{"id":52118,"date":"2022-11-03T10:16:57","date_gmt":"2022-11-03T17:16:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/?p=52118"},"modified":"2022-11-03T11:33:48","modified_gmt":"2022-11-03T18:33:48","slug":"taking-big-picture-perspective-allows-epson-difference-maker-linda-sudderth-to-maximize-talents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/the-week-in-imaging-twii\/editors-blog\/2022\/11\/taking-big-picture-perspective-allows-epson-difference-maker-linda-sudderth-to-maximize-talents\/","title":{"rendered":"Taking Big-Picture Perspective Allows Epson Difference Maker Linda Sudderth to Maximize Talents"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
Linda Sudderth<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

No one could ever accuse Linda Sudderth of not giving 100% effort in her role as a sales manager. But there was a period when the current North American sales manager, business systems for Epson America tended to do a little too much. Or even a lot too much, so to speak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not that Sudderth was a micro-manager constantly breathing down the neck of her charges. Rather, she would serve as the main spokesperson at account meetings. She created and executed the strategies. If there was a task to handle, she was on it. Chances are, she also brewed the coffee and poured it during the meetings. One day, Sudderth\u2019s manager pointed out the lone chink in her armor\u2014she did too much for her team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As challenges go, this one was easy to rectify. \u201cHe told me I need to step back, let my reps have the lead in all meetings and coach them behind the scenes to improve and\/or grow their business acumen and confidence,\u201d said Sudderth, a 2022 ENX Magazine<\/em> Difference Maker. \u201cHe told me, if I listened and executed his advice, my work experience would change dramatically. I\u2019d have more time to look further down the path instead of just focusing on the here and now. I\u2019d have time to create and execute channel strategies and build the channel.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sudderth\u2019s manager was on point with the advice, and she empowered her team to make their own decisions and own their respective businesses, which has been mutually rewarding. Certainly, her journey has been one marked by long-term, meaningful relationships with external clients, vendors and Epson team members alike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Satisfaction is also derived from collaborating and devising winning customer strategies with Epson\u2019s internal teams. The execution phase, where rubber meets road, and successful outcomes make the experience all the more worthwhile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen the plan we\u2019ve put together works and our Epson team wins, there\u2019s nothing like it,\u201d she said. \u201cThe thrill of victory for the expanded team is incredibly exciting to me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winding Road<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her nearly 30-year career has been anything but a linear experience. Sudderth exited Sam Houston State University with a B.S. in computer science in hand but soon found that the world of programming did not align with her personal goals. A close friend suggested Sudderth enter technical sales, another piece of advice that proved serendipitous. She toiled with a national computer store in the age before direct marketing sales by PC manufacturers, offering IBM, Compaq, AT&T models and, ironically, Epson dot matrix printers. A short stint selling packaged software to large corporations was followed by stints with CompuAdd and PC POS (later Siemens Nixdorf) before a chance encounter at a trade show led her to Epson\u2019s doorstep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Given her hands-on nature, it\u2019s not surprising that Sudderth is always willing to provide support and assistance with any requests, whether it\u2019s from her direct or other field sales teams, sales operations or product management. She\u2019s always willing to step beyond her stated job responsibilities in the advancement of Epson\u2019s initiatives. If there are deep weeds to enter, Sudderth is always a willing participant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI would not ask any of my team to do something I wouldn\u2019t or haven\u2019t done,\u201d she noted. \u201cI also attribute this to my ability to create relationships, the community aspect of my team and expanded teams at Epson, the open-door policy to discuss anything, especially strategic planning for accounts and opportunities. And of course, my Excel spreadsheets\u2026I\u2019m prone to analyze the data.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sudderth\u2019s approach to business has been shaped by a number of influencers, some of whom crossed her path briefly but left a lasting impression. Early in her career, she attended a corporate sales meeting that included a guest speaker from Barbara Jordan\u2019s Ethics Committee, who broached the subject of business and personal ethics. One takeaway that has resonated with Sudderth added clarity to her thinking: If you really must wrestle with a decision trying to determine if it\u2019s ethically right or wrong, it\u2019s most likely wrong, so don\u2019t do it. Whatever the \u201cit\u201d is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On another occasion, Sudderth was pondering a move into a management position but was questioning if she was ready for the task. That prompted her immediate manager to observe, \u201cSometimes a reluctant manager is the best manager. A reluctant manager doesn\u2019t think they know everything; rather, they involve the great team to make the best decision.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The third nugget of wisdom came from a manager who told Sudderth she was a great employee who knew her business better than anyone. However, the manager offered to take her under his wing in order to transform her into a leader as opposed to a coach\/manager.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen someone you trust and admire offers to mentor you, you take the opportunity,\u201d she observed. \u201cAll three of those experiences were kind of simple but stretched me professionally and gave me confidence throughout my career.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Business Obstacles<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sudderth and her team earned their stripes during a 2021 that wasn\u2019t without its share of profound challenges stemming from the pandemic. The year called for difficult conversations with clients regarding across-the-board price increases against the backdrop of supply constraints. While comprehensive conversations didn\u2019t always allay the resistance\/pushback, the deep-rooted client relationships helped make the best of trying circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Moving forward, the goal is to continue cultivating and reaffirming relationships with partners. \u201cWe\u2019ve brought on a few new large channel partners and want to ensure we deliver product and grow those new partnerships by remaining vigilant in communication, continuing to be present, and lastly recovering lost business that was affected by the pandemic while introducing a few new products to all customers,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the personal front, Sudderth and her husband, Del Ray, have been married for 33 years. A backyard wedding was held for their oldest son, and their youngest son is slated to wed next February. Del Ray is the drummer in a band that performs gigs at restaurants and small venues throughout North Austin. As empty nesters, the Sudderths enjoy the freedom to travel (they\u2019ve visited Europe a few times) and tour local wineries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Working primarily from home for the last two and a half years has allowed Sudderth to flex her creative muscles. In addition to planning the backyard wedding for her son, she\u2019s refinished furniture, worked on craft projects and tended to her vegetable and flower gardens. The family also constructed a comprehensive outdoor entertainment space. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve also embarked on many weekend trips, enjoying live music in the Texas Hill Country and a few hot spots in and around Texas,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

No one could ever accuse Linda Sudderth of not giving 100% effort in her role as a sales manager. But there was a period when the current North American sales manager, business systems for Epson America tended to do a little too much. Or even a lot too much, so to speak. It\u2019s not that Sudderth was a micro-manager constantly breathing down the neck of her charges. Rather, she would serve as the main spokesperson at account meetings. She created and executed the strategies. If there was a task to handle, she was on it. Chances are, she also brewed the coffee and poured it during the meetings. One day, Sudderth\u2019s manager pointed out the lone chink in her armor\u2014she did too much for her team. As challenges go, this one was easy to rectify. \u201cHe told me I need to step back, let my reps have the lead in all meetings and coach them behind the scenes to improve and\/or grow their business acumen and confidence,\u201d said Sudderth, a 2022 ENX Magazine Difference Maker. \u201cHe told me, if I listened and executed his advice, my work experience would change dramatically. I\u2019d have more time to look further down the path instead of just focusing on the here and now. I\u2019d have time to create and execute channel strategies and build the channel.\u201d Sudderth\u2019s manager was on point with the advice, and she empowered her team to make their own decisions and own their respective businesses, which has been mutually rewarding. Certainly, her journey has been one marked by long-term, meaningful relationships with external clients, vendors and Epson team members alike. Satisfaction is also derived from collaborating and devising winning customer strategies with Epson\u2019s internal teams. The execution phase, where rubber meets road, and successful outcomes make the experience all the more worthwhile. \u201cWhen the plan we\u2019ve put together works and our Epson team wins, there\u2019s nothing like it,\u201d she said. \u201cThe thrill of victory for the expanded team is incredibly exciting to me.\u201d Winding Road Her nearly 30-year career has been anything but a linear experience. Sudderth exited Sam Houston State University with a B.S. in computer science in hand but soon found that the world of programming did not align with her personal goals. A close friend suggested Sudderth enter technical sales, another piece of advice that proved serendipitous. She toiled with a national computer store in the age before direct marketing sales by PC manufacturers, offering IBM, Compaq, AT&T models and, ironically, Epson dot matrix printers. A short stint selling packaged software to large corporations was followed by stints with CompuAdd and PC POS (later Siemens Nixdorf) before a chance encounter at a trade show led her to Epson\u2019s doorstep. Given her hands-on nature, it\u2019s not surprising that Sudderth is always willing to provide support and assistance with any requests, whether it\u2019s from her direct or other field sales teams, sales operations or product management. She\u2019s always willing to step beyond her stated job responsibilities in the advancement of Epson\u2019s initiatives. If there are deep weeds to enter, Sudderth is always a willing participant. \u201cI would not ask any of my team to do something I wouldn\u2019t or haven\u2019t done,\u201d she noted. \u201cI also attribute this to my ability to create relationships, the community aspect of my team and expanded teams at Epson, the open-door policy to discuss anything, especially strategic planning for accounts and opportunities. And of course, my Excel spreadsheets\u2026I\u2019m prone to analyze the data.\u201d Sudderth\u2019s approach to business has been shaped by a number of influencers, some of whom crossed her path briefly but left a lasting impression. Early in her career, she attended a corporate sales meeting that included a guest speaker from Barbara Jordan\u2019s Ethics Committee, who broached the subject of business and personal ethics. One takeaway that has resonated with Sudderth added clarity to her thinking: If you really must wrestle with a decision trying to determine if it\u2019s ethically right or wrong, it\u2019s most likely wrong, so don\u2019t do it. Whatever the \u201cit\u201d is. On another occasion, Sudderth was pondering a move into a management position but was questioning if she was ready for the task. That prompted her immediate manager to observe, \u201cSometimes a reluctant manager is the best manager. A reluctant manager doesn\u2019t think they know everything; rather, they involve the great team to make the best decision.\u201d The third nugget of wisdom came from a manager who told Sudderth she was a great employee who knew her business better than anyone. However, the manager offered to take her under his wing in order to transform her into a leader as opposed to a coach\/manager. \u201cWhen someone you trust and admire offers to mentor you, you take the opportunity,\u201d she observed. \u201cAll three of those experiences were kind of simple but stretched me professionally and gave me confidence throughout my career.\u201d Business Obstacles Sudderth and her team earned their stripes during a 2021 that wasn\u2019t without its share of profound challenges stemming from the pandemic. The year called for difficult conversations with clients regarding across-the-board price increases against the backdrop of supply constraints. While comprehensive conversations didn\u2019t always allay the resistance\/pushback, the deep-rooted client relationships helped make the best of trying circumstances. Moving forward, the goal is to continue cultivating and reaffirming relationships with partners. \u201cWe\u2019ve brought on a few new large channel partners and want to ensure we deliver product and grow those new partnerships by remaining vigilant in communication, continuing to be present, and lastly recovering lost business that was affected by the pandemic while introducing a few new products to all customers,\u201d she said. On the personal front, Sudderth and her husband, Del Ray, have been married for 33 years. A backyard wedding was held for their oldest son, and their youngest son is slated to wed next February. Del Ray is the drummer in a band that performs gigs at restaurants and small venues throughout North Austin. As empty nesters, the Sudderths enjoy the freedom to travel […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":166,"featured_media":49692,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[3626,80,1650,82,84,1638],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52118"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/166"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=52118"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52118\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":52128,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52118\/revisions\/52128"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/49692"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=52118"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=52118"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=52118"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}