In this edition of our "Employee Spotlight" series, we’re excited to introduce Anda Liepa, a dedicated Account Executive here at Pistachio. In this Q&A, Anda shares how her passion for basketball has contributed to her success in sales, the most important lesson she has ever learned, and what she enjoys doing outside of the office. Let’s get to know her a little better!
Q: Can you share a bit about your journey to Pistachio?
I grew up in Latvia, where I developed a passion for basketball. This love for the sport led me to earn a basketball scholarship that brought me to the United States during my high school years. After graduation, I returned to Europe to study at a university in Switzerland. Initially, I planned to move to Norway after completing my degree, but COVID-19 and travel restrictions changed my plans, leading me to temporarily relocate to Sweden instead. While there, I worked as an investment analyst intern for six months.
Once my internship was complete and borders reopened, I moved to Oslo and began working remotely as an account executive for a financial company. Eager to join a Norwegian company, I was excited to find an opening at Pistachio (formerly CYBR) for a Business Development Representative in early 2023, and I jumped at the opportunity. I’ve been with Pistachio for nearly two years now and advanced to an Account Executive (AE) role in March.
Q: What does a typical day look like for you?
As an AE, my day centers around the entire sales cycle. It begins with prospecting and reaching out to potential clients, followed by conducting meetings and demos. Follow-up calls are crucial for finalizing deals. Once a client is ready to proceed, I send out proposals and schedule additional follow-ups to ensure everything is in place. After finalizing the agreement, I hand off the client to the Customer Success Management team for a smooth onboarding experience. Each day brings new opportunities and challenges, which keeps the job exciting.
Q: What has surprised you the most about working at Pistachio?
What has surprised me the most is the incredible diversity within our team. The mix of cultures and perspectives truly makes our workplace interesting. While it’s inspiring to be part of such a hardworking and dedicated team, I also appreciate how humble and supportive everyone is towards each other.
Q: What personal traits or skills have helped you thrive as an Account Executive?
I believe the discipline and determination I developed from playing basketball have contributed to my success in this role. It's all about hard work, perseverance, and continuing to push through until you achieve your goals. I also find that having strong research skills is important in prospecting; it feels like solving a mystery, which I really enjoy!
Q: What three words would you use to describe Pistachio's culture?
Competitive, persistent, and supportive.
Q: Looking back, what is the most important lesson you have learned in your career?
One key lesson I’ve learned is to avoid being overly critical of myself and not to dwell on mistakes. I focus on viewing failures as valuable learning experiences and chances to grow. This perspective shift has been transformative, making me more resilient and confident in navigating challenges. It has truly helped my personal and professional life.
Q: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever received actually came from a Pistachio colleague. And that is to accept the things that are beyond my control. Instead of putting too much pressure on myself with unrealistic expectations, I've learned to reflect on how far I've come and to let go of excessive worries. This change in mindset has been incredibly freeing.
Q: What are your hobbies? Anything on your bucket list?
I love collecting and building grown-up Lego sets. Recently, I built the F1 McLaren car, but I also enjoy building the sets from the botanical collection, which is a fun and creative outlet! Sports are also big part of my life, like basketball and paddle. When I can, I also love spending time by the water. I’m a member of a boat club that lets you rent boats through an app, making it super easy to get out on the water.
On my bucket list, attending the Formula 1 race in Monaco is a dream of mine. I've been lucky enough to experience live races, like the one in Austria with my family, where we cheer for the Ferrari team – my favorite. Ultimately, my goal is to own a Greenline boat and cruise to that F1 race in Monaco. That would truly be a dream come true!
Q: If you could invite any famous person (dead or alive) to give a talk at Pistachio, who would it be and why?
I'd invite Nick Cegelski, the co-founder of 30 Minutes to President's Club, which is the leading sales media company and hosts the #1 podcast in sales. I admire his analytical approach to sales, and his book "Cold Calling Sucks (and That's Why It Works)" provides great insights into the challenges and importance of cold calling for sales success. In light of new methods like using video messages instead of traditional LinkedIn outreach, Nick's expertise would be incredibly useful for us in connecting with prospects more effectively. Coupled with the data-driven insights he gathers from Gong, which tracks customer interactions and provides valuable information at scale, inviting him could provide some great lessons for our team.
We hope you enjoyed getting to know Anda a little better. Stay tuned as we shine a light on the unique personalities that make our team so great!
