by Interview with Katja von Tegelen, Head of Sales
Peers: How would you describe your job to a bunch of five-year-olds?
Katja: Peers is offering a platform to learn things people need for their jobs. It is just as kids learn in kindergarten how to tie their shoes.
My job is to give people and companies the product to get smarter and to be more professional at their jobs so that they can constantly learn and develop their abilities more.
Peers: Why are you excited about your job?
Katja: What made me join the team was Elisa’s vision and passion. And how passionate she is about her company was one part. The other part is that I think that product has an immense future and it’s very much needed in very different areas. I am looking forward to opening that portal of learning for people who also want and need training.
Peers: What’s something that has surprised you about your chosen career path?
Katja: I think one of the things that is very much underestimated in sales is the personal connection you build with your customers. You can have a great product and awesome pricing. But if you don’t have a connection or don’t understand your customer, it would be very difficult to make a deal. It is about understanding what they really want because sometimes they tell you what they need. But is the decision based solely on a need? And are they communicating their actual need all the time? I enjoy figuring out what they really need and how we can help them.
Peers: If you could snap your fingers and become an expert in something, what would you choose and why?
Katja: Cryptocurrency. Because it’s such a black hole and so complex, I wish I could stop reading about it and listening to podcasts. And just like that, understand everything I want to know.
Peers: Do you have any productivity tricks, especially in the home office?
Katja: I think the thing everyone is struggling the most with either at home or in the office is staying focused. So, I learned that it is important to have little breaks in between. That helps to detach your brain from everything that’s going on. And then you can go back and focus on one topic. We all think that we can multitask. Well, we can’t, actually. One steppingstone after the other and that is how you get the furthest.
Peers: What’s one thing your colleagues don’t know about you? Any secret talents?
Katja: The first thing that came to mind is that I clear my head while I’m driving a car, preferably on open roads. And just listen to music and just go. That’s also not environmentally friendly, but it works.