"How is it possible that I have been in sales for over twenty years, and have never belonged to an outside female-focused sales networking group before?" I asked my colleague, Rita Drobnis, after attending a local women in sales event.
I was a Business Development Manager for American Express at the time, and our company had done an excellent job of cultivating female/virtual/sales groups within the organization, but outside of the organization?
We had just come off of the event on a high. She was a speaker on a panel of women, and the topics were timely and relevant to an audience that ranged from one to twenty five years or more in sales experience. We felt excited, heard and empowered to know there was a support system of like-minded ladies out there.
We were so excited, we reached out the organizer, Melissa Lui, and discovered that the group was truly an offshoot of a company initiative, it was not standalone. We talked a bit more about how creating an independent, volunteer run and led organization could bring real connection to the Los Angeles sales community. We started putting out feelers, and Cindy Truong, another dynamic sales leader, joined the pack.
Our phone and dinner meetings turned into mini-support networks, with conversations around everything from what to wear to appointments, horror stories, success stories, building and motivating sales teams, participating in client-facing engagement, to ways we could add and recruit more ladies to our teams.
And thus, Society of Saleswomen was born. Our mission is to cultivate an environment where women can be empowered to unify, connect, and support each other in their craft. Our vision is to create a space where women in sales can connect, support and empower each other. We want women and women-supporters in sales and entrepreneurship to discuss the unique experiences that affect us in these sales and sales leadership roles. We want to provide tools, resources, support, and encouragement through in-person events, small dinner groups, digital access, and forums.
Welcome to the society!