Anna-Lena is an account manager in the Digital&Channel Sales department. She was given the opportunity to grow and advance both professionally and personally by moving from a position in-house to the field sales organization. She has enjoyed familiarizing herself with her new role. In the interview she provides insights into the tasks of an account manager.
Hi, Anna-Lena. You started out at Pepperl+Fuchs in a dual vocational training and academic study program…
Anna-Lena: It’s been a while! (laughs) Yes, I wanted to do a dual program when I finished secondary school. I came across Pepperl+Fuchs through the Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University (DHBW) in Mannheim. I was interested in both business and technology, so in July 2014 I decided to study business and engineering with a focus on electrical engineering.
What came next after your studies?
Anna-Lena: During the program, I had the chance to get to know different departments. I especially enjoyed a practical placement in sales, where I familiarized myself with the entire Pepperl+Fuchs product portfolio, among other things. Then, after I finished the program, I was offered a position in the in-house technical team. I supported customers with their applications and dealt with any resulting technical questions while I was there. As I was in touch with colleagues in field sales, I gained first insights into what they did.
So when did you get to work in the field for the first time yourself?
Anna-Lena: My first opportunity was in the summer of 2020. One of our partners in the electrical and electronic wholesale sector specifically needed technical support, and I was asked if I would handle it. It sounded really exciting to me, so I was glad to take on the job.In hindsight, that was my first step toward working in the field. Then, the year after that, I helped one of my colleagues in field sales with a project for another customer, so I also got to see how diverse the tasks are in the area.In mid-2021, I was asked if I was interested in working entirely in the field, specifically in digital and channel sales, and I decided to take the opportunity.
You work in digital and channel sales. What does that mean, concretely?
Anna-Lena: Our department consists of three areas. First, there’s digital sales, which covers everything the name suggests, like providing information for our wholesale partners’ websites. However, I work in channel sales. We support our partners in the electrical and electronic wholesale sector throughout Germany, providing advice and assistance whenever they have questions. The third area is market customer care, which provides service to customers who don’t have a specific point of contact in direct sales, for example, or who are new customers of Pepperl+Fuchs.
You’ve already talked about it a little bit, but can you give us a sense of what are your tasks as an account manager?
Anna-Lena: One of my main tasks is to work with our wholesale partners to sell products and solutions by Pepperl+Fuchs. So we work together to develop sales strategies. Since all of our partners have their own objectives and, therefore, own requirements, we’re constantly taking different approaches. I’m also the point of contact for all kinds of inquiries, like special prices or projects. My sales area covers Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, so scheduling on-site visits and videoconferences is also part of my daily work. My work really varies from day to day, and there’s always a new topic or contact person. It’s crucial for me to work closely with my commercial and technical sales team in order to do my job effectively.
What has been your biggest challenge to date at Pepperl+Fuchs?
Anna-Lena: Moving to the field, definitely. Working even more independently and taking on more responsibility has been a big opportunity for me to grow and advance not just professionally, but also as a person. And above all, it’s really fun to get to grips with new tasks and work with my wholesale partners to carry out sales activities and work on their customers’ inquiries.
What do you do when you aren’t working?
Anna-Lena: I try to exercise regularly, e.g. yoga and strength training. Yoga is easy to practice in a hotel room, which is a plus for me because I travel a lot. But I also like curling up on the couch with a book.
Profile:
Name: Anna-Lena
Occupation: Account Manager in field sales in the Digital&Channel Sales department
Joined Pepperl+Fuchs: July 2014
Favorite book: The Outlander series
Especially important to her: spending time with family
Biggest weakness: sweets of almost any kind
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