WOMEN WHO SELL WITH PATRICIA GARCIA

‘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, Patricia Garcia, Proposition & Solutions Director at Woven shares her take.

What is your job title?

Proposition & Solutions Director.

My current role is multi-faceted which I love, as it keeps me very busy and I never have time to become bored.

So, what do I do?

I lead the entire business solution proposition, from concept to delivery. Working with prospective and existing clients to develop new and innovative solutions that improve customer journeys through a combination of brilliant people, automation and intelligent self-service.

As a branding expert, I am in charge of developing the strategy and vision that drive Woven's value proposition, always striving to strengthen our brand by defining who we are, what we stand for and what differentiates us in the marketplace.

I manage Woven's Marketing team, which means I collaborate closely with the sales and commercial teams to develop Woven's multi-channel marketing strategy, brand presence and assets.

And finally, I manage our Bid team, where I am accountable for supporting the development of Woven’s bid strategy, including ongoing new and existing business bid activities alongside working on significant opportunities to expand the Woven business.

Not to mention, voluntarily, I serve as Woven's Chief Environmental Officer, for which I have worked diligently with Carbonfootprint.com to obtain accreditation as a Co2e Assessed Organisation.

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

I have always been hugely competitive, which made sales the perfect career move for me.

But to be honest, I fell into sales by chance. I was a Retail Manager who relocated to an area where those positions were scarce, and the people who held them simply did not leave.

As a stopgap, I went to work for a BPO on a variety of outbound sales campaigns and discovered quite quickly that I was a natural salesperson.  

I broke all sales records in my first month; they just didn't see me coming. The truth was that I absolutely loved the thrill of the sale, the buzz you get from being at the top ‘consistently’ and not to mention the financial reward.

That was almost 20 years ago and since then, I have never looked back.  

Even pregnancy did not stop me – in fact, I would say it pushed me harder. In my next position, different sector, different role. I hit my annual target in the first 2 months of the financial year, meaning I could go on maternity leave knowing that my job was done.

My daughter was one by the time I made the bold decision to become a Business Development Manager at Telco. Another industry with unique challenges, but ultimately for me, the same goal.

To be the best.

With the commission uncapped, the sky was the limit. I secured my position as one of the top salespeople in the region within my first month and due to my success, I was promoted to Sales Manager within 12 months, allowing me to share my expertise and manage the entire team.

And it didn’t stop there. 

Because of my passion, talent, and unwavering dedication, my career has advanced significantly. I've always had higher expectations of myself than any of my employers. 

I believe that acting with a high level of honesty and integrity that builds trust is half the battle. 

There are too many people in client-facing roles who embellish the facts.  

This strategy is never sustainable.

But it's also crucial in my current position for me to stay up to date with ‘what’s new and trending’. 

Anyone who works in the BPO industry is acutely aware that we compete with incredible organisations, with incredible solutions, therefore in order to win the business, we must differentiate ourselves.

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

I do not believe in barriers, especially not ones based on gender. I tell my daughter daily, that she can be whoever and whatever she wants to be. She is now choosing educational paths to fulfil her desire to become an engineer.

This to me is incredible, as according to recent data, women continue to be a minority in engineering, accounting for just over 16% of all engineers.

So, challenge the norm, push boundaries and set new goals. That is what I have done and what I will continue to do.  

If you are confident, strong, and believe in yourself and your abilities, you can literally achieve anything.

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

Definitely the satisfaction.

I've spent the majority of my career working in male-dominated environments. Which for me has never been a problem. After all, challenges come from people, not specific genders.

When you first join an organisation, your abilities not just as a woman, but as a person can be underestimated. So, when you show people what you can do and consistently perform. The respect gained can feel incredible.  

But while in other industries some women may feel that they need to fight twice as hard as their male counterparts to gain credibility. In sales, it is the numbers that count, and they are indisputable.

But regardless of that, I have worked with some inspirational men and women – for me, it is people that count and if you enjoy what you do and are surrounded by amazing people, that is all that matters.

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

Never stand still, never give up – always innovate, always push the boundaries.

Remember that you have a voice, use it and never be afraid to ask for what you want. This strategy has served me well over the years.

In fact, after graduating from university, there was an opportunity to work as a Retail Manager.

Did I have the experience? 

No!  

But I had the courage to walk into the store and say to the owner. “Give me a chance and if I fail, we can call it quits and part ways.”  

Did he give me the opportunity? Absolutely!  

Whatever path you choose in life – just be honest and true to yourself.

This is what will inspire people to believe in you and because of that, you will succeed!

- Written by Tim Macmillan

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