Why Qualtrics – Elaine Lavery – Account Executive – Dublin, Ireland

So tell us a bit about your 'why'? And how does Qualtrics connect with that?

My why is finding balance and calm in all aspects of my life so that I can be the best version of me. I’m a natural introvert which may be atypical for a salesperson. That’s not to say I don’t enjoy my daily interactions but when I go home at the end of the working day, I need headspace and I make sure I get it. I have gotten good at saying no. I switch off through cooking, exercising, reading, listening to music and watching Netflix (things that you can zone out to – at the moment I’m loving Marie Kondo!).

At the weekend I am more of a social bunny. I love good food and wine experiences. Like any millennial worth their salt, I love to travel too.

Qualtrics connects with my why on so many levels. In my role the opportunity is limitless. We are ‘All In’ for our customers and when I’m on, I’m on. But I am not expected to work late nights, weekends or holidays - nor do I. It is wonderful to be part of an organisation where customer support is always on. I worked for myself previously and it was difficult to switch off.

At Qualtrics, you are looked after as a whole person. We are well remunerated, our talent is developed and nurtured, we are catered for (literally fed!), we are given health insurance for ourselves, our partners and our families, as well as a wellness stipend. These benefits make it easier to focus on your responsibilities when you’re at work and make the most of the time when you’re not.

Wow - sounds like Qualtrics really ticks some boxes for you! But, what attracted you to Qualtrics in the first place?

The product. With a background in consumer goods, Qualtrics’ research and insights software really resonated with me. You don’t develop a product, take a punt on a marketing campaign, make a strategic people decision, or invest in operational improvements without doing your homework. Outsourcing research is an option for some, but it’s too far removed, too slow, too inefficient or too costly for others. With technology being today’s great disruptor, you don’t need a PhD in research to be a master of your insights. We’re making the tools available to do the heavy lifting. With a little product training, you’re off the blocks.

So, what is your favorite part of your role?

Two things:

1. The diversity of customers across industries and roles I get to speak to every day. From market research agencies, to aviation companies, to disruptor banks, to hotel chains, to consumer tech, to some of the most well-known consumer brands in the world – I have spoken to them all! Each and every one has a unique use case which makes explaining what we do in a sentence...interesting!

2. The variety in my role. From researching leads and outbounding, to qualifying inbound enquiries, to facilitating deep discovery sessions, to presenting technology and value propositions to stakeholders, to navigating the internal landscape of precious resource allocation, to coaching sessions with our Learning & Development team or with my manager - my day is HUGELY varied which keeps it interesting and keeps me on my toes.

What made you want to get into sales in the first place?

I never planned to go into Sales, but it’s where I naturally gravitated. When I started a food business, I needed to find retailers to stock my product. It was all about feet on the street, nipping around the country in my 12-year-old Golf to get product on shelves!

When it came to Qualtrics, I was drawn to the product. We have over 9,000 customers but most of them are US based. Over there, our product is widely adopted and renowned across industry. It’s pretty cool being at the forefront of bringing a breakthrough product to a new market. It pushes you to challenge the status quo and to become a product consultant.

On sales more generally, our company is extremely flat but the additional freedom and flexibility of a Sales role suits me. I am in charge of my own task list. You’re never at someone else’s beck and call.

What are your aspirations in career and life just now?

I am a type A, but as referenced previously, now I strive to bring balance and awareness to everything I do. In the past, I’ve focused on the long game, instead of being present in the now. Now, I want to hone my skills, set smaller, more achievable goals, master them and have some fun along the way! As such, I don’t have a five or ten-year career plan and I prefer it that way, although you do have to look up, evaluate your progress every now and again and set the bar higher. I wish to create value through a steady, long, fulfilling and rewarding career, whatever twists and turns it takes.

	Elaine is an Account Executive at Qualtrics in Dublin.  She has a Bachelors of Business and Law from the University College Dublin and has held previous positions at Goldman Sachs and Deloitte Ireland.