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Christopher, Corporate Account Manager at Fortune 100 Technology Company: Advize Career Interview
A career journey from a flexible Hilton Garden Inn role to a Corporate Account Manager at a Fortune 100 tech company, CrowdStrike, is revealed.
The path involved university admissions work, building a foundation for managing 95-120 accounts, focusing on customer success and sales.
Daily responsibilities include client meetings, quarterly business reviews, and acting as a liaison for major initiatives.
Success requires strong interpersonal skills, adaptability to changing priorities and technology, and a meticulous approach.
The industry's evolving culture and supportive atmosphere are highlighted, alongside the importance of attention to detail and teamwork.
Entry-level advice emphasizes Business Development or Sales Development Representative roles, building a strong foundation through prospecting and lead qualification. A key lesson learned is the importance of verification over assumption.
Strong work ethic and networking skills, developed through balancing academics and athletics, are also crucial.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Christopher Bradley
Corporate Account Manager
Fortune 100 Technology Company
New Mexico State University Year: 2014
University of Pikeville (M.B.A)
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Business Management & Admin
Technology
Sales and Client Management
Scholarship Recipient, Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, Student Athlete, First Generation College Student
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Career Path of an Admissions Counselor and Recruiter at a University
Christopher's career began with a flexible job at a Hilton Garden Inn to accommodate "the M B A program," which transitioned into a university admissions counselor and recruiter role. This experience recruiting undergraduate students provided a foundation for their current position as a Corporate Account Manager at a Fortune 100 Technology Company.
Main Responsibilities of a Corporate Account Manager at a Fortune 100 Technology Company
As a Corporate Account Manager at CrowdStrike, a Fortune 100 technology company, Christopher's main responsibility is managing "anywhere from 95 to 120 accounts," focusing on "customer success" and achieving "upsells and cross-sales" as the primary point of contact for these clients. This reveals a high-volume, client-facing role demanding strong relationship-building and sales skills within the technology sector.
A Day In The Life Of A Corporate Account Manager At A Fortune 100 Technology Company
A Corporate Account Manager at a Fortune 100 technology company spends "every day...meet[ing] with two to three, maybe up to four customers," conducting "quarterly business reviews" to understand customer needs and "roadmaps, um, future projects," facilitating collaboration and support. This involves acting as a liaison to assist with significant customer initiatives.
Most Important Skills For A Corporate Account Manager At Fortune 100 Technology Company
Christopher, a Corporate Account Manager, highlights the importance of "being very personable and flexible" in managing diverse accounts and personalities at a Fortune 100 tech company. This necessitates adapting to varying priorities, schedules, and budgets within each organization, demonstrating the crucial soft skills needed for success in the role.
Challenges For a Corporate Account Manager at a Fortune 100 Tech Company
Christopher, a Corporate Account Manager at a Fortune 100 tech company, emphasizes the importance of "being very personable and flexible" in managing diverse accounts and personalities. This necessitates navigating differing priorities, schedules, and budgets within each organization to succeed in the role.
Favorite Parts Of Working In Technology As A Corporate Account Manager
Christopher's biggest challenge as a Corporate Account Manager is the rapidly evolving technological landscape; the constant change, as he puts it, "things are ever always gonna change," requires continuous adaptation and flexibility for success in this career.
What Type Of Person Thrives In The Technology Industry, According To A Corporate Account Manager At A Fortune 100 Technology Company
Christopher enjoys the "very much evolving" culture and supportive, "family oriented" atmosphere of the technology industry, particularly at CrowdStrike, finding the constant learning and adaptable mindset refreshing compared to other sectors. This positive environment fosters a unique and engaging work experience.
What A Corporate Account Manager At A Fortune 100 Technology Company Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Technology Industry
Success in the technology industry, particularly in security, hinges on "attention to detail," as even "small things add up," and a "team-first attitude," according to Christopher, a Corporate Account Manager. A willingness to learn and constantly ask questions, demonstrating "a sponge to information," is also crucial for thriving in this competitive vertical.
Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Corporate Account Managers
To succeed as a Corporate Account Manager in the technology industry, one must adopt a holistic approach from the start, "understanding those details" and constantly building upon knowledge. This involves actively seeking guidance from experienced colleagues and adapting to the ever-changing technological landscape, where "capabilities are always gonna advance," requiring a flexible go-to-market strategy.
Significant Career Lesson From a Corporate Account Manager at a Fortune 100 Technology Company
Christopher, a Corporate Account Manager, recommends entry-level sales roles such as Business Development Representatives (BDRs) or Sales Development Representatives (SDRs) for undergraduates interested in "the quickest way to...get as much experience as possible," noting that these roles typically require a bachelor's degree and often a year of sales experience. The roles focus on "prospecting, outbounding, qualifying leads," preparing leads for account executives.
College Experiences That Helped a Corporate Account Manager at a Fortune 100 Technology Company Succeed
Christopher, a Corporate Account Manager with eight years of experience following six years of business school, emphasizes the critical lesson of "don't assume, verify," learned through personal experience and observation of others. This approach, avoiding pitfalls of acting on assumptions, significantly accelerates career progression by ensuring information accuracy before making decisions.
How Identity Influenced A Corporate Account Manager's Career At A Tech Company
To prepare for a successful career, Christopher prioritized "gathering as much information as possible" through academic coursework and leveraging professor and peer networks—a network which continues to pay dividends a decade later. The development of strong time management and work ethic skills, honed through balancing a demanding academic schedule and collegiate athletics ("balancing school and sports"), proved equally crucial for navigating increasingly complex professional responsibilities.
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