Tell us a bit about yourself and what you're up to now
I'm a husband and also blessed to be a father to two wonderful young boys, and we live in south London. I've been in tech sales for 21 years, and have worked both as an individual contributor and as a sales leader across diverse sectors, including CRM, social media, mobile, web accessibility and cyber security. I'm currently a Senior Account Executive at Salesforce, leading the engagement with large enterprise customers in the Energy sector. Outside of work, I'm a Board Trustee of a charity that supports the development of children from disadvantaged backgrounds, and I'm also a Football Coach of an Under 12s team.
What was your journey into a career in Tech Sales
I studied Chemical Engineering at university but after completing a couple of engineering summer placements, I concluded that an engineering career wouldn't be fulfilling for me. Upon completing my university studies, I followed my love of travelling and languages to Paris, and did some soul searching there to figure out an alternative career path. And it was in Paris where I landed my first tech sales role back in 2004, working for a B2B online trading platform for IT hardware. I fell in love with tech sales instantly, especially as it tapped into my competitive nature and more importantly the fact that success is directly related to how well one can build rapport and trust with people, which is something that comes naturally to me.
What would you say are the best things about working in Tech Sales
The first thing that comes to mind is the earning potential. Thanks to the financial rewards that have come from my tech sales career, I have been able to fulfil so many life goals. Secondly, building trusted relationships with people, and by doing so, helping to drive meaningful impact both for those individuals and their organisations is deeply rewarding. Lastly, working in enterprise sales typically means you are given the autonomy to manage your working calendar, which affords great work-life balance.
What advice would you give to someone who is just about to start their career in sales
Working in sales is not for the faint hearted - there will be highs and lows in sales performance. Take time to celebrate the highs, learn from the lows and make time for self-care. You are not your sales performance - embrace activities outside your job that bring you joy, fulfilment and provide perspective. Lastly, remember that "people buy from people they trust", so prioritise actively listening to your customers, so they can trust you to partner with them.
Why did you decide to join Tangent as a Mentor and why should others join as Mentors too
"Leading with purpose" is my personal mantra - I am passionate about coaching and volunteering, with particular focus on disadvantaged and underrepresented groups. Coming from my background, I'm fortunate to have had amazing mentors and leaders that recognised my potential, gave me a chance and coached me throughout my career. Tangent's mission is perfectly aligned with my core value of giving back, and it is incredibly fulfilling to help others maximise their potential. If you'd like to use your sales experience to impact the lives of other people in a meaningful way, then I encourage you to join the Tangent community.
Ready to make a difference?
A few hours a month, a lifetime of impact. Tangent connects you with aspiring Business Development Reps from socially diverse backgrounds for short-term mentoring and an employee referral.
Sign up to be a Tangent Mentor today 👇
