Her Story
About Vanessa
Vanessa Crawford serves as an Account Executive at Konica Minolta, where she manages customer accounts and sells copiers, IT solutions, and software to help businesses operate more efficiently. With three years in technology sales, she is certified in legal sales by Konica Minolta and was named the leader in software sales last year. Crawford attended VBU for six years studying psychology but did not complete a degree. She is a member of the PLAA and previously worked for 15 years as a restaurant manager at Cheddars before entering sales. Crawford attributes her success to her family, whom she supports through her work, and she values integrity in her professional life alongside family in her personal life. She volunteers for her children's sporting events and advises others to go with their gut, maintain thick skin, and never give up.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Vanessa
01What do you attribute your success to?
I have a why reason. I have my children to support, my family to take care of, so my job is the means to take care of my family. It is my why. Those kids are expensive.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
To go with your gut, always. If your gut says it's the right thing to do, then you gotta do it.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I hope you got thick skin, but a swimmer. Thick skin for sure. But never give up. Ever. Even when you think you're done, you're not. Don't give up.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
A lot of men think that we don't understand or comprehend. It's very hard to get yourself accredited and bid and fail. So you have to prove yourself.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
My work is my integrity. And my life is my family.
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