Career Path of an Enterprise Account Executive at a Cloud Cost Management Startup
Nick's career journey began with diverse roles, from "lifeguarding and swim coaching" to retail sales at Sherwin Williams and Big Five, revealing a knack for customer interaction. This led to a successful transition into tech sales, progressing from sales development representative to account manager, advisory roles, and ultimately, a current position as an Enterprise Account Executive at a cloud cost management startup, showcasing consistent growth and adaptability within the sales field.
Sales, Career Pivoting, Tech Sales, Business Development, Account Management
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Nick Martinazzi
Enterprise Account Executive
Cloud Cost Management Start Up
University of California Santa Barbara
None
Classics, Spanish Literature
Technology
Sales and Client Management
Worked 20+ Hours in School, Transfer Student, Student Athlete
Video Highlights
1. From his early jobs as a lifeguard and swim coach, Nick learned valuable skills applicable to sales, such as interacting with people and providing excellent service.
2. His career progression highlights the importance of starting with entry-level positions and gradually moving up to more senior roles, demonstrating dedication and consistent improvement.
3. Nick's experience across diverse sectors, from retail to tech, showcases adaptability and the transferability of sales skills across industries. This demonstrates that a career in sales is flexible and can be tailored to different interests.
Transcript
Could you walk me through your career path, starting with your experiences in college? Did you have any internships or jobs before your current role?
My career path took many different turns. Starting in high school, I began working at 16 as a lifeguard and continued that for six years. I also taught swim lessons on the side while attending college.
Teaching private swim lessons helped me earn money to fund my education. I did this until I graduated and then took a job in sales at Sherwin Williams, selling paint. This was my way of getting a foot in the door.
After college, I studied archaeology and participated in a dig. However, there weren't many opportunities in that field. I wanted to stay in Santa Barbara, so I got a job managing a Big Five store for two to three years.
I enjoyed interacting with people and realized I liked sales. A friend informed me about an entry-level sales position opening at a local tech company. I studied up, applied, and got the job, which is how I entered the tech industry.
I worked as a sales development representative for about a year and a half. I exceeded the job requirements and was promoted to an account manager. In that role, I worked with existing customers to ensure they were receiving value from the product and identified opportunities for expansion.
After a company acquisition, I moved into an advisory role for a specific product. I helped others sell it by explaining how to frame it, what to focus on, and how to overcome challenges.
Following that, I transitioned to a direct seller role with my own territory and accounts. I sold a variety of products and worked at that company until I moved to my current one. Now, I handle outbound sales for net new deals and also work with existing customers.
So, my career began with lifeguarding and swim coaching, then moved into entry-level retail sales. From there, I specialized in business-to-business sales, where I've been since around 2011 or 2012, for about 12 years.
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