WOMEN WHO SELL WITH NIAMH DAY

‘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, Niamh Day, Sales Development Manager at Kallidus, shares her take.

What is your job title?

SDR Manager.

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

I’ve always been in my element when surrounded by people, so being in a career where I could understand, listen, learn, help & share has always been a non-negotiable for me. I danced competitively from aged 2-13, which is where my competitive edge & hunger for new challenges stems from.

I wasn’t out there searching for all things sales, however, and I stumbled across Kallidus on LinkedIn - the company caught my eye. The people-centric nature of the business was exactly what I was looking for.

Although money absolutely fuelled my sales desire (and still does, don’t get me wrong!), the ideas of being faced with new challenges and mini-growth opportunities each day were the real head-turners, in addition to the people-focused foundations that Kallidus and the SDR role were built upon. I had tunnel vision for the job.

You don’t have to be solely money-motivated to thrive in sales, and I hope that my path shows this!

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

The preconception of the industry is the most prominent for me. Society tends to associate ‘sales/selling’ with men. Specifically, men in suits. “Man in a suit”, “car salesman”, and “annoying salesman” were phrases that arose in a study done by Daniel Pink in 2012.

Women in sales worry that they’re seen as too weak, or too assertive. I actively put my concerns about ‘not fitting in’ aside when I applied for Kallidus.

In full-time education, sales roles were never recommended to me. In fact, information about this industry wasn’t abundant. Even now, I witness a few people’s faces grimacing when I tell them I’m in sales. You just know what they’re thinking – “She must be cut-throat”, “how does she fit in?”, “she must be obsessed with money”.

How have I overcome these issues? 

I am proud to say I work for a wonderful organisation that has supported me in my development from day dot. I’ve been welcomed, appreciated, and listened to just as much as the next person. I’ve never felt at a disadvantage because of my gender at Kallidus.

Even moving into a more senior role and working more closely with males in more superior positions, I’ve felt heard empowered, and recognised as an equal, in a scenario that could have easily been quite intimidating! I am very aware that it’s not like this for a lot of female leaders.

I work with amazing women who bring emotional intelligence, innovation, and confidence to my company. My own preconceptions have been stamped out because of this, and I fully own my chosen path with pride.

Seeing my female colleagues thrive and progress through their development journeys are constant reminders that sales is an amazing opportunity for all of us, and it wouldn’t be the same without us.

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

As mentioned above, being surrounded by talented women across Kallidus and witnessing them flourish and excel is a great joy of mine.

There’s a very strong type of satisfaction from acing a role (and watching other women ace roles) that stereotypes have tried to steer us away from… A bit of an “up yours!” moment if you will.

Being pushed out of your comfort zone in sales, and (sometimes) being the only woman in the room, provides me with assurance and floods of self-fulfilment.

Now I am in a more senior position as manager, I get to work even more closely with the wonderful female SDRs in my team. With my position comes responsibility, and I will always use this to maintain a culture that prioritises diversity and uplifts women.

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

For those women wanting to get into sales, embarking on a new career can be very overwhelming. Don’t be put off. What would you want to buy? What interests you outside of sales? You can begin to narrow down the industry in which you want to sell.

Don’t let any negative opinion, reaction, or stereotype influence where you want to go in your sales journey. The most successful salespeople are now those who are true to themselves. Own your success and be strong – you will excel.

For women looking to advance, never be afraid to ask for what you want. You’re absolutely worth whichever promotion or role arises, and even if you don’t get it the first time around, this is your chance to grow. Always champion your voice!