Episode 182 – Standing In Your Brand with Alex Husner and Annie Holcombe

Episode Overview

Today’s show is incredible because you get not one but two guests who are leaders in the highly competitive travel and vacation rental market. Annie Holcombe, formerly of Expedia, and now VP of Business Development at Lexicon Travel, and Alex Husner, CMO at Condo-World. These two along with Susanna it makes three blondes today, so Gina is coming out strong to represent the redheads! Gina starts out recounting the origins of the podcast, the name, and why she started it almost four years ago. This of course leads into an amazing, organic conversation about women in business. Both the good and the bad, and group gives insights, tips, and personal stories of their experiences.

Alex describes how being assertive can often put women in a bad light but men in a positive one. Annie agrees that there are still many places where “the old boys’ club” is in full effect, and how it works to keep women quiet while being a major barrier for them to move up the ladder. Gina and Susanna explain about so many of the qualities that women naturally bring to the table that make them strong salespeople, like curiosity, relationship building, asking questions, and building bonds with clients that carry on long after the initial sale.

They also talk about how Covid hit women hard in their careers, the beauty of confronting belittling behavior, and how other women can sometimes be the bad guy. The discussion turns to the power of authenticity, loyalty, knowing your path, being confident in what you want in business and life, and standing in your brand. Exactly what a woman your mother warned you about does.

PLUS! Listen ‘til the end when Alex and Annie share two phrases that could change the way you approach everyday difficult situations and reveal more opportunities.

Listen to the Alex and Annie podcast 

Come and grow with Sales Gravy & Sales Gravy University

More about Gina

Engagement Expert – Speaker – Sales Trainer – Entrepreneur – Improv Comic

Gina is a Master Sales Trainer for Jeb Blount’s Sales Gravy who combines street smarts and improv comedy skills with her experience in the corporate and entrepreneurial worlds, which sets her apart from her competition. 

“Sass without too much crass” is how Gina Trimarco describes herself. A high energy entrepreneur, engager, speaker, trainer, improv comedienne and podcast producer, Gina credits most of her success on her upbringing by her Italian mobster dad and German immigrant mother.

Prior to joining Sales Gravy, Gina founded and operated Carolina Improv Company, an improv comedy school and theater, in addition to Pivot10 Results, a sales training company. Thanks to this podcast, Gina was able to “stalk” her business role model Jeb Blount and convince him to hire her … and sponsor this podcast!

More About Susanna

After graduating from Cambridge University in Music and Education, Susanna took her first sales role selling advertising space on websites.

She’s always been intrigued by the unfair negative stigma associated with sales and the way that after their initial excitement to work in sales, people will do everything they can to avoid actual prospecting.

With 14 years of experience in recruitment, Susanna challenges this mindset through her successful business sourcing sales professionals into recruitment roles.

Susanna decided to become a Sales Gravy Master Trainer because Sales Gravy’s vision matches her own beliefs and values.

Susanna is committed to providing excellence and dedication to all of her trainees so that they can achieve their goals and succeed in sales.

Subscribe & Listen