Career Path of a Customer Success Manager at a 2024 Forbes Cloud 100 Tech Company
Liz's career journey began with a social media and store associate internship, followed by administrative roles at private equity firms, where "constant travel, constant scheduling" led to burnout. This prompted a transition into tech, starting as a recruiting coordinator and culminating in three years as a Customer Success Manager, managing a book of 80 clients before a career change.
Career Pivoting, Tech Transition, Customer Success, Account Management, Administrative Experience
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Liz Montgomery
Unemployed - previously Customer Success Manager
2024 Forbes Cloud 100 Technology Company
UC Santa Barbara
N/A
International Relations & Affairs
Technology
Sales and Client Management
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. Liz's career path showcases the possibility of transitioning between different industries and roles. From administrative roles in private equity to a Customer Success Manager in a tech company, her journey highlights the value of adaptability and exploring different career options.
2. The interview emphasizes the importance of identifying what you enjoy and what you don't. Liz's experience shows that even if a career path initially seems promising, it's okay to pivot if it doesn't align with your long-term goals and interests.
3. Her transition from administrative roles to a customer success manager role demonstrates that transferable skills, such as scheduling, organization, and communication, are valuable across various industries. These skills are often honed in entry-level positions but can be leveraged for career advancement in different fields.
Transcript
Could you walk me through your career path, starting with your experiences in college? Please include any internships or jobs you had before your current role.
My first real internship was in college at UCSB. I started as an intern at a clothing store called Whistle Club, located on State Street downtown. I worked as a social media manager and store associate, assisting customers and managing the store's online branding.
It was a pretty random experience that I didn't aspire to do long-term, but it interested me at the time. That was my only internship in college.
After college, I went into administrative work. I was an admin at a private equity firm, handling office management duties like sitting at the front desk, answering phones, greeting people, and organizing interviews. I also ensured supplies were stocked, ordered lunch, and organized company events.
From there, I moved to another private equity firm as an executive assistant. This role involved more direct support for a managing director, including managing his schedule and travel arrangements. They were raising a large funding round, so he traveled worldwide extensively.
It was a chaotic period with constant travel, flights, hotels, and dinners. I managed his schedule and the schedules of three other people in the office. I thought this executive assistant path would be my long-term career.
However, I became burnt out and didn't enjoy it as much as I expected. I think being in the old-school private equity industry and living in San Francisco made me want to move into tech. Many of my friends were in tech, and it seemed more fun. I felt I had more to offer than just being an assistant, though I believe it's a valuable career.
I decided to try something new and joined Gong, my first tech company in San Francisco, as a recruiting coordinator. This still involved a lot of scheduling and assistant work.
Again, I wanted to do more than administrative tasks, so I transitioned into a customer success manager role, which is essentially account management. I was responsible for a book of about 80 customers, acting as their main point of contact.
My role was to help them use the product, ensure they were getting value and their money's worth, and keep them happy. I strategized with them on their goals and how to achieve what they initially purchased the product for. I did this for about three years.
This was a huge shift from assistant work into tech, and then into account management, which is more of a sales role. It was a significant change in my career. After that, I quit. I'm currently at the start of something new, but that's the gist of my career so far.
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