WOMEN WHO SELL WITH KATIE TAYLOR

‘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 being someone that identifies as a woman in Sales, the barriers and the breakthroughs.

Here, Katie Taylor, Sales Development Representative Manager at Neighbourly shares her take.

What is your job title?

I’m the SDR Manager for a wonderful organisation called Neighbourly. I used to be a Business Development Manager and stepped into my latest role to own the top end of the sales funnel.

How did you get into sales and what makes it the career of your choice?

I remember being 14 and joining my first ever job (as a pot wash at a west-country local pub) and I really enjoyed talking to anyone that came in, whether they were regular or someone I didn’t recognise. Growing up, my family always talked to new people and created connections with individuals wherever they went, so naturally, I became the same, talking to anyone that would make eye contact with me. It felt like a natural thing to then evolve into selling..!

I really enjoy people, their different walks of life, ways of thinking and the connections you can make with others. Sales is the right role for me to be in. And luckily, I’ve landed somewhere where I can turn my gift of the gab and listening skills into real, meaningful change.

Are there any barriers you have faced as a woman working in sales, and how have you overcome them?

This is a good question. I think most women find challenges across all walks of life, I don’t know any woman who at one point hasn’t faced prejudice or judgement in what they do.

It’s a huge issue across society in general. In terms of within the workplace, for the past few years, I’ve stepped into the world of Tech4Good, there’s been an even keel of women and men in the last two roles I’ve been in but in general, tech is an incredibly male dominant world, however, where I am is really open-minded - I’ve been lucky. 

 My biggest challenge is that I’m more of a lad than most lads I know…! I can be incredibly competitive, which in this space, is an important thing to be.

What do you like the most about being a woman in sales?

The amount of passion and empathy I’m able to show. In the world of responsible business, being able to empathise with some of the issues that both communities and our client's face is so important. It shows genuine concern and care, which comes across in my pitch. I’m not just doing this for the paycheck, the purpose is just as important.

What advice do you have for a woman wanting to get into sales and those wanting to advance?

You can find sales roles where you’re selling something that you genuinely have a passion for, you don’t have to go for something just because it’s a job.

Find a product that you believe in, that genuinely creates positive change or that sits within your passions and just go for it. But prepare to need to be resilient, tenacious and don’t ever hold back from being yourself. You don’t have to fully change who you are to be good at what you do!