Why working in Sales at Canonical is great!

What made you join Canonical?
Years ago the opportunity was even more
interesting as technology hadn’t excelled
that much. I was very interested in software
and customer focused OEM businesses.
I felt that Canonical was a natural fit with my
background. The size of the organization
was much smaller back then but their
aspirations matched mine very well. The
Ubuntu brand was already very strong.
What keeps you at Canonical?
People are fun to talk to and joke with so I
really enjoy the banter but then again the
facilities and the fact that it’s a comfortable
place to work helps as well.
What do you like about
your job?
Well, Canonical has a great leadership
position in the market – IOT, Cloud, Ubuntu
and Canonical are very well respected by
big organizations. We enjoy the challenge
as it’s not easy selling free software. There
is a good level of freedom to do what it
takes though. A good salesperson has the
ability to close deals with really big names
at Canonical which is very exciting.
Michael Kress
VP Business Development, Lexington
What would you say that
Canonical employees have
in common?
I believe that most people are here
because they have the passion of winning
and enjoy the success of the brand and
the perspectives. When closing deals with
big names, people from all teams are in a
common thread of success. It’s very much
a group effort. So, I would say that people
here are intelligent and enjoy winning.
Michael is the VP of Business Development in the Cloud division.
He works alongside the US direct sales team, supports individual
sales people and also covers the strategic large enterprise
accounts for the American cloud direct team.

I’m South African and the concept of
working with Ubuntu and its founder Mark
(Shuttleworth) was what made me want
to join right away. My personal values and
my culture matched the company and my
professional aspirations were aligned to
those of the organisation. Also, I have
always been involved in sales and so the
Ubuntu Brand and combination of sales
at Canonical made the trick for me.
Canonical is not for everyone. We think
differently and know what we’re doing.
If someone wants to enter an organisation
and be told what to do or how to complete
every daily task they are assigned to do,
this is not the company for them. At
Canonical, if you need something, someone
is always going to support you but work
is done on everyone’s own initiative.
How would you describe the
environment / Everyday life?
I would say it’s relaxed and friendly but at the
same time there is an air of professionalism.
What I mean is, that although you can see
that people may not be formally dressed –
wearing their suits and ties, their attitude
and manners are always very professional
when interacting with other people – either
within the office or with customers. Also,
the office and building are amazing. I love
the Blue Fin building and the fact that the
Thames, the Tate Modern, London Bridge
and so many other places are just a very
short walk away.
Robert Berry
Inside Sales Manager, London
in common?
I would say that we are a group of people
attracted to Canonical because of its
quirkiness. Everyone is really smart and
unique and if it wasn’t for this uniqueness,
Canonical wouldn’t be the same.
your job?
I like the ‘hunting’ aspect it entails, finding
the next deal. I like telling customers about
Ubuntu and our story. We are the most
amazing open source organisation and
when you tell them our story and how our
products and tools all connect and watch
the expressions on their faces change when
they realise, that is the most satisfying part.
I enjoy watching them from being sceptical
to being enthusiastic about our products
and telling us ‘wow, that’s amazing!’.
That’s precious. Actually, their expressions
are better than making money!’
Robert joined Canonical in 2013. He is office based,
at the Blue Fin building in London. He is the manager
of the inside sales team.

I was referred by a colleague with whom
I worked in the past and I also knew Ubuntu
as my boyfriend uses it, so it all clicked
and matched!
It is a diverse and a very multicultural
environment. There are good perks offered
too. The building and the offices are great,
the team is very well put together and I like
my colleagues a lot.
I would say that it’s rather relaxed,
although work can get stressful at
times, however there is a good balance
throughout. Sometimes the topics or
problems can get very technical and
complex but I find this a challenge and
motivation to learn more about the
technologies and industries we build
our products for.
Hanna Wasilewska
Inside Sales Executive, London
in common?
Intelligence – they are the smartest people
I have worked with to date. They have
a good way around things while still
managing to be quirky.
your job?
I like the independence. The fact that there
is no set plan on a daily basis means I get
to plan my day accordingly. I like to take
initiative on my work although I know that
there is support there as and when I need it.
Hanna joined Canonical at the beginning of 2016. She is
office based, at the Blue Fin building in London. She works
as part of the Commercial Deal Desk (support for Ubuntu,
Openstack and scale-out tools).

Canonical has a clear market lead while
maintaining a start-up feel. You need to
have a self-starting mentality to succeed
here, and in return you receive more
freedom to organise how you work.
Compared to other companies, managers
at Canonical listen to employees’ opinions
and take them on board. There are also
ample opportunities to enhance your career
since working here will always test your
capabilities to their fullest. The office is
great and right in the centre of London,
allowing me to have the dream commute
of cycling to work!
I get along well with everyone. You feel
free to talk to anyone which creates a
relaxed environment. The office is very
friendly and everyone is very approachable.
Trust me, most of us are nerds in one way
or another!
Will Skannerup
in common?
Canonical employees are a very good
crop of people. They are intelligent and
hard working. We all know how to get on
with our work when lines are blurry and
succeed in what we do.
your job?
Getting involved with people. Challenging
myself, constantly balancing several
priorities and making sure everything
is ticking along as it should.
Will joined Canonical in 2016. He is office based, at the Blue Fin
building in London. He works in Inside sales with the Cloud team
and has previously worked as an Accounts Manager.

I was headhunted. The offer was great.
I couldn’t resist.
It’s a great company in general but to
be honest, the salary plus commission.
*laughter*
in common?
I’d say that they are all hard workers.
Although the structure for the long-term
is not firmly set, they work hard and find
their way around solving issues.
Vera Nicotra
your job?
I enjoy the fact that there’s no set
direction. There is freedom and flexibility
and that gives me the space to develop
my own approach on issues and find my
own way of solving them.
I love the building and the view from the
office but I’d say that the people are the
asset – they are helpful, talkative
and kind.
Vera joined Canonical in 2015. She is office based,
at the Blue Fin building in London. She works in
Inside Sales for deals up to 100k.

When I joined it was a new company with
an exciting position in the market. It has
grown rapidly over that time by focusing
on goals and being flexible enough to
move with the market. Open source is
being adopted at an extremely fast rate
and Canonical is well positioned as
a market leader.
The fact that it is still a motivated and
growing company. There is always a lot
to do and the growth and success of the
company is motivation enough.
Mark Murphy
Global Accounts Director, London
in common?
I’d say that they have a common set
of values. There is a strong affinity to
our brand and the value’s it represents.
If you look up the meaning of our core
offering of Ubuntu that says much
about our sentiment.
your job?
Everyday is challenging and different.
Meeting people across different parts
of the world who love your product
is a great motivator.
Mark joined Canonical in 2007. He is office based, at
the Blue Fin building in London. He works with IoT and
devices partners as an outbound sales and alliances
person with a global remit.
As an outbound focused sales and alliances
person, my job is about meeting partners
across the globe. There is a large degree
of international travelling involved so one
week I could be in China the next in Europe
or the USA. Periodically I spend time in
our UK office to catch up and consolidate
on the business. My team are based in
many time zones across the globe.

I knew that Canonical had to do with Cloud.
I wasn’t familiar with the fact that Canonical
had an IBM Alliances team. Given that I was
an IBM account manager previously this
position at Canonical was a challenge
for me.
Canonical is the upcoming thing of the
industry. There is a lot of diversity amongst
employees and as a non European I never
had any problems being made to feel
comfortable and welcome at the
same time.
Anulekha Bhattacharya
in common?
I would say that we are very hard working.
We are all doing our best and are very kind
and friendly with each other and with
newcomers too.
your job?
Canonical is an inspiring, forward thinking
organization and my role focuses on
tomorrow. I enjoy building connections and
customer relationships. It’s so rewarding
having customers come to you in order
to express their needs. I believe that being
honest and hard working, eventually builds
strong deals and forms strong and long
lasting customer relations.
Anulekha joined Canonical during the first months
of 2016. She is office based, at the Blue Fin building in
London. She works in inside sales with the IBM Alliances
team which is a new division created within Canonical.
First of all the office location is very central.
I like the bright colours throughout and the
roof-top cafe is excellent. There is a strong
connection with my colleagues. The
environment is very welcoming, it’s both
global and virtual while we are all willing
to help each at any given time.

Having been headhunted through
LinkedIn, I had an interview with my now
current manager. I was very impressed by
the direction in which the company seems
to be heading. I wanted to be part of a
team working on great projects and with
large customers.
I think this company is really going places.
Illustrated by some of our major success
stories over the last 6-9 months. I want to
be part of more of these wins and, hopefully,
work my way up in the organisation.
Joe Parkinson
in common?
I believe that everyone here has a genuine
desire to solve problems. Whether that be
through the use of technology or more
on the emotional front, everyone wants
to help.
your job?
I enjoy being at the forefront of technology
and business development. I see myself
as more of a consultant than a sales person.
It’s nice to know that a customer feels that
I am helping or advising them rather than
trying to sell. The monetary opportunities
are also great for someone of my age.
Joe joined Canonical towards the end of 2015. He is office
based, at the Blue Fin building in London. He works in Inside
Sales with outbound work included and he also qualifies
opportunities from the telemarketing team.
I think it’s a relaxed and an enjoyable place
to be. A great office, great colleagues and
very good perks.

I was actually headhunted by a former
colleague of mine. I was working for
another company at the time and
my colleague told me about his job
at Canonical, talked to me about the
company and he referred me to his
manager. I went for an interview and it
was indeed the best decision I’ve made.
I haven’t regretted it at all – keeping in
mind that I was very satisfied with my
previous position...I made a tough choice
but it surely was the correct one.
I enjoy working with a variety of people
from different backgrounds and the
variety of customers globally. Also, it’s
very exciting to work with big company
names. Exciting tech environment, good
prospects and capabilities of colleagues.
Max Morton
in common?
I would say that they’re very skilled,
intelligent and capable.
your job?
I like that it has to do with cutting
edge technology. I like the nature of the
business and the location of the office
too. It would be a very good opportunity
for anyone actually.
Max joined Canonical towards the end of 2015.
He is office based, at the Blue Fin building in London.
He works in inside Sales in the Cloud department.
The atmosphere you get when working
at Canonical is overwhelming at first but
then again you get an impressive level
of skill and intelligence. It’s impressive
to be surrounded by such talented
people. You learn a lot. It’s varied but
always interesting.

I had old colleagues who were working
for Canonical and they were really
enjoying their work. It was a very good
choice I made to join Canonical as I feel
I grew professionally in the organization
as well as personally too.
Well, Canonical was a great bet for me.
It was more than I ever thought it would
be. It’s surprising how I have the support
of the organization in everything I want
to do.
Sam Rivera
Regional Sales Manager, New York
in common?
I would say that they’re passionate
with what they do and believe in what
they are doing. They are highly intelligent
and they have an ‘I got your back’ kind
of attitude.
your job?
I really enjoy the ‘hunt’, the challenge of
convincing someone to come aboard with
you. To sell your belief to other people
and express your passion of what you
believe in to others.
Sam joined Canonical in the beginning of 2016. He is working
from home in the Greater New York City Area, USA. He is
responsibile for making things work in the Sales department.
I work from home and I love it. I wouldn’t
change it for the world. I am enjoying
it a lot!

In my previous job I was involved in SDN
Solutions where we used Ubuntu so I knew
all about it and was familiar with the way it
worked as well as with its vast development.
Therefore, that attracted me more towards
Ubuntu and Canonical and when the
opportunity to join Canonical appeared, I
felt it was extremely interesting to become
part of this fast developing community.
I work in Tokyo. The Japanese market has
still a lot to learn about Ubuntu and we
want the brand to reach out as far as
possible and therefore, there’s still a long
way to go. So, three years is not actually
that long.
Takeshi Nakajima
Corporate Sales Executive, Tokyo
in common?
Continuing from the last question and
due to the fact that there is this start up
feel to Canonical, I believe that people
are very flexible and have a strong
mindset of getting things done.
your job?
I enjoy engaging with people and by people
I am referring to our colleagues, our
partners and our customers of course.
I enjoy negotiating and solving issues
as well as providing solutions.
Takeshi joined Canonical in 2013. He is office based
in Tokyo, Japan. Takeshi is involved in Sales and in
Partner Channel Sales.
Canonical is not a small company anymore.
It has grown a lot and is still growing in a
fast pace. The office in Tokyo is populated
by a few people and our economy is the
third largest in the world so imagine how
busy we are! Although, as I mentioned
before the company is not a start up
anymore but it has a start up feel to it. We
need to be very pro-active and execute what
needs to be done on our own initiative.
Concerning the work environment, I’d like
to mention how great the view from the
office is!

A friend referred me. I knew that Canonical
was a company at the edge of technology
and that it provided leading edge open
source technology. I was extremely
interested in that and therefore I was
more than happy to join.
I enjoy the team I work with. I also enjoy
the flexibility and the travelling involved.
One can have the opportunity to travel to
really nice places.
Christopher Francom
Regional Sales Manager, Utah
in common?
I would have to say that they are very
smart. They are some of the smartest
people I’ve ever worked with. Especially
the engineers and the tech people.
your job?
I enjoy the fact that you get to hear about
very interesting products. Canonical is
changing the way IT departments are doing
things and that is extremely interesting.
Christopher joined Canonical at the beginning of 2015.
He is home based in Utah, USA. Christopher is involved
in Cloud direct sales.
I can’t say that working at an office really
bothers. Either someone is home based
or office based, both have their pros and
cons. I would say that the pros of being
home based are the flexibility and the
commute time you don’t have to waste
every day alongside the cost savings while
enjoying a home cooked lunch!

The opportunity to work with the most
innovative open source company and
then take that innovation to customers.
Also one has the opportunity to work
with very smart people and last but not
least the opportunity to work with Mark
Shuttleworth who is visionary.
The innovation that it brings to the table
and the open source leadership and
opportunities. Also, a great asset as far
as I’m concerned at least, is the ability to
work from home. Although I still work as
hard, I have the opportunity to balance
my personal and professional life and
be closer to family and friends.
Fernando Oliveira
Director of Sales, California
in common?
I would say that they are a group of very
smart people who collaborate together
and who at the same time are not selfish.
That is only to be seen at Canonical.
your job?
I like that there’s no routine in order to
achieve our goals. Free software helps
our customers improve their processes
and achieve their goals and that
eventually improves their everyday life.
Fernando joined Canonical in 2014. He is home based in
the West Coast, US. Fernando is the Director of sales in the
West Coast and Latin America. Fernando engages with key
decision makers in order to identify the suitable cloud strategy.
My office is my home so I believe that
having no everyday commute is a
huge advantage.

The ‘philosophy of Ubuntu’ ‘humanity
to others’. It’s a philosophy which we carry
out every single day, from how we interact
with our colleagues through to our
customers.
The innovation that it brings to the table
and the open source leadership and
opportunities. Also, a great asset as far
as I’m concerned at least, is the ability to
work from home. Although I still work as
hard, I have the opportunity to balance
my personal and professional life and
be closer to family and friends.
in common?
Intelligence and empathy. I love it here!
Shelly McCafferty
Graduate Sales Team Leader, London
your job?
I really enjoy the interaction with so
many different people. There is a lot of
international travel involved if you work
for Canonical and I have been lucky enough
to have seen many places. You can see the
world working for this company!
A lot of fun. Everybody loves coming to
work and we all work very well together.
At the same time, we work very hard.
Knowing that your colleagues are working
this hard encourages you to always
be at your best.
Shelly joined Canonical in 2013. Shelly is office based
at the Blue Fin Building in London and she is a graduate
sales team leader; she looks after the junior sales staff.

Why working in Sales at Canonical is great!

More Related Content

What's hot

Similar to Why working in Sales at Canonical is great!

Recently uploaded

In this document

Why working in Sales at Canonical is great!