At Laqtia, we strongly believe in internal talent as a driver of growth. Relying on people who know the company from the inside not only brings solidity and coherence to our teams, but also allows us to authentically convey our values and our way of doing things.
The transition from the factory to the sales department is a natural step in this professional development, combining technical knowledge with proximity to the customer. In this context, we interview our colleague Hugo Jiménez Rodríguez, who is starting a new stage as a salesperson after his career with the company.
His integration into the sales team began alongside the CEO of Laqtia, with his first visits to customers and a memorable experience at the XXXI Spanish Coffee Congress, where he had the opportunity to exchange his impressions with professionals in the sector.
🎤 INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
1. Beginning and route
- Hugo, how did your career at Laqtia go until this new stage as a salesperson?
I started at the factory, learning from the ground up and discovering the product from the inside. These were years of great learning and growth, which gave me a very complete vision of Laqtia. Today, I have the opportunity to take the next step and move to the sales department, which I approach with great enthusiasm, because it allows me to continue to grow and be closer to customers. I feel that everything I have learned so far helps me to approach this new stage with confidence and a lot of desire.
- What did this transition from the factory to direct contact with customers mean to you?
For me, this has meant an evolution. I went from knowing the product from the inside to being able to also get to know the people who use it and trust us. This is a change that I am approaching with great enthusiasm, as it allows me to continue to learn, to take on new challenges and to represent Laqtia from a closer perspective to the customer.
2. Trading Experience
- How did you feel during your first visits to customers?
I felt a mixture of responsibility, motivation and enthusiasm. It’s a big change from my job at the plant, but I felt comfortable because I know the products and the company well. Every visit helps me gain confidence and better understand how to bring value to customers.
- What surprised you the most about the commercial world?
What surprised me the most was the importance of listening to the customer. Before taking this step, I thought sales work was more focused on showcasing products or looking for sales opportunities, but I’ve found that a big part of the job is understanding each customer’s needs, building trust, and building long-term relationships.
I was also surprised by how much you learn on each visit. Each customer has a different reality, which allows us to better understand the market, detect needs and understand how we can bring more value from Laqtia.
- What do you like most about this new role?
What I appreciate most is the contact with people and the opportunity to get to know the customers better. I like to meet them, listen to their needs and see how I can help them. I also really appreciate the learning that this change represents, because every day I discover something new, and it motivates me to continue to progress.
3. Coffee Congress
- How did you experience your first experience at the XXXI Spanish Coffee Congress?
I experienced it with great enthusiasm, because it was something totally new for me. I was surprised by the number of professionals present and how much you can learn in such a short time. I took the opportunity to listen, get to know the industry better and understand what customers value. This helped me gain confidence in this new stage and feel more and more integrated in the business world.
- What do you remember from sharing this space with so many professionals in the sector?
I learned a lot from it and a broader vision of the sector. Listening to professionals with so much experience helped me to better understand the needs of the market and the importance of being close to the customer. I also retain new ideas, contacts and the motivation to continue training to bring even more value to my role within Laqtia.
- Was there a moment or conversation that particularly stood out to you?
I was very struck by how professionals with many years of experience continued to show interest in learning and adapting to market changes. It made me think that no matter how experienced we are, there is always room to keep growing and improving.
4. Vision and Learning
- Do you think your previous experience at the factory brings you any differential value as a salesperson?
I think so. I know the product inside out and I know all the work that goes into every reference that arrives at the customer. This allows me to better explain what we offer and to understand both the customer’s point of view and that of my colleagues in the factory. I see this comprehensive vision as helping me deliver value and build trust.
Today, I can connect two worlds: the technical knowledge I acquired in the factory and the proximity to the customer that I develop within the sales department.
- What do you think you can bring to Laqtia’s customers thanks to this internal knowledge?
What I can bring is proximity and real knowledge of the product. When I talk to a client, I don’t just know the catalog, but also all the work behind it. This allows me to better understand their needs, to respond with more confidence and to transmit confidence. I think that my experience at the factory helps me to propose more realistic solutions and to represent Laqtia with a very complete vision.
My goal is for the customer to see not only a salesperson, but someone who has known the product since its origin and who can help them with a global vision of Laqtia.
5. Laqtia and values
- For you, what is Laqtia?
For me, Laqtia is a company that has allowed me to grow. I started in the factory, learning from the ground up, and today I have the opportunity to take on new challenges in the sales department. It is a company in which I have been able to develop professionally, learn from many people and feel part of a common project. That’s why I have a special affection for her and a strong sense of belonging.
If today I am taking this step, it is thanks to the trust that Laqtia has placed in me, and it is something that I value and appreciate very much.
- What would you emphasize in the company culture?
If I had to summarize it, I would say that Laqtia is a company of people. I found colleagues who are always willing to help, a collaborative environment and a culture in which effort and the desire to learn are valued. This has allowed me to grow professionally and to approach this new stage with confidence.
What I value most is that Laqtia is not only committed to products and innovation, but also to the people who are part of the company.
- In your opinion, what makes us different when we go abroad?
From my perspective, what makes us different is that we know very well what we’re doing. Behind every product there is a lot of work, experience and quality requirements. Now that I visit customers, I see that it shows. In addition, we will not only sell, but listen, understand the needs of each customer and look for the best solution for them.
I think this combination of knowledge, closeness and commitment is what makes us different.
6. Objectives and future
- What short- and medium-term goals do you set for yourself in this new stage?
In the short term, I want to continue learning, gain experience during visits and get to know the customers and the market better. I’m in a stage where I’m learning something new every day and I want to make the most of it.
In the medium term, I would like to consolidate myself in the position, bring results and become a person of trust for both clients and colleagues. I want to show that this opportunity was a good bet and continue to grow within Laqtia.
- How would you like to see yourself at Laqtia in a few years?
In a few years, I would like to look back and see that I was able to take advantage of this opportunity, that I grew as a professional and that I consolidated myself in the commercial field. I would like to be a trustworthy person for customers and for the company, someone who brings experience, commitment and results.
Above all, I would like to continue to be part of Laqtia, grow alongside the company and contribute to its development.
- What do you expect from the company in this professional development?
More than waiting for something concrete, I hope to continue to grow with Laqtia, as I have done so far, bringing more and more value to the company and our customers.
7. More Personal/Dynamic Part
- If you had to define Laqtia in three words, which ones would you choose?
Confidence, learning and growth. These are three words that sum up my experience at Laqtia and the stage I am currently experiencing.
- Black coffee, latte or… favorite Laqtia product? 😉
Black coffee, without sugar or sweeteners, and if possible with ice cubes.
Phew, hard choice: I like a lot of products, but if I had to choose one, it would be the Cappuccino Cookies.
- What’s the first thing you do before an important visit?
Before an important visit, I like to spend a few minutes preparing it well. I check who the client is, what their situation is and what I want to achieve at the meeting. Once this preparation is done, I try to go in with an open attitude, listen a lot and make the most of the time spent with the client.
- A phrase that motivates you in this new stage.
Success is not about knowing everything, but about having the attitude to keep learning every day.
- What should never be missing from your sales briefcase?
I could say the laptop, the phone or the product samples, but I think the most important thing is to bring preparation, attitude, a good willingness to listen and the desire to keep learning. That’s what really makes the difference during a visit.
