Employee spotlight:
Maria Langer
Career tip:
“My advice to anyone starting their career is to stay open to different paths and roles. You may end up greatly fulfilled by a career that you never initially considered, just as I did.”
- Maria Langer
Maria Langer is a Secure Cloud Account Executive on the sales team at SAP NS2. She began her career in telesales, then spent almost a decade as a stay-at-home mom before joining SAP NS2 in 2017. Over the past nine years, she’s worked her way from renewals to sales, helping customers find secure cloud solutions that protect their data and give them peace of mind.
An unexpected career path
I grew up in a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri, and later moved to Massachusetts to attend University of Massachusetts, Amherst. I still live in MA today with my husband, two boys, two dogs, and three cats—we have a fun, active household!
Before SAP NS2, I spent 10 years at an enterprise software company, starting in telesales and eventually transitioning to field sales. I didn’t start out thinking I wanted to pursue sales. Given my love of reading, I originally thought I would end up in law.
However, one of my first jobs out of college was in telemarketing, and I really enjoyed it. I learned that sales is so much different than I had imagined. It was really about connecting with customers to help them solve problems, and that resonated with me.
Embracing new challenges
After my second son was born, I took nearly 10 years off to be a stay-at-home mom. I loved that time and would not trade it for anything! When my kids were older, I was yearning for a new challenge and felt that SAP NS2 was the perfect opportunity.
I initially joined SAP NS2 because I knew many former colleagues who had stayed after an acquisition, so it felt like a natural fit. I started on the renewals team, but about four years ago, I was offered a cloud sales role. I was a bit uncertain since I was new to cloud solutions. There was so much to learn, and it was daunting and exciting at the same time. Still, I hit the ground running and never looked back!
Throughout my career, there have been several moments of doubt and uncertainty, but each has been a valuable learning experience. Of course, I’ve made mistakes, but not the same ones twice! I’ve found that approaching challenges with a positive attitude has ultimately made me stronger. Uncertainty can be a good thing, especially when you use it as an opportunity to learn and grow.
“Throughout my career, there have been several moments of doubt and uncertainty, but each has been a valuable learning experience.”
Maria Langer
Building trust with customers
As a Secure Cloud Account Executive, my day-to-day is always changing, which is one of the things I love most about my job. When I’m not on the road meeting with customers, I’m often juggling internal and external calls, answering customer questions, providing support, and collaborating with my SAP and SAP NS2 colleagues. The days go by quickly!
One of the most rewarding parts of my job is building trust with customers. One recently told me that choosing SAP NS2 “allowed them to sleep better at night,” and that meant a lot to me. Knowing that our solutions protect their data and help keep their customers safe reminds me why I love what I do.
It’s easy to be in sales if you believe wholeheartedly in what you’re selling. I truly believe in SAP NS2’s mission to help customers protect their data and defend against bad actors and cyber threats. That mission is especially important today, and I’m proud to play a part in it.
5 essential skills:
- Empathy
- Active listening
- Flexibility
- Relationship-building
- Reliability
Culture at SAP NS2
Beyond the mission, the people are a big part of what keeps me at SAP NS2.
What surprised me most when I joined SAP NS2 was that, despite being part of a large organization, SAP NS2 feels like a start-up. Our CEO, Harish Luthra, somehow makes each of us feel important, and all the leadership is supportive and approachable.
I’ve also participated in the Women’s Initiative Network (WIN), one of SAP NS2’s employee resource groups. When I started out in high-tech sales, there were very few women in the role, so it has been great to see how much has changed over the years. More perspectives are always a good thing!
I’m also fortunate to work alongside the best colleagues I’ve ever encountered at any organization. Everyone is working hard toward the same goal. It’s a fantastic group of people.
“Beyond the mission, the people are a big part of what keeps me at SAP NS2.”
Maria Langer
Maria's Advice
My advice to anyone starting their career is to stay open to different paths and roles. You may end up greatly fulfilled by a career that you never initially considered, just as I did.
Building your brand is also important. No matter what your role, think about what you want to be known for, whether that’s being responsive, helpful, or someone others can count on. Marketing is in all of us, and putting those qualities into practice helps build a positive reputation that lasts throughout your career.
Most importantly, be kind. Assume everyone is doing their best. There will always be setbacks and mistakes, but it’s how you handle them that matters. Work hard, have fun, and find ways to enjoy what you do. We spend so much of our lives at work, so making that time enjoyable makes a real difference.
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