YOUnique: Daniel Stein

Meet Daniel Stein, itel’s new Vice President of Sales. Hailing all the way from South Africa, he heads our global sales team, using his eight plus years in international sales and business to position itel as one of the most partner-focused, people-centric, and forward thinking CX providers. 

Thank you for joining us today, Daniel. Welcome to the itel family. 

Glad to be here. 

First, we would love to hear more about your role at itel. You’re Vice President of Sales, what exactly does that role entail?  

As VP of Sales, I’m focused on building a high-performing team from South Africa by providing guidance and support through regular meetings and training. Working closely with marketing, my role is to identify, analyze, and engage new sales opportunities and to refine our outreach strategies. The goal is to establish relationships with key clients and to network within the industry to strengthen our market presence. 

What do you think makes you the perfect fit for this role?   

Besides being in sales my whole life, I believe my approachable and energetic style makes me a great fit. I prioritize open communication, I actively listen, and I encourage people to share ideas and feedback. I aim to create an environment where everyone feels valued and motivated to contribute to our collective goals. I’m also passionate about building genuine relationships with clients and industry peers.  

Can you tell us what you enjoy most about your job?  

First, I really appreciate that the industry we work in allows for instant job creation and allows us to give back to the communities that we serve. What I also like is the deep relationship development that comes with the sales cycle. It’s not transactional, like selling cell phones for example, but requires months of connection with the client to build trust.  

When challenges arise, as they always do in any fast-paced business environment, how do you keep yourself motivated?    

 I always trust the process. If you have a process, then whenever challenges appear, you know what to do and you just need to follow through.   

Now, you have a unique story about how you came to itel. You used to work for a South African BPO and now you’re selling Caribbean outsourcing. How did that big shift come about? 

It was a strategic progression. Part of that came about because having worked for a homegrown BPO in South Africa, I have seen firsthand the potential of emerging outsourcing markets like the Caribbean. The nearshore has so many advantages. It’s already a global tourism destination that benefits from a cultural and geographical closeness to North America. There’s also a strong drive to be at the forefront of CX innovation, and I see limitless potential for further expansion and development of the Caribbean BPO sector.  

What is your ultimate vision for itel? What would you like to accomplish as VP of Sales? 

I think itel is already recognized in the industry for delivering great service. Now my job is to further establish itel as a brand that excels in customer engagement and client relationships. My aim is to help build those meaningful connections, to listen to clients, to understand their needs, and their pain points, and offer advice. I want itel to be known as the most partner-focused CX provider.  

You also live and work out of South Africa. What’s it like living there, working remotely for a Caribbean-based company? 

I feel exceptionally proud to be South African. It’s a melting pot of cultures and backgrounds, which makes for a unique but unified nation. In fact, in South Africa, there are 11 official languages. I’ve also been fortunate enough to live and travel all over the world, yet I always come back home. But from what I’ve experienced in the Caribbean so far, there are so many shared similarities. I can see that in the positive energy whenever I speak to my itel coworkers.  

Tell us a bit about yourself outside of work. Any favorite pastimes, hobbies, or sports? 

Much like my office, my home has an open-door policy. Most of my time outside of work is spent hosting friends and family, and entertaining. When the house isn’t filled with guests, I enjoy spending quality time with my wife and our two dogs, while sipping on some wine and watching the amazing South Africa sunsets. We both work in high-pressure environments, so it’s important to be mindful of your downtime and pause for a moment. 

Do you have a fun fact about yourself that you can share with us? 

Though I collect and invest in watches, wine, and art, I much prefer to wear shorts and t-shirts over suits or being formal. 

That’s great, Daniel. Sounds like you have it all - a dynamic, fast-paced career with many opportunities to make a significant contribution to the company’s growth, a beautiful home country and fun hobbies you enjoy.  

Thank you again for sitting down with us today to tell us more about your role as VP of Sales, and a little about yourself. We are certainly fortunate to have you on the itel team and will be looking forward to all the exciting developments to come. 

If you want to know more about itel's amazing culture and careers, click here!