Building a Career in Sales as an Introvert

Anushka was born and brought up on a tea plantation in the hills of Tripura, surrounded by a family with a long legacy in tea manufacturing. For years, her future felt sealed.

After graduating in Economics from the University of Warwick, she stepped into what seemed like destiny, beginning as an apprentice at one of the world’s oldest tea companies, Makaibari. But the tea industry, despite its deep personal ties, wasn’t quite her cup of tea (pun fully intended).

So she made a bold pivot. She packed up her life in the hills and moved to Mumbai.

“Over the last eight years, I’ve built my career in sales across a few different industries. Starting at a tea start-up (old habits), then spent a few years in recruitment, before eventually finding my way into the learning solutions space. The last four years in this industry — and the last two with Udemy — have been a whirlwind in the best way.”

Learning to Find Her Voice

If you had asked her 15 years ago whether she’d build a career centered on conversations, persuasion, and daily interactions with new people, she might have laughed.

Growing up, Anushka was deeply introverted. Relationship-building and confident outreach didn’t come naturally. They were skills she had to intentionally practice.

"I’ve learned how to step outside my comfort zone, feed off other people’s energy and show up with warmth and clarity even when it feels daunting."

And yet, she admits with a smile: if her 12-year-old self saw her making a cold call, she would be absolutely shocked.

Filling Her Cup

Outside of work, what truly energizes her is connection.

Every other week, Anushka and her girlfriends have a ritual: they pick a new restaurant or cocktail bar and make an evening of it. There’s a pre-game rhythm to it. Shortlisting places, dissecting menus in the group chat, building entirely unnecessary (and entirely necessary) hype.

“I usually try to have at least one fun little plan every week - something to look forward to and break the routine. It’s my version of therapy - good food, better conversation and lots of laughter. Otherwise, left to my own devices, I’d happily become one with my couch!”