Podcast Episode: Championing Women in Cybersecurity & Sales with Holly B. Hunt
Holly B. Hunt, Vice President of Channel Sales for Cipher, shares her compelling journey. She built an indirect sales channel for a leading cybersecurity firm. Her story weaves through essential themes. These include resilience, persistence, and the critical role of networking in career advancement.
Holly discusses the burgeoning demand for managed security services. This demand comes amidst rising cybersecurity threats. She explains how Cipher started in Brazil and grew into the U.S. This roots influence their strategy for growth. Her insights resonate deeply with sales professionals navigating the rapidly changing cybersecurity landscape.
Career Evolution: From Retail to IT Leadership
Listeners will enjoy an inspiring narrative. It follows the evolution of sales careers and leadership roles. We explore the transformation of an individual. This person progressed from managing a clothing store sales team during college.
Eventually, they led a podcast business. This segment spotlights the power of embracing new opportunities and special projects. These can truly capture leadership attention and facilitate career advancement.
The episode further highlights a significant shift. It moves from a numbers-focused mindset to a leadership approach. This approach thrives on empathy and effective communication. It ultimately encourages team growth and productivity.
Mentorship, Work-Life Balance & CRM for Sales Success
The conversation continues by addressing work-life balance. It also highlights the importance of mentorship. This is especially crucial for women in male-dominated fields like cybersecurity.
Holly emphasizes the necessity of taking time off for mental health. She explains how leaders can foster a supportive environment for their teams. She shares personal experiences of overcoming gender biases.
This was achieved with the help of a dedicated mentor. This underscores the transformative impact of guidance and honest feedback. The discussion ends with tips on using CRM systems effectively in sales teams. It highlights both their potential pitfalls and benefits when used correctly.
Meet Our Guest: Holly B. Hunt, VP of Channel Sales, Cipher
Holly B. Hunt is a seasoned sales leader. She has nearly two decades of experience. This includes telecommunications sales, sales leadership, enablement, and channel development. She is currently the VP of Channel Sales at Cipher, a global Managed Security Services Provider.
Holly has previously held leadership roles at prominent companies. For instance, she worked at Comcast Business, AT&T, Windstream, and others. Holly has been widely recognized in the IT channel. She has earned multiple accolades.
These include the Women of the Channel list for 2022-2024, the National Channel Manager of the Year from Sandler Partners for 2022- 2023, and the LEAD award for outstanding female leaders in 2023.
She actively contributes to industry organizations, serves on the board of the Alliance of Channel Women and OAPB Fishing Foundation also Communications Chair for the Alliance of Channel Women. Holly was recently inducted into Cloud Girls.
She is a sustaining member of the Junior League of Fort Lauderdale.
A double-degree graduate from the University of Georgia, she is also an entrepreneur. Furthermore, she has moderated the John Maxwell Live 2 Lead Leadership Conference.
Key Takeaways You’ll Learn:
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Holly’s journey in building an indirect sales channel for a cybersecurity firm.
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The critical role of resilience, persistence, and networking in career advancement.
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Insights into the growing demand for managed security services amidst cybersecurity threats.
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The evolution of sales careers and leadership from a numbers-focused to an empathy-driven approach.
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The importance of work-life balance and mentorship for women in cybersecurity.
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Strategies for utilizing CRM systems effectively in sales organizations.