Last updated at Thu, 24 Mar 2022 13:07:57 GMT
Welcome back to 7 Rapid Questions, our blog series where we hear about the great work happening at Rapid7 from the people who are doing it across our global offices. For this installment, we sat down with Maria Loughrey, Commercial Sales Manager for the UK and Ireland at our Reading, UK office.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
After a brief stint of wanting to go to America to study law at Harvard (thank you, "Legally Blonde"), I ended up studying psychology and wanted to become a forensic psychologist.
So, how did you end up in cybersecurity?
I was approached by a recruitment partner of Rapid7, which prompted me to research what cybersecurity was all about. I found that not only is it a super interesting topic, but people are really passionate about it. It was evident how much Rapid7 cared about their customers' security and, in turn, how much customers respected them as a vendor. It took a bit of a leap of faith to step away from my career plan and start working for a company I knew very little about, but I'm so glad I did!
What has your career journey been like at Rapid7?
Since the aforementioned leap of faith, Rapid7 haven't stopped putting their faith in me in return. I started in the business development team and then got promoted into a sales overlay role supporting the Account Executive team. I've been in sales ever since — starting with SMB customers, then mid-market accounts, and more recently covering the Enterprise market in the UK.
Last year, I became a team lead alongside my Enterprise AE role, and then at the beginning of this year, I was promoted into a management position to support the Commercial Sales team. The support and belief I have received from Rapid7 and my management team over the last 8 years have been truly amazing.
What has been your proudest moment?
It was bittersweet moving into a management position this year, as it meant not working directly with customers as much, but when I introduced new team members who would be stepping into my role, so many customers had such lovely things to say and let me know that I'd be missed. It's amazing to hear that you've had such a positive impact.
What is a fun fact some people might not know about you?
I have a very mild form of Tourette syndrome, which causes people to have "tics."
Which of Rapid7's core values do you embody the most?
Bring You. This is SUCH a difficult question, but I chose Bring You because not only do I strive to be my most authentic self at work, but I also think it's incredibly important for everyone to bring their own perspectives and style. Businesses thrive on diversity of mindset. Without this, creativity becomes stagnant and growth slows. So, Bring You.
What three words would you use to describe the culture at Rapid7?
Understanding, inclusive, genuine.
Want to join Maria and her team? We're hiring! Browse our open roles at Rapid7 here.
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