Rep profile I’m sold on job
DENTSPLY’s senior sales specialist Wendy Sands tells us why she loves her career in dentistry
Q – Tell us a bit about your career so far I began working as a dental nurse in ı987 at a practice in the southside of Glasgow. I stayed there for more than ı0 years, becoming a qualified dental surgery assistant (really showing my age here), then becoming practice manager. After a short spell of maternity leave
following the birth of my daughter, I took up a part-time dental nurse position at a practice in Newton Mearns. I worked in this practice for a few years, with a short break to have my son. Throughout my time in practice, I built up relationships with various dental sales representatives and this is when I realised I wanted to move into the sales side of the dental industry.
Q – When did you join DENTSPLY? In August 2007, I learned that the DENTSPLY rep was leaving and thought it was just the opportunity I needed to fulfil my dream of being a sales representa- tive. From using DENTSPLY products in surgery, I knew they had a great portfolio of products, were well respected in the dental industry and, after speaking to the outgoing rep, I learned they were a great company to work for. To ensure this was the right path for
me, I spent time out on the road with a couple of reps and quickly realised that DENTSPLY was exactly where I wanted to work. My first six weeks were spent in our head office in Surrey, receiving in-depth training on all of the products that DENTSPLY manufactured, including training on all aspects of the DENTSPLY business throughout the world. When I started out in this new role, I
was really impressed by the dedication and passion displayed by all members of the DENTSPLY team; nothing was a problem and they were always on hand when I had any questions or needed help with some- thing (believe me, there were a lot).
Q – What do you enjoy most about working for DENTSPLY? I love my job. I am motivated to get up every day and go out and deliver the very best service and solutions I can offer to my customers. I especially like to help
practices with solutions to their dental and business needs. DENTSPLY has modernised its product portfolio with new revolutionary products like SDR, Wave One and the new Protaper Next range of endodontic products. This is what I enjoy most; spending time with a practice, advising them how these new products will benefit their day-to-day clinical outcomes. I also spend a lot of time organising CPD meetings, where all members of the dental team can come and have hands-on learning with these new products.
Q – Describe a typical day No two days are ever the same. Generally, I have appointments booked in throughout the day with a member of the dental team, which would be to detail products and offer solutions to help make the clinician’s life easier. I like to ensure all my customers are aware of the benefits that the DENTSPLY rewards website –
www.dentsplyrewards.
co.uk – and our learning website –
www.dentsplyacademy.co.uk – can bring to a busy practice. As DENTSPLY is a company that prides
itself on its education programme, I spend a lot of time arranging courses where members of the team can come along, learn about and try out our new products. I cover the PA, KA, G, ML, FK and DG postcodes, which I try and get round on an eight- week cycle. In addition to my ‘day job’, I now take part in the ongoing training of the newer DENTSPLY recruits. I particularly enjoy this as I was in their shoes a few years ago.
Q – What do you do in your spare time? I live in Clarkston with my husband Graham and we have two fantastic children, Kirstin, who has just turned ı8 and is studying actuarial science at Heriot Watt University, and Jack, who is ı5 and currently in his 4th year at Williamwood High School studying hard for his upcoming prelims. There are also another two members of the Sands family, black labradors Charlie and Roxy. My husband and I love nothing more than finding places we can go to walk the dogs. We have a great circle of friends who
Scottish Dental magazine 21
we love socialising with and can normally be found somewhere in Merchant Square in Glasgow. We also enjoy going away to the sun and spending time relaxing with a jug of Sangria or two.
Q – What does the future hold for you? I have worked for DENTSPLY for nearly seven years and I have recently been promoted to the role of senior sales specialist, which gives me the opportunity to advance my managerial career. My ultimate goal is to manage a team, whether it be in the UK or somewhere else throughout the DENTSPLY world. As well as looking after my territory, I
will be spending some more time mentoring the new reps and standing in for the Scotland and Ireland business manager, Diane Wales, in her absence. There are some up and coming new product lines that will be launched this year and I can’t wait to get out and about and talk about these. The past seven years with DENT- SPLY have really flown in and I have loved every minute of it – here’s to the next 20!
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