Employee Spotlight
June 2023
Meet Bella Travieso Osendi, Account Executive!
Audicus strives to provide top-tier hearing aids and services to our customers.
Let’s see who’s working behind the scenes to make that happen.
In honor of Pride Month, we are highlighting Bella Travieso Osendi, Account Executive, of the LGBTQ+ community to hear about her experiences at work, and advice on how best to support Pride in the workplace.
What initially drew you to Audicus, and how’d your career path get you here?
Bella began her career working in B2B Sales (Business to Business), and that experience helped her hone in on improving a foundation for basic sales skills. She has always enjoyed working in sales, but after life events threw her a curveball, she notes “I needed a change in my career” and was open to a new and exciting opportunity on a B2C (Business to Consumer) team where she could make even more of an impact.
Bella was contacted by a recruiter at Audicus, and began her journey in the interview process where she learned more about the company and overall team. The mission statement drew her in, wanting to learn more about Audicus, and she was touched by the founder’s story of building the company after being a caretaker to his own family member who struggled with hearing loss. After accepting the Account Executive role, Bella says “this company was very accepting of what was going on with me, and is a safe workplace for me and my mental health.”
What is your role at Audicus and when did you join the team?
Bella is an Account Executive on the Sales team at Audicus. In her role, she is responsible for “speaking to our consumers directly, consulting them on their hearing loss, and giving them the best recommendation I can” on which hearing aid would be best suited for their individual hearing loss. She enjoys her role and wants to continue to make a large impact in customers’ lives. Bella also noted that the healthcare space in general is an extremely expensive one, and she really tries “to help fill a need” and improve someone’s life while working for a company that offers hearing care at an affordable price point.
How do you like to start your mornings?
In the morning “I wake up an hour earlier than I should and I like to spend time with my wife.” Coffee is vital in the morning, and Bella starts her morning off by making a cozy cup for her and her wife. Bella’s wife is currently attending dental school, and while they’re both busy with work and school, Bella tries “to put as much effort and time into my marriage” as possible, which means chatting over coffee before the work day begins.
Once Bella begins her work day, she spends some time going through open cases, texts, and emails from customers. She also checks slack messages, and sets out a plan for which opportunities she’d like to tackle early in the morning.
Any advice for someone wanting to enter this field?
Thinking about which career path is best for you can be a stressful journey. Sales is a wonderful avenue to go down, and Bella has advice for those wanting to pursue sales as a career. She suggests first “assessing yourself on your personality.” Throughout her sales career, she’s seen two types of successful individuals in a sales environment. An example of an individual who is successful in sales is “someone who enjoys having conversations with others and isn’t afraid to strike up a conversation,” and mentions that folks wanting to pursue an Account Executive role should refine those interpersonal relations skills and really work on their leadership as well. Another way to set yourself up for success in this role is networking. Bella mentions “you continuously learn how to connect with people through networking” which will help you tremendously when connecting with a customer.
If you do make the transition into a Sales position, Bella also says that boundaries and balance are extremely important. Bella is passionate about helping others, and comes across many individuals going through extremely difficult situations and hardships in their lives. It’s easy to take work “home” with you every day, especially when working in an environment where finances are a big piece of the puzzle for many. She urges those folks wanting to pursue sales to be empathetic, be a friend to the customer, but remember you shouldn’t always take work home with you and to do what you can for the customer.
What can companies do outside of Pride month to support the LGBTQ+ community?
Companies should continuously support, encourage, and empower all employees from diverse backgrounds to be their most authentic selves. Bella acknowledges that while we are quite divided as a nation, the most basic thing companies can do during Pride month is to “support their employees and be respectful of others.” Additionally, she believes companies should “show support, and provide resources for those who may need them” from the LGBTQ+ community.
For someone who isn’t out yet, what advice would you give them in order for them to be their authentic self?
When talking with Bella about coming out, she notes that “it’s different for everyone’s circumstance.” It can be scary, confusing, and uncertain as many may not anticipate how their family members and friends will react. Bella recommends that when the time comes to be your authentic self around those in your life, you should “find a safe place and people” to be around. She also recommends connecting with organizations that provide support, even legal counseling to help people in difficult times. Lastly, Bella recommends to “decide on how you want to tell your family and friends about your journey, and make sure you have a plan in place to be safe in case anything goes wrong.”
What’s something surprising that not many people know about you?
“I’m actually bipolar.” Bella was diagnosed as bipolar several months ago, and is currently writing a book to document the experiences – both traumatic and positive – she’s gone through. In her book she’s also going to cover generational trauma she’s experienced, which will include her parent’s story, how it has affected their children, and their children’s stories. Bella wants to document the many experiences she’s gone through, how it’s affected her and those around her, and how to break cycles.
Outside of work, what are your favorite things to do?
Outside of work, Bella is a social butterfly. She’s “your friend that will do anything with you that isn’t illegal.” Additionally, she enjoys playing video games on her playstation, loves listening to music, dancing, and enjoys writing. However, her favorite thing to do is spend time with her wife and create memories together.