FTAPI Diaries: Meet our Sales Team Lead Catja
Who are the people behind FTAPI? What drives them, and what do they enjoy most about working at FTAPI?
Meet the team! We’re introducing the faces behind FTAPI – the people who bring their heart and dedication to the company’s success every single day.
Since joining FTAPI in September 2023, Catja has been channeling her lifelong passion for sales as a Team Lead for Sales. She is currently building her Full Cycle Account Executive Team.
Why did you start your career in sales?
Even as a child, I had a passion for selling – starting with a yard sale, where I quickly realized a simple truth: the more you sell, the more you gain ;-) This realization has motivated me ever since. The idea of being directly rewarded for my performance and achievements – both professionally and financially – has always fascinated me.
The joy of selling, paired with the opportunity for direct recognition and rewards, led me to pursue a career in sales, and it still drives me today.
What are your goals for yourself and your team?
Since September 2023, I’ve been leading a fantastic Full Cycle Account Executive team as their Sales Team Lead. My main goal is to build a strong team and train my Account Executives (AEs) to succeed. A Full Cycle Account Executive handles all phases of the sales cycle – from identifying and qualifying potential customers (leads) to managing sales processes and closing deals.
To support this, we’ve developed a fantastic onboarding program at FTAPI. Every new AE starts in our Sales Academy, where they learn the basics of FTAPI’s sales approach, our product, and the market. This is followed by further onboarding in the AE Sales Academy within my team.
Our Sales Academy combines theoretical and practical content, which is trained and applied "on the job." By the end of the program, every AE has a deep understanding of the skills and responsibilities of a Full Cycle AE, equipping them to kick-start their careers and make meaningful contributions to FTAPI’s success.
What’s been your favorite moment at FTAPI so far?
One of my favorite moments at FTAPI was earlier this year during our team kick-off meeting. Since we’re all relatively new at FTAPI, we wanted to create a strong foundation for collaboration. The workshop aimed to define clear rules and principles for how we work together.
One particularly memorable moment was an exercise where we wrote positive traits about each team member on Post-its and stuck them on each other’s arms. It was such a fantastic moment full of positive energy and team spirit.
Sales Team Kick off
This year, you’ve decided to focus on promoting the topic of Women in Sales. Why is that, and what are your plans?
I’ve noticed that women are sometimes hesitant to start a career in sales or picture themselves having a high-flying sales career because sales is still seen as a male-dominated field. But I firmly believe that we need more women in sales because they bring strengths that are incredibly valuable in this profession.
Moreover, I’m convinced that diverse teams are more successful. A team that balances different strengths is more effective and creative. Just as a football team can't consist solely of goalkeepers, a successful sales team needs a mix of talents and perspectives.
That’s why I’ve made it my mission this year to promote women in sales through initiatives like networking events. I’ve attended a few sales networking events myself, and in May, we hosted our first AE Meetup in FTAPI’s new office. I think it’s so important to talk about this topic. For example, on International Women’s Day, we held a cool internal Lunch & Learn session at our office.
Sales Meetup at the FTAPI Office
Why join FTAPI’s Sales Team now?
FTAPI is currently in an exciting growth phase, offering incredible opportunities for both the company and personal development. It’s a fantastic time to join a dynamic, high-potential environment and grow both professionally and personally.
If you’re someone who loves to roll up your sleeves and celebrate successes, now is the perfect time to join our Sales Team. At FTAPI, you’ll have the chance to actively contribute to the company’s success while seeing and celebrating the results of your hard work.