Building Trust, Growing Communities, and Embracing Opportunity: The Journey of Sondra Vidal
By: Hilario Caro, Talent Optimization at StaffBuffalo
In this inspiring episode of the Pain Points Podcast, I sat down with Sondra Vidal—sales executive, startup leader, boutique owner, and community advocate—to talk about her eclectic career journey and the common thread that ties it all together: building trust and creating meaningful impact. From early days in door-to-door sales to shaping startups and nonprofits, Sondra’s story is one of resilience, adaptability, and service to others.
Sondra’s career began with a psychology degree and dreams of pursuing a PhD in organizational psychology. But her husband—now founder of Trusted Nurse Staffing—encouraged her to get real-world experience first. Taking the challenge head-on, she applied to every sales job in Buffalo and landed her first role at Buffalo Alarm.
Within three months, she became employee of the month, crediting her success to shadowing mentors and focusing on listening to customers first. That approach would become the foundation of her career.
Building Grit and Discipline in Sales
From Buffalo Alarm, Sondra was recruited to Worldwide Express Logistics (now Unishippers), where she developed a point system to hold herself accountable: 50 doors or five meetings a day. Armed with nothing but a highlighter and a paper map, she hit Niagara Falls businesses door-to-door, learning how persistence and discipline fuel long-term success.
Her ability to build authentic relationships—rather than chase quick wins—later caught the attention of American Express, where she thrived in middle-market sales until a corporate reorganization eliminated her role.
Taking the Leap into Startups
That unexpected layoff opened new doors. Through her husband’s role as a Buffalo Angel investor, Sondra was introduced to the founders of FavorDrop and became their first employee.
FavorDrop is a digital gifting platform that allows organizations and individuals to send time-bound local gifts via text or email. The innovation? If the gift isn’t redeemed, the funds return to the sender. This model not only drives customer engagement but also supports local restaurants and businesses.
“Anything we can do to continue supporting local is amazing,” Sondra said. “FavorDrop makes gifting playful, trackable, and community-driven.”
Scaling Impact with RelPro
Today, Sondra balances startup life with her full-time role at RelPro, a business development software platform used by eight of the top 10 U.S. banks. RelPro streamlines prospecting by aggregating data on companies and decision-makers, helping sales teams save time and connect more effectively.
Sondra’s work with RelPro ties seamlessly into her passion for efficiency, relationships, and giving businesses the tools to succeed.
Taking Risks and Embracing Curiosity
Authenticity and listening are the foundation of great sales.
Discipline and persistence create opportunities.
Supporting local communities strengthens businesses and people alike.
Every stage of life brings new opportunities to solve pain points—professionally and personally.
At StaffBuffalo, we share Sondra’s belief that strong networks and community-minded leadership create lasting impact. Whether you’re building a business, seeking your next career move, or looking for ways to give back, we’re here to support your journey.
Connect with us today and let’s explore how we can help you build meaningful, resilient connections.