212-920-8181

would anyone who still works there or used to work there say that the events division is legit.  I almost got a job there and i was supposed to be in the events division but i didnt get hired.  I remember the lectures from owen wilson and walking around the room reading a 3 page script and doing mock sales pitches to the other sales reps and managers.  I had a inkling that something was wrong cause obviously every phone call we were supposed to made to a prospect we had to mentioned to them that they were referred to by a CIO who the prospect was supposed to know.  

Anyways i was just wonderin if this division was somehow legit or is it a scam like there publications.  I remember the price to attend was $50,000 which was a little crazy.

where do you work?

As entertaining as this thread is, I figured Id chime in as a former GDSer as to my thoughts of the company. I graduated from a top 40 school in May of 2008 and got my first career at GDS in september of 2008. I had no idea my first week was essentially a tryout and I could be out of a job by the upcoming Friday. Thankfully I made it, worked on an event, and worked there for two months and hated the job more than anything. Calling C-level execs and dogging them on the phone all day was not exactly my idea of career. I'll be honest, cold calling wasn't my thing and seeing how some people went about it was just bothersome. Going after cell phone numbers, calling CEO's houses and convincing their kids to give them a phone number, and the whole "no sitting" rule was just preposterous. I might not have been very good at it, but after 4 weeks there, I didnt want to be good at it.

My exit was pretty funny though. One day the SD pulls me into his office and puts me on a target (aka if i dont hit a number in 2 weeks im fired). Two days later I got a phonecall from a company I interviewed with that summer (dinky little tv network called ESPN) and they offered me a job as a Production Assistant/Statistician in their NYC studios and a transfer to their new LA office in the summer. After accepting it miliseconds after being offered it, I sat back and cruised facebook for my last five days at GDS. When they brought me in to fire me, I told them before they got the words out that I got a job with ESPN the week before and start in three days. I may never "bang the gong", but I get to sit around and edit Lakers-Nuggets highlights and add music in the background all day in Southern California. As much as the Sales Director thinks the entry level management spot at GDS is "the best job in New York" (actual quote), I think I played my cards right.

All in all, Im not going to attack the people I worked with (except some people there who stalked execs to their home/ cell phone number.) I met some decent people who worked hard at what they do, even though I hated the job, and were overall solid people. I dont know any personal stories of people lining up and doing blow after work or anywhere for that matter (not saying it never happened) but in all honesty, who cares? It definitely isnt the most legit job out there, and I personally think telemarketing is the profession of the Hitler youth, but I'm not going to hate. If tearing the company to pieces makes you happy, go for it. I'll just sit back and watch and see what kind of joy people will have knowing its gone.

Wow, this is all great stuff. Anyone here around in the early NY days, circa 2002-2003? I was there right around the 1 yr anniversary of the NY office and it seems not much has changed. All in all, I must say that working at GDS for several months was by far one of the most entertaining experiences I have ever had. It sure was miserable at the time, but when I look back at what a sh*t show it truly was, I still get a laugh every time. Truly a scam of epic proportions, and the stuff that went on was unbelievable.

Clearly I have long since moved and and lost any hard feeling I had a while ago. I'd say the mix between good, decent people and complete D-bags was about 50/50 at the time. Something tells me that as the place grew, the mix shifted more to the D-Bag side, but who really knows since the place has always and will always be a revolving door.

The one memory that sticks out more than any was this one time they hired a guy who was an Indian citizen and had a very thick accent. So of course, GDA being GDS, the guy got abused around every turn for the way he talked (mostly by the D-Bag contingent, of course). Nevertheless, he was a good sport and plowed ahead with the training and was put on the floor. Of course the sales managers, being the geniuses they are, told him that his name was too long and hard to pronounce to ever work and ordered him to use Tony Adams as his pitch name. So here you have this guy calling up companies, demanding to speak with the CEOs in a very thick Indian accent, claiming his name was Tony Adams which it obviously wasn't. The best part was when at one point, some secretary says she doesn't have time for him and he blurts out "You think you're busy, I just got off the phone with Bill Gates!"

Hilarious...

I remember well ....................

Telemarketer for this number called to speak with the CEO.  she called several time with urgent calls.  I asked her to leave a message several times.  She said "I'll call him on his cell" or " I'll call him at home".  Seh was acting as if she knew him personaly.   After several calls "Diana Gamzon" gave me her number.  As soon as I Google I found this site.

Does the kid who looked like Mr Bean still there?

Who do you mean?

He looked liek Mr Bean from the movie Mr Bean.

You mean Joe Craven.

he also looks more like Uncle Fester in drag.

P.S He got booted out ages ago!

Do u mean Paul Clancy?

Wow......I was just about to apply for a job there (been in sales for years) and was impressed by GDS' advert -

"The job involves speaking to the decision makers of major companies like Apple, BT, Cartier and Google, and managing a portfolio of international brands".

I think after reading all I have read here then I will most certainly be giving it a miss.....

I would like to talk with you, re: a former employee, who I am considering hiring, thanks.

Paul
954 961 1101 ext. 18
in conficence of course...

thanks!!

we are interviewing Kim Sun worked at GDS as Sales Leader for NY office, I would really appreciate any comments positive or otherwise on Kim and her sales ability and management ability.

Thanks!!

Kim Sun was the Sales Director for New York. I worked under her as a sales rep. Her sales skills and management ability is basically what taught me and groomed me to be the sales person I am today. I now work for an internet marketing company and I'm a leader in terms of the sales board and would have to say that I owe all my success to Kim. Although this site makes GDS seem like scam artists, a lot of these posts are bitter ex employees and even so, Kim never fit into "idea" of GDS. All she did was work hard and lead by example to have a very close, hardworking and dedicated sales floor. If you asked anyone that worked at GDS for a significant amount of time they would agree that Kim is a qualified candidate for any and all sales management postions. If you have any further questions feel free to contact me further.

and you sound like a current employee who is wondering where their paycheck will come from when the NY AG's office shuts the company down...

Lol....
you must be joking. Kim Sun, aka Valerie Goldstein, was a lying, manipulative person. She had no sales skills, after all how hard is it to sale a product where you are constantly lying to clients?
She needs to be trained all over again on the basics of good sales practice and ethics.

Kim Sun wasn't really the "ideal" GDS employee because she wasn't really involved in the social side of the company, rarely saw her at the bars or anything.  What I knew and saw was that she worked really hard, cared for her employees and vice versa, everyone that worked for her enjoyed what they were doing.  Also, I remember that she did the most rebook business for GDS, she was always winning the rebook priz...which says a lot about how she maintained her relationships with clients and the products she helped to produce.

Seriously you guys!!!  They need more complaints!  I just got off the phone with the DA's Office or whatever.  212.335.8900 ...they are very nice there...you need to reference case number 22287.

The woman I spoke with said there are only a few complaints.  Any amount of info. you can tell them will help stop this awful place from ruining people's lives.  Seriously.  

It only took me two minutes to give them my info. about them.  

God I feel great about it.

Everyone at GDS reads this site, I used to work there and am friends with many current GDSers, and have heard some find forum entertaining, some are nervous, and some use it to vent.  Fair enough.

For past GDSers It's a bit satisfying to know that past employees share similar feelings and stories.  And in an age of curiousity, ex-employees come back read this time to time, like myself.  

GDS provided excellent training and those skills are invaluable, but it isn't a place for longterm.  If you are still working there - you can get out, you are all gifted, smart, funny, outgoing people that have so much to offer the world.  If you feel like you have been wronged or are unhappy about the culture, you should call: DA's Office 212.335.8900 ...you need to reference case number 22287.

Otherwise, move onward & upward!

Cheers