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Insider Insights: Career Advice from Women in Tech Sales

Salesforce Careers

October 21, 2024

Want to break into the exciting world of tech sales? Or interested in accelerating and growing your career in tech?

Three saleswomen from Salesforce Chicago recently sat down with us to discuss how they blazed their own career paths, their tips for success in tech sales, and what brought them to Salesforce. Read along below, or check out the full webinar here.

Meet Our Speakers:

Headshots of the Salesforce Enterprise Business Development Manager April, Account Executive of Growth Business Shannon, and Business Development Representative Kanjan

As you’ve grown in your career, what are some attributes or qualities that make a successful seller?


Shannon: I think in sales you need to be self-motivated, disciplined, coachable, and resilient. Because, in sales there are days where you are going to take more losses than wins and you are going get more “nos” than “yeses.” But, what’s important is how you choose to move forward and how you plan to make sure that the next day is better, or how the next month is better, or even the next quarter.

You also have to be willing and eager to learn. Having been in several roles at Salesforce, I can confidently say that I do not know everything about Salesforce I and probably never will. But, the best part is you have every resource imaginable for you to learn and enable yourself. I think, to round it all out, you have to be willing to ask questions, ask for feedback, and lean into your peers and leadership. Growth is about being vulnerable, understanding that you won’t know everything right away, and it is okay to ask for help.

April: When we are interviewing candidates, one of the qualities we look for is resourcefulness. If you’re someone who is resourceful, someone who looks for solutions rather than a problem, that’s instrumental in your career growth. Some of the best sales professionals I know are intrinsically motivated, disciplined, always seeking new challenges, like to win, and know how to be team players, which is hugely important in the way that we sell here.

How has AI helped you in your day-to-day as a salesperson?

Kanjan: AI [has] helped me so much with my prospecting. For me, the most thrilling aspect is how I can use features like Einstein, to provide deeper insights into specific industry trends in the retail space.

April: When I [started as] an Account Executive here, we didn’t have AI capabilities yet to drive these kind of interactions with our customers. And now, as someone who manages people who speak directly with our customers, AI takes the things that make a successful salesperson and augments them to have more of these personal interactions at scale.

How have key partners, like mentors and sponsors, played a role in your career trajectory at Salesforce?


Shannon: Creating relationships is so important. I started in May of 2020 when the world was fully remote, and I remember just feeling like I was on my own island, working from my apartment here in Chicago. I realized very early on that it was going to be important to develop relationships not only with my peers, but also my leaders, to have people to learn from, seek advice from, maybe vent to, and just overall feel like I’m not going at it alone.

I remember when I was looking to move up from Business Development Representative to AE, I told my manager ... and she listed off three people that she knew that I could reach out to for guidance in the interview process. Every interaction you have at Salesforce is important and a chance to build your personal brand and network.

Kanjan: One of the best programs for me was my ERG, or Employee Resource Group. Salesforce has 13 of these employee-led groups that come together to support and celebrate different communities and interests. The one I joined is called Southasiaforce, and it has been so transformative for me. It’s helped me reconnect with my culture and deepen my understanding of South Asian traditions and values.

How have you overcome any challenges you’ve faced as a woman in the sales space?


Shannon: The biggest challenge that I have faced early on in my career, especially being in sports, which is a male dominated industry, is feeling like I don’t deserve a seat at the table. And I got through this by completely flipping the narrative. Not only do I deserve a seat at the table, but I bring a unique and different perspective to the table.

April: I think we have a tendency to be especially hard on ourselves or feel like we’re not always worthy or deserving of things, so we don’t always do the best job of being confident and advocating for ourselves. However, I will say I think the landscape of women in sales, particularly tech sales, has changed dramatically in the past decade I’ve been in it. It is far more equitable and I’m proud of Salesforce leading from the front on that.

Let's wrap this up with some career advice. What would you share with prospective women in sales?

April: I think something that’s helped me ... is seeing other women being unapologetically themselves. I think it’s our differences that are also kind of our superpower when it comes to sales. We are multitaskers; we’re used to having to manage and juggle a lot at once; we’re detail-oriented, and best of all, emotionally in tune with ourselves and others, which is so important when you’re in a deal cycle. You have to be able to relate to the person you’re selling to and see where they’re coming from, how to overcome their objections, and make sure you’re listening to what matters most to them.

Kanjan: Don’t be afraid to have new ideas. Surround yourself with people who support you. I know for me, I have a team that is mostly women, so being able to see that in this space has helped me so much, and Salesforce really does foster that. There are so many women in leadership, so we really practice what we preach. Sales is so fast-paced, so you need to have people in your corner. We can find individuals who have succeeded in this space and you can learn from them, and they can learn from you.

Shannon: Build relationships early on in your career. Establish connections with female colleagues and leaders that you trust and look up to, to be a guiding light in your career. Be visible, vocal, and take up space. Don’t hesitate to speak up and share your ideas. And lastly, know your worth and understand your value as a salesperson and a professional. Let your work and results do the talking.


Want to join these successful women and launch your career in tech sales with the #1 AI CRM? Check out open roles and apply today!

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