Career Path of an Account Executive at a Leading B2B SaaS Company
Sam's career journey began with an accounting emphasis in college, driven by family influence, but a real estate internship revealed a different path. After gaining seven years of sales and account management experience at Indeed.com, progressing from "very heavy outbound...sales development representative" to managing advertising campaigns for large clients, a desire for broader technology exposure led Sam to their current role at Salesforce.
Career Development, Sales, Technology Sales, Account Management, Career Pivoting
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Sam Leahy
Account Executive
Leading B2B SaaS Company
University of Colorado at Boulder
N/A
Business Management & Admin
Technology
Sales and Client Management
None Applicable, Greek Life Member
Video Highlights
1. Sam's career path highlights a valuable approach to choosing an initial career path based on stability and skill development (accounting), even if it differs from one's long-term goals. This is highlighted in his choice of accounting major despite ultimately pursuing sales.
2. Sam's experience at Indeed.com demonstrates career progression within a single company, showcasing his growth from an entry-level sales development representative role to more senior account management positions. This illustrates the possibility of substantial professional development without frequent job changes.
3. Sam's decision to transition from Indeed to Salesforce demonstrates a strategic career move aimed at expanding his skillset and expertise within the technology sales sector. His willingness to step outside of his comfort zone and explore new opportunities is a valuable lesson for students seeking career advancement.
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.
I went to Colorado Boulder and applied to the business school, so I was in the business school right away. I knew I wanted to do some form of business administration and started with broader admin classes.
I then chose an accounting emphasis because my dad was a CPA. I knew that being an accountant after college is a steady job and provides exposure to the business world and essential skills like budgeting and cash flows.
Ultimately, I didn't end up pursuing accounting. I also completed a real estate certificate to fulfill elective credits for my business degree.
I got a job at Brinkman Partners, a developer in Fort Collins, Colorado. I interned with them for about six months before graduating.
After graduation, I stayed in Colorado for the summer, much like you are doing now. I was deciding if I wanted to pursue real estate long-term.
The leasing and property management role wasn't for me. I knew I wanted to move back to the Bay Area and get into technology. My older brother and his friends had successful careers in technology sales, which appealed to me.
I moved home and got a job at Indeed.com through a referral. I chose Indeed because it was an up-and-coming company, offered the potential to make good money, and allowed me to interact with diverse business professionals.
I worked with companies on HR and talent solutions, helping them hire online in a world of virtual interviewing. I was there for nearly seven years in various sales and account management roles.
My roles evolved from heavy outbound sales development to working with larger accounts as a growth account executive. Towards the end, I focused on account management, managing advertising campaigns for customers like Indeed itself.
I drove click-through and conversion rates for job advertising solutions, similar to how employers use ads to drive traffic to job openings. This was about attracting talent through various mediums.
I knew I didn't want to stay at Indeed long-term, as it was HR-centric. I wanted to do something broader in technology, as I was primarily interacting with HR and talent acquisition buyers.
Stepping out of my comfort zone into my current role at Salesforce felt like a good option to expand my horizons and sharpen my skills as a technology sales account executive.