Team Spotlight: Jill McCluskey, Vice President of Sales

Jill McCluskey, vice president of sales for Convene, is the ray of sunshine that leads the sales team in several cities across the U.S.: Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, San Francisco, and Washington D.C. Having joined the team more than eight years ago, Jill has seen more than 20 openings during her time, and has coached many sales executives. Outside of Convene, she has a love for live music and a son who built a rollercoaster in her backyard during the pandemic. 

I had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Jill McCluskey and learn more about her 34 years in the meetings and events industry. 

Can you tell our readers a little bit about yourself?

My name is Jill McCluskey and I’m the Vice President of Sales at Convene. I've been in the meetings and events industry for 34 years and I consider myself someone who is very loyal. I was in my last big position for 20 years and I’ve been with Convene for more than eight years. I grew up in the meetings and events industry because my dad was a Director of Meetings so I feel like I've been part of the industry my whole life.

Outside of work, what is something that brings you joy? 

I love live music but specifically the more intimate gigs. Going to concerts is great, but I prefer the smaller venues. I just love a Saturday afternoon at a winery with a local artist playing. Being outdoors with friends and just hearing the music is one of my biggest joys. 

Can you provide an example of where you’ve experienced exceptional hospitality? 

I worked for The Ritz Carlton for several years before it was part of Marriott. So, I got the original and authentic Ritz Carlton training and experience. They have an elevated hospitality experience that I always like to strive for. They have a commitment to knowing who the person is walking through their doors and personalizing their experience for them. That’s what takes hospitality to the next level for me - personalization.

Can you tell me about your career journey before coming to Convene? 

Right out of college I joined Lansdowne Resort as an Account Executive. It was very oriented towards business development so I started my career learning how to hone my prospecting skills. I was on the pre-opening team and then shortly after opening I was promoted to sales manager. I was with them for three years, then I moved to Atlanta, and worked for several different companies like The Ritz Carlton. After five years, I went back to Lansdowne Resort as Director of Sales in 1998.

What brought you to Convene?

After 20 years with Lansdowne Resort, I took a sabbatical to align on what I wanted to do next. It was then that the Head of Sales at Convene, who I had worked with before, reached out and asked “What are you doing? Are you still on sabbatical? Come and help me out at Convene!” It was the perfect fit because Convene was in the same industry, but a really cool disruptor in the market, offering something more unique than hotel meeting and event space. So it was exciting to be able to use my skills and experience while staying in the same industry and selling something different.

How would you describe your journey at Convene?

Joining the company eight years ago re-energized me. There's nowhere else you can go and have a better Meetings & Event experience than Convene. I can remember bringing some of my clients and literally jumping up and down in the space with them and saying “can you believe this space is here?” 

Convene is still disrupting the meeting and events industry, and I love being a part of something that is making a difference. Once we proved that the Convene model worked outside of New York, Convene grew from one destination to four in the DC metropolitan market in three years. The growth was exciting, but then the pandemic happened. While we closed our locations for over a year and many team members lost their jobs, I was very fortunate to be one of the ones who stayed on and helped the company survive those hard times (and eventually bring back many of those team members!). 

Now I just want to continue to be part of the ongoing growth and rebuilding of Convene. 

What is your favorite Convene destination and why?

I'm probably a little biased, but my favorite is Convene 1201 Wilson Boulevard in Rosslyn, Virginia because I was part of the team that opened it. But also the iconic views of Washington D.C. and the way the space is designed make it such an incredible destination. 

What is your go-to snack when you go to a Nourish station at Convene? 

“Nourish” is what we call our unlimited snack bars that all meeting attendees, WorkPlace members, and Convene employees have access to anytime they are in a Convene space. It’s such a perk to be able to get a snack, drink, or coffee anytime you want one. Whenever the Nourish station has Awake chocolates - the chocolates with caffeine in them - I grab one. They’re great!

What else is on the cards for Jill McCluskey?

I was recently promoted to Vice President of Sales and I've almost finished my training to be a certified coach. That's part of my journey overall - to be a better leader and mentor and coach for the team. I feel like the extra layer of my coaching expertise is going to be crucial in helping our team succeed. 

What have you learned from your coaching certification?

The biggest message and takeaway is that we all have the answers within us. We know it but sometimes it's hard to see. We have limiting beliefs that hold us back or we just think that somebody needs to tell us what to do when the answers are all right there for us already. So my role, as a coach, is just to help people navigate change, shift their energy, and figure out where those blocks are so they can soar and reach their full potential.

In the spirit of Women’s History Month, what is a piece of advice you’d like to give to our readers? 

As women, we tend to put others first, and my advice is to stop doing that. Put yourself first. Invest in yourself, mentally, physically, financially, and spiritually. If you aren’t the best version of yourself, your light and impact on the world will be dimmed.

Always be authentic to your true self. We don’t need to compare ourselves to others because we are right where we are meant to be on our own journey. Be confident to use your voice because what you have to say is important. 

And last but not least, find your tribe. Surround yourself with women who lift you up, cheer you on, support you and do the same for them. We are stronger together.

Interested in joining the Convene team?