Sabrina Smith’s Post

My dad was a born entrepreneur—he started and sold two companies, but until the day he died, he always introduced himself as a salesman. He raised me to believe that sales was the greatest profession on earth. The freedom. The challenge. The thrill of chasing a number. To control your own fate, your own schedule (good and bad), your own compensation (again, good and bad). "Your employer isn’t your family," says Netflix founder Reed Hastings. But if you’re lucky, your workplace starts to feel like something more. I joined Skillsoft (then NETg) B.C.—Before Children. The company supported me through both maternity leaves. There were career highs and lows, and one especially dark season when I nearly resigned. My young son, wide-eyed and (back then) squeaky-voiced, said, “You’re quitting Skillsoft?” like it was the end of the world. He knew no different. Eventually, after nearly two decades, I did leave—chasing growth, challenge, something new. And I found it. I learned so much during my three years away. But after a tough stretch in my personal life, I knew where I needed to be. Back at Skillsoft. Not just for the people (they’re the best in the world), but for the reinvention. What greeted me was a completely modernized and transformed product line, making my return even more thrilling. I came back to a company that had reshaped itself—innovative, bold, and charging forward. That made returning not just right—but electric. So yes—I brought my (now grown) kids to Winners Circle this year. And I think it makes perfect sense. They earned this. They grew up alongside this company. They’ve lived the late nights, the missed school plays, the “(please) be quiet, Mom’s on a call.” They’ve been part of this ride all along. Much is said about how loyalty seems like a lost value. That no one stays anymore. Gone are the days of the service gifts—the Mont Blanc pen and the gold watch. It’s a shame, because longevity brings so much: loyalty, knowledge, and a deep connection to the work and the people. Longevity means something. It means history. It means impact. It means you’ve seen the hard seasons and stayed to help build what’s next. Make no mistake—your employer isn’t your family. But if you’re lucky, you’ll find a place where your time means something. Where your voice matters. Where you may just find your best friends on the planet. Where your kids are proud to say, “My mom works there.” It’s been five years since my dad passed, but I still want to call him after every big deal, every milestone, every win. Thank you, Skillsoft, for an unforgettable Winners Circle in the beautiful Dominican Republic. Every mile of this journey has been meaningful. And somewhere, I hope my dad is smiling—because he was right. Sales is the greatest profession on earth, and I’m grateful it’s brought me here. --- Pictured bottom right: my dad setting up at one of his first trade shows for Mill Creek, the precursor to St. Ives.