Sandra Antoun, a remarkable force in the world of IT sales, graces our show today with her inspiring story of transition from teaching children with autism to conquering the tech sales arena. Her journey emphasizes the importance of organization, consistency, and resilience—a trifecta for anyone aiming to climb the career ladder. Sandra shares her insights on the rapidly evolving landscape of AI and compliance in IT services, shedding light on how to communicate technical solutions in an accessible manner. Her experiences underscore the value of adaptability and genuine relationship-building across industries.

Our discussion takes a deeper dive into the realm of sales leadership, where Sandra shares her strategies for managing a sales team and navigating the pressures of being the lone salesperson in a company. We explore the significance of personality assessments in hiring decisions and the unique strengths women bring to sales roles, particularly in a male-dominated tech environment. Sandra's narrative is a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit and the critical need for diversity in hiring practices. Her insights aim to inspire future generations of women eager to make their mark in sales.

In our final segment, Sandra delves into the art of empathy and strategic goal setting, key elements for thriving in sales and marketing. We discuss the power of relationships and networking in discovering hidden talents, along with the strategy of setting ambitious, long-term goals. Emphasizing the necessity of focus and flexibility, Sandra offers practical advice on avoiding distractions and making incremental changes to stay aligned with core objectives. As we wrap up, the conversation highlights the importance of leveraging CRM tools for business success, and we encourage listeners to connect with Sandra for more of her expert guidance.

Sandra Antoun, Chief Marketing Officer at Vintage IT Services in Austin, Texas, has driven the company’s growth for over 15 years through strategic leadership and a commitment to delivering innovative IT solutions. Her expertise in managed IT services, cloud solutions, and customer relationship management has helped foster enduring partnerships and improve customer retention. Recognized as a leader in the IT channel, Sandra has earned accolades such as CRN's Women of the Channel (2023), Sales Executive of the Year, and the Power 100 Award (2024). Passionate about leveraging technology to solve complex business challenges, Sandra remains dedicated to empowering businesses with tailored, secure, and efficient IT solutions.

Quotes:

"If you can sell one thing, you can probably sell another. It's about nurturing relationships and being human through the process."

"AI has been non-stop, but compliance is a part of that. As AI grows, we need to determine how to adopt it internally and set policy use cases around it."

"The three things that have driven my success are being organized, consistent, and not taking things personally. It's about effort and moving on."

"The unique strengths women bring to sales roles are invaluable, especially in male-dominated industries like tech. We need to inspire future generations."

Links:

Sandra’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandra-antoun-082b1b14/

Vintage IT Services - https://vintageits.com

Get this episode and all other episodes of Sales Lead Dog at https://empellorcrm.com/salesleaddog