Boxer Spotlight - Nalin Brings His Curious Self to Work
"Bring Your _______ Self to Work" is an important pillar of our Box culture. We're a pretty mixed bag of different backgrounds and values around here, so the blank is different for each Box employee. In this series, we'll interview one of our own to give you a look at our diverse family of Boxers around the world.
Our first subject is Nalin Vahil, a stellar Account Executive based in our Austin office. Here's our interview:
Tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do at Box.
I was working on my own music startup in Los Angeles before Box. I found out about a unique
opportunity to be one of the first Account Executives in the Austin office last year and immediately jumped at the offer. In my spare time, you'll find me playing open mics, officiating weddings, and hunting down the best tacos in Austin.
What has been your most exciting win at Box?
My most exciting win to date was with a mid-sized consulting firm. The co-founder is the author of one of my favorite books - when I found out the employees of the company were required to read that book upon hire, I used that as an opportunity to align our vision with some of the biggest takeaways from the book, which immediately resonated with the end users. After we sealed the deal, I got an email from Aaron [Levie, Box CEO] congratulating me on the win. Turns out it was one of his favorite books, too!
Speaking of our CEO, Aaron is such a core part of the company. Do you have a fun memory of him to share?
My favorite memory of Aaron has to be during last year's Sales Kickoff. During his keynote, he pulled up a Boxer from the Japan office and did a stunt that caused everyone to burst out in laughter. Five minutes after that, the conversation shifted around a discussion of our company's vision and strategy for the upcoming year. That moment highlighted Aaron's capabilities as a leader to control a room - any time Aaron has something to say, you can guarantee the audience will be engaged.
What has been the high point of your career?
A month ago, I was promoted to become the first ever Corporate AE in Austin. It's an exciting opportunity to be able to become a founder of another team at Box and continue to grow the Austin office.
Not everything is sunshine and rainbows - what's been the most difficult challenge?
Growing sales teams in Austin has been exciting, but it comes with a unique set of challenges. Recruiting and hiring the right people, onboarding them efficiently, and maintaining the company’s values when you're growing quickly can be tough. Thankfully, I’m surrounded by the some of the brightest people I know to overcome those challenges together. Needless to say, I’m pretty grateful to be here!
How does what you do contribute to the success of Box?
Doing my job well helps Box, but I strive to play a bigger role for Box than the basic job requirements. As the only Corporate AE in the Austin office, I have a responsibility to set the example for the culture we want to promote for the younger sales reps. I try to bring genuine curiosity and the desire to help others to work every day. I think my contribution to Box’s culture is important in making sure we’re focused on solving the real world challenges of our customers. Not only does this mindset keep our customers happy, but it promotes more engaging, thoughtful conversations.