The art of the pivot is a revered one. Knowing when to change direction, and doing so with purpose, is such a vital skill in unlocking not just your potential but happiness. With a background in hospitality and an appetite for delighting customers, Julia Yeo knew that she was passionate about being an essential part of crafting meaningful experiences.

Following the pandemic, she knew she had to switch gears and find something else. And spoiler alert, that’s exactly what she’s doing at HubSpot as a Business Development Representative (BDR) out of our Singapore office.
Continue reading to take inspiration from her internal mobility journey and understand how she’s forging her career growth. Let’s go!

Please share a bit about your journey to becoming a Business Development Representative (BDR).

Having a background in hospitality, delighting customers was always something I was passionate about. During COVID, my career in hospitality stagnated due to macroeconomic factors, and that was when I decided to pivot into the tech scene. Thanks to HubSpot, I began my journey as an Inbound Sales Coach (ISC) and I’m currently a BDR.

One question I often get asked is the difference between ISC and BDR. ISCs are a hybrid of sales and support, where the role’s primary aim is to delight users by enabling them to find the right answers to best leverage our free platform while identifying upgrade opportunities. As a BDR, it’s more outbound. BDRs are constantly on the lookout for a pool of great-fit potential customers who may find value in using HubSpot, even if they may not know who we are.

I was initially interested in sales because as an ISC, I wanted to understand what happens after a customer gets handed to the sales team. Some of these questions would form in my head while chatting with free users:

• “What happens after a customer calls/chats in?”
• “What other relevant questions could I ask to enable a smoother buying process?”
• “How am I able to deeper understand the customers’ needs to prescribe the best next steps”
  
  As a BDR, I’ve experienced great exposure to understanding a pool of potential customers. I’ve been able to ask, answer, and hone the questions that I had back when I was an ISC.

How has a hybrid workplace played a role in your career?

I have chosen a @flex working preference which means that I get to choose when to work from the office and home. There are no set or mandatory requirements, I decide!

A hybrid workplace has given me the opportunity to put my best foot forward in the physical environment that works best for me. For example, I prefer having 1:1 meetings in person and I love a quiet environment (like my room) when I’m planning my day and doing work.

If you want to read more about Hybrid @ HubSpot in JAPAC or anywhere across the globe, visit www.hubspot.com/hybrid.

How did you take the driver’s seat in enabling your career growth?

Internal branding and networking! I strongly believe that there’s always a before and after to every process and every role. With this mindset, I’d initiate 1:1s with people in the organization to learn more about their role, what’s important to them, and also how (in my given role) I would be able to value-add to them. It’s a great way to get to know people as well.

What were the opportunities given to you to steer you towards your career goals?

The greatest opportunities came from the managers I’ve worked with. Shoutout to the great management who are constantly aligning me with my professional goals through constructive feedback sessions. The transparent promotional path in sales is worth mentioning as well!

How did your colleagues play a part in assisting your career growth?

The JAPAC BDR team has created a collaborative culture, where we share best practices with one another so one person’s mistakes are not made twice. Shoutout to the JAPAC BDR team for the weekly memes and healthy monthly competition. 

What challenges have you faced?

When I first started, resources were widely available however it’s not uncommon to feel lost. Juggling between onboarding, learning about the BDR world, and hitting quota was challenging and fun. Thankfully, I had supportive teammates that helped accelerate my learning.

What do you hope to achieve in the future with HubSpot?

Flying the HubSpot flag high in the JAPAC region! I’m committed to understanding customers deeper first-hand, bridging the awareness gap in all customers' conversations through education, and creating successful and replicable sales concepts to share with the team. 

Describe #HubSpotLife in one word

Rewarding.

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Have your own rewarding moments at HubSpot JAPAC!

HubSpot is growing. Fast. That means there’s always an opportunity to learn and grow. But don’t worry, you’re not alone. HubSpot JAPAC is bustling with people at the top of their game - the opportunities to learn, grow, collaborate, and build are endless.

Want to grow better like Julia at HubSpot? Come join us and help in building a global company where we're all proud to belong. 

• See open sales positions here.
• Learn about HubSpot Singapore here.
• Stay up-to-date with all things #HubSpotLife here.