My Story
Mike has worked for ILM Professional Services since 2023 and has 18 years of experience in sales. Education: Bachelor’s Degree – Political Science University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire
A Few Questions with Mike
What appealed to you about working for a software development company?
Developers are the people who bring an idea into the real world. Being a small part of that process is humbling and awe-inspiring.
What’s an aspect of your role that you enjoy the most, and why?
Learning new things and being able to ask questions. I’m a curious guy, so when I get an answer to one of my questions that gives me a better understanding of how things work or connects the dots to a problem I have been working on for a while, I get a large shot of dopamine.
What about your role is the most challenging for you to manage?
Rabbit holes. Following up on issues and questions I have about the solution(s) that a potential client needs. That can sometimes lead to running out of time during the day, because of a plethora of questions that can arise from working to investigate a potential client’s needs and figuring out a way to solve them.
How do you stay up to date with the latest programming and industry news?
Attending events, connecting, and networking with industry leaders. Looking at the smartest people in the room and seeing what they’re doing.
What’s one pet peeve you have regarding your field/industry or in how academia teaches it?
That salespeople are always selfish. I work to align my goals with the customer’s needs to provide them with excellent service. No tricks involved.
If you could work in any other industry, which one would it be and why? The golf industry – I caught the golf bug about 15 years ago. I’m interested in everything from the game, course design, equipment to tips on how to get better as a player. That’s where I’d want to be.
Are you an introvert or an extrovert? I’m an ambivert, right in the middle. – I feel myself flip to an extrovert when attending large conferences and meeting new people, but I will need to recharge afterwords. Similarly, there is sometime nothing better than playing a round of golf by yourself with no one in sight. However, I can only be by myself for so long before needing to interact with others.
Which unique skill(s) do you bring to your role?
Curiosity and a drive to understand. Not only do I enjoy asking questions, but the answers I get usually lead to follow-up questions. I’m always looking for context/clarity and searching for answers to how the world works. If I could write, I would probably be a journalist.
When it comes to icebreakers, what’s your go-to approach to start a conversation? Current events and asking people about themselves usually gets a conversation started in the right direction.
Is it easy for you to mentally break away from your role?
I wish I could “break away” more. However, most of my role is just attempting to understand the person in front of me. You start by asking questions about themselves and their life, empathizing with the problems they are trying to solve, and negotiating everyone’s needs to come to the best conclusion. So naturally, these things come up in everyday life… especially now that we have a 2-year-old in the house.
What kind of hobbies and interests do you have outside of work?
Most of my time recently has been spent trying to keep up with my daughter. I really enjoy spending time with my family outside the house. We love to go out to eat, hang outside at a brewery/patio, or find some other event to share with our friends and their families. If I am not doing one of those things, you can bet on me trying to find my way onto a golf course.
Tagline: “The only constant in life is change.”