In the latest in our series celebrating Women In Sales Awards winners we chat to Hena Chandarana, Head of Trade Communications at food company pladis Global, who brought home the gong for Best Woman In Sales Support.
Hena talks about honesty, endless possibilities…and how she just can’t resist the fast-paced world of sales.
What did winning the award mean to you?
Having worked in sales for most of my career; the WISA win was an external stamp of endorsement on my career and personal achievements – I was absolutely delighted to have won.
Why do you think that you stood out to the judges?
Being able to share examples of how I have added value to the businesses I’ve worked in, my proudest moments and being open and honest about the more challenging times.
What is it like for women in sales/business?
Like with many careers, sales is a profession that has a traditional stereotype of being full of sales ‘men’ rather than sales ‘women’. I think this is partly historical with the role of the ‘roving salesman’, however times have and will continue to change.
At pladis, we encourage a diverse culture and have some fantastic male and female role models in leadership positions.
“It is so important to have role models for everyone - to give everyone the opportunity to see that anything is possible in the workplace.”
How do you remain motivated? How do you motivate others?
I stay motivated with new challenges, I thrive on learning something new every day in a fast-moving sales environment – standing still just doesn’t work for me!
I motivate others by recognising their contributions regularly and celebrating success for doing things differently to get results.
“I really believe that challenging each other to be creative in problem solving is an essential skill these days.”
How important is it for you to support other women in sales?
It’s extremely important to support other women – I want my experiences and learnings to help others.
Specifically, as a working mum, I regularly share my experiences on how to be able to pursue personal and career aspirations, without having to forego either. Again, it’s breaking the stereotype and challenging the status quo.
Do you undergo regular training; if so, how important is it for you?
It’s critical to keep up to speed on what’s going on within the sector of work as well as looking outside to bring in new ideas. For sales professionals, I would also recommend refreshing functional skills like negotiation on a regular basis.
Would you recommend a sales job to other women? How would you ‘sell’ it to them?
Yes, I would. Sales is so much about building relationships and getting results – both give you a real sense of purpose. So, for anyone wanting a career with purpose, sales it is.
Describe one of the most challenging aspects of your job – and how do you overcome it?
Ensuring I keep time for my own development, my teams and getting the job done!
It’s very easy to de-prioritise personal development when there’s a pressing deadline, I’ve learnt that developing and learning is just as, if not more important.
What’s the best piece of advice you can give to someone starting out in sales/sales management?
Create a working culture that is balanced – yes, it’s all about getting strong sales results but do it as much through people and having fun, rather than long hours.
Want to find about some of the other winners? Read what Emma-Leigh Waters of Virgin Media Business and Amanda Kurylowski of pladis had to say about coming top in the Women In Sales Awards.
Do you think sales is for men only or are you happy to see a change in the industry? Share your thoughts in the comments below.