Leaders

Leadership in sales entails not only inspiring and motivating the sales teams but also making strategic decisions that are pertinent to the organization's vision and goal. It is crucial for a company to have excellent sales executives like Kritika Singh because such professionals set the tone for the culture of the company as well as the overall performance of the organization.

With over seven years of experience in expanding and man-aging varied SDR teams in the fast-paced B2B SaaS market, Kritika is an expert in business development and GTM strategy. Engaging in an exclusive interaction with Women Entrepre-neur magazine, Kritika describes her leadership journey so far at Pleo.

Tell us about the various roles and responsibilities you shoulder as the Head of Sales Development at Pleo. What are your current focus areas in the said role?

I now lead sales development for the DACH market. Building a stronger foothold in Germany is a top priority for us. Given this, we are the firm's primary point of contact with clients, we help spread the word about the company, and I work closely with many stakeholder teams such as marketing and direct sales to implement a robust GTM plan for the DACH region. Overall, I am currently responsible for directing a team of around 12 SDRs and an SDR manager, most of whom are located in Lis-bon.

Throw some light on the most critical challenges you face in your current role. What steps do you take to overcome the roadblocks that you face?

I would like to emphasize that the people I supervise are among the most courageous in the company. For the obvious reason that I was doing precisely what an SDR does when I first arrived in Germany. They handle prospect inquiries, promote Pleo, and raise awareness. On rare occasions, they may also face rejection. As a result, 'I'm not interested' is a perfectly reasonable response from the other side sometimes. In order to give it an-other go, they'll need to summon the will to tell them-selves, 'And you know what? I'm going to dust myself off and try again, this time with a different strategy'. Keeping them motivated under these conditions can be a challenge sometimes.

Helping my team succeed is something I take great pride in doing. It is my duty as a leader to make them aware of the significance of their skills and informa-tion they are acquiring at this time. It's important to continuously work on your self-assurance so you can call a complete stranger and make them understand the value your company's offerings can bring to them. An average person just cannot do this.

Throw some light on facets of your life beyond the professional world. Tell us about the various activities or hobbies that you like to indulge in when time permits.

I'm an outdoor person who loves riding her bike to work, especially during summer months. I like spend-ing time in the nature and ocassionaly enjoy surfing and skiing. I also love spending my free time listening to business themed podcasts  and of course catching up with my family and friends.

On the other hand, I've just begun meditating and find that it's quite beneficial. Starting the day with a calm, collected mind is essential, and I strongly recommend doing this. Moreover, I sometimes also do yoga.

Drawing from your experience as a business leader, what would your advice be to young women and girls who also aspire to become business leaders and entrepreneurs in the future?

"Be bold, be proactive, and do not be afraid to take on a job or project that at first glance scares the hell out of you"

One of my favorite quotes is from Sadhguru  "Leader-ship is not a position you take, it is an impression you make". Hence, my advice to young women is, "Be Bold, Be proactive, and do not be afraid to take on a job or project that at first glance scares the hell out of you". As women we often only go for opportunities where we feel absolutely confident, we can deliver. Take on projects even when you are unsure that you can do them - because if there is a will, you will find a way.

Kritika Singh, Head - Sales Development- Dach, Pleo

Kritika completed her Bachelor of Technology and Master of Technology degrees from Jaypee Institute of Technology, her Master of European Studies from The University of Bonn, and her Master of Science from The University of Edinburgh. Kritika is an expert in expanding and managing SDR teams spanning across the globe in the fast-paced B2B SaaS market, where she has worked for over seven years. She is now the Head of Sales Development for DACH at Pleo and is very motivated about fostering diverse and collaborative teams, establishing repeatable procedures, and leading with compassion and understanding.