Biggest Challenges Faced by a Director of Sales and Strategy at Draco Natural Products
Russell's biggest challenge as Director of Sales and Strategy at Draco Natural Products is the industry's resistance to adopting modern analytical tools; the reliance on outdated methods like Excel spreadsheets, which Russell describes as "very very difficult to navigate," hinders the adoption of data-driven strategies.
Data Analysis, Overcoming Challenges, Industry Realities, Workplace Challenges, Executive/Leadership
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Russell Zhang
Director of Sales and Strategy
Draco Natural Products
UC Davis
UCLA MBA
Biology & Related Sciences
Food, Beverages & Alcohol
Sales and Client Management
Video Highlights
1. Challenge of transitioning an older industry to data-driven decision-making
2. Resistance to adopting new technologies and analytical tools
3. Balancing the need for innovation with the satisfaction of existing methods
Transcript
What is your biggest challenge in your current role?
In the industry I work for, I would categorize it as one of those older school industries. A lot of things have been done the same way for many years.
For example, keeping track of progress using Excel sheets might sound crazy to outsiders, but for this industry, it's still standard today. The challenging part is trying to be more analytical and rely on more data.
This is difficult when people are satisfied with the limited tools they've always used. It's very challenging to navigate.