Director of Sales and Client Services at Ovation Incentives
London, United Kingdom
WiiN Ed: What industry achievement are you most proud of?
VB: Remotely hiring and working with two individuals who had no experience in the industry whatsoever and watch them blossom and develop into the most talented and amazing professionals over the last 2 years.
WiiN Ed: What personal achievement are you most proud of?
VB: I know it sounds cheesy but definitely being a mother to my awesome son!
WiiN Ed: What has been your favourite WiiN moment of the last year?
VB: Our first ever face to face meet up in Paris – it felt very special.
WiiN Ed: What inspires you?
VB Being in nature and having conversations with my 9-year old son (who is full of random facts and questions)
WiiN Ed: What advice would you give ladies joining the industry now?
VB: It is a great industry with many helpful people so try anything and don’t hold back. Also be kind to anyone who crosses your path.
WiiN Ed: What are you looking forward to in the next few months?
VB: Looking forward to a couple of in person industry events, closing a few deals I have been working on for a while and last but not least my upcoming holiday in the sun.
PRERNA SONAWANE
VP Partnerships MENA at Merit Incentives & GiftiGlobal.com
Dubai, United Arab of Emirates
WiiN Ed: What industry achievement are you most proud of?
PS: The Loyalty and rewards industry was fairly new to me until 4 years ago, therefore I'm proud of my journey in this industry and having opportunities to meet and learn from industry experts, our inspiring team at Merit Incentives coming from various industries has been a key factor.
As a sales and partnerships professional, I'm most proud of building strategic partnerships with the major brands and contributing to the companies success.
WiiN Ed: What personal achievement are you most proud of?
PS: I still recall my first ever job was at 16 years, I believe I found my passion for client relations, partnerships and sales at quite a young age.
Being a very ambitious person, I'm incredibly proud that I'm able to tick off many aspects of my professional bucket list very early on in my career.
WiiN Ed: What has been your favourite WiiN moment of the last year?
PS: It would be very difficult to select just one moment. Wiin has provided a fantastic forum for women on a global scale to learn, grow, share expertise and experiences on a muti-cultural and multi-national level.
If I had to pick one aspect, it would without a doubt be the incredible Mentorship program! I was lucky to have two fantastic mentors who guided, encouraged and inspired me, they will always be my cheerleaders.
WiiN Ed: What inspires you?
PS: I have witnessed and been inspired by the drive, commitment and resilience my father has portrayed in his business in the UAE for the last decade. This encouraged me to endure all the trials and tribulations to pave my way to a successful career, just like him. Every decision I make has a little piece of what he has taught me.
WiiN Ed: What advice would you give ladies joining the industry now?
PS: Learning is constant so be confident in your own abilities, be curious, and do not be afraid to speak up.
Careers are nonlinear, a diverse set of experiences is invaluable in building a rich career.
Embrace challenges, they tend to be the most interesting and rewarding paths to learn and grow.
WiiN Ed: What are you looking forward to in the next few months?
PS: I look into developing and maintaining stakeholder relationships with a focus on accelerating the adoption of Merit Incentives’ global engagement solutions across Markets, therefore, I excitedly look forward to my growing team, new learnings and it's about the hustle and smart work... I look forward to see where it takes me and what it will offer me.