We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Natasha Walstra. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Natasha below.
Natasha, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
Interestingly, I had to trick myself! A manager turned mentor kept telling me over and over again how good I was – not just with my job, but my interactions, connections, relationships, etc etc. – yet I struggled to believe her.
As she got more frustrated, I finally thought, “Well, I trust and believe her, so if she says it’s true, I am going to have to trust and believe that it’s true, even if I don’t yet believe it!”
Until one day, I realized she was right! And as soon as I let go of those limiting beliefs, everything fell into place almost instantly.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
It’s hard to believe, but this October marks a full year since I signed my first client. Time really flies when you’re building a business you’re passionate about! At Near Point, we help leaders and sales teams unlock the power of personal branding to achieve their revenue goals. Whether it’s securing new clients, attracting referral partners, landing speaking engagements, or closing deals with private equity, our focus is always on high-integrity social selling on LinkedIn.
The system I created was born out of necessity. I had just landed my first job as a Sales Development Representative. You know, where you have to cold call, ‘smile and dial’ 100/dials a day. It was absolutely soul crushing and quite frankly, I was terrible at it. As an introvert who used to be really shy, it was probably the last job I should’ve taken. But being competitive, I knew I had to find a way to hit my numbers that didn’t leave me to tears everyday. That’s when I turned to LinkedIn as a platform to connect, network, and build genuine relationships—selling felt natural, not forced.
Now, I’m helping my clients do the same—leveraging their authentic selves to create meaningful connections and drive results.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Empathy
Ironically, I once lost a job opportunity after taking a “Culture Index” survey because my empathy score was too high—they didn’t think I’d be a good salesperson. At the time, it felt like a setback, but now I see empathy as one of my superpowers and a key to my success. It allows me to connect deeply with clients and build relationships that go beyond transactions—they’re genuine and meaningful. My advice? Don’t shy away from being empathetic. It can be your greatest strength in building authentic relationships.
Self-Motivation (Competitive Drive)
That competitive spark never left me after I stopped playing water polo (fun fact: I competed in the Junior Olympics at 13). Sales made it easy to stay motivated through friendly team competition, but being an entrepreneur takes it to another level. When you’re on your own, it’s not just about filling your pipeline—it’s about keeping your entire business operationally sound. Balancing working in the business and on the business has been key to growing to multiple six figures in under a year. My advice: hone your self-discipline and stay driven—it’s the foundation of long-term success.
New Business Development (Prospecting)
Being a Sales Development Representative (SDR) was one of the toughest roles I’ve had, but it taught me the value of prospecting and creating new business opportunities. What I didn’t realize until later is that even some top Sales Executives struggle with effective prospecting, especially when it comes to human-centered relationship-building. The mass-automation, ‘spray and pray’ tactics are why sales has a bad reputation. My experience as an SDR helped me understand how to prospect effectively, which is something many business owners struggle with. For anyone early in their journey, focus on mastering the art of meaningful prospecting—it’s crucial for sustainable growth.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
Absolutely! I often collaborate with branding agencies that work with leaders, executives, and small businesses. Once their branding is in place, the next step is amplifying it—and LinkedIn is a fantastic platform to do just that. I love helping their clients leverage LinkedIn to build visibility and connect with the right audience and showcase their beautiful new branding!
On a slightly different note, I also serve as the Executive Director of the Inner Mountain Foundation, a women’s empowerment organization. I host our podcast, The Climb, where I’m always on the lookout for inspiring female entrepreneurs who want to share their stories and experiences.
If you’re interested in collaborating, feel free to reach out—I’d love to connect!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nearpointstrategies.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nearpoint.strategies/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ndwalstra/
Image Credits
Sansan Hao (feature photo)
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