Tell us about your career journey here at TouchBistro, what has it been like for you?
I graduated from York at the end of 2019, right before the peak of COVID. I had been doing retail sales for 7 years with Bluenotes prior to joining TouchBistro as a Sales Development Representative. My journey in the interview process was definitely unique; after speaking to a recruiter from the Talent team, I was also in touch with a current member of the Sales team, and my soon to be manager, each person on the team helped to coach and guide me through the interview process. TouchBistro has been my first “real job” out of school. Since joining, I have since moved into an Account Development Representative role, and each day I continue to be inspired to grow my career here!
What makes TouchBistro’s culture special to you?
The collaborative culture! When I started as a Sales Development Representative, I felt how team oriented it was. Everyone made me feel so welcomed and included, like I was really a part of a team with a lot of support. I go into the TB office almost every day, which has allowed me to form bonds with people across the organization, not just on my team.
What is your proudest accomplishment in your career to date?
I won an award for Inbound Pipeline Development at our annual Sales Kickoff meeting in February 2022, which meant a lot to me. I was also nominated and went to the Presidents Club Trip to Costa Rica in May 2022.
What inspires you about the future of the restaurant industry?
What inspires me is how interactive restaurants have become after bouncing back from COVID. I love to see the genuine desire our customers have to provide a memorable in-person dining experience. I can really sense that restaurants today are more passionate than ever about gaining repeat business. I would encourage everyone to try out new local restaurants in their community because there is just so much to gain from it!
What is your favorite restaurant?
My favorite restaurant is Selva Toronto. As a part of their DIY menu, I discovered one of my favorite things to create, which is a lettuce wrap taco! It’s just such a unique concept, and the interior is so vibrant and colourful, always lifts me up being in the space and being able to experiment with different foods.
What is one thing that you wouldn’t eat as a child that you now enjoy?
It’s a traditional Italian pasta dish served with anchovies at Christmas. As a kid I didn’t like it because I never liked the smell of fish, so I steered clear. Now I regret not having that dish sooner. It definitely has an acquired taste, but I’ve grown to love it.
Do you have any pets? If so, what is your favorite activity to do with your pet?
Jett Jett – he is a 50 kg, 5 year old black labrador retriever mix with a little bit of poodle. He is a big friendly giant. I didn’t consider myself a crazy dog lady until getting Jett.
What is your favorite spot to go on vacation? Why?
My favorite spot to go on vacation is Costa Rica (which is also where I went for the TouchBistro Presidents Club trip). I lived there during a study abroad semester while I was in school. The views were phenomenal! Being able to go back with TB was an amazing opportunity and very nostalgic.
If you had to give one piece of advice to someone coming into software sales, what advice would you give and why?
I would say to lead with conviction and believe in yourself! I struggled within the first couple months of being in sales with some thoughts of self doubt. I was approaching my new career path with a limited mindset, having this awareness allowed me to shift to a growth mindset. Little by little, I started to have more confidence, by leading with conviction my doubts in my ability to sell started to disappear. I aim to take a leap of faith in every call I make, I ask that extra question, and give my 100% effort.