Welcome to the Dear Future CRO Podcast powered by GrowthQ, where we bring you insights from sales leaders who are shaping the future. I'm your host, Esther, and in today's episode, Shannon Redd takes the spotlight.

Shannon's career has been a remarkable journey from advocating for social justice as an attorney in family law and criminal justice, to a sales leader revolutionizing the public sector. Today, she's here to share her story of transition, diving into how her law career provided a unique foundation for her unexpected rise in the world of technology sales.

Join us as we uncover how Shannon's ability to connect with people and solve complex problems helped her pivot from the legal field to thriving at Cisco, even with no formal sales training. From navigating new territories to surpassing sales goals, Shannon's tale is a masterclass in leveraging one's innate skills and passions to forge a path to success. Don't miss out on this dynamic conversation with Shannon Redd


00:00 Unexpectedly discovering new career possibilities at a young age.
05:46 Top regional account manager, global sales pitch winner.
06:36 Thrived in sales despite lack of training.
11:40 Entrepreneurship and sales leaders show correlation.
13:48 First role in Cisco: business development manager.
17:35 Mentor at Cisco elevated my sales skills.
21:02 Strong support system to translate greatness effectively.
23:13 Embracing mentorship to improve knowledge and growth.
27:32 Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers reveals human nature.
30:12 Endless lessons to share, advice for Shannon.
32:25 Grateful for your time and career insights.

Keywords: Shannon Redd, reading people, sales environment, building relationships, human nature, understanding customers, social media content, TikTok, success within the system, Cisco, African American Mayors association, account manager, mentorship, Nick Hamilton, representation, empowerment, alignment in sales, customer needs, team collaboration, CTO, marketing professionals, career transition, attorney, family law, AARP, business development, exceeding sales plan, problem-solving, networking skills

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