WOMEN WHO SELL WITH HAYLEY CURTIS

‘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, Hayley Curtis, Business Development Manager at Office Tech Suite 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?

I started life in IT at The Bristol Post, answering the phone and making cups of tea aged 17. I would get calls from all over the business, advertising, editorial etc, mostly with ‘If I send an email to Germany, how much does it cost?’ and ‘I went on holiday, and someone has changed all the keys on my keyboard so now I can’t log on’. The sales teams were lively, outgoing, and fun people, I wanted to be part of that. 

I asked for an interview and started my first job in telesales. The rest, as they say, is history.

I suppose my main drive for moving into sales was because I saw the life within the teams, the buzz, the fun, and the community. At that age, I can’t really say it was a conscious choice that would define the rest of my working life, but I was absolutely attracted to the energy, and can safely say, that is still the case.

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

There have been many obstacles in the past, both internally and externally. From not being taken seriously and seen as a ‘dolly bird’ for lack of a better term to watching male peers accelerate into roles I felt better suited for. It could feel like a lack of respect at times.

I find most people take an offensive position of what they either don’t understand or what scares them and being open and honest is the best way to tackle some of the ignorance. You can’t make someone take you seriously or give you that promotion, but knowing your worth and showing that is not a sin!

Respect is and always will be a two-way street, if someone has to earn yours, you will also have to earn theirs.

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

I think the myth that all salespeople are in it for the money is, well, a myth! I thrive in a problem-solving scenario, be that for a customer, helping them to find a better way to process invoices, or even a friend (at this point I should be on commission for a skincare brand I always recommend!) If I can help someone, I feel really great about it. 

I also have a daughter and would spend evenings researching potential new clients and their values, while baking a (not even slightly edible) cake for the school's bake sale the next day. 

Looking back now, it makes me proud, and I hope I have passed some of my work ethic onto my daughter. Passing the torch to other women, be that through advice or support gives me a huge buzz, I love seeing people succeed.

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

My daughter recently made a comment that gave me an ‘aha’ moment while going through her mock exams. 

She told me she wished she had my confidence. I told her, it's not confidence that she wishes she had, it's resilience. Sales is a rollercoaster, you will have ups, downs and in-betweens, sometimes all on the same day! You need to be resilient to the lows while celebrating your wins, and keep the energy and passion high at what you do or what you sell always. It requires resilience in bucketloads rather than confidence.