Ask an Avenger: How Inspire's Sales Operations Manager ‘Studies It’

After being recognized as Avenger of The Month for our "Study It" value, we sat down with our Sales Operations Manager, Shannon Burke, to learn what it means to her.

Study it: Avengers are relentlessly curious. We are never done growing. We seek to improve ourselves every day. We are humble in acknowledging what we don’t know. We are always testing and learning. We look for new ideas everywhere.

Shannon spends her days managing interactions with our sales partners and vendors, seeking to enhance the sales process flow by driving testing and quality assurance of new features. So it’s no surprise that she has a knack for studying the sales landscape and finding strategic ways to improve our processes. She was specifically acknowledged for the role she played in releasing our territory management and targeting tools for our sales team. We sat down with Shannon to talk all things “Study It,” and Inspire. Here’s what she said:

Q: What does the ‘Study It’ value mean to you?

To me, "Study It" means coming into work every day with an open mind. It means putting yourself into new and sometimes uncomfortable situations in order to push yourself outside of your comfort zone. I think that's the best way to learn. To "Study It," I work to listen first and push myself to think differently. I do my best to always be in the moment and soak up as much as possible from those around me. At Inspire, I'm surrounded by so many brilliant and talented people every day, so my favorite way to learn is through their example and experience.

Q: What’s the best thing you’ve learned at Inspire?

One of the best things I've learned at Inspire, outside of the wealth of knowledge about the energy industry and being able to create something truly different within that, is being part of a team. I grew up playing almost every team sport there is and always loved that feeling of being a part of something bigger. Now in my professional career, it takes on a new meaning: learning how to have each other's back, to support each other on the good days and bad, to express our thoughts and needs openly, and to trust in the people you spend a majority of your time with every week. Learning how to be a part of this team has been truly special and unforgettable.

Q: What project are you working on that you’re excited about? What insights are you hoping to gain from it?

I am working on a project for our sales team that I am very excited about. I have researched, tested, and launched a territory management tool for our sales team that provides them with all the information they need to increase efficiency and succeed in the field. I've loved working so closely with members of our Sales Team and shadowing them to really understand what they need so I know how I can best help. I’m looking forward to incorporating the feedback I’ve gathered to continually provide solutions for sales productivity and efficiency.

Q: What do you love about working at Inspire?

Definitely the people that create our amazing culture. I feel lucky to be surrounded by a group of people that make me laugh and think, and who inspire me and push me to be my best, and work together toward a common goal. On any given day you can feel and see our culture as soon as you walk in the door, and that is something I love most about coming into work every day. I also appreciate Inspire’s commitment to continual education and growth, not only at an employee level but a personal level as well.

It’s Avengers like Shannon who teach us that there’s always more to learn and areas to improve in. If you’re interested in being a part of a team that’s always learning and growing, check out our open positions here.