Career Interview
From Account Executive
to Sales Manager: Milo talks
Milo den Doop (34) has been working at Relesys in the Amsterdam office since January 2022. He was hired as an Account Executive at the time, but was asked to become Team Lead after two months. Now, just under a year later, Milo is responsible for everything within the Netherlands office. He tells us about his experiences.
What was it like for you to take on a different role from the one you had applied for after only two months?
It was very unexpected, but it quickly felt very natural for me to be a manager. Despite having no experience as a manager before this, I have always coached people and tried to help where needed. In addition to managing coming fairly naturally, I also regularly ask for feedback from those around me to keep developing myself. By doing this, I hope to make sure my colleagues feel good and are enjoying themselves.
How do you compare sales at Relesys to sales at previous companies you have worked at?
Relesys is a startup and I used to work at large corporate companies with 12 to 15 thousand employees. Whereas at these companies all phases and processes are already established, at Relesys you get the chance to join forces with the team and find out together what works and what does not. As a result, you can quickly add real value from the experience you have, and that makes working really fun.
What does the hierarchy within Relesys look like?
First and foremost, we are all equal. There is not really a rigid hierarchy. Of course, there are a number of people who have decision-making authority, but everyone is asked for feedback and input and there is a lot of cooperation. Everyone is important and appreciated.
How do you notice your management is engaged with you?
Management will be at the forefront of celebrating successes, and they find personal contact important. To illustrate, the other day a colleague signed a great client and our CEO called to personally congratulate him and tell him how proud and happy he was. These kinds of interactions are personal and feel great. You can tell that they really care about you and want the best for both the organization and you as a person.
What is the most special moment you have experienced in your work the past month?
Our team activity last December. Having fun is one of our brand values and this is also reflected in the support we get from management for organizing team outings. I love that they encourage us to organize fun activities and have nice dinners together. It helps with team bonding, and you can tell that it has a positive effect on everyone. I think that is even more special than a success at work.
What is the most valuable thing you learned at Relesys?
A way of working. I was used to working in Sales and only dealing with Sales. If I wanted to go to an event, I assumed it could be arranged. Now, I weigh the costs against the benefits and consider whether it will pay off. At Relesys I learned to look at the bigger picture and I personally find that extremely valuable. I see Relesys as my own business, which has changed my way of working and looking at certain things enormously.
What makes you proud of your work?
That we create and represent a product that actually adds value to companies. We don’t just sell for the sake of selling; we truly enable companies to unite their employees and make them feel important. I find that incredibly valuable and that makes me proud.
What would you like to tell someone considering joining Relesys?
If you are looking for a positive environment where you can have a lot of fun with your work and colleagues, like to work hard and don’t mind a bit of chaos sometimes then Relesys is the perfect place for you.
Marketing Manager, Netherlands