“Hello! I’m Jess Coe (she/her), I’ve been at Gearset for about 3 years now, starting off as an Account Executive, and last summer I transitioned into leading the SMB Sales team.”
What got you into sales?
“Sales can get a bad rap, can’t it? You’re probably thinking ‘Wolf of Wallstreet’. Honestly, the best sales people I’ve met have been the polar opposite of this (and there’s a lot of super inspiring folks that work at Gearset, we have a pretty cool team).
As someone that’s quite introverted, I never felt like I fit the mold of the stereotypical sales person when I was in rooms of ‘dodgy’ sales teams at previous companies I’ve worked for.
I suppose the determination to do sales my way, by solving challenges and working with the customer as a peer, was the thing that made me want to move into sales and really succeed with the right principles.”
What’s your favourite part about working in sales?
“Talking to customers all over the world is a really enjoyable part of working in sales. It’s also great to work with them to achieve a common goal.
We also have such a great internal team here at Gearset. There’s support when you need it, feedback to help you define your skills further, and a great culture of celebrating success.”
What’s something people might not expect about working in sales at Gearset?
“Before joining, I didn’t realise how much effort and care Gearset would put into developing us in-role, as well as enabling broader career plans. This is done through thorough training on both a technical front and from a sales perspective, but also through continuous feedback.
Our culture encourages people to embrace discomfort, which in turn allows you to flourish and grow personally and professionally.”
Tech sales can feel male-dominated, what advice would you give other women thinking about a career in sales?
“Diversity is crucial to success at any company, it’s more than just a tick box exercise. Having a well rounded team with different experiences only strengthens a team. So my advice would always be to embrace and lean into the differences you bring to the table, rather than trying to conform.
In my opinion, the most important thing is to make space for other women to enter this area. We want to pave the way for a more balanced future, where we can accurately represent our customer base and build the best team.”
In what ways has Gearset supported you to grow and succeed in your career?
“I knew Gearset was the right company when I was able to show up authentically as myself and I was not only accepted, but celebrated. That’s really allowed me to come out of my shell and thrive. The feedback led culture really balances celebrating the wins with continuous improvement, so you can fine tune your skills to continually keep improving. But it’s also a safe space to experiment. There’s a real interest in development, both in-role and for career advancement so I’ve always felt challenged and motivated here.”
How would you describe your mindset when approaching sales?
“The idea of ‘Equal Business Stature’ is something that’s critical in sales. It’s the idea that you’re on the same level as the customer, you aren’t subservient to them — because you have knowledge and value to bring to the conversation as an equal. It encourages you to think collaboratively and how you can ensure you’re on the same side of the table as them. There’s no desperation, only a curiosity to best serve the customer with the right kind of solution.”
What keeps you passionate about sales?
“It’s the challenges that make sales interesting. We are solving problems, whether that’s from a technical, commercial or even personal point of view. Seeing yourself climb the leaderboard and keep up with the ranks of your talented team mates gives such a sense of satisfaction.”
Want to join the team?
Take a look at our open roles and see how you can shape your own career with us.