Favorite Parts Of Being A Head Of Business Development At Xsolla
Maurice enjoys the "variety of work" in their Head of Business Development role at Xsolla, a position reflecting a career path prioritizing diverse experiences—from journalism's "different story every day" to strategic planning, hands-on execution, client relationship management, and global travel. This variety, combined with "brainstorming and collaboration," keeps the work engaging and fulfilling.
Strategic Thinking, Collaboration, Execution, Travel, Networking
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Maurice Scarborough
Head of Business Development
Xsolla Holding Company
University of Missouri - 2010
UCLA Anderson School of Management, MBA
Creative Writing, Journalism
Gaming
Sales and Client Management
Scholarship Recipient, Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. The variety of work in business development, including strategic planning, execution, and client interaction.
2. The importance of building and maintaining relationships with clients through high-touch engagement and travel to conferences.
3. The ability to combine creative brainstorming and collaboration with analytical tasks such as reviewing financial statements and business models.
Transcript
What do you enjoy most about being the head of this business development?
I would say the thing that I enjoy most, and this really goes back to business development in general, is that no day is like the other. I really like the variety of work that I get to do on a day-to-day, week-to-week basis.
Some days it's a much more strategic oriented role where I'm thinking big picture and trying to think ahead three, six, or twelve months. Other days it's much more focused on execution. That means getting in the weeds, getting my hands dirty, reviewing materials, and editing copy or financial statements. I also do analysis of business models and make sure the numbers check out.
Other days it's just meetings. Meetings aren't necessarily fun, but there's a creative aspect of brainstorming and collaboration with peers and colleagues that can be enjoyable. There's also a travel contingent, specifically working within gaming.
There's a lot of going to conferences, meeting with clients, and having those interactions and engagements. We attend to those relationships and make sure that clients feel taken care of, receiving the high touch they expect from a company they do extensive business with. And, of course, who doesn't enjoy being social for a change? It's nice to get around, travel, and see the different offices we run around the world.
I would say the ambiguity and flexibility that I mentioned previously, and not knowing what's next, is part of it. If you look at my career path, it was very much focused on not having a similar role day to day. In journalism, you're covering a different story every day, for the most part. No two days are the same, and you're meeting different people every day.
I've tried to keep some of those elements in my career throughout, and that's what was always entertaining and interesting about business development for me. You get out and meet people and engage with them, and you're not just always stuck behind a desk looking at spreadsheets or busting out PowerPoint decks.