Coming out of university, I had clear goals: wipe out my debts and begin a career by the time I was 25.
 
I have always been an ambitious person but, realistically, at 23 I knew it was a tall order. Then I came across GDS.

I had never worked in sales, but the advert said 'no experience necessary', and the lure of exceptional commission, promotional opportunities and the possibility to travel abroad led me to apply.
 
Thankfully, I got the job. I started on March 5th 2007 on a relatively new project for GDS - a luxury lifestyle title: 100Thousand Club. I was delighted to be working on a publication that I was interested in and excited to develop. This challenge made me more determined to succeed and to meet my personal targets.
 
The great thing about GDS is that the support and training does not end after the first week. Continuous sessions on personal development and guidance on cultivating sales techniques from the very best in the company reach across the Atlantic! And the company is extremely generous with its incentives to keep staff motivated, which range from cash prizes to exclusive five-star, all-inclusive holidays!

Without a doubt, success in GDS can only be achieved with determination and hard work - you have to want to win - but it generates tremendous rewards. I am proud to say that I met my personal goals a year early due to the opportunities that GDS have given me.

In the past 14 months, I have been promoted twice to full manager running a team of six.

I'm glad that GDS has afforded me such a wonderful opportunity to grow professionally and personally. I am looking forward to a rewarding future and career with our company.

Anna Ashby
Sales Manager, 100Thousand Club MENA
Bristol, UK

My career with GDS began on June 4th, 2007. A week before that, I was at my graduation from college at The University of Delaware. Now, a year later, I find myself in a situation that I could not have scripted any better.
 
Initially, I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted to do post college. I did know that I wanted to be in an energetic work environment and work for a company that valued hard work and dedication.
 
When I came in for my interview with GDS in March of 2007, I was really taken back by the atmosphere in the office. Every single person I was introduced too – every project I was informed about – topped off with a very specific game plan during my interview, all made working for GDS an easy decision.
 
When I got here in June, I was put on one of the company’s most progressive projects that was ran by the office’s top sales manager.
 
A lot was expected of me during my first two months. I was selling a five star product and getting trained by experienced professionals. This, combined with my hunger to succeed at the job, made every month better than the previous one.  
 
As my one-year anniversary with the company approaches, I have enjoyed the opportunity of managing my first industry focused strategy summit for GDS. This experience has been absolutely amazing. I now have the privilege of managing and directing new members of the company, which has been very rewarding.
 
I believe that my success so far with GDS is for many reasons. I’ve had the opportunity to work with some of the most seasoned sales professionals in the world. I have met some of the most well-known industry executives on the continental United States, and I’m in a situation where there is always room to grow.
 
I never imagined I'd enjoy my first job out of school this much.

Alex Sobol
Summit Director, Next Generation Utilities
New York, US

‘What do you want to be when you’re older?’ It’s a common question asked by family members everywhere, and for me the answer was never simple. ‘I’m sure you’ll fall into a job that you enjoy and be successful one day’ is the common response – but only a few believe it!
 
Having graduated from university with a BA Hons, my immediate ambition was to be a Broadcast Journalist. I began my career with BBC Wales as a Researcher and spent a year working on the news programme before deciding to leave. Suddenly I was in unknown territory with no clear career path. And that’s when I received a call from GDS requesting an interview.
 
I’m a firm believer in first impressions, and I was simply blown away when I walked into the GDS office. I immediately sensed an opportunity amongst the strong sales atmosphere. It was a buzz that I had never experienced before.   
I always wanted to work for a company who valued hard work and recognised potential, where the working day was enjoyable and employees were rewarded for outstanding achievement. This is what GDS offers every one of its staff.  
 
I joined GDS in October 2006 and it’s been an unbelievable journey. I was put on a newly recognised project, headed up by my Sales Director, and it was obvious that this was more than ‘another sales job’: you need to be driven, hungry, enthusiastic, passionate, motivated, and want to succeed at every level.  
 
I was selling a top product to some of the world’s biggest executives and being trained by the best sales people and experienced professionals in GDS.
 
Within ten months, I was offered my first management role – as Sub-Manager on GDS’ flagship product for Europe, and ‘Product of the Year’ 2007. Within 14 months I was promoted to Manager and I now look after a sales team that are as determined to succeed and further their careers as I am.  
 
Opportunities at GDS are endless and individuals from all backgrounds can follow this same career path to success in a short space of time. I had the ambition, but the training and support that I’ve had from all parts of this business has allowed me to develop a fantastic career that I firmly believe will continue to become bigger and better.
 
I would never have imagined I would be where I am today when I first graduated, and I’m just grateful that I was given this opportunity with GDS – one of the fastest growing media companies in the world!

Ollie Stebbings
Sales Manager, CXO EMEA
Cardiff, UK