In this inspiring episode of the Her Resources Podcast, host Linda Misegadis sits down with Cigdem Bildirici, a Senior Commercial Leader with deep expertise in scaling revenue and building international sales organizations across financial services, technology, and data analytics.

Cigdem shares her journey into sales, the challenges women face in sales leadership, and her powerful approach to leading with authenticity, empathy, clarity, and trust.

We dive into:

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  The evolution of the sales function from transactional to relationship-focused.

  
  


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  Navigating male-dominated industries and the importance of female representation.

  
  


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  Why authenticity means being genuine and its critical role in building trust with your team and customers.

  
  


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  The danger of overlooking bad behavior for the sake of hitting numbers and how to lead with integrity.

  
  


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  Pragmatic actions we can take to sponsor and elevate other women.

  
  


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  Cigdem's personal definition of success and her key leadership mantra: "Impact over Activity."

  
  

Connect with Cigdem Bildirici:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cbildirici/

Connect with Her Resources Podcast:

Website: https://www.youtube.com/@HerResourcesPodcast

Chapter Markers:

00:00:00 - Intro: Redefining Sales Beyond the Transaction

00:01:45 - Welcome and Introduction of Cigdem Bildirici

00:03:20 - Cigdem’s Unexpected Journey into Sales

00:04:31 - Women in Sales Leadership: The Data & Challenges

00:05:48 - The Power of Representation and Mindset Shift in Sales

00:09:12 - Defining and Leading with Authenticity

00:11:15 - Building Team Trust Over Focusing Solely on Numbers

00:15:02 - Addressing Bad Behavior vs. Hitting Quota

00:18:42 - Guidance on Performance Management and Difficult Conversations

00:20:58 - The Critical Importance of Women Supporting Women

00:23:22 - Practical Ways to Advocate and Open Doors for Others

00:29:00 - Shedding the “Mask” and Embracing Unique Leadership Styles

00:33:28 - Drivers of Change in Modern Leadership (Macro-Environment, Tech, COVID-19)

00:35:30 - Defining Personal Success and Staying Grounded

00:39:06 - Cigdem's Non-Negotiable Self-Care Practice

00:40:57 - One Key Leadership Mantra: Impact Over Activity

00:43:47 - Final Advice: Lean into Your Unique Strengths

00:46:29 - Closing Thoughts from the Host