Deacon Spotlight: Dwayne Peterkin II
Dwayne Peterkin II (2017, BA Communication, Minor in Entrepreneurship & Social Enterprise)
Sr. Sales Operations Specialist at SHL in Chicago, IL
Tell us about your current job role/employer and what you’re currently working on.
My current employer is SHL. We support organizations through every step of the employee journey by bringing our trusted people insights for hiring, development, and talent mobility decisions. Currently, I work in Sales Operations. We support our sales teams in a variety of ways ranging from process efficiency to incentives. A lot of time is spent dealing in data, and seeing how that translates to the real life experiences of our sellers and the company.
What key personal and/or career experiences led you to where you are today?
The OPCD taught me a number of lessons that I took into the working world. In my first job at Gartner, I heavily leveraged many of the networking skills I acquired through my counseling sessions. Networking, establishing a mentor, and preparing for interviews have played a big part in every role I have had. Before learning these skills, I had no clue about anything related to careers or job searching. Also, taking the leap to get my MBA has been a big driver for me. I have learned a lot of skills that have helped me think about business more critically over the years.
What is the most challenging aspect of your job? How do you navigate that challenge?
Problem solving and working in ambiguity are commonly parts of my role. Often you have to solve for problems that do not have a clear cut resolution. You have to find a balance between dealing with people and supporting processes. All these needs to be done without completely disrupting the productivity of the organization.
What advice would you give to Wake Forest graduates about developing their personal life habits after college (finances, health, values, work/life balance)?
My biggest advice is to actually get the necessary amount of sleep and make sure that you are happy about the ways you spend your time. Entering the working world, it is tempting to keep the same pace as college, but there is a lot of life left once you graduate. Make sure you maximize it both inside and outside of work. Also, know what benefits are available to you when you start working. There are a lot of ways that you can support your mental and physical health that many coworkers will not be fully maximizing.
We know that relationships are important for any kind of development. How do you build and maintain your network?
As my career has progressed, I’ve made a point to have recurring check-ins with key mentors and friends. I try to never miss more than one in a row. Life is busy, but at the very least, these check-ins serve a reminder to connect.
Tell us about your mentoring relationships. What impact have these relationships had on your career and life?
Mentors have been a huge part of my successes. My mentors were a big part of helping me get started a salesperson and learning to advocate for myself. My mentor, who hired me initially at SHL, actually also wrote my MBA recommendations.
What advice would you give to current Wake Forest students and/or young alumni who are interested in working in your industry?
Do your research and come ready to ask questions. Being inquisitive is a big part of our industry and working in sales overall. Honestly, asking good thoughtful questions is a big skill that is needed across industries.
What’s next for your career? What future goals or plans are you pursuing?
Currently, I am happy to be at SHL, leveraging my experience as a seller to help the organization operationally thrive. For the future, I aspire to become a C-suite executive and help guide an organization. Until then, I am making sure to take in all the knowledge that I can from the people I am fortunate enough to work with every day.
Story published in November 2024. For current updates on Dwayne’s career path, visit his LinkedIn profile.