Marketing and sales executive Andrea Brody ’87 discovered her interest in consumer behavior during a Smith School class project. To complete the assignment Brody took her sister to a shopping mall and observed her reaction to in-store advertisements. “I was fascinated to see what drove her behavior,” says Brody, who has built her career around understanding customers and meeting their needs. Brody, who met her husband at the University of Maryland and has a son who is a UMD sophomore, returned to campus on March 5, 2015, as the fourth annual Women Leading Women keynote speaker. The forum is a free, women-only event presented by Smith’s Office of Development and Alumni Relations.
WHAT I DO: Senior Vice President of Global Marketing at BravoSolution, a provider of supply management technology and services with world headquarters in Milan, Italy. “My main role is to make sure that our messaging, products and sales force meet the needs of our customers.”
HOW I DO IT: “I spend significant time in the field with customers and sales representatives, so I can bring back information to guide our strategy and execution.” Besides the United States, business travel has included visits to 18 countries from Brazil to South Korea.
EDUCATION: Bachelor of Science in Marketing at the Smith School, 1987; Master of Science in Information Systems at American University, 1996; Executive Program in Finance at Northwestern University, 2000.
SKILLS: Active listening and analysis. “I have an ability to read people and quickly learn their communication styles, so I can respond and create an environment where people feel comfortable. Then I translate what I learn into messages that resonate with individuals.”
1987-2003: “I started in sales, then I went to the Information Industry Association and liked the technology. Since then I have done customer service, product management and product marketing. My experience in multiple disciplines gives me an edge when I work with companies. I know all the facets of their business and what they need, and it all comes together in a nice package.”
2003: “Our company was sold, so I was out of a job. Rather than working for somebody else, my husband and I decided to go into business together. We bought into a franchise called The Little Gym” (which the family continues to operate in Olney, Md.).
2005: “My former CEO called and invited me to join him at GXS (which later merged with OpenText). I initially came back as a consultant, and then as Vice President of Global Marketing.”
2014: “I started my current position with BravoSolution, which has offices in 13 countries.”
BIG ACCOMPLISHMENTS: “Many women have called me a role model. They have watched my career and expressed respect for my accomplishments in raising three kids and having a full-time job. Career wise, I changed the way 200 sales people approached their customers, leading to a 30 percent sales productivity improvement.”
BIG TIP FOR WOMEN: “Don’t wait to be asked. Don’t wait to be recognized for your achievements. Speak up so you get credit where credit is due.”
BIG PASSIONS: “I work out at 5:30 every morning with a group of people at the gym. I also enjoy spending time with my kids.”
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About the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business
The Robert H. Smith School of Business is an internationally recognized leader in management education and research. One of 12 colleges and schools at the University of Maryland, College Park, the Smith School offers undergraduate, full-time and flex MBA, executive MBA, online MBA, business master’s, PhD and executive education programs, as well as outreach services to the corporate community. The school offers its degree, custom and certification programs in learning locations in North America and Asia.