In this insightful episode of Taking the Lead, host Christina Brady sits down with Stephanie White from Medallia, diving into an engaging conversation about the intricacies of career development and the power of positive communication in leadership. The episode opens with Christina introducing Stephanie, setting the stage for a discussion that explores the nuances of navigating a career filled with unexpected turns and learning opportunities.
Stephanie begins by recounting her early days in marketing, where she engaged directly with customers to gather critical feedback for consumer packaged goods companies. This foundational experience, she explains, taught her the importance of customer-centric approaches and shaped her career trajectory. Stephanie’s journey through various roles in sales and customer experience underscores the theme that a non-linear career path can be rich with invaluable lessons and growth opportunities.
As the conversation unfolds, Christina and Stephanie dive deeper into the topic of effective communication within professional settings. Stephanie shares her philosophy on the importance of setting and adjusting the tone of interactions to foster positive outcomes. She highlights how strategic communication is not just about conveying a message but also about adapting to the responses of others to maintain a productive and harmonious environment. This part of the discussion is particularly enlightening, offering listeners practical advice on enhancing their own communication skills.
Towards the end of the episode, Stephanie discusses the personal impacts of her career choices, particularly during times of change and uncertainty. She emphasizes the importance of adaptability and resilience, recounting personal anecdotes that illustrate how she navigated challenges by focusing on empowerment over control. The episode closes with both Christina and Stephanie reflecting on the broader implications of their discussion for listeners, encouraging them to embrace their unique paths and the lessons they encounter along the way. This episode of Taking the Lead is not only a testament to Stephanie’s extensive experience but also serves as a motivational guide for professionals at all stages of their careers.
Featured Guest
Name: Stephanie White
What she does: Senior Director, Sales Enablement
Company: Medallia
Noteworthy: Stephanie White: Expert in experiential marketing and customer feedback for CPG companies.
Key Insights
The Importance of Customer Feedback in Marketing
Stephanie White shares her early career experiences in experiential marketing, emphasizing the critical role of direct customer feedback in shaping product strategies. Starting her career with hands-on campaigns, she collected customer opinions on new products like light beer, providing invaluable data directly to consumer packaged goods companies. This foundational experience highlighted the necessity of understanding consumer needs and preferences firsthand, influencing her future roles in sales and customer experience management.
Shifting Communication Tones in Sales
During the podcast, Stephanie discusses the strategic importance of controlling the tone of conversations in sales to foster positive and productive outcomes. She points out that sales representatives can significantly influence the direction and outcome of a sales call by preemptively setting a positive conversational tone. This ability not only enhances customer interactions but also sets the stage for successful sales and long-term client relationships.
Embracing Career Zigzags as Opportunities
Stephanie’s career path exemplifies the concept of “embracing the zigzag,” where non-linear career moves are seen not as setbacks but as opportunities for growth and learning. She recounts her transitions from experiential marketing to various roles across sales and enablement, demonstrating how each shift brought new challenges and opportunities to learn and influence the industry. Her journey underscores the importance of adaptability and openness to change in building a fulfilling and impactful career.
Episode Highlights
The Intersection of Career Paths and Personal Growth
Stephanie discusses the non-linear trajectory of her career and the personal growth that accompanied each shift. This reflection highlights the idea that career paths do not need to follow a straight line to be successful. Each pivot and change provided Stephanie with new insights and skills, significantly contributing to her understanding of customer experience and leadership in tech.
“So my career it’s not straightforward. It’s a zigzag and I love embracing the zigzag […] But looking back as I’m now at almost 20 years with the last six in sales enablement and sales ops.”
The Role of Mindset in Professional Development
Stephanie introduces “The Energy Bus” by John Gordon, a book that profoundly influenced her professional and personal perspective. She talks about the importance of choosing how to show up every day and the power individuals have to drive positive change, regardless of their position.
“The concept of the energy bus is […] you decide how you show up in a day, you decide how you respond, not react to the things that happen in the day and you drive your bus forward on the road that you want to be on.”
Empowerment Through Control and Self-Awareness
A significant part of the discussion revolves around how individuals can control their reactions and the environment around them, especially in adverse situations. Stephanie emphasizes empowerment over control, sharing insights on how self-awareness can lead to more constructive outcomes both personally and professionally.
“It’s not about control. It’s about empowering yourself and empowering others on their paths and going towards the good that each of us get to define.”
Embracing Change and Uncertainty
Stephanie shares her personal experience with an unexpected job change and how she dealt with the uncertainty that followed. Her story is a testament to the strength found in adaptability and viewing challenges as opportunities to redefine one’s path.
“I went out for my run and I had a really nice lunch with my husband and we laughed about it […] What do I want to do now with my life crisis? […] I really took it as a moment to just respect and appreciate me. Forget all that. Give me a second. And the next morning I sat down on my laptop and the paperwork was there. It had come in. It was okay. It was on my time. It was about empowering me.”
