Juanita Vélez
Sales Manager for Europa at ILSC Education Group
Juanita is a designer from the University of Los Andes and a specialist in strategic marketing. She currently serves as the Sales Manager for Europe at ILSC Education Group, an international education company. Early on, Juanita decided to make a career change from design, and her commercial experience began in the field of marketing, where she gradually recognized her skills as a great salesperson. This realization led her to venture into sales and continue developing to reach her current position. She explains the role of persistence, consistency, and empathy in sales.
What did Juanita Share?
Juanita shares from her perspective the key elements a salesperson should consider in this industry today. She explains how her design background has enabled her to be a more empathetic salesperson – a crucial trait to understand the end user of the product or service being sold.
But Juanita didn’t just emphasize that. She also highlighted the importance of understanding what sets your product or service apart from the competition. She explains that to achieve this, it’s necessary to keep in mind the product people are seeking versus the product you are offering.
As an added bonus in this interview, we tap into Juanita’s experience in the international education industry and ask about the key characteristics a salesperson in this sector should possess. She stressed the significance of being a salesperson who, even in the midst of day-to-day tasks, doesn’t forget that she holds her clients’ dreams in her hands.
Juanita doesn’t overlook the role of consistency in sales. She mentions that in this sector, you’re constantly in contact with people, and when dealing with people, trust is crucial. She explains how she believes a salesperson’s consistency and excellent customer service are fundamental factors in earning trust.
“From my personal experience, a salesperson is made. Sales is a discipline, and you can become a very good salesperson by understanding the characteristics needed for the role you’re in.”
Juanita Vélez
Lastly, and in regard to salespeople, Juanita offers the best tip for thriving in the world of service sales. Here, the sale isn’t immediate: maintain persistence because the reward comes with time. Don’t miss the full interview for Juanita’s best advice and insights on how she transitioned from being a designer to a Sales Manager.
