Tara Saad

My career path in software and sales began about 10 years ago when I started as a business development representative at Quest Software. That was my first IT job, an entry-level position that really set the foundation for where I am today at Rocket Software. In my current role, I handle the full sales cycle, managing pipeline from prospecting all the way through to closing deals. My days are incredibly varied and full - I'm constantly in calls, running demos of our tools, working on proof of concept projects, answering emails, and collaborating with my peers on opportunities. It's an all-encompassing role where no day is ever the same. One of my proudest achievements was when I was at Quest and won the top sales award for the entire North America team. That award was based purely on numbers and revenue - I brought in the most revenue that year. What inspired me to get into this field was recognizing how relevant technology and software were becoming to our society. I wanted to be part of something that was growing and making an impact. I attribute my success to time management, which is probably the hardest skill because your day pulls you in so many different directions, paired with hard work and grit. The best career advice I've ever received is to never leave any stone unturned. In sales, you get a lot of discouragement and a lot of no's, but you really have to be persistent and turn over every stone to allow yourself to succeed.