Staff Spotlight – Brian Holsinger

Stepping into the limelight in our latest Staff Spotlight series is Brian Holsinger, our Sales Manager at Sparta.

Let’s delve in and discover what makes Brian tick, both inside and outside the office. Buckle up for an insightful journey through his career, interests, and aspirations.

As the inaugural addition to Sparta’s sales team in the US, Brian has been instrumental in establishing Sparta’s presence in the North American markets. However, he doesn’t just identify as a sales professional; he sees himself as a strategic business collaborator, serving as the vital link connecting our clients with the product team.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH THE COMPANY?

So, I’ve been with the company since May of ’22. So, one year and five months.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN YOUR ROLE

Yeah, so I am a Sales Manager based in Houston, covering North America. I’m responsible for driving new business in the region, along with maintaining and building on existing client relationships.

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN THE INDUSTRY?/CAN YOU GIVE ME A RUNDOWN OF YOUR CAREER PATH UP UNTIL THIS POINT?

I began my career working for a boutique market research firm and used to attend a lot of trade shows and consortiums. At one of these, I happened to meet a few Sales Managers from Bloomberg, and two months later, I was moved to NYC to start my career in Commodities & Energy. After four years in NYC, I decided it was time to come back to Texas full-time. Since being back in Texas, I have worked in Sales at Thomson Reuters, ICIS, and ICE. I also worked as a crude broker for a year, along with being a partner in a Minerals company before joining Sparta.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PART OF WORKING AT OUR COMPANY?

I love the fact that we’re a young, hungry company. We really are different in the sense that we’re providing a service that’s never really been done before. People are used to using Bloomberg and Thomson Reuters and services like that. But Sparta brings something that’s totally different and engages a customer base that has been overlooked for a few years. That’s why you can see the growth that we’re having; people are coming to us and saying we’re doing something that is a real game-changer.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF IN YOUR CAREER SO FAR?

Well, I was the first sales hire for Sparta in May of 2022. Since then, we’ve driven significant growth in the US and North America, working with the team here. It’s really nice that we’ve built many very strong relationships, and we’re continuing to build a brand that people are really turning to and speaking about within the industry.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE OUR COMPANY CULTURE?

I would say it’s innovative. Everybody brings something to the table, from customer success to senior management. We are a place that likes to share ideas, and sometimes those ideas get implemented, sometimes they don’t, but they’re always there, and there’s a very open dialogue throughout the entire company.

WHAT’S ONE THING PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU THAT THEY WOULD BE SURPRISED TO FIND OUT?

I am a Texas boy, but I did live four years overseas. I did my entire high school career in Singapore. My dad was with Exxon Mobil, so we got transferred to Singapore in the fall of ’97. It was probably the best experience of my entire life, besides working at Sparta of course. I love the food, the culture, and being the hub of Southeast Asia. Back then, we didn’t have many worries; we could get on a boat and go to Indonesia for a weekend. It was just a different time. I really miss the food most importantly.

WHAT’S THE MOST INTERESTING PROJECT YOU’VE WORKED ON HERE?

When I started, we were just focused on gasoline. But within six months, we began to roll out the distillate product and worked with the team and our customers to provide feedback that shaped the product into what it is today. It’s been amazing to see how much it has taken off, and I have a feeling that will translate into success with other products we release down the road.

WHAT PIECE OF ADVICE TO YOUR YOUNGER SELF?

Always be learning. People in sales often reference ABC (Always Be Closing), which is important, but I really think we need to be learning new things and expanding our knowledge, listening to our clients and peers.

HOW HAS YOUR ROLE EVOLVED OVER TIME SINCE YOU’VE BEEN HERE?

It’s definitely evolved. We are like jack-of-all-trades; we need to be knowledgeable enough to speak to the markets, even if we’re not industry experts. We have teams that are experts, but we are responsible for driving the business, building relationships, gathering feedback, and understanding what our customers want to see. We are the bridge between the customer and the product team.

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS/YEARS?

I plan to continue driving the business. We have an exciting roadmap in the works, including new verticals and go-to-market strategies. We aim to spark interest and bring in new customers, even from larger organisations. Increasing product development and outreach is a primary goal, as well as strengthening our presence in day-to-day operations for our customers.

WHAT IS ONE THING YOU WISH PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT YOUR JOB?

I don’t like to use the word “sales” because I see myself more as a strategic business partner. We’re here to help our clients grow their business and improve their workflow. It’s not just about selling; it’s about fostering strategic relationships and staying informed about industry trends and events that impact our clients.

WHAT’S ONE THING THAT SURPRISED YOU ABOUT YOUR CURRENT ROLE?

The surprising part is the number of people who are coming to us because they heard about Sparta from others in the industry. We’ve seen a high adoption rate after showing users the platform, and many trial users convert into paid customers. It’s interesting to see, as I’ve worked with other SaaS companies where trials are handed out freely.

IF YOU HAD THREE WISHES, WHAT WOULD THEY BE?

I’d love to be able to fly; that would be pretty cool. Obviously, good health for me and my family is a priority. Lastly, if I could go back in time and buy tracts of land in the Permian Basin, that would be my third wish.

WHAT’S THE LAST SONG YOU LISTENED TO?

The last song I listened to was “Mercy Mercy” by The Glorious Sons. I enjoy listening to rock, especially when I’m cycling.

WHAT, IF ANYTHING, ARE YOU CURRENTLY BINGE-WATCHING OR READING?

I’m not binge-watching anything at the moment, but I watch shows that come out on a weekly basis. Currently, it’s “The Lioness,” a new show in the US on the Paramount network. As for reading, I’m into Brad Thor’s books, specifically the Scott Harvath series, while eagerly awaiting the next Jack Carr book.

WHAT’S ONE THING ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

Attending the Singapore F1 Night Race and Monte Carlo.

Brian Holsingeris our Sales Manager here at Sparta and can be contacted at brian.holsinger@spartacommodities.com

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Sparta is a live, market intelligence and forecasting platform that enables oil traders, refiners, banks, hedge funds and wholesalers to have access to real-time and global actionable insights to capture market opportunities before others.

To find out how Sparta can allow you to make smarter trading decisions, faster, contact us for a demonstration at sales@spartacommodites.com