Leaning Into Growth: My Early Days at Veryfi
Over the past few years in tech sales, I’ve spent most of my time speaking to marketing, operations, and sales leaders – personas I’ve grown comfortable navigating. At Veryfi, that comfort zone was quickly replaced with something new: conversations with product managers, engineers, and technical teams across the fintech space.
It’s a different language, a new rhythm.
I’ve always been someone who welcomes discomfort – I seek it. For me, discomfort is where real growth happens. Joining Veryfi, the smallest company I’ve worked for, was a conscious choice. I was drawn to the pace, the ownership, and the opportunity to help build something meaningful from the ground up. That kind of environment pushes me to level up every day.
I have direct access to our co-founders – leaders who not only take time to speak with you 1-on-1 but actually want to hear from you. My ideas, questions, and feedback are encouraged. There’s a level of trust that empowers you to run your day in the way that works best for you. That freedom also comes with responsibility, and it requires confidence in your ability to perform at a high level without someone constantly looking over your shoulder.
The team dynamic at Veryfi is one that I appreciate. When I reach out, someone always shows up to help. Leaning on your team isn’t just a check-the-box gesture, it’s essential. In a startup, not everything is perfectly buttoned-up. There aren’t processes for every scenario. That means you have to believe in yourself, think creatively, and keep moving forward even when things feel ambiguous.
As I continue to grow in my career, I’m more intentional than ever about making each chapter meaningful. I know my brain is at its best when I’m feeding it new information, learning new skills, and tackling new challenges. That mindset is key to both my personal and professional success.
I’m eager to keep building my confidence, my knowledge, and my ability to sell with both technical depth and conviction. These early days at Veryfi have already pushed me in the best ways and I’m excited for what’s to come.
Leveling Up in Tech Sales: What I’m Learning at Veryfi
Starting a new job is always a leap of faith. You’re stepping into unfamiliar territory, navigating new tools, teams, and expectations.
When I accepted the offer at Veryfi, I knew I was entering a fast-paced startup environment. What I didn’t fully anticipate was the depth of product knowledge I’d need to be effective. The learning curve is steep, but the climb is worth it.
A large part of my role involves multi-touch outreach to product managers, tech leads, and fintech professionals. Early on in my sales career, I realized that the best conversations aren’t the ones where I talk the most – they’re the ones where I listen actively and ask the right follow-up questions.
In tech sales – especially in a machine learning-driven environment like Veryfi – strong discovery is everything, particularly when you’re working with tech-savvy buyers who expect a deep understanding of their challenges. It’s where deals are won or lost. Gaining insight into a prospect’s workflow and uncovering inefficiencies begins with one essential skill: active listening.
Deeper Discovery:
A deeper discovery always opens the door to better opportunities – and better solutions.
When a prospect shares that their team is spending too much time manually reviewing receipts, that’s my cue to dig deeper:
– What systems are in place today?
– How long does processing actually take?
– What happens when something gets flagged or rejected?
Each answer brings more clarity – and with that clarity, it becomes easier to see where Veryfi can plug in and make a real impact.
Whether it’s line-item level extraction and categorization, fraud detection, or using Veryfi Lens for mobile-first document capture, we’re helping product teams solve the pain points that slow them down.
What drives me is the enthusiasm I feel when talking to prospects and customers about these challenges and how we’re uniquely positioned to solve them. That energy comes from seeing firsthand how Veryfi transforms manual processes into seamless automation.
If you’re exploring this space, let’s connect – we’d love to hear what you’re working on!
Startup Energy
Veryfi runs on startup energy – fast decisions, fast execution, and even faster learning. Things change fast; priorities shift and strategies evolve. A speedy environment has helped me adapt, and become more focused – more proactive in my learning.
It’s also been incredibly empowering. I’ve had the freedom to experiment with messaging, test new outreach strategies, and build my own email copy. My manager encourages creativity, and I’m given plenty of space to try, fail, and improve quickly. That kind of culture is rare, and it’s helped me build confidence.
At the same time, I’ve learned the importance of self-directed learning. No one is handing me a textbook. I’ve reviewed numerous slide decks, have taken notes upon notes, listened to recorded calls, and leaned on my peers to gain wisdom. The more I invest in understanding the product and the customer, the more effective I become.
- Curiosity is a superpower. The more questions I ask – the better my conversations and problem-solving become.
- Adaptability is key. Every day is different, and the best reps are the ones who stay flexible and forward-thinking.
- Clarity fuels confidence. The more deeply I understand the value of what I’m offering, the more confidently I can communicate it – and that confidence is what earns trust.
- Teamwork matters. Even as an individual contributor role, success is shared. My wins come from collaboration – with marketing, support, product, and leadership. Everyone plays a role in shaping the customer experience.
Looking Ahead
I’m still early in my journey at Veryfi, but the personal and professional development I’ve gained so far has laid a strong foundation for what’s ahead.Tech sales is as much about learning as it is about selling, and I’m grateful to be in a role that pushes me to get better every single day.
If you’re thinking about jumping into tech sales or stepping into a new product-heavy role, my advice is simple: lean into the discomfort, stay curious, and commit to the process. The learning doesn’t stop, and that’s exactly the point!
– Taylor Abbott
Author Bio:
Taylor is part of the sales development team at Veryfi. With a background in tech sales and a passion for professional growth, Taylor shares insights on career development, sales strategy, and navigating the evolving world of SaaS.
Have questions? Book a call with Taylor for expert guidance.
