Alev Özdemir on trust in B2B sales, women’s careers in the process industry, and why honesty is a real competitive advantage.
Trust as a competitive advantage: what does long-term success in technical sales really come down to? Alev Özdemir, Key Account Manager at Sikla, has a clear answer: in B2B sales, sustainable success is built not on big promises, but on reliability, transparent communication, and the willingness to speak honestly – even when it’s uncomfortable.
In issue #64 of GOOD TO KNOW!, the mechanical engineer shares her unconventional career path, the realities of working as a woman in a male-dominated industry, and why she sees sales as a space for constant learning. Her insights are particularly relevant for professionals managing customer relationships in the process industry.
This issue also features a contribution from Ulrich Hank (VDSI), who reframes the current home office debate and argues that it is, at its core, a question of trust and modern leadership culture.