Unlock the secrets of sales leadership and discover the power of tenacity with Sylvain Jacob, Vice President of Sales at MicroServe. Listen as Sylvain takes us on his inspiring journey from a paperboy to leading a dynamic sales team in the competitive IT services industry. You’ll learn invaluable lessons on understanding customer needs, building partnerships with OEMs, and the sheer joy of acquiring new customers, as well as navigating the challenges of payment collections.
Sylvain shares his conscious transition from a high-performing individual contributor to a leadership role, underscoring the pivotal role of mentorship. Gain insight into how coaching and guidance helped him overcome initial setbacks and develop his leadership skills. This episode emphasizes the importance of mentoring within organizations and through external programs, demonstrating the rewarding experience of guiding new graduates and the broader cultural impact of giving back to the community.
We’ll also explore the entrepreneurial culture at MicroServe, where autonomy and long-term relationships are key. Sylvain explains how the company avoids micromanagement and embraces a performance-driven yet flexible environment. Learn about the benefits of being privately owned, promoting from within, and the strategic importance of engaging early in the sales cycle. Don’t miss Sylvain’s insights on CRM management and the exciting future plans for optimizing sales processes at MicroServe.
Sylvain Jacob is a dynamic sales and management executive with a strong foundation in IT solutions and strategic partnerships across Canadian enterprise and public sectors. With a Bachelor of Business Administration in Operational Research from Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, he began his career at Hewlett Packard and advanced to VP of Sales at Microserve. Known for his communication, business analysis, and strategic thinking skills, Sylvain consistently exceeds sales goals by fostering long-term relationships and uncovering new opportunities. He is bilingual, fluent in English and French.
Quotes:
“Sales starts with a ‘no.’ It’s about finding the customer’s pain point and having the tenacity to keep the conversation going until you can help them.”
“Leadership skills are honed over time, not innate. My journey from an individual contributor to a leadership role was guided by valuable mentorship.”
“It’s not all about you; it’s about the value you provide to the organization. Shift your perspective and think about how you can deliver value.”
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