Vidya Venugopal Email & Phone Number

17 years ago, a fresh Electronics Engineer, I was certain that software programming or JAVA was going to change my life. At my first job interview, I was rather annoyed when the hiring manager insisted that I must take up a customer facing profile along with utilizing my technical skills. His words, "You have a born flair for sales and a way with people, it must be put to use". I sat there thinking Oh Dear! the dreaded profession -Sales; “It’s not Technical”, was my first comment; “Can women be successful in sales particularly in the Middle East? Will I loose my technical skills "and of course the epic one” What will people think of me when I tell them I am a sales person? “ True Fact - He really was spot on!!!!I am a natural Sales Person and I enjoy it thoroughly. 18 years down the line today, I can say that interview changed my life. Still a techie at core, I enjoy meeting people, understanding how business works, listening to the challenges it brings, working towards the right solution and yet at the end of it all, fully relish the thrill of closing a big deal; Unparalleled Euphoria. My key strengths lie in 1) Relationship building across various levels of key stakeholders2) Identifying and Influencing key decision makers into recognizing the real value of the proposed business proposition. 3) Leading engagement and working across teams together to succeed in our goalsI have worn multiple hats across my career in presales, technical sales, account management, business development, marketing strategy and more recently team management which has resulted in some remarkable experiences; Its been an interesting mix of corporate environments, multifunctional teams, innovative tech portfolios and the pleasure of working alongside some of the best talent in the region. Its shaped me both personally and professionally. I have also had the privilege of working on some amazing projects in the region like the Burj Khalifa along with nurturing long term relationships with wonderful customers, many of whom I continue to work with closely.Today, in the Motorola Solutions Video Security and Access Controls team, I head the Strategic Enterprise End Users Team for the Middle East and India region. Exciting times and some great opportunities.And Yes! After 16 years I can confidently say, Women can be successful in a Sales Role in the Middle East! All you need is the right attitude, strong perseverance, and tidy professionalism. Customers will engage and support you when they know you have their best interests. Cheers to Successful Selling!

Listed skills include Business Development, Security, Access Control, Key Account Management, and 16 others.