What a Partnerships Team Lead at Okendo Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Partnerships Industry
Adena, a Partnerships Team Lead, advises that a strategic partnerships role is far more multifaceted than initially perceived; it's "not a cookie cutter role," requiring extensive internal networking and relationship building, beyond simply securing external partnerships, to achieve results and "win more deals and win more partners." The ability to remember details about partners and key stakeholders is a crucial soft skill for success.
Networking, Communication, Teamwork, Relationship Building, Strategic Partnerships
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Adena Merabi
Partnerships Team Lead
Okendo
UCSB
UCLA
International Relations & Affairs
Technology
Strategic Management and Executive
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient
Video Highlights
1. The role of a strategic partnerships manager is multifaceted and involves collaboration with numerous internal teams, such as marketing, sales, client success, and product development. Building rapport and networking internally is crucial for success.
2. Understanding the nuances of partner businesses, key stakeholders, and significant moments in the partnership is critical. Remembering details about partners and their companies fosters strong relationships and influences deal success.
3. Success in this field hinges on a balance of hard skills (time management, efficiency, prospecting) and soft skills (relationship building, communication, remembering details). Soft skills contribute significantly to closing deals and securing partners.
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone would have told you before you entered the industry?
Something I wish I had known before entering the industry, or even just before entering my job role in strategic partnerships, is that it's not a cookie-cutter role. It's not a case of "here's X, Y, and Z that you have to do, and that's it."
It really involves many job tasks that intersect with other teams. You're constantly working with our marketing, sales, client success, and product development teams. I didn't realize this before I started, and it took me a while to understand that my role overlaps with so many others at the company.
I realized I needed to start networking with these people and build rapport, not just externally with our partners, but internally as well. I need to get to know the people I work with, because ultimately they're going to help me achieve the results I need. This could be making a client happy who was referred by a partner, or getting a partner to send us new brands based on their positive experience with us.
There were so many levels to the role that I hadn't anticipated. I thought I was just coming in to find new partners and work with them, and that would be it. But it turned out to involve a lot of events, traveling, and nights out, all focused on getting to know people internally and remembering what everyone you work with does.
For example, I work with hundreds of partners. A big piece of advice is to take the time to understand what your partners do and who the key stakeholders are at those companies. Mentioning key moments in your partnership, whether they sent you a big client, you have a big mutual client, or they just launched a new service, is a huge skill.
People always appreciate it when you remember little things about them or their company. Calling someone by their name and recalling personal details has an impact on how they work with you. They will appreciate it and remember it, feeling validated, confident, and comfortable working with you.
This is a crucial soft skill for this job. It's not just about emails, prospecting, and hard skills like time management and efficiency. It's also about the soft skills, the little things that help you win more deals and more partners. Those would be a few things I wish I had known.
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