Every few weeks, we shine the spotlight on one of our amazing Kioneers, the people behind the mission. This time, we’re excited to introduce Zach McGowan, one of our Commercial Account Executives, who’s been part of Kion for two years and is passionate about helping future customers unlock the true value of the cloud. From building meaningful relationships and helping scale our outbound strategy to bringing relentless accountability and energy to sales calls and expo booth conversations, Zach plays a key role in driving Kion’s growth. All while keeping things fun (karaoke included).

How long have you been at Kion and how did you find the company?
I’m celebrating my two-year anniversary at Kion this January! I was introduced to the company through my network and connected with my manager, Pat (better known as Captain Pat) which ultimately led me to Kion.

Tell us about your role at Kion, what you’re most passionate about in your role, and a bit about the tools and skills used in your role.
I’m an Account Executive at Kion on our commercial sales team. My job is to find future Kion customers and leverage our internal resources to show them how our platform can enable them to become their cloud providers’ least profitable customers. I’m passionate about understanding prospect goals and leveraging the voice of our customers as proof that we can help them achieve those goals. I also enjoy exploring how Kion can help people advance their careers. In my day-to-day work, I use tools like LinkedIn Sales Navigator, Nooks, Apollo, Salesforce, and Fireflies.ai in our (never-ending!) search for the next great Kion customer story.

What are you currently working on that you’re excited about?
In addition to some exciting client-facing engagements we have underway, our team is working on developing a new outbound sales strategy to deliver the Kion value proposition at a greater scale. I’m really excited to see the impact this will have on the company.

What part of our mission (Make it simpler and easier for organizations to achieve the benefits of the cloud.) resonates most with you?
What resonates most with me is that the promise of the cloud is harder to achieve than most people originally expected. Amazon, Microsoft, and Google are some of the most profitable companies in the world, and for good reason, they don’t make it easy to control cloud costs. That’s why I’m passionate about the work Kion is doing to put money back in the pockets of everyday cloud users and enable organizations to truly embrace the cloud. When done right, the cloud is a powerful resource, but when done wrong, things can get out of hand fast.

What is it like working on the (specific department) team?
Working on the sales team means being at the forefront of both peaks and valleys. There are highs and lows, but consistently bringing the same energy and conviction in our message is key. The value that both Kion’s team and platform deliver is inarguable, which makes a huge difference when selling.

What behavior or personality trait do you most attribute your success to and why?
I would say accountability. As a remote sales rep, if you don’t hold yourself accountable to goals, tasks, and outcomes, no matter how big or small, every single day, it becomes very difficult to consistently deliver results.

Who are some of your biggest inspirations?
My parents! I consider myself lucky to have been raised with a strong understanding of the value of hard work. The courage, drive, and integrity they’ve exemplified day in and day out continue to inspire me every day.

How have you grown professionally while on our team?
When I joined the team, I had less than a year of full-cycle sales experience. Now, two years in, I’ve benefited from great leadership (Pat Loring), mentorship (Mes Makonnen), and we’ve celebrated some awesome wins along the way. The learning and growth I’ve experienced here have been by far the most impactful of my career so far.

What’s your favorite company tradition or event?
Karaoke. Next question!

What makes you stay at Kion?
Where do I begin! The people here are not only best-in-class when it comes to knowledge and talent, but they also keep work fun every day. The high quality of our platform is a direct reflection of the high quality of our people.

Give us a random fact about yourself.
I am the fun uncle to 11 nieces and nephews!

What TV show, movie, or podcast are you hooked on right now?
Harry Potter – on movie 6 of 8. Expelliarmus!

What keeps you busy outside of work hours?
In the winters, you can catch me on the mountain snowboarding or reliving the glory days in men’s league hockey.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received, and who was it from?
“If you want to be interesting – be interested.” – My dad, Paul McGowan.