Andrea Sultan, Destination Manager for Mexico & The Caribbean at GetYourGuide, shares her inspiring journey of career progression within the company. Her story highlights how strategic moves through different teams, including Operations, coupled with patience and effective communication, paved the way to achieving her dream job.
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From Sales Coordinator to Supply Operations Manager: A Foundation for Growth
Andrea’s GetYourGuide journey commenced in November 2018 in the New York City office, where she served as a Sales Coordinator. In this role, she provided crucial support to Destination Managers, handling daily tasks and addressing supplier inquiries. This position, while heavily administrative, offered a dynamic environment filled with diverse challenges and continuous learning opportunities. The exposure to the daily operations of destination management provided a valuable foundational understanding of the business.
After two and a half years in sales coordination, a company restructuring led to a pivotal shift for Andrea. Her role transitioned into the Operations team, where she became a Supply Operations Manager. While Operations wasn’t initially her envisioned path, Andrea embraced this change with an open mind, recognizing the potential for acquiring new skills and broadening her company-wide network. This move into GetYourGuide Operations proved to be a strategic step in her career trajectory.
Leveraging Operations Experience for Career Advancement
Andrea understood that immersing herself in GetYourGuide Operations would equip her with a unique skillset, crucial for future career opportunities. She particularly valued the expansion of her professional network within the company, collaborating with colleagues who shared invaluable knowledge in a short timeframe. This experience within operations provided a holistic view of GetYourGuide’s business and strengthened her understanding of the interconnectedness between different departments.
When the opportunity arose to join the newly opening Miami office, Andrea was ready for a new challenge. Applying for a Destination Manager role, she successfully navigated the interview process, overcoming initial nerves, and secured the position she had long aspired to – Destination Manager for Mexico & The Caribbean. This transition highlights how experience gained within GetYourGuide Operations can be a powerful springboard to other roles within the company.
In May 2021, supported by her family, Andrea relocated from New York to Miami. She now thrives as part of a seven-member team in the Miami office, managing key destination operations.
Skill Enhancement through Proactive Engagement in Operations
From her initial days at GetYourGuide, Andrea’s ambition to become a Destination Manager was clear. This clarity of purpose was instrumental in shaping her career plan. She recognized the need to refine her sales skills, particularly in English, to achieve her professional goals. Her time in GetYourGuide Operations indirectly contributed to this skill development by exposing her to different facets of the business and broadening her understanding of supplier relationships.
To actively enhance her sales capabilities, Andrea proactively sought opportunities to learn from experienced Destination Managers. She requested to join meetings, observing their interactions with suppliers, analyzing their sales approaches, and understanding how they addressed objections. This immersive learning experience, combined with her operational knowledge, prepared her to confidently represent GetYourGuide. When she felt ready to take on supplier acquisition, she sought her manager’s support to make sales calls and further hone her skills.
Andrea’s proactive approach to skill development, coupled with her experience in GetYourGuide Operations, demonstrates the value of taking initiative and stepping outside one’s comfort zone to achieve career aspirations. Surrounding herself with inspiring colleagues and formulating a strategic plan were key components of her success.
Overcoming Communication Challenges and Cultural Nuances in a Global Operations Environment
One of the significant hurdles Andrea faced was the language barrier. Initially lacking confidence in her English pitching skills, she perceived it as a potential obstacle to career advancement. However, she tackled this challenge head-on through dedicated self-improvement. Practicing pitches, preparing notes, and embracing her authentic communication style, including her Latin accent, were crucial steps in overcoming this barrier.
Navigating cultural differences, particularly between her Latin communication style and the more direct German working culture prevalent at GetYourGuide’s headquarters, also required adaptation. Andrea learned to adjust her communication to be more concise and direct, seeking feedback from peers to refine her written communication for colleagues in Berlin. This adaptability, honed through her interactions within the global GetYourGuide Operations network, proved invaluable.
Furthermore, Andrea navigated changes in management during her tenure. While potentially disruptive, she viewed these transitions as opportunities to reiterate her career aspirations and leverage her strong peer relationships for advocacy. Maintaining open communication and transparency with managers and team members alike was key to ensuring her career progression remained on track despite organizational changes.
Patience and Strategic Timing in Career Development within Operations
Andrea emphasizes the importance of patience and recognizing the role of timing in career progression. While she felt ready for advancement earlier, she acknowledges that the right opportunities may not always align with personal timelines. Trusting the process and remaining patient are vital, particularly when navigating career paths within a large organization like GetYourGuide Operations.
Andrea’s mantra, “the sky’s the limit,” encapsulates her ambitious outlook on her career path at GetYourGuide. Her journey exemplifies how diverse experiences, including roles within GetYourGuide Operations, strategic skill development, and proactive communication, can contribute to achieving long-term career goals.
Advice for Career Pivots: Leveraging Operations Experience
Andrea’s advice for those considering a career pivot emphasizes proactivity and open communication. She encourages individuals to embrace opportunities, even if they seem initially uncertain, and to maintain transparent communication with their managers about their career goals. This proactive approach, combined with the valuable experience gained within GetYourGuide Operations, can pave the way for successful career transitions and achieving your dream role.
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