What is the most exciting or challenging thing you’ve learned?
The most challenging thing I’ve learned is to use predictive modelling techniques, data analytics and programming languages to investigate a leak in a foreign currency treasury from a large private bank in south east Asia. It was enticing, since I got to analyze heaps of data to find nimble patterns that suggested fraud, money laundering or criminal activity. It was tough, but an amazing learning experience.
The most exciting thing I‘ve learned (and still am) is how to navigate different client stakeholders to sign multi-million-dollar enterprise deals. The art of navigation between different business teams, understanding each of their pain points, and coming up with a solution that fits their needs is exhilarating. Mostly because of the grind. Some days everything goes your way, others are total slumps. Pre-COVID I got to travel to places I’ve never been to before. Like Kuala Lumpur and Yangon. I almost made it to New Zealand too, but then the pandemic hit.
What is it like working with Crayons?
Working with Crayons is like being in an underdog team full of superstars. We compete with tier 1 consulting firms, tech firms and global enterprise firms, when we work with our clients. The Crayon Box is full of experienced professionals who all come from enterprise backgrounds like IBM, McKinsey, etc. But they chose to stay with Crayon to make a real difference in the way traditional enterprises today engage with their customers. I learn from my seniors, peers and juniors every day. We work hard. And we party even harder. The sense of camaraderie is intense, and we solve complex problems regularly.
What are some of the skills/tech and tools you’ve picked up from your time as a business development specialist at Crayon?
First of all, I started in the analytics team before moving on to business development. As a business analytics consultant, I learned how to code in Python, picked up SQL and also learned the basics of data visualization using Tableau. But more than simple “doer” skills, I also picked up many “thinker” skills. I understood how to look at large datasets and have a clear structure to derive solutions to any business problem. And translate large chunks of unreadable data into beautiful stories that provide key business insights to improve and optimize any business challenge.
As a business development specialist, I learned how to apply data driven methods to showcase business value to prospective clients. I picked up various CRM tools like HubSpot and Salesforce. And learned about different sales frameworks like MEDDICC, which opened my eyes to the crazy world of enterprise sales. Enterprise sales is very different from consumer sales. It’s the HULK of all sales. It requires a degree of consulting, a layer of business understanding and keen sense of negotiation while dealing with sums in seven or eight figures.
I could really go on.
What kind of support do you receive from your teammates / the company?
All the support that you can imagine. I did not know what I wanted to do when I graduated and the company said, “We’ll bounce you around different teams for six months at a time and see where you fit in best”. I got to try new things, experience new functions and get a well-rounded learning experience. When I needed some time off, my team was generous enough to give me three weeks of paid leave to relax. When I was hospitalized with a severe injury, I could work from home for as long as I needed to recoup. The support system is extraordinarily strong here.
In terms of professional learning, as I mentioned earlier, my mentors and peers have really engaged with me to provide regular feedback. They constantly push me to do my best. And produce results.
