In this episode of the Manufacturing Leaders Podcast, Mark welcomes Laura Black, UK Director of Sales at Smithers Oasis, to talk about sales, leadership and the lessons she has learned throughout her career.

Laura shares how she went from studying law to door-to-door sales, and then to leading teams at a young age. She reflects on how hearing “no” early in her career helped her build resilience and taught her to listen closely to what customers need.

Mark and Laura discuss why trust and honesty matter in sales, and how Laura has adapted her approach to managing people. She talks about using tools such as Myers-Briggs to better understand herself and her team, as well as recognising when taking on too much was leading her towards burnout.

The conversation also covers her experience as a woman in leadership, finding balance as her career has grown, and the work Smithers Oasis is doing on more sustainable products.

If you work in sales or lead a team, Laura’s reflections offer plenty to take away.

Click here to connect with Laura on LinkedIn.

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Theo James is a Manufacturing & Engineering Recruiter based in the North East, helping Manufacturing and Engineering firms grow across the UK.

If you’d like more information about Theo James, feel free to get in touch with the team or Mark anytime.

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