Carly McKay - Network Sales Consultant
Whether it's riding an elephant, sky-diving onto Australia's tropical coastline, or getting to grips with sales and marketing in the fast-moving world of IT, Samarind's new sales consultant, Carly McKay, never shies away from a challenge.
Carly joined Samarind in October 2003 and directors Sadik and Miranda Pothiawala quickly realised her potential. Her recent promotion gives her the responsibility of taking care of the company’s existing clients while promoting its services to potential customers.
"I've learnt a lot since I've been with Samarind," said Carly. "My background isn't in IT, previously I'd been involved in sales and marketing for magazines. I knew how to use a PC, of course – but I couldn't build one. Now I could!
"But my role isn't to give technical advice, of course. As sales consultant I mustn't lose sight of the big picture and I always bear in mind customers don't always know all the jargon, anymore than I did when I first started at Samarind."
Carly is Scottish, she was born in Paisley. When she was a wee girl she moved to Chester, where she still lives. Now she's looking forward to getting out and about and getting to know Samarind's hundreds of customers.
"I'm making it my mission to meet everybody!" she laughs. "It's an important part of my job to look after our existing customers, to make sure they're happy, that what we're doing is working for them and to see whether there are any other areas we can help them with.
"But I'm also really looking forward to promoting Samarind to new businesses. I feel confident about it because I know that what we're selling is good quality. We don't cut corners. And it's never about the bottom line with Samarind, what we can make from it. It's fantastic having that attitude behind you."
Carly describes herself as having an outgoing personality – so much so that in her teens she went right around the world! Carly travelled for three months and she lived each experience to the full. She didn't just spend her time lounging around on the beach. In Australia she sky-dived onto the beach from a height of 14,000 feet!
"It was beautiful," she recalls. "I came down over the reef and saw turtles and fishes swimming around in the blue. In Thailand I trekked in the jungle, for part of the way on an elephant. The first time I rode an elephant it was terrifying! Me and two of my mates were in a very low edged basket and it was lurching from side to side and we kept thinking we were going to fall out. And, of course, you're so high up – it's not like riding a pony!"
Fiji, New Zealand and Los Angeles were among the other memorable highlights of her trip.
For now Carly is happy to settle down at Samarind and, in her home life, with boyfriend Blu, whose unusual name comes courtesy of his Austrian family. She's also helping her mother, who is to remarry in May, with her wedding. The happy event is to be held in the manor house at Chester Zoo – but elephant riding won't be part of the ceremony!
"I've organised a pink limo for the hen party," said Carly. "I'm really looking forward to the wedding. I'll be chief bridesmaid and I've never been a bridesmaid before."
Any ambitions for her own future?
Carly replied: "For now just to enjoy the opportunity I've been given. I want to see Samarind grow – and my career grow with it."
Published Spring 2005