Meet Santa Suna, Associate SDR Team Lead

Welcome to Humans of Lokalise. We’re building a culture at Lokalise where amazing people (like you) can do their best work. Stay tuned to get to know our team, one person at a time. 

Lokalise is growing rapidly, but it still feels like a small, tight-knit team. We don’t forget to have fun..

Santa Suna, Associate Sales Development Team Lead

What do you do at Lokalise?

I'm a part of the sales team, managing a team of associate sales development representatives. My team is generally responsible for building an outbound pipeline by identifying companies that could benefit from Lokalise. 

The Sales Development Researcher position is a fun research challenge – you become an opportunity magnet. You get to dig deep into various industries and countries, truly understand people's pain points, and introduce potential customers to Lokalise. 

I’m currently hiring and onboarding team members and working on creating efficient management systems to easily scale the team. It's an exciting time to be leading this team since we are growing quickly!

Tell us about your journey at Lokalise. 

I moved back home to Latvia from New York in December 2020. Since I didn't have any experience in SaaS sales, I took an entry-level job as an Associate SDR. I was ready to learn a lot, work hard, and eventually, I was offered a team lead role. 

I think the Sales Development Researcher role is a perfect entry point for anyone wishing to learn more about SaaS sales. It’s a great way to learn to identify sales opportunities and test different outbound messaging to eventually grow as a SaaS sales professional.

How would you describe working here?

Lokalise is growing rapidly, but it still feels like a small, tight-knit team. We don’t forget to have fun. I love that I can work from anywhere and it’s fascinating to be working with people from all over the world on a shared vision. When hiring, we pay a good deal of attention to personality, and it really pays off! 

Lokalise is a very supportive environment, and at the same time, we practice a straight to the point, no-nonsense approach. We maintain healthy competition by recognizing team members' success and speak up if we think that some processes could be improved.

For me, the most fulfilling part is making a tangible impact on Lokalise's growth while helping people find a solution to their problem.

What is your favorite thing about Lokalise?

It has to be the chance to learn from all these ambitious people! Plus, the perks, of course ????. I really appreciate the yearly professional development budget. Thanks to this opportunity, I'm currently enrolled in a data analysis course.

What advice would you give to someone starting in a remote-first company? 

Both WFO and WFH have their advantages and challenges. Yes, you’ll be able to work from anywhere and get those household chores done during your breaks. But it’s important to realize that working remotely requires balancing screen time with self care.

My advice is simple: Take breaks, plan coffee calls with your colleagues, go for a walk. Just remember to embrace the advantages of this work style and practice gratitude.

What was the last book you read?

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke, and I absolutely loved it! It's such a perfect book for these uncertain times. A magical meditation on isolation and search for meaning in this world.

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Wish you were here? Join Santa to build your career in sales or take a look at all our open roles. We think you'll love it here!