Welcome back to the Dear Future CRO Podcast powered by GrowthQ!

In this episode, we sit down with Angie Perez Thomas, the North American Sales Leader for Enterprise Customers at Amazon Web Services (AWS). Angie, a powerhouse in the tech industry, shares insightful reflections on her career journey, from her childhood dreams of becoming an astronaut to navigating her role at AWS.

We delve into Angie's strategic approach to leadership, her outstanding communication skills, and her commitment to self-care and personal development. Discover how she managed a rapidly growing team amidst high-pressure targets and her advice for future Enterprise Sales Leaders on fostering growth and resilience.

Tune in as we explore Angie's robust career chapters, her transition from lab work to tech sales, and the significant impact of career coaching on her trajectory. With a rich background that spans various U.S. regions and cultural landscapes, Angie offers a unique perspective on empathy, diversity, and intersectionality within the corporate world.

Get ready for an inspiring conversation with Angie Perez Thomas on what it truly takes to succeed and lead in today’s dynamic business environment.

Timestamp Topics

00:00 Passion for technology, music, and space exploration.

05:27 Evolving communication skills became crucial in college.

10:27 Seattle diversity vs. Purdue's lack of diversity.

12:05 Empathy, perseverance, diversity, overcoming adversity, showcasing strengths.

14:46 Many Hispanic Americans don't speak Spanish, affecting inclusion.

18:20 Exploration of diverse cultural histories is fulfilling.

21:44 Transitioned from engineering to sales in manufacturing.

24:08 Hiring a coach built my career foundation.

29:05 Building newsletters, communicating effectively, and allocating thinking time.

30:49 Strategic vision essential for impactful business decisions.

37:08 Sales growth relies heavily on productive people.

38:10 Effective communication crucial for achieving team targets.

42:48 Continually build a supportive ecosystem for new challenges.

44:47 Act as if you're already in role.

GrowthQ is on a mission to unlock human potential.

GrowthQ is an AI-powered career navigation platform matching ambitious individuals with ideal roles, mentors, and career development resources all while allowing employers to apply to you. GrowthQ's AI-Assistant, Gigi, even uses data and AI to guide you on your dream career path.

Start navigating your career with our AI Assistant, Gigi at https://beta.growthq.co/

Follow us on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/company/growthq

Welcome to the Dear Future CRO Podcast powered by GrowthQ! In this gripping episode, host Esther goes deep with Denise Walter, the dynamic Chief Revenue Officer at Darktrace. Denise, a seasoned leader with a storied career in tech and sales, opens up about her relentless travels, transformative strategies, and the fine balance she strikes between long-term planning and tactical execution for public companies.

Denise takes us through her pivotal career moments, including her early misstep that set her on a path of leadership development and mentorship. Learn how she motivates her teams by understanding individual needs, the powerful role of tailored recognition, and the synergy of aligning personal and company values.

Dive into Denise's journey, from her roots as an individual contributor to scaling the heights of leadership at Cisco and now Darktrace. Get a candid look at her initial challenges in transitioning to her CRO role and the importance of embracing diverse skills for career progression.

Through her experiences in various business environments—from startups to realignment phases—Denise shares invaluable insights on driving transformation, culture, and people optimization. Join us for an inspiring conversation filled with actionable takeaways on leadership, learning, and creating a thriving workplace. This is an episode you won’t want to miss!

Timestamp Topics

00:00 Find strengths, embrace challenges, and pursue growth.

04:24 Great fit, felt like home, fantastic experience.

07:49 Career progression tied to diverse skills and experiences.

10:01 90-day role focused on people assessment and talent.

14:17 Constant change, optimization, and embracing opportunities.

16:27 Traveling and connecting with teams for change.

20:28 Reflecting on career success and meaningful relationships.

23:20 Took initiative, got a mentor, secured a leadership role.

26:26 Embrace your limitations and seek diverse expertise.

31:12 Align to core values, prioritize people intentionally.

GrowthQ is on a mission to unlock human potential.

GrowthQ is an AI-powered career navigation platform matching ambitious individuals with ideal roles, mentors, and career development resources all while allowing employers to apply to you. GrowthQ's AI-Assistant, Gigi, even uses data and AI to guide you on your dream career path.

Start navigating your career with our AI Assistant, Gigi at https://beta.growthq.co/

Follow us on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/company/growthq

Welcome to another insightful episode of the "Dear Future CRO Podcast" powered by GrowthQ! Today, we're thrilled to host Lynne Doherty, a remarkable leader whose unconventional career journey took her from a math and computer science major to a powerhouse in sales leadership. Lynne's philosophy? "Disruption is not a dirty word." In technology, it means innovations that reinvent how we, as consumers, experience the world. Lynne is not only an advocate for this kind of creative disruption but also a champion for accountability—doing what you say you will do.

Currently, as President of a go-to-market organization at Sonar, Lynne oversees a comprehensive array of customer interactions, from pre-sales engineering to marketing. Her team at Sonar is committed to helping organizations and developers worldwide create clean, quality, and secure code, essential for accelerating mission-critical software development. With AI-generated code becoming increasingly prevalent, Lynne understands the critical role solutions like Sonar play in leveraging these advancements.

In this episode, Lynne shares her transition from a developer to sales, driven by her passion for explaining technology in business terms, and how her technical background has given her a unique advantage. She reflects on her childhood in Philadelphia, where the values of hard work and gratitude were deeply instilled by her family, and how these principles have shaped her professional journey. We also explore her experiences with imposter syndrome, the impact of pivotal life events like September 11, and her shift from prioritizing perfection to valuing progress.

Join our conversation as Lynne offers invaluable advice for future CROs on surrounding yourself with good people, balancing professional demands with personal health, and staying informed and connected.

Tune in to hear Lynne Doherty's compelling story and practical advice for aspiring leaders!

Timestamp Topics

00:00 Mom's influence on work ethic and family.

03:44 Professionally developing and not taking success for granted.

06:56 Skilled at identifying and collecting good people.

10:47 Underestimated sales rep role, but learned respect.

15:10 Planning for short, medium, and long-term goals.

17:46 Balancing schedules and priorities in a busy life.

22:36 Time matters; something is better than nothing.

25:24 Insecurities in career persist despite senior level.

28:09 Small decisions shape life and career path.

33:38 Maintaining connections through small, thoughtful gestures matter.

35:27 Closing statement: Dear future CRO, what's your career advice?

GrowthQ is on a mission to unlock human potential.

GrowthQ is an AI-powered career navigation platform matching ambitious individuals with ideal roles, mentors, and career development resources all while allowing employers to apply to you. GrowthQ's AI-Assistant, Gigi, even uses data and AI to guide you on your dream career path.

Start navigating your career with our AI Assistant, Gigi at https://beta.growthq.co/

Follow us on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/company/growthq