Catrin Lewis
Today, we're very excited to introduce you to Charlotte Neal, Senior Enterprise SDR and all-round radiant and positive person of the UK Sales team. In July 2018, Charlotte joined Reward Gateway as an Employee Engagement Specialist and progressed to her current position of Senior Enterprise SDR which she personally describes as the "Best Job EVER!". She's recently travelled to Boston to support the development of our US Sales team and has been part of so many Reward Gateway moments over the last few years.
With so much experience of our company culture, we asked her to share a little bit more about her experience at Reward Gateway and what you can expect from a career in the Reward Gateway Sales team.
So Charlotte, to begin, tell us a bit about you...
I ended up working at RG almost by accident, and it is one of the best things that ever happened to me - has genuinely changed my life for the better. Previously I was working as a journalist, and I changed careers to come to RG - I always knew I liked sales and marketing (my dad is a sales director, as was my grandad) but I was never sure how to go about it, until a friend of a friend who worked at RG suggested the Sales Development Rep role to me.
It was instantly clear to me that the business’ values aligned with my own, and I knew I wanted to change careers to work at RG.
About me away from RG - I’m mad about music, health & fitness, yoga especially, exploring places, trying to keep my plants alive and reading.
Can you tell us why you Love Your Job?
I genuinely feel as though I’m making a difference, I feel valued by the people I work with and the wider company, and I’m given responsibility and opportunities and constantly encouraged to stretch my wings even further. I’ve never worked somewhere so kind and genuine, but that also pushes me in the right ways. Every day, I feel I’ve made progress. Plus, the benefits we get as employees have actually made my world outside of work a much better place, so for that, I will always be thankful and do my best for the company.
What has kept you at Reward Gateway?
Everyone says this, but it is true: the people. I have made friends for life. But also the product, the fact that what we do has such a huge impact on employees and the businesses they work for. The RG wider community is part of that too - the HR teams we get to work with are seriously impressive and it’s a privilege to be part of their journey.
What advice would you give anyone interested in applying?
Do it! There’s not much else to say other than be yourself, be genuine and be brilliant. It’s not always about experience, but more about the person you are and the skills you’ve acquired. I joined RG with no prior sales experience and nearly four years later I’m making great progress here.
What opportunities are there for career development?
We’re on a constant learning journey at RG, and how that looks for each team will be different. In Sales, we are using something called the Sales Impact Academy, which runs a series of short courses designed to inspire us. Career progression wise, the opportunities are always there within the team but also stretching to others dependent on skillset. I always think RG is what you make it, so if you come willing to learn and explore, that’s what will happen!
How do you see us Pushing the Boundaries in the next 12 months?
The one thing that excites me the most about RG is you never know what will happen next! Sure, we have a roadmap and plan, but equally, we are full of surprises and something we all joke about is ‘the only constant is change’. We are fast-paced and responsive, as well as proactive, in our tech and approach to the HR world, which is really exciting to watch unfold and be part of.
I’d love to tell you there’s one specific thing I am excited about, but the reality is that every day there are moments where we push the boundaries that are worth celebrating, and you don’t always know what that’ll be until it happens. We are also incredibly fast-growth, and seeing new people join the team and take us to new heights is what I’d say I am most excited about.
Which of our eight values do you feel you live the most?
We are human. I am encouraged to bring my whole self to work and our individuality is celebrated. I’m someone who loves people, and I try to always put myself in the other person’s shoes with each interaction I have and remember, we are all human.
What’s the team culture like?
We work hard and we play hard! Everyone gets on, so it is like working with your friends. We also have a real mix of RG long-timers and newer faces, which means we can mentor one another. There are so many people in our team who inspire me on a daily basis, which is a privilege. We encourage each other, challenge when it’s needed and have a laugh doing it. It’s a great place to be.
How would you describe our approach to flexible, hybrid working?
I’m a die-hard fan of being in the office so I guess I am swayed by that, but I would say we are very flexible. I’d like to see more people in the office more frequently because I think it promotes collaboration, especially across teams, however, we give people the choice to work in a manner that suits them best.
How would you describe the leadership style at RG?
Encouraging, nurturing and inspiring. I’ve always been supported by each manager and mentor I have had and feel I can bring my whole self to our conversations. They challenge me in the right ways, and encourage and support growth. We have an open and honest culture, which starts right at the top with our CEO Doug and filters down throughout our Leadership Team and down to managers.
What are your favourite benefits?
The Wellbeing Allowance - I always say it changed my life! I used it to get personal training sessions, lost two stone and feel so much better in myself. I also love our book benefit, it’s so generous - my collection is massive now and I sometimes use it to buy books I’m curious about but wouldn't necessarily buy otherwise. Our discounts are really helpful, and I also love the personal well-being coaching we get through Sanctus - another game changer! The list goes on, to be honest, but those are my highlights.
If you're keen to learn more about our Sales team and what opportunities there are to work with our talented team visit rg.co/careers.