Kate Freeman for Boston Business Journal

Speaker: Kate Freeman

Kate Freeman : Hi team, my name is Kate Freeman and I am currently a new business sales representative at Sento First Aid and Safety. I think this opportunity perfectly aligns with the experience and what I'm looking for in my next position. So want to bring you all the way back into college. I have a degree in advertising and public relations. My senior year, I actually was granted an opportunity to run as an account executive for an ad agency. It was a mock ad agency um where I was that liaison between the internal team and the platform bows marketing team. So if you know about a BS in North Jersey, um I was working directly with them, we rolled out a whole um portfolio, a whole campaign for them. Um which was really exciting and I think since 2020 they've rolled out a couple of those things. So new from the get go, I really liked being client facing. Um but I, you know, I, I hadn't been exposed to sales opportunities from there. So like I said, I stayed open minded for that next opportunity. I have um internship experience with public relations as well. So those coupled together, really complimented my, um, my majors really well, my degree really well from there, I was recruited into Syo as a management trainee. And I think the goal of that was, I just wanted to stay open minded. I, I didn't know what I liked. I didn't know what I didn't like right out of college. I knew that I leaned a little bit more into that customer service, that client facing that sales revenue avenue. But um I wasn't sure. So um spent those first two years cycling through every Department of Sass. I did office, I did warehouse, I was on the road doing service. Um And then I was teaching CPR classes. The end of that, I actually was in sales and I was granted an opportunity to run as a fully tenured rep because my sales captain was going on maternity leave. So it actually gave me that full taste. I was granted the whole state of Rhode Island to run with. Um I put up numbers as a fully tenured rep in that time frame, which landed me a position as a business development rep um promoted into the new Hampshire Vermont market where I was selling to current customers. I was upselling and exceeded that threshold um exceeded it so that I was promoted within seven months into back into a new business territory. Um on Cape Cod. So was selling new storefronts cold calling on site visiting. Um averaging about 300 calls a week, about 15 door knocks a week and then with that 15 appointments, I think from here, like I said, I, I wasn't set on sales, you know, I, I kept that open mind throughout, um, currently I am hardline pacing and presidents club pacing. Um, I think sales, what it allows me to do is be the driver, um, of my life and of, of my work life. I think though, what I'm missing currently from my job is that um that relationship part, I am just, I'm selling that business and I'm passing it to my service team. I love working as a team. Um but I am somebody who thrives on relationships. So I think that that is why this opportunity is key for me. Like I said, it does bring me back um when I was in that mock ad agency. But um like I said, I stay open to that process. I would be willing to learn new products, new services, new position. I think in my personal life too. Sales makes sense for me because of the routine that I have with it. Like I, like I told you guys 300 cold calls a week, but I'm doing that in my personal life. I like to book end my days. Well, um I've been doing that since high school and college. Um and that kind of regimented workout routine where I am somebody who's going to put in the effort, who's going to see those results. So I think that that translates for me um both personally and professionally. And I think that this opportunity allows that new challenge for me, allows that account management um that those relationship building skills come out even more. Um And like I said, I have that open mind and those, you know, I want to learn, I crave that learning, which is why I'm seeking this opportunity in the first place. So from here, I'm just looking, um I'm looking forward to some next steps from here. Thanks team.

Kate Freeman : My first exposure to the Boston Business Journal was at the public relations firm that I had been interning at. I feel like I was checking in on it every single day. Um That was my first, like I said, real exposure to it. Um From there, it has been circulated with different articles throughout. But I would say very specifically, the women in business portion is super important to um myself just personally um in my sales room, I currently, you know, there's only a handful of girls compared to guys. So I think allowing these platforms to really thrive. Um And having that subsection is super important and, and just speaks to the kind of company that I would be very excited to work for. Um On top of that, the um best businesses to work award ceremony is all over my linkedin page when that happens. Um I have really good friends that work at Northwestern Mutual um who have only said great things about that award ceremony. Um So from a brand recognition standpoint, it, it only makes me excited to join a team who cultivates an exciting environment in that way. Um On top of being a noteworthy, a very trustworthy news source on top of that, that, you know, promotes the, the women, um, small businesses and local news. I think, just like I said, it makes a good fit for me. It makes me very excited to work for them.

Kate Freeman : I am looking for a challenge at my next position. Um As I had mentioned in my journey, I have learned, loved learning throughout my process, uh both in college and um in my post grad job at Sinto. So I think this next position will challenge me in a healthy way. Um I'm excited to learn some new things and to keep an open mind. As I, as I told you, it is super important for me. Um I'm looking for growth in this next opportunity. Um I don't want just something where I'm going to come in and keep my head down. I wanna um be learning new things like I said, but also um looking for the next, you know, promotion down the line and to hopefully one day become a manager. Um like I said, that's super important to me as well as a culturally sound fit for me. I'm looking for an inclusive team. I'm looking for a hard working teamwork, supportive team. Um So when, when all those things chop off, I think that is ideal for my next role.