We are the makers of possible: From High School Teacher to Regional Inside Sales Manager

Selma Smith feels very grateful for the career she has built at BD. The Regional Sales Manager for Inside Sales for Surgery migrated from Bosnia to the U.S. with her family when she was just nine years old. The experience left an indelible impression on her.

“I believe every career opportunity I’ve had is because of moving to the U.S. It was a great learning experience and helped me find my drive and determination. I began working as a high school history teacher after graduating from Eastern Illinois University. After about a year-and-a-half, I applied for the Inside Sales Development Program at BD, which taught me so much and today, I’m leading that team for Surgery. It’s been an amazing journey so far,” Selma explains.

What is Inside Sales?

Inside Sales, also known as virtual sales or remote sales, is the process of selling products and services remotely, rather than face-to-face. Those associates who apply and are accepted to the Inside Surgery Sales team in the U.S. will call, email, use video conferencing and other digital methods to build and maintain relationships with their leads and customers.

“Our Inside Sales associates are early in their careers, so it’s rewarding to be able to coach and lead them – helping them see their own potential in this space and watching them grow,” Selma remarked. “I’ve been with BD for eight years and remember going through the Inside Sales program. After 18 months of being in the program, I was promoted into a field Territory Manager Role and was promoted again several years later into my current role.”

Myriad reasons to remain with BD

Selma easily calls out why she chooses to remain with BD. “First, the products and solutions we sell – I truly believe in our products and how they help the end patient – not just within Surgery, but across all of BD. Second, the network you create here during your time with BD is incredibly valuable. You benefit so much from the relationships you build all over the company. Third, the Key Program (another more senior-level development program specific to Sales) has enabled me to keep learning and developing, and fourth, the culture. The people at BD are helpful and almost like a family,” she noted.

Advice on keys to success at BD

“There is something I tell my team a lot – if you are not feeling uncomfortable then you are likely not growing. It usually means you are not expanding your knowledge base. I also believe that success at BD comes down to being solutions-oriented, being adaptable and, of course, working hard,” she said. “BD is an ever-changing and really dynamic company, but even as complex as the organization is, we always keep the end patient in mind and focus on the customer needs, which is critical.”