In this episode of The Revenue Career Ladder, host Jamie Pagan sits down with Hannah Ajikawo, CEO and Founder, to discuss her journey from working at a local food market stall to running her own successful business.

Throughout the conversation, Hannah shares the lessons she learned from her early career experiences, the challenges she faced in the corporate world, and the unique approach she takes in consulting today.

Hannah dives into how she navigated leadership transitions, dealt with cultural challenges, and ultimately found her way into the world of entrepreneurship. She also talks about her passion for helping others achieve success, particularly those who come from underrepresented backgrounds.

Expect to learn:

• The value of early work experiences, even if unpaid, in shaping your career
• How to assess whether a company's culture aligns with your values during the interview process
• The importance of resilience when dealing with challenges like bullying or poor company strategy
• Insights into navigating leadership roles and driving change within organizations
• How to approach consulting and offering value to businesses by understanding go-to-market strategies

Ready to take the next step in your career journey?

Subscribe to Revenue Career Ladder today and start making your professional aspirations a reality.

—

Watch on Stream by Dealfront: https://www.dealfront.com/resources/stream/series/revenue-career-ladder/

Follow Hannah Ajikawo:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-ajikawo/

Follow Jamie Pagan:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiepagan/

Connect with us:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dealfront/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/getdealfront/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getdealfront/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dealfront

X: https://x.com/getdealfront

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dealfront

In this episode of The Revenue Career Ladder, host Jamie Pagan is joined by Ben Smith, whose career journey has taken him from Professional Ice Skater at Disney on Ice to Marketing Director.

Ben shares his unique path into marketing, reflecting on his early work experience, including his time with Youth Parliament, as well as the entrepreneurial mindset he developed through his family’s businesses.

Ben discusses the valuable lessons he’s learned along the way, particularly around taking risks, stepping out of his comfort zone, and always striving for growth.

He also highlights how early roles in hospitality and PR shaped his approach to marketing and gave him a fresh perspective on business development.

Expect to learn:

• How early roles, like pot washing, can spark an entrepreneurial mindset and shape your future career
• The importance of understanding both marketing and sales, and how they work together to drive business success
• Why taking on extra responsibilities—without always being paid for them—can fast-track your career growth
• How to navigate career transitions, especially when moving between different functions and industries
• Key insights into the hospitality industry and how those experiences shaped Ben’s later career in B2B marketing

Ready to take the next step in your career journey?

Subscribe to the Revenue Career Ladder today and start making your professional aspirations a reality.

—

Watch on Stream by Dealfront: https://www.dealfront.com/resources/stream/series/revenue-career-ladder/

Follow Ben Smith:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bensmith-reachdesk/

Follow Jamie Pagan:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiepagan/

Connect with us:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dealfront/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/getdealfront/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getdealfront/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dealfront

X: https://x.com/getdealfront

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dealfront

In this episode of The Revenue Career Ladder, host Jamie Pagan sits down with Mafalda Johannsen, who shares her journey from working as a travel sales agent to becoming the Head of Business Development. Mafalda discusses her career trajectory, which spans multiple industries—from tourism to tech—and the skills she gained along the way.

She offers an honest reflection on how overcoming challenges, including a 100% commission job, shaped her approach to sales and leadership. Mafalda also talks about her transition into the tech industry and the impact of her diverse experience in driving growth and success in her current role.

Expect to learn:

• The value of starting in a challenging, commission-based sales role and how it prepares you for future career success
• Why moving to the tech industry was a strategic decision for Mafalda and how it shaped her career
• Key skills Mafalda gained in the tourism industry that are applicable to business development and sales in tech
• Insights into how the startup environment accelerates career growth and learning
• The importance of building a thick skin and managing customer expectations
• How Mafalda leveraged her past experience to create effective sales enablement and onboarding processes in new roles
• Career advice on handling transitions and evaluating your potential for growth in different companies

Ready to take the next step in your career journey?

Subscribe to the Revenue Career Ladder today and start making your professional aspirations a reality.

—

Watch on Stream by Dealfront: https://www.dealfront.com/resources/stream/series/revenue-career-ladder/

Follow Mafalda Johannsen:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mafalda-johannsen-007489a4/

Follow Jamie Pagan:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiepagan/

Connect with us:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dealfront/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/getdealfront/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getdealfront/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dealfront

X: https://x.com/getdealfront

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dealfront