get stronger, much faster than the people who think that they know it all already, or aren't afraid to ask that question. Don't be afraid to ask a question. The right people don't judge that. They want you to ask questions.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Technology moves very quickly. There's always something new to find and do, but when you find the right relationship and the right people to work with, it makes it much easier to navigate those new technologies and innovations. You have to be very willing to learn all the time, and ask questions, and seek out people who are smarter than you to brainstorm and understand where to go next. So really, leveraging your network to build your information and your own expertise until you can become the subject matter expert.
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