Meet Jane: Overseas Account Manager

Photo of Jane

When did you start at Dolphin and in what role?

I started way back in 1996 as a sales assistant for overseas sales.

What qualifications or experience did you have

BA Hons in Modern languages, about 9 months working in an engineering office and some independent travel.

What made you choose Dolphin?

It was (then) a small local company with a big international outlook, and I liked the idea of working for a company whose main aim was to improve life for people.

What are the biggest challenges you have faced?

Just a couple of years after I started, I went to California for 2 years to set up and open our first US Office from scratch. Since then I have also project-managed bringing the Dolphin keyboard to market and have helped establish dealers in new countries for Dolphin.

What sort of development have you received in your time at Dolphin?

Lots of support and opportunities to “have a go”, some additional language training, plus some more formal bid writing, marketing and management CPD courses.

How has your role developed?

I’ve been here a long time, so it’s changed quite a lot. I started with order entry, answering simple enquiries, filing and sending faxes(!) I’ve also done marketing communications, new business development, product planning, product demonstration, presentations and training and a lot of international travel – I’ve been throughout Europe and the USA, New Zealand, China & Japan for Dolphin.  I’m now office-based and manage an international network of dealers and contribute to product planning. 

What do you rate in Dolphin as an employer?

Flexibility and support. I’ve always been given the opportunity to stretch myself and supported to try out my ideas.  I now have 3 young children and work part-time around school hours. My job is still interesting, varied and challenging and I feel like a valued team member, just one who leaves early and misses out on Bacon-Sandwich-Fridays…!