United States – August 05, 2024 / Visit the business section of any news website and it becomes immediately apparent that e-commerce is a hot topic. It’s no wonder given the staggering growth and value of online sales. In the United States alone, e-commerce was worth $1.119 trillion in 2023. However, that’s only 22.0% of total retail sales, and that’s a testament to just how important flesh and blood salespeople are the the U.S. economy.
U.S. salespeople are overwhelmingly men (70.5%), but around 30% of the national sales force is women – and these women are faced with unique personal and professional challenges.
For sales consultants and trainers like Kayla Hodges, founder and CEO of Elite Sales Women, the unique challenges faced by women have been a call to action.
A Vested Interest
Today Kayla Hodges is a renowned business owner, public speaker, trainer and consultant. She hosts her own podcast and one-on-one conversations with women from diverse backgrounds who find themselves coping with the competitive world of top-flight sales careers.
For Hodges, both her professional consulting and strategic advice and her commitment to the empowerment of women go hand in hand. She is vocal about why a balance between career and personal life is paramount for future female leaders, and she has a personal stake in upliftment.
According to Hodges, her career was the result of adversity. “For many years I struggled with balancing the demands of being a single mother, a sommelier at a fine dining venue and studying. I almost fell into sales after being introduced to someone who knew Tony Robin’s mentor. He gave me the invaluable advice that you have the ability to change your life..and that is exactly what I did.”
Hodges understands the pressures that are placed on women in sales. That pressure isn’t only limited to making the commissions that salespeople rely on for financial independence, but also as a result of their life experiences.
“Women often carry emotional baggage which can be the result of domestic abuse, toxic relationships, unrealistic expectations and gender stereotyping. The lived experience of many women in sales comes with the burden of psychological trauma.
“On top of other issues that ingrain a feeling of powerlessness, women have to cope with periods and pregnancy – and the emotions that come as part and parcel of simply being female. I am ultra-focused on providing these women with the advice and support they need to live a rewarding and balanced life, and maximize their earnings – and to provide support to the organizations that employ them.
“I make it part of my philosophy to give women the keys to success, as I say to them; ‘“You are worthy of the life you dream of and literally have everything inside of you in order to succeed.”
A Unique Approach
Kayla Hodges realized that the sales industry lacked training specifically tailored for women. This led her to develop the R.E.D. (Real Empowering Disarming Questions) Methodology, which enhances sales skills by utilizing psychology, behavioral science, and leadership principles. With training women in B2B, B2C, D2D, & B2G she is across 158 industries, it’s an approach that is paying dividends not only for her company but for women across the United States.
Proof Positive
For those who have not been exposed to the unique talents and laser-like focus of Kayla Hodges, it might be easy to dismiss her approach as an example of pandering to the ‘Woke’ movement. However, the value that she brings to the board table is indisputable.
Hodges’s experiences and qualifications in behavioral psychology, strategic intervention, NLP, sales, marketing, and events are the foundation of her training career. It’s a mix that has been providing entrepreneurs and top-flight brands with strategic advice and exceptional value for over a decade.
During her journey, Kayla has been able to support companies like Lamborghini, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Texas Advocacy Project, Porsche, Scuderia, and Tony Robbins. In each case, communication and commitment have contributed significantly to expanding her ability to make a difference in the world.
Hodges has been recognized as one of the most effective sales consultants in the United States. Besides Kayla’s academic qualifications and track record, it’s her personal experiences that truly enable her to connect with women in sales, offering advice that goes beyond just boosting commissions. Hodges believes her unique blend of coping strategies, leadership, life skills, and advanced sales techniques is key to her entrepreneurial clients’ success.
Change is in the Air
“No organization can flourish in a highly competitive environment without a firm commitment to employee wellbeing, and women in sales need to bring their A-game if they’re going to succeed in a traditionally male-dominated career.”
The domination of men in sales is reflected in earning power. According to recent research, in 2022, women in sales earned 84% of what men earned, and it’s a situation that Kayla Hodges is passionate about remedying.
“There’s undoubtedly a glass ceiling in the U.S. sales environment. It’s partly historical, women were pigeonholed into certain sales jobs, focusing on retail fashion and hospitality, or real estate. But, at the same time there’s been a reluctance by women to invest in their sales careers, and find ways to cope with the unique emotional challenges women face in the sales workplace.”
“Part of the problem is resources. Until I launched Elite Sales Women, many female sales professionals had nowhere they could turn to for advice. I’m committed to changing that.”
Hodges is not sitting on her hands when it comes to honoring that commitment.
She (through Elite Sales Women) offers a unique female-focused methodology she calls R.E.D. (Real Empowering Disarming Questions), which enhances sales skills by utilizing psychology, behavioral science, and leadership principles.
As is the case with many sales professionals, Kayla Hodges is a people person. However, she has succeeded in a male-dominated industry by harnessing something that can be lacking in the cutthroat world of sales – empathy. That empathy for the challenges that women in sales face is tempered by a focus on providing value to organizations, and in that pursuit of that goal she is single-minded.
Kayla Hodges wears many hats. She is an international speaker, motivational guru, entrepreneur, podcaster, consultant, mother and breadwinner. It’s a delicate and time-consuming balancing act, but achieving balance has brought her success, and the formula for that success is one that she is eager to share.
For women in sales and organizations looking to empower their sales force, Kayla Hodges, rated as the #1 Female Sales Trainer Under 30, might be the competitive edge they need. Learn more about Kayla and her unique, proven approach to sales at the Elite Sales Women or connect with her on LinkedIn.
