Written by Rebeca Piccardo Zerpa
Your professional network can really make a difference in your career, and Pedro Valdez’s experience proves just that. That’s how he made his way back to Cox after a three-year stint outside the company.
“I had been fiddling with LinkedIn and staying in touch with my previous counterparts when one of the managers reached out to me and asked if I would come back,” he said. “At that time, I wasn’t happy that I was traveling a lot for work, and I wasn't in front of my family often,” he said.
Pedro first joined Cox Communications on the retail side of the business, working at a Cox Solutions Store in Omaha, NE. Over the course of eight years, Pedro gained experience in sales, operations, account management, customer service and technical support — not to mention the leadership experience he developed with the launch of new store locations.
Pedro decided to accept an outside opportunity. But, thanks to the meaningful relationships he had cultivated within Cox, he soon found his way back, this time working for Cox Business.
“I came back to Cox Business, now with more to bring to the table,” said Pedro, who’ll soon be celebrating six years since his return.
Here, Pedro shares why he’s glad to be back and why Cox’s benefits are second to none.
The second time around
Pedro’s career momentum picked up when he rejoined Cox in 2018. Over the last six years, he’s been promoted from outbound to inside sales, exceeded his quotas and been recognized as a Winner’s Circle recipient — a top honor for the sales team at Cox.
“The willingness to promote within is prominent,” he said. “You have the ability to continue growing and venture into a different department.”
His latest challenge: taking on a new role as a client relationship executive, focused on managed cloud services at RapidScale, a Cox Business company.
“Instead of simply selling and prospecting or making a transaction, it’s about long-term relationships,” he said. “I do enjoy getting to meet the voice behind the phone and then know the person behind that company and building those relationships.”
Besides the career growth opportunities, Pedro is glad to enjoy the employee perks and culture at Cox — from the generous 401(k) match and parental leave to the recent trip to Maui as a Winner’s Circle recipient.
“We have really good benefits compared to the other organizations I’ve worked for,” he said. “The culture, the presence within the community, is completely different from other companies.”
