Women Who Sell With Corina Prins
‘Women Who Sell' is all about showcasing women who excel in sales, thrive, and challenge stereotypes. We feature real perspectives on what it's like, the barriers, and the breakthroughs.
Here, Corina Prins, Team Manager of SDRs at Amdaris, shares her take.
What is your job title?
Team Manager of SDRs.
How did you get into sales, and what makes it the career of your choice?
I began my career as an upholsterer for special needs individuals in the Netherlands right out of school. After travelling to Australia, I met someone and eventually settled in Edinburgh, where I started working in a call centre. Within six months, I moved to the training department and discovered my passion for developing people.
My journey took me through various sales roles, where I excelled in networking and providing genuine solutions. At ForgeRock (now PING), I helped structure the SDR team and became a team lead, enjoying the process of upskilling team members and seeing them grow into new roles.
In my next role, I built a successful structure for the SDR team from scratch, training the wider company on tools of the trade and helping them exceed targets.
Today, I am the Team Manager of SDRs at Amdaris, a thriving tech company in Bristol. I enjoy hiring and upskilling new SDRs and helping my team reach their full potential.
Are there any barriers you have faced as a woman working in sales, and how have you overcome them?
I've faced my share of barriers, like many women in tech sales. From inappropriate jokes to not being looked in the eye during conversations, I've experienced it all. However, things have changed significantly. Now, I feel empowered to speak up and be taken seriously, which wasn't the case 15+ years ago.
What do you like the most about being a woman in sales?
For me, success in sales is not just bound by gender but by skills, determination, and innovative approaches.
However, as a woman, my perception is that women often focus more on understanding their customers' needs and solving problems, thus creating longer-lasting relationships with clients, and earning trust and loyalty. Women’s consultative style can lead to stronger relationships with their clients and create repeat business. Also, natural empathy and collaborative approaches help as well with this.
What advice do you have for a woman wanting to get into sales and those wanting to advance?
Sales is a challenging job that equips you with valuable life skills: negotiation, resilience, problem-solving, and communication.
If you're determined to pursue a sales role, don't let anyone tell you that you can't do it—you can! Seek guidance from both women and men in sales, ask questions, and network to build lasting relationships. Always communicate your aspirations to your manager.
Speak up and shine!
If you would like to get involved with the blog series and share your story as a woman in the sales industry, we’d LOVE to hear from you. And head over to Women Who Sell’s LinkedIn for more content.
