Maria Sutej

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of interviewing Maria Sutej- Regional Vice President, Sales with Avon Products, Inc.

Maria Sutej is a Regional Vice President in Sales at Avon Products, Inc.

 

Maria leads a team of professionals with cross-functional skills and experience focused on defining short and long term measures related to achieving annual sales goals, and provides stewardship in the implementation of global business strategies.

 

Maria began her career in 1983 joining Avon as a District Sales Manager. She quickly ascended through the sales ranks holding positions as Field Trainer, Division Sales Manager, and Field Business Unit Leader. During her assignment as Division Sales Manager in Tennessee, she made Avon history by ranking in the top 10 percent in sales growth for eight consecutive years. In 1996, Maria was promoted to Region Vice President.

 

Maria currently serves as a board member for Emory University’s School of Medicine and The Winship Cancer Institute.  She has been a past board member for several organizations including Women Work! and The Partnership Against Domestic Violence.  In recognition of her leadership and community involvement, Maria was once named one of Georgia’s 100 Most Powerful and Influential Women.

 

Maria defines her career as a direct result of successfully building relationships of mutual respect and high expectations … “It is a privilege to help others by offering opportunities to people who want to expand their options and improve the quality of their lives.  Avon makes it possible for me and thousands of other men and women to do just that every day.”

 

Maria earned a B.A. from Appalachian State University, and was honored in 2001 with their Distinguished Alumnus Award.   She and her family currently reside in Dunwoody, Georgia.

Using direct selling opportunities to be a viable opportunity for women

Maria discussed direct selling opportunities as never being more relevant for women than any other time.  Avon brings us products that are reasonably priced and with a longstanding brand and name recognition for over 125 years, everyone knows Avon.  She describes the opportunity as easy to make money while not disrupting your schedule.

This is an opportunity that can go from full time selling to a small group of friends and family or customers.  One of the biggest impacts that Avon can have is to see a woman who has been laid off then utilize the tools within Avon to build a pretty size-able business.  However, fear of rejection can get in the way of this as some women don’t want to feel that they are pushing a product on to their friends.

We all have that annoying friend who sells something but doesn’t know how to pitch it in a way that doesn’t feel that every encounter is used by them to sell a product.  Right?

Avon Success Story at a Glance

“My layoff from my corp job was the best thing that ever happened to me”

Linda is inspiring because she made her lay off pay off!   Laid off from her corporate job,  she took the opportunity to build something that is her very own and now sells at the President’s Club level!  There’s no doubt that this is a woman that learned how to create financial freedom for herself.

The Opportunity

A new representative can start with AVON and build with customers only or she can arrange it in such a way that she builds into leadership and mentors other sales reps.  When getting started, Avon gives real life examples of women who made it to the top within Avon as a representative or within sales leadership.  You don’t have to let go of your current job to start Avon, the beauty about it all is that it can be done together.

As your earnings grow, then you can get your business to the point where you can let go of the 9-5 or FT job.  This liberates women from the ties of corporate job that requires them to work 9-5pm with no flexibility.  Avon affords them the opportunity to pursue their life goals while making it a financially rewarding venture.

What questions do you have about getting started with Avon?  Have you tried direct selling in the past?  How was that experience?

Disclaimer:  I am a paid brand ambassador for AVON. My views are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Avon and its affiliates.