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Sales spotlight: Liv's journey to Account Executive at Persona

Liv shares her journey to becoming an Account Executive and offers insights for those aspiring to follow a similar path.

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Last updated:
9/23/2024
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⚡ Key takeaways

We’re excited to highlight some of the talented individuals driving growth at Persona, starting with a sales spotlight featuring Liv! 

Liv joined Persona with a passion for helping people solve business challenges with technical solutions and found sales to be a great way to make an impact coming right out of university. Below, she shares her journey, the challenges she’s faced, and the valuable lessons she’s learned while directly influencing Persona’s sales strategy and business growth. 

Can you tell us a little about your background and how you ended up at Persona?

I grew up in the Bay Area and headed to Nashville for college to get a change of scenery (and some great live music). Throughout college, I interned at several larger companies in their sales departments. These experiences were valuable, and I loved being able to help people and solve business problems through sales, but I was drawn to the idea of starting my career at a startup, where I could make a more tangible impact on business growth. One thing led to another and I found my way to Persona!

What was it like starting out in sales?

I started out strategizing how to engage customers of all sizes, from other startups to Fortune 500 companies.  The Sales Development Representative (SDR) role is a unique one — it requires persistence and has its ups and downs, but this is also what made it so engaging! It was an invaluable role that helped me get to know Persona’s products inside and out, as well as understand the wide range of use cases we cater to and the broader industry landscape. I noticed there was a clear need for our products.

You recently were promoted to an AE. How did that process unfold?

I had my eye on the Account Executive (AE) role prior to joining Persona, so it was definitely my larger goal to make that jump as soon as I could. With the support of mentors across the sales organization, I worked to ultimately get a promotion to AE in under a year. Among the impact I’m having in my current role, it’s exciting that I got to help make that transition [to becoming an AE] more seamless for folks that get promoted after me!

What skills are you hoping to gain while in this AE role at Persona?

What excites me most about the AE role is the ownership you have over your sales process and the dynamicity of your day-to-day. I’m focused on deepening my knowledge of the industry and refining my sales tactics to better serve prospective clients.

How does Persona support your career growth and development?

I really appreciate the close mentorship that I receive from my counterparts and the leadership team. I’ve been fortunate enough to have built relationships with folks that are invested in seeing me succeed and take time out of their day to mentor me on deals. Even though we’ve grown a lot, our founders and executives are often involved in deals, and its fun working on the floor with Rick and Charles directly — and working together to take Persona to the next level as a business. I feel part of this journey.

What advice would you give to someone starting out in sales at Persona? 

Set goals for yourself and map out what you think it will take to get there! Equally if not more important, seek out mentors who are invested in your success. The beauty of being at a place like Persona is the access you have to folks across teams and seniority levels — all of whom are open to investing in you if you seek them out!

What excites you most about your future at Persona?

Since I joined about a year and a half ago, the company has grown significantly. A lot of these huge deals have been a mix of outbound and inbound, but I’m seeing a demand for our product more than ever before. Being part of a team that’s bringing in new customers and contributing to that growth is incredibly exciting for me. I’m looking forward to what the future holds!

Early careers at Persona

Follow in Liv’s footsteps with our Sales Accelerator program or one of our other early career opportunities. Whether you're exploring different career paths or seeking professional development, the Sales Accelerator program at Persona is designed to help you succeed. Explore and apply for early career opportunities here!

Published on:
9/12/2024

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