Samuel Lwambwa,
Johannesburg, Sales

I know this is going to seem more like a movie than a real story, but trust me — it’s true.

It all started when I showed up for the interview at the Sandton office in Johannesburg. There were a bunch of questions and amongst them, one stood out. It immediately let me know that I’m not in a conventional interview or a conventional company either. I was asked to sell the interviewer his iPhone 4. Apart from the fact I am not at all a fan of iOS (Android for the win!), I was put on the spot. I have never broken out a sweat that quickly in my life. It was like a switch of nervousness was turned on in my medulla oblongata and heart palpitations ensued. After successfully being able to conceal the level of nervousness, and selling the iPhone, I proceeded towards the door. I was told if I were successful, I would receive notification.

Fast forward a few days and I find myself shadowing a legend amongst legends — Mayank Mehta (MM). I was told that he was the Chuck Norris of sales at Zomato. I mean, he didn’t go to meetings to try and close a deal. He went to meetings to get signatures on contracts as per legal requirements. His P1s and P2s were already closed, they just didn’t know it until he showed up. The more I observed from a distance and smashed meetings with MM, the more I understood the culture of a Zoman at work and the hustle required. Whenever he walked back into the office from meetings, explosion smoke and residue action music would be fading out.

At this point in the SA office, there were about 8 people in the Sales team. After shadowing MM and witnessing him making record sales, I told myself that I would definitely be bringing my A-game, never become complacent, and continue the hustle in true Zomato spirit even after MM left to head back to India.

The hustle indeed continued, and I saw myself steadily growing. Using what I learned from MM, Dean, and Heino — just to name a few — and in a very short time frame, I began having a steady, strong pipeline and continuously upping my conversion rate month-on-month. I understood “the initiatives we take define our job description and not the other way round” quite clearly. I am pretty sure people in the office got tired of me walking up to the successful sale bell to ring it! *covers eyes*

I can truly say that the young grasshopper that once was shadowing a sensei has grown and has learned a ton, and aims not only to continue aiding in making Zomato South Africa self-sufficient, but also to emulate that relationship for the newbies that join. After all, we are one team and each success is everyone’s success.

P.S. The movie paralleled in this piece is Wolf of Wall Street, minus the defrauding part. Sell me this pen, will you?