We all have unique career stories, and Giulliana Pisciolaro‘s started with a pair of Taboola pajama swag she received from a friend at a party. Now the SMB Publisher Sales Team Lead based in São Paulo, Giulliana reflects on the six years since that party—the night she decided she wanted to work at Taboola. She shares her insights on growth, finding success through being human, and what she looks for when hiring on the Publisher sales team.
How has your role evolved since joining Taboola?
The Taboola swag from that party was so influential because six years into my experience, all the things my friend described about Taboola–the perks of working with different cultures, the collaborative and kind people, and growth opportunities have all been true to my experience.
I started as an individual sales contributor, stepped into a senior manager role, and was promoted to team lead in 2024! With the support of my manager, we worked on an intentional growth plan with short, mid, and long-term goals to develop and refine my skills to best position me to step into a leadership role. Some goals included mastering key competencies like increasing sales, developing global processes with our business operations team, and demonstrating my industry knowledge. I refined my skills in creating new pipelines and negotiating non-standard deals while mentoring new hires, which has been most rewarding.
Now, my focus is on supporting team development and ensuring they have what they need to succeed in their roles. Learning from my team and embracing Taboola’s global structure has provided countless opportunities for my growth.
What people or resources have influenced your growth at Taboola?
The people at Taboola! I’ve learned invaluable skills from my peers and our amazing support team, teaching me about tags and customization. I’ve learned so much about open communication and collaboration from working with people across different cultures, including my manager, Arthur, who is based in a different country.
HR also supported my personal development by working with me to arrange manager coaching sessions, ensuring a smooth transition into my team lead role. These experiences taught me that growth takes time and starts with dedication and open conversations.
How has “being human” influenced your success on the SMB Publisher sales team?
Over the past six years, I’ve seen my impact grow, and it’s all thanks to combining strong sales skills with a human touch. I’m proud of how I helped expand our publisher footprint in Brazil, and many of the SMB publishers I brought in have grown into enterprise clients! But honestly, the best part is inspiring my team. I love supporting their unique strengths and helping them become top performers.
For me, sales isn’t just about closing deals; it’s about building authentic relationships, which comes with being human. When clients feel you’re accessible, not just a voice on the phone, they connect with you, and it builds trust. The little things, like sending a quick WhatsApp message or sharing a laugh, make all the difference. For instance, one of my first clients and I built such a strong bond that went beyond work. Even after they started their own company, to this day, they still thank me for the support I gave them from the very beginning. That all started with me simply listening, understanding their pain points, and being there to help. That’s how you drive performance and build partnerships that last.
What’s one project you’ve worked on at Taboola that you’re proud of?
I worked on a market mapping project, which helped our team learn about the types of publishers working with competitors. It was a long-term project that helped our team understand where to focus and how to grow the business in a smarter way (while liberating publishers from competition!)
Another one I enjoyed was recording marketing videos during the pandemic. To this day, some publishers tell me they’ve gotten to learn more about Taboola from watching those videos!
What advice do you have for those looking to grow, and what qualities do you look for when hiring for your team?
My advice to anyone curious about professional development is to talk to your manager about where you want to go and what skills you need to develop. This creates clarity and helps you focus your energy on what truly matters for that next career step.
When I’m hiring, I look for people with that same drive. We’re a team of curious, agile thinkers, motivated and eager to learn and grow. Our culture is soft and human; we laugh, work hard, and grow together. We’re always mindful of each other’s lives outside of work, stepping in to help if someone is overwhelmed and celebrating achievements together.
To learn more about why we are consistently ranked as a great place to work, check out the Taboola Life blog. Visit our careers page and realize your potential with #TaboolaLife.
