Adenike Akinlabi is all too familiar with how it feels to be the only woman on a sales team or the only Black person in an organization. She’s been rejected while selling software, raising two children while working full-time, and advancing her sales career despite a lack of relatable role models in her community.
Some might view these adversities as unfavorable, but not Adenike. For her, challenges are an opportunity for growth.
“These challenges have reinforced vital lessons of resilience and adaptability,” Adenike, now a senior enterprise account executive at Contentful, the headless content management system, shares. “Over time, I've come to adopt a growth mindset, and it has made a significant difference in my life.”
We caught up with Adenike to hear how this growth mindset allows her to thrive in the sales industry, plus a few tips for how you, too, can turn challenges into opportunities.
Adopting a new mindset
“As a Black woman navigating the sales profession, I encountered constant rejection and objections, particularly when selling software,” Adenike says. “Instead of viewing these challenges as setbacks, I saw them as chances to be creative and resilient.”
Adenike attributes this mindset shift to several factors, starting with self-reflection.
“I took a good look at my beliefs and attitudes toward challenges and personal growth. Recognizing that my mindset was holding me back made me more open to new possibilities.”
She also took time to learn from her setbacks, analyzing where she went wrong and how she could avoid the same outcome moving forward. This constructive approach helped her to stay positive in the face of adversity and eventually rewarded her with optimized results.
“Successfully navigating challenges in sales enhances credibility. It demonstrates a commitment to finding solutions, delivering value, and fostering strong relationships.”
The final step in Adenike’s journey toward embracing a growth mindset involved choosing the right company — and when she discovered Contentful, there was no doubt that it was the right place for her.
Continued growth at Contentful
Adenike accepted the senior enterprise account executive opportunity with Contentful in part for their “recognition of the challenges faced by under-represented communities in the workforce.”
She describes Contentful as a place that understands the needs of each individual, especially women in a male-dominated field. Thanks to benefits like a flexible work policy, it’s that much easier for Adenike to navigate both personal and professional challenges.
She was also drawn to their forward-thinking culture and recognized it as a fertile ground for continued development.
“Contentful's commitment to innovative content management resonated with my growth mindset. It inspired creative problem-solving, such as finding unique solutions for clients' specific needs. This approach has contributed to successful partnerships and customer satisfaction.”
5 ways to embrace a growth mindset
Adenike is the first to admit that embracing a growth mindset takes time, and like all new skills, it’s a muscle you need to hone. To help on your journey toward embracing a growth mindset, she leaves you with these five tips:
- View challenges as learning opportunities. “Embrace challenges as chances to learn and grow. Instead of seeing setbacks as failures, think of them as valuable learning experiences. Analyze what went wrong, identify areas for improvement, and use the insights gained to enhance your skills and approach. This mindset shift turns challenges into opportunities for personal and professional development.”
- Seek feedback and keep improving. “Ask for feedback from colleagues, mentors, or clients. Having a growth mindset means being open to constructive criticism and using it to get better. Regular feedback loops help you identify blind spots, refine strategies, and improve performance. Professionals who actively seek and apply feedback position themselves for continuous growth.”
- Have a solution-focused mindset. “Approach challenges with a mindset focused on finding solutions. Instead of dwelling on problems, concentrate on finding ways to solve them. This proactive approach not only helps you overcome obstacles but also demonstrates resilience and adaptability. By actively seeking and implementing solutions, professionals can turn challenges into opportunities to showcase their problem-solving abilities.
- Embrace the power of “yet.” “Add the word ‘yet’ to your vocabulary. For example, if you face a skill gap or a project that seems overwhelming, say, ‘I haven't mastered this skill yet’ or ‘I haven't figured it out yet.’ This simple addition reinforces the belief that skills can be developed over time, fostering a growth mindset. It shifts the focus from limitations to the potential for future growth and success.”
- Celebrate effort and persistence. “Shift the focus from outcomes to the effort and persistence invested in overcoming challenges. Recognize and celebrate the hard work, dedication, and resilience shown in the face of adversity. By acknowledging and valuing the process, professionals reinforce the idea that effort and perseverance are essential components of success. This mindset shift encourages a positive approach to challenges, emphasizing the journey rather than just the destination.”
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