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Exciting. Collaborative. Dynamic.

These are all words that describe what it’s like to be a part of The Hartford’s sales team, says Jamie, a technology relationship executive with 15 years of experience in the sales field.

“Sales is exciting because it’s competitive, but it’s the collaboration that I love the most,” she says. “It takes a village to make a sale, and it’s the ‘team sport’ experience that makes it so much fun. When I receive good news on a sale, I know that it is the direct result of the hard work put in by so many individuals.”

Beyond collaboration, Jamie emphasizes how a sales career has enabled her to address challenges by being creative and “thinking outside the box to discover what levers to pull to put together the winning solution.” In short, “it’s an incredibly rewarding career that offers flexibility and the opportunity for both professional and personal growth,” Jamie says.

This is especially true at Jamie’s company, The Hartford, which emphasizes fostering an empowering and collaborative environment that focuses on employee growth. One way The Hartford achieves this is through its Women in Sales Council (WIS), which was started two years ago with the support and sponsorship of women executive leaders at the company. Today, the group focuses on sales and leadership development, expanding networks, and learning from one another.

“Being a part of this group has honestly been life changing for me,” Jamie says. “It has provided a sense of camaraderie, community, and opportunity for mentorship. It is the support and encouragement that make this group so special. We openly discuss common challenges that we face and lift each other up. The advice and perspective that I have gained from these women is priceless… I am really proud of WIS.”

WIS is one of the many ways that The Hartford supports the company’s team. In the interview below, Jamie tells us more about her exciting, challenging, and collaborative sales role as well as how The Hartford supports her and helps her to maintain work-life balance.

To begin, could you tell us more about your current role and how you got where you are today?

I started out as a Group Benefits Sales Representative 15 years ago.  Through consistent hard work and patience, I gained more sales territory, larger sales opportunities and was promoted to senior level sales roles.  Over time, I began to lead with technology in my sales strategy. The ability to deliver a better customer experience through The Hartford’s technology offerings helped me to win new business and sparked my passion for HR Technology. When the first Technology Relationship Executive role was created, I jumped at the chance to take on this role, and I am now a subject matter expert in these solutions and how they can help our customers. It is an exciting opportunity to leverage my sales experience and challenge myself to learn another side of the business by stepping outside of my comfort zone.  

My job as a Technology Relationship Executive is fast paced, and every day is different. Technology is constantly evolving, which means that our team and my role must evolve with it. We get to be creative and innovative in finding ways to make our customers’ lives easier through technology, which is both exciting and rewarding. This dynamic role also allows me to work with folks across our organization and the Benefits Technology industry.

The exposure and experience in this role — as well as the support that I have received from my manager, sales team, and leadership — has been incredible.

Could you tell us more about how you feel supported in your sales role at The Hartford? 

I have been fortunate to have incredibly supportive sales managers during my eight years at The Hartford. I am given the tools, resources, and guidance to be successful in my roles. The Hartford empowers me with the autonomy and freedom to be entrepreneurial and “run my own business,” which is something that I value. I also have a lot of support from my teammates who are always willing to help, share advice and provide feedback. 

Speaking of your team, could you tell us how you collaborate to achieve your goals?

We are a team of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences. Our unique perspectives allow us to learn from each other and draw from each other's strengths in a collaborative way. Everyone’s voice and contribution is valuable.

Although I enjoy the flexibility of working from home, it’s really important to me to find ways to stay connected in a remote/virtual environment. Our team is in constant communication. Weekly team “huddles” and one-on-one touchpoints allow us to stay connected and ensure that we are all taking a consistent approach to each of the markets that we support. We share knowledge and best practices and really support one another. This also allows us to take time off and fully “check out” when we are out of the office.

That sounds amazing! Mind sharing more about how your team — and The Hartford in general — supports taking time off and maintaining work-life balance?

I feel extremely lucky to work for a company that supports me in maintaining work-life balance. Within my team, we back one another up whenever one of us needs help or is away from the office. I’ve come to realize that, sometimes, the most productive thing I can do is take a break, because it allows me to recharge and come back reenergized. 

Working remotely comes with a unique set of challenges when it comes to work-life balance.  My boss has encouraged our team to take time off when we need to and to also block time on our calendars for transition times, for example when our kids are coming home from school. 

This culture of support for maintaining a good work-life balance is seen throughout the whole company, too. For example, during a WIS council meeting, one of our sales leaders shared that when her kids were young, she would take their school calendars and populate her work calendar with the special events that she did not want to miss. Hearing this from her allowed me to feel comfortable doing the same.

In closing, what advice would you give to another person who’s interested in pursuing a sales career?

Go for it!  It’s an incredibly rewarding career that offers flexibility and opportunity for both professional and personal growth.  Find good mentors who you can learn from and who will invest in your success.   

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