The Power of Connection: Reflections From a Women in Sales Retreat

During May, I took seven days off from work. If you know me, you know that’s a lot of time for me to be disconnected from work and my team. Five of those days were dedicated to binge-watching Netflix and focusing on self-care. One day I spent working incognito to catch up from my vacation. However, on the seventh day, I attended the Women in Sales Castle Retreat in Davis, CA, and it was the most impactful day of my vacation.

While my self-care days were rejuvenating, they didn’t compare to my time at the WIS Castle Retreat. One of the key elements of mental health is social well-being, and the retreat provided me with the sense of community I was missing during those isolated days.

Women in Sales is an amazing online community where members can connect with peers, find job opportunities, share resources, and most importantly, support each other. They organize in-person events, webinars, and create educational content geared toward helping women build better careers in sales. This retreat was one of the in-person events they host throughout the year, and based on my experience there, I would recommend that anyone who can attend one of their events, should. I gained new insights into my communication style and how others perceive it. I learned strategies for effective networking and event participation, the difference between dreaming and realistic goal setting, and how improv can enhance conversations and maintain a natural communication flow.

We shared our journeys into sales and discussed the decline in mental health among sales professionals over the past few years. To focus on solutions rather than problems, we brainstormed ideas to drive positive change. Two solutions we discussed really resonated with me:

1. Setting proper expectations from the top down. We recognized that leadership needs to push back on the “growth at all costs” mentality. This relentless pursuit of growth impacts every facet of GTM teams, leading to a culture where sales and meetings are prioritized at any cost. As LinkedIn feeds flood with negative perceptions of salespeople, are we taking a step back to ask what’s causing this?

2. Addressing the fear of vulnerability in the workplace and discussing mental health. It took me years to realize that vulnerability isn’t a weakness. I have feelings about things often, but they don’t stop me from taking life head-on. Knowing I’m not alone in my struggles is comforting. It doesn’t mean wallowing in self-pity; rather, it’s about how we can come together to tackle the challenges we face.

I consider myself fortunate to work in an environment where I can be vulnerable, where my manager encourages me to take vacations to prioritize my mental health (even when I’m being stubborn). I’m even more fortunate to work for a company that is rooted in elevating women, particularly those who are facing challenging circumstances.

Though I spend my days in an environment surrounded by female empowerment, I walked away from the retreat with an even deeper sense of acceptance, belonging, and community. Together, we can uplift and support each other, share valuable insights, and drive positive change in our industry.

If you want to learn more about my experience participating in Women in Sales and how Televerde supports women in sales connect with me on LinkedIn or schedule time on my calendar.