Katie Vignocchi
- Senior Information Architecture Technical Sales Specialist l Data & AI | Industry Market
- IBM
School Information
School: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
College Major: Other
Years at College Works: 2011 to 2012
Career Information
Working For: IBM
Title: Senior Information Architecture Technical Sales Specialist l Data & AI | Industry Market
Industry: TechnologyWhat Has Been Your Proudest Accomplishment Post-CWP?
I am the youngest Enterprise Account Manager at PCM-Sarcom to ever be hired and projected to be Rookie of the year. (PS- this means I get a free Porsche for a year)
College Works Career Impact
In one sentence, what has CW meant to you?
I went to college thinking it would give me a career, and it ended up being the tools I was given in College Works Painting that made my career in sales a success because it was a skill I didn’t even know I had.
How did your CW experience impact your career? Immediately after graduation? Now?
My success in College Works Painting qualified me for a position in sales and ended up being my first job out of college that I still remain and have since been promoted to a higher sales position.
What was the greatest lesson you learned from your CW experience?
Rapport is the most important thing in sales.
If you had to come up with a one line slogan for CW, what would it be?
Work hard, play hard!
Advice
What advice do you have for potential CW participants? Current CW participants?
Those that talk negatively about College Works Painting were simply not capable of achieving the success that you are given the opportunity to achieve. Only because it’s “hard”. Ask anyone who has gotten past the “hard” part and how many people work for them that told them it was impossible.
Many college students struggle to choose between an internship specific to their target industry or doing CW. What advice would you give them on this subject if they wanted to enter your career field?
I went into U of I for engineering. Switched to Urban Planning. I took a political internship in Washington DC and worked at the US Capitol and had multiple opportunities for political positions. I ended up in IT Sales because of my opportunity in College Works Painting. Even if it does not fit your major, it might fit you. At the very least, it opens more doors of opportunities for you to find your niche in life. Mine was sales.
What’s your best advice for someone interested in entering your career field?
Sales is the most rewarding career after the 1000 no’s and trail of rejection until that first big yes shows you it is possible.
What’s your favorite memory from CW?
Driving my mustang convertible, that I bought from my success at College Works Painting, and driving it to Canada for the weekend with people who I met in College Works Painting that became some of my best friends.
Last words of wisdom?
Set achievable goals, but aim high. You never know what you are capable of until you push yourself to your limits.