ABS ALUMNI OF THE MONTH

1. How does it feel to be featured as Alumni of the Month?
   
   - Looking back, my transformation truly began during college. I was extremely afraid of public speaking and would get nervous even while reading in class. I deliberately started taking every opportunity to speak, whether through presentations, seminars, or conferences. My first solo presentation was intimidating, but it taught me that fear only lasts for a few seconds. Those experiences gradually built my confidence and shaped me into a completely different person by the time I graduated.

2. What does a typical day look like in your current role?
   
   - I joined Dell Technologies four years ago as an Account Manager and have worked across the ANZ, UK, and US markets. My role revolves around managing customer portfolios and acting as an end-to-end solution provider. My day involves understanding clients' IT ecosystems, maintaining relationships, managing sales pipelines, following up on opportunities, resolving escalations, and consistently working towards business targets.  

3. How do you stay motivated to meet targets?
   
   - Initially, targets can feel overwhelming, especially when everything revolves around numbers. Over time, I changed my perspective and started viewing targets as opportunities for growth, recognition, and financial rewards. Sales roles often provide opportunities to earn beyond a fixed salary, making them both challenging and rewarding.  

4. How can students prepare themselves for a career in sales?
   
   - Sales is much more than achieving targets. Relationship building, pipeline management, communication, and active listening are essential skills. Confidence, problem-solving, and presentation abilities also play a major role. College is the perfect environment to experiment, make mistakes, and build these competencies.  

5. What does it take to succeed in Big Tech sales?
   
   - Transparency is extremely important. Every customer and business challenge is unique, which gives professionals the opportunity to be creative in designing solutions. Success comes from managing customer relationships effectively, building a strong reputation, and identifying opportunities for upselling and cross- selling. The right approach can significantly increase business value.  

6. What has kept you growing at Dell Technologies for over four years?
   
   - The supportive work culture has been a major factor. Dell encourages continuous learning through mentorship, training programs, incentives, and flexibility. The environment empowers employees to showcase their strengths while constantly developing new skills.  

7. What is one unwritten corporate lesson you learned?
   
   - Never attach your self-worth to outcomes. One unsuccessful result does not define your abilities. I learned this early when I compared myself to peers who had more experience. Instead of dwelling on comparisons, I focused on what I could control by participating in projects, activities, and internships.  

8. Tell us about some internships you pursued.
   
   - I worked on a combination of online and on-site projects. Some projects were with organizations like Shiksha.com and IFS, while others were sales-focused assignments in Delhi. These experiences provided practical exposure and helped me understand the professional environment before entering the corporate world.

Rapid Fire

• One word for college life: Exciting, fun, and memorable
• Comfort food during stressful days: Tacos
• A skill to master overnight: Project Management
• Preferred choice: Contract renewal over cold calling
• Most important B2B quality: A balance of patience and persistence
• Advice for students facing rejection: Rejection is not a reflection of your worth; it is redirection. Stay consistent and keep moving forward.
• Productivity hack: Excel and CRM tools are indispensable for staying organized and managing multiple accounts effectively.