Her Story
About Megan
I've been in sales for 20 years. I started very young running sales for a high-end dry foods importer in Seattle, managing their online and physical store presence including early Amazon Seller Central. I then pivoted to small batch distilling after Washington legalized it, becoming one of the preeminent sellers and learning to distill myself. After that I moved into clean beauty as key account manager for Herbivore Botanicals, the top clean beauty SKU at Sephora. Now I focus on sustainable packaging, helping everyone from small startups to big companies like Garnier and Estee Lauder find the right solutions.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Megan
01What do you attribute your success to?
My success comes from watching my mom, one of the first women in tech who got her computer science degree at University of Oregon in the early 80s. She worked in a male-dominated field and showed me how to stick to goals and empower people. I picked up her analytic skills along with the gift of gab from others in my life.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Don't judge a book by its cover. Especially during the pandemic when sales went remote, I learned not to assume someone's story just from looking at them on a screen. Being open-minded has made me a better customer advocate and salesperson.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Think about what you love and what you're passionate about, and think a little bit outside the box. Look at what inspires you on Pinterest or Instagram. Even in fields that seem dull, dig on LinkedIn and the internet to find companies aligned with your values like sustainability. Don't limit yourself to what you think you're good at because you might surprise yourself.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge is educating clients on European versus North American packaging regulations and state-by-state differences. Sustainability isn't scary or expensive, and we need to help clients prepare for 2030 requirements so they aren't caught off guard. The greatest opportunity is working on passion projects like helping a skincare company focused on perimenopause and menopausal women with packaging that empowers aging gracefully.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Transparency is most important. If you're not transparent and clear in communication about what you can offer, you'll have long sales cycles or customers who churn. Being transparent avoids broken promises and helps both professional and personal life.
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