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Kathleen, Account Executive at National beverage company: Advize Career Interview
A career in the beverage industry offers dynamic opportunities for growth, as evidenced by Kathleen's journey.
Early experience in a family restaurant instilled invaluable customer service skills, forming a strong foundation for a successful career as an Account Executive at a national beverage company.
The role blends remote work with engaging client interactions, requiring strong communication, negotiation, and strategic selling abilities, while navigating challenges like budgetary constraints and supply chain issues.
The industry's constant innovation and evolution, coupled with the importance of building strong relationships (both internal and external), creates a rewarding yet demanding work environment.
Entry-level positions are available, emphasizing the value of starting in frontline roles, providing a comprehensive understanding of the business.
An unexpected economics course highlighted the importance of blending analytical and creative skills for success, and Kathleen advocates for workplace equality, making this a career path filled with exciting challenges and opportunities for personal and professional growth.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Kathleen Walsh
Account Executive
National beverage company
Suffolk University, 2013
UCLA Anderson, MBA
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Communications
Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG)
Sales and Client Management
Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School
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Career Path of an Account Executive at a National Beverage Company
Kathleen's career path began uniquely with "a lot of symbolism" in working at their family's restaurant from age 13, progressing from kitchen work to bartending; this experience instilled the importance of customer service and relationship building, skills directly applicable to their current role as an Account Executive. This early foundational experience provided a strong baseline for Kathleen's professional career.
Main Responsibilities of an Account Executive at National Beverage Company
Kathleen's main responsibility as an Account Executive is managing "prestigious customers" and their multi-year contracts, ensuring adherence to contract terms regarding marketing, pricing, and service while driving year-over-year growth in "revenue, gp, and volume." This role requires Kathleen to wear "a lot of hats" to maintain strong customer partnerships and achieve business objectives.
A Day In The Life Of An Account Executive At A National Beverage Company
Kathleen's role as an Account Executive involves a blend of remote and in-field work; Mondays and Fridays are typically dedicated to "admin work," such as "2024 planning," while Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays are spent meeting with clients, maintaining ongoing projects, and "achieving" six-month goals. This balance of remote tasks and in-person client interaction, where Kathleen enjoys "being out in the field and talking to people," is a key aspect of the position.
Most Important Skills For An Account Executive At A National Beverage Company
Kathleen, an Account Executive at a national beverage company, emphasizes communication and relationship building—both internally with "finance, operations, supply chain, and marketing," and externally with clients—as crucial skills. Strategic selling, negotiation skills honed over the "year-long" contract process, and the ability to develop locally relevant marketing programs with limited budgets are also highlighted as essential aspects of the role.
Best Parts of Being an Account Executive at National Beverage Company
Kathleen most enjoys the strong relationships cultivated with collaborative clients, stating that "the clients that I work with are really great," making even challenging aspects of the job worthwhile. A key element is "collaborative business planning," initially perceived as tedious but ultimately rewarding, leaving Kathleen feeling positive about the future and the partnership's potential.
Biggest Challenges Faced By An Account Executive At A National Beverage Company
Kathleen's biggest challenges as an Account Executive include "not enough time in the day," budgetary constraints hindering marketing initiatives ("a great idea...the question of who's paying for it"), and the difficulties of managing a geographically dispersed team. The impact of supply chain issues is also a significant factor impacting their ability to execute strategies effectively.
Favorite Parts of Working in the Beverage Industry as an Account Executive
Kathleen, a tenured Account Executive in the beverage industry, enjoys the constant innovation and evolution of the market, stating that "it never gets boring," with new flavors and beverage types constantly emerging. The industry's consistent demand and Kathleen's observation of consumer trends and the company's adaptive responses make the career engaging and dynamic.
What Type Of Person Thrives In The Beverage Industry, According To An Account Executive At A Beverage Company
Kathleen, an Account Executive in the fast-paced beverage industry, highlights the need for "initiative," "multitasking," and "creativity" to thrive. This involves prioritizing tasks effectively, even when facing competing demands from customers and internal departments, while demonstrating the ability to "come up with creative solutions for problems."
What an Account Executive at a Big Beverage Company Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Beverage Industry
Working for a large beverage company involves navigating slow-moving processes, as Kathleen noted, "decisions do not get made super fast," particularly regarding significant initiatives and innovations. This requires patience, focusing on controllable aspects, and consistently providing feedback to influence change over time.
Entry-level Positions for Aspiring Account Executives at National Beverage Company
Entry-level positions at the National beverage company include internships and frontline sales roles, described as "field-based positions" involving order placement, inventory management, and relationship building with clients. The interviewee emphasizes the value of starting in a frontline role, using the analogy of "starting in the kitchen," to gain invaluable knowledge of the business from the ground up and become a better leader.
Significant Career Lesson From An Account Executive At A National Beverage Company
Kathleen, a National beverage company Account Executive, emphasizes the importance of treating everyone with respect because "circles are small" in the beverage industry, and professional relationships can unexpectedly reappear as "people can jump from one beverage company to another." This approach builds credibility and can be invaluable when bidding on business.
College Experiences That Helped an Account Executive at a National Beverage Company Succeed
Kathleen's unexpected discovery of economics through a "Poverty and Inequality" class unexpectedly proved pivotal, blending analytical skills with creative thinking—a balance crucial for a successful career in sales. This experience highlights the value of exploring seemingly unexciting academic options, as they may unexpectedly "set you up for success," demonstrated by their career progression in various sales roles.
How Identity Influenced an Account Executive at National Beverage Company's Career
Kathleen's career journey has been shaped by a commitment to improving workplace equality, noting that while "we've come some ways, [we] still have a long way to go." This commitment has led to active participation in women's organizations and a strong advocacy for driving change, including encouraging others to "be part of the change" by joining or creating business resource groups for women.
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