Building trust and relationships for meaningful sales

I have been in technology for over 20 years and I remember when I first started, you rarely saw women in this male-dominated industry. I love that I can say that this has changed so much, now you see women in every type of role, including CIO, CTO, CEO, etc. It is inspiring to see how much we have changed as an industry, but it is also refreshing to see how many women love working in technology and the platform this is leaving for the next generations coming through.

Most challenging

Datacentre technology is changing so quickly, so staying ahead of the latest trends and knowing what’s coming next is critical for me. This space will continue to evolve at a record pace in the years ahead and making sure I am always growing and learning so I can impart that to others will remain a continual focus.

Most engaging

I love building relationships. I am not a transactional salesperson, so I don’t sell that way. I truly love understanding a need or a problem and helping a client find the right fit for them, even if it isn’t something I offer. It builds trust on both sides.

Hughes has a dual role at the Siemon Company where she is focused on regional sales as well as being a datacentre specialist globally. She tries to help sales teams understand the importance of partnerships within the datacentre space and help grow those relationships.