Women Who Sell With Kayleigh Maggs
‘Women Who Sell’ is all about showcasing women who sell, and are thriving and challenging stereotypes. We feature real perspectives of what it’s like, the barriers and the breakthroughs.
Here, Kayleigh Maggs, Business Development Manager at Soitron UK, shares her take.
What is your job title?
Business Development Manager
How did you get into sales and what makes it the career of your choice?
When I was 18, I applied for a position at Costco, and during my interview, the recruiter suggested that I would be a good fit for the membership team. The store had recently opened, and my role involved visiting businesses to promote and sell memberships. I enjoyed the variety in my job and found that "sales" was more about engaging with people and explaining the benefits of membership, which came naturally to me. Consequently, when a position opened at the local estate agency, I eagerly pursued it, thrilled at the prospect of helping people find their dream homes.
Sales has never felt "salesy" to me; I believe this is why I have excelled in the field. I focus on being my authentic self and solving people’s problems, whether it’s matching them with their ideal home or now, finding affordable solutions to help their businesses thrive. I love the dynamic nature of my work, which allows me to interact with a diverse range of people, travel, and enjoy a salary that is higher than many other roles suited to my skill set.
Are there any barriers you have faced as a woman working in sales, and how have you overcome them?
Unfortunately, I've encountered numerous challenges with men. As a manager, I once had a new male employee who outright refused to follow my instructions, stating he “wasn’t about to let a woman tell him what to do!” Needless to say, his tenure was brief.
In meetings, I've often experienced male colleagues being looked to for answers, even when I was the one leading the discussion. At events, many men have tried to steer conversations away from business and towards my personal life, often crossing the line into inappropriate behaviour. One man even started stroking my arm as I spoke.
During much of my career in my twenties, I lacked the confidence to assert myself and felt compelled to entertain these conversations under the guise of "building my network." I would politely brush off inappropriate behaviour and endure uncomfortable interactions.
Today, I am confident in the value I bring to professional discussions and have no hesitation in walking away from conversations that do not align with my values.
What do you like the most about being a woman in sales?
I believe women can bring unique qualities to sales that many men might find challenging, such as warmth, sensitivity, and empathy (though many men also possess these traits, and I don't intend to offend anyone by saying this). I take great pleasure in understanding the journey of each sale—how clients have come to us, why they seek our assistance, and how we can establish a relationship of trust that goes beyond merely meeting SLAs and fulfilling expectations.
What advice do you have for a woman wanting to get into sales and those wanting to advance?
Men and women often have distinct approaches and personas, yet most sales courses focus on a single, typically masculine, method. When women adopt these masculine techniques, they can come across as overly "salesy," losing the qualities that make them approachable. I've attended numerous sales courses and while I've always gleaned useful insights, I've never fully embraced any one method. Doing so would make me sound like every other salesperson, leading clients to feel they are being sold to and causing them to question my intentions.
My approach is to be authentic and truly listen. Ask questions, learn about the client, their business, their motivations, and their pain points, and always be honest. People enjoy talking about themselves, and when you make clients feel heard, you're already halfway to securing their business. They appreciate someone who genuinely wants to understand them and their needs, rather than just closing a sale.
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.
