Getting to know Laura Stephenson

Laura is one of Xalient’s Business Development Managers based in the UK. Laura helps businesses find the right solution to help them transform and secure their networks and ensure they can thrive with an agile and modern technology foundation. 

What is a typical working day at Xalient like for you?

The joy of a fast-growing, innovative, and disruptive company means no two days are ever the same. One day can be catching up and learning new technologies and why our customers would benefit from them, to attending events and talking to like-minded people. With any sales role, the majority of my time is spent reaching out to people to learn about their business and understanding how Xalient can help them improve, adapt and be ahead of the curve in an ever-changing economy.

What aspect of your role do you enjoy the most?

I really enjoy learning and understanding what my prospect’s and customer’s goals and aspirations are. It makes it so much more rewarding when we can provide them with a platform to achieve those goals.

What’s the best thing about working for Xalient?

The people.  Without a doubt, Xalient’s people are the best there is. Every person in every department has the values at their core. Everyone’s mission is to put the customer first whilst ensuring we all work together to create the right environment that promotes creativity. It also helps that everyone has a wicked sense of humor.

What skills do you find most useful to do your job?

Communication is key to my role both with my customers and also within Xalient. The ability to communicate externally what we do and to communicate internally what a customer needs, how they need it and why they do. I find the ability to roadmap a customer journey with a lot of intrigue and curiosity helps me to get to the core of why.

If you could have a drink with anyone (fictional, alive, dead, famous, non-famous), who would it be and why?

My partner introduced me to a writer and journalist called Graham Hancock. He writes and talks about ancient civilisations amongst other areas and is often described by his peers as bonkers or a lunatic. He challenges what we have already been told and throws out the rule book. Over the past few years, more and more of his theories are being proved right and experts in the field are having to rethink their stances. I would love to talk to him about what kept him going when no one believed he was right and how does he feel now that as time moves on more academics are listening.

What was the last TV show or book you binge-watched/read?

I have just finished a TV series called Criminal minds; it’s about an FBI unit that deals in behavioral analysis, I find it fascinating. I do read a lot! I am currently halfway through a series of SCI-FI books by James S.A Corey called the Expanse series.

What inspires you?

Learning inspires me. I am a curious person and absolutely love learning something new whether it be work-related or something completely different, like a short course on ancient Egypt or criminology. When I am trying to discover more about the world’s past and present it inspires me to try new things.

What is your favorite piece of technology?

I have got to say my Fitbit, especially during lockdown it kept me on target during the week to step away from the desk and get moving.