 |
|
|
Mischelle Choinski
The Americas (Arlington, Va., U.S.A.)
|
| Introduction: Mischelle Choinski was an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps and an operations manager at Xerox before joining Gartner seven years ago. Originally a Senior Account Executive at Gartner and later a Specialist, she is now a Team Leader in Field Sales. |
|
|
|
|
| |
Could you describe your current position?
As a Team Leader, I’m responsible for coaching and providing strategic leadership for a team of four that works collaboratively with Sales, Research, Consulting and Executive Programs to service the education vertical.
What traits and skills have been most beneficial to you at Gartner?
I think that tenacity obviously is a trait that many of the salespeople have in common, as well as competency in IT and the capacity to learn and continually develop.
What’s most attractive about Gartner Sales?
First, there’s no other company like Gartner. No other company has the breadth and depth, and the sustained presence in the industry. I think the most compelling part of Sales is the thought-provoking and intellectually stimulating culture, where you’re able to provide valuable solutions to a wide range of clients.
What kind of person succeeds in Field Sales at Gartner?
The truly valued contributors in Sales are inquisitive and take initiative in their personal growth. They are interested in being in the thick of the technology issues so many organizations face, and they balance their own activities with developing strategic relationships with clients.
Is there an incentive-based pay structure in place?
There is. Gartner pays very well, particularly for overachievers. Our Winner’s Circle is one example of the recognition and rewards available for stellar performance.
Are you still learning new things after seven years at Gartner?
Absolutely! I don’t think that you ever stop. One of the benefits of Gartner is you’re constantly being challenged to learn. It’s an environment where you’re always learning and building on the knowledge of the extremely talented and intelligent people surrounding you.
Is there one experience at Gartner that stands out to you?
I think no one experience stands out because there are so many. What we do within Gartner is solve problems for clients—really important problems. Sometimes it’s about lives and sometimes it’s about work processes or innovation, but every experience has the same thing in common: forward momentum related to how technology is transitioning and changing organizations and people.
Has your experience in the Marine Corps helped you in your career?
Yes, definitely. I think there’s a shared sense of loyalty and the courage to do the things that need to be done versus the things that are comfortable not to do. At Gartner, we have to help clients with very difficult problems. Sometimes it takes guts to tell clients what they don’t want to hear—but if it were easy, they wouldn’t need us.
Giving objective advice requires a high level of integrity, doesn’t it?
The integrity part is the reason why I’m here and not somewhere else. It’s really important to me. Gartner goes to extremes to remain unbiased and objective and independent. There’s a sense of pride that goes along with working for a company with those standards.
|
|
