Kathryn Mirbaha, 25
Distributor Sales Engineer
Siemens
Kathryn began working for Siemens in 2021, shortly after earning her MBA—but that wasn’t her first experience with the industry. “I arrived in the industry how many others have: I was raised in it,” she explained. “My dad worked for Metro Electric Supply in St. Louis, and I have fond memories of when I would get to go to work with him. I’d often bring my craft bag with me and decorate the ladies’ offices. My younger self also got to experience the thrill of counter days and got to go to many Metro barbeques, often leaving with pens, keychains, T-shirts, and various other swag items.”
After spending quite a bit of time at home in 2020 due to COVID restrictions, “I wanted nothing more than to get out of the house and get moving,” she said. “I had the opportunity to attend the NAED Conference in Austin, Texas, and was able to do a lot of networking. I met with many different manufacturers, reps, distributors, etc. and got to hear more about what it is they do day to day and the jobs available. I remembered speaking with Siemens at that conference and decided to apply to an open role.”
Kathryn was hired on to Siemens’s Sales Development Program, where she participated in a seven-month training program at the company’s headquarters in Atlanta. In May 2022, she accepted a distributor sales engineer role covering Oklahoma and Arkansas.
“When I look back on it, it seems like it was just yesterday that I began with Siemens, but in reality, I have overcome quite a bit of change,” she said. “During my first few months in the office, COVID mandates were still heavily in effect, masks were required, we sat at every other computer, and work from home was still a strong topic of conversation. I have lived in three different states in the last two years: Born and raised in Saint Louis, moved to Atlanta, and now currently residing in Edmond, Okla. I joined a fully staffed team of five and over the course of this last year, we had three team members go their separate ways, which turned into a period of seven months where we were actively trying to fill the talent and experience we had lost. It has truly been a heck of a first year in this role.”
Asked what first appealed to her about the industry, Kathryn said, “I knew I wanted to have an active role where each day looked different. I grew up as an athlete and I am a naturally competitive person, so a role that allows me to challenge myself and hold myself accountable for losses/wins is something that I thrive in. Although I say I grew up in this industry, I knew close to nothing about electrical products or how they worked. I am happy to say that it’s not a required prerequisite to the position, although it may make your first few months easier, LOL! It was a huge learning experience for me; at the end of the day, I am so proud of how far I have come.”
When asked for what continues to appeal to her, she said, “The people and the ability for me to have a healthy work-life balance. Every day is different. Different asks, different wants, sometimes good/sometimes bad—and it’s fun. Sometimes the smallest tasks mean the biggest thing to someone. If it wasn’t for the people, both internally and externally, I don’t know if I would be where I am today.”
A challenge that Kathryn faces often is being approached by customers with cheaper alternatives to Siemens products. “Whether that is a new player in the market or finding it on Amazon/another retailer, cheaper doesn’t always mean better and you don’t know how reliable the seller is,” she said. “I am actively taking advice and listening to our customers about the values in the products and companies they prioritize. I try to continue to reiterate those ‘values’ to our channel partners and their customers so that they are fully aware of their offerings.”
Going forward, Kathryn is looking to continue to put herself in positions where she is actively learning something new. “I really enjoy being customer facing and helping to problem-solve,” she said. “It’s very rewarding at the end of the day knowing that a customer came to you for help and you were able to help come up with a solution.”
Asked what she would tell someone just entering the industry, Kathryn had this advice: “Given the long lead times and unexpected trends of our industry right now, it is more important than ever to be honest with your customer. Be honest, and then follow up in a timely manner—the timely follow-up or lack thereof is what winds up costing business more than anything else.
“Second, no matter what your position is, we’re not meant to know everything,” she continued. “Figure out who to call and when, but ultimately learn where you can provide value to someone else. Be someone else’s call when they are not sure what to do in a situation.”
When she’s not at work, Kathryn describes herself as a “busy body” who tries to spend any extra time being active and doing something outside. “I am a high school coach for a local girls’ lacrosse club. Being able to help foster a love for the sport and being active is very rewarding,” she said. “I also really enjoy running and gardening and am actively working to flip a fixer-upper that I purchased earlier this year. My biggest piece of advice when it comes to a fixer-upper is that if a YouTube video says it takes 30 minutes, you can be sure it’s going to take double—if not triple—that amount of time to finish!”
Each year tED magazine recognizes 30 of the industry’s best and brightest under the age of 35. Please visit tedmag.com/30Under35 for nomination information and updates about the 2024 program. Questions can be sent to tED Editor Misty Byers at mbyers@naed.org.
Tagged with 2023 30 Under 35, 30 under 35, people