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Sami, Enterprise Account Executive at Wiz.io and DocuSign: Advize Career Interview
A career journey marked by entrepreneurial ventures, from a student landscaping company to promoting energy drinks, led to a successful path as an Enterprise Account Executive at Wiz.io and DocuSign.
The interview reveals a dynamic role demanding strong communication, patience, and self-motivation, requiring building relationships and navigating a competitive cybersecurity market.
The daily work involves strategic planning, collaboration with various teams, and consistent learning, highlighting the importance of time management and a "triple A plan" for meeting success.
Entry-level positions like BDR, SDR, and MDR are highlighted as potential starting points, emphasizing the need for "thick skin" and a willingness to learn.
The fast-paced industry offers a tight-knit community and opportunities for continuous networking, rewarding those with "a lot of motor" and a willingness to be a "sponge" in absorbing information.
The interviewee's diverse background and insightful career lessons offer valuable guidance for students interested in sales and the tech industry.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Sami Khalil
Enterprise Account Executive
Wiz.io and DocuSign
University of Arizona
N/A
Accounting
Technology
Sales and Client Management
Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Greek Life Member, First Generation College Student
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Career Path of an Intern and Entrepreneur In College
Sami's early career path involved diverse roles, including "monster rep" promoting new energy drink flavors and representing "Just College" party packages, showcasing sales and marketing skills developed through these experiences. This entrepreneurial spirit is further highlighted by the six or seven years Sami spent running a student landscaping company with their brother, demonstrating a knack for business and building a team even before college.
Main Responsibilities of an Enterprise Account Executive at Wiz
Sami, an Enterprise Account Executive at Wiz and DocuSign, focuses on "build[ing] out the territory" for Wiz, a relatively new company, by proactively identifying and engaging potential clients through targeted outreach strategies utilizing tools like LinkedIn and outreach automation while maintaining a "human touch." This involves collaborating with business development representatives to continually expand the sales pipeline and ultimately close deals, showcasing a multifaceted approach to sales within a rapidly growing organization.
A Day In The Life Of An Enterprise Account Executive At Wiz.io And DocuSign
Sami's typical workday, spanning eight to ten hours, involves strategic planning and collaboration. This includes daily one-on-ones with business development representatives, sales engineers ("the technical person"), and partner teams, plus weekly meetings with their manager to assess opportunities and "hit the specific numbers and targets," highlighting the dynamic and collaborative nature of their role at Wiz.
Most Important Skills for an Enterprise Account Executive at Wiz.io and DocuSign
Sami, an Enterprise Account Executive, emphasizes patience as crucial for success, noting the high volume of outreach attempts sales professionals face; "they're getting thousands of emails per week". The ability to self-motivate and maintain team cohesion, particularly while working remotely ("I work from my room every single day"), are equally vital skills in this role.
Favorite Parts Of Being An Enterprise Account Executive At Wiz.io And DocuSign
Sami enjoys the diverse interactions with "a lot of different people," from CEOs to engineers, across various business units, finding solutions that improve "day-to-day operations" and benefit entire teams. The travel and in-person networking, including "always at events," are additional perks that make the role fulfilling.
Biggest Challenges Faced by an Enterprise Account Executive at Wiz.io
Sami's biggest challenge as a three-year-old company's Enterprise Account Executive is "getting the name out without anybody really knowing who we are" within the competitive cybersecurity market. This requires differentiating Wiz.io and DocuSign's value proposition and effectively addressing clients' immediate security concerns, a task made difficult by the industry's saturation.
Favorite Parts of Working in Security as an Enterprise Account Executive
Sami, an Enterprise Account Executive at Wiz.io and DocuSign, thrives on the tight-knit community within the security industry, describing it as a "super small...super tight knit community". This allows for continuous networking with industry leaders, leveraging past relationships from companies like Logic Gate to build upon their career and experience.
What Type Of Person Thrives In The Sales Industry, According To An Enterprise Account Executive At Wiz.io And DocuSign
Success in this fast-paced industry requires "a lot of motor" and "grit," as the constant learning and communication demands necessitate being a "sponge" and continuously educating oneself to stay ahead of the competition. The ability to quickly absorb and apply new information is key to thriving in such a dynamic environment.
What an Enterprise Account Executive at Wiz.io and DocuSign Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Software Sales Industry
Sami, an Enterprise Account Executive, emphasizes the critical need for strong time management and organization skills in this role, stating that "being organized in time management" is paramount. The high volume of interactions—with customers, internal teams, and partners—requires meticulous note-taking and organization to effectively manage numerous stakeholders involved in each opportunity.
Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Business Development Representatives
Entry-level sales roles for undergraduate students include Business Development Representatives (BDRs), Sales Development Representatives (SDRs), and Market Development Representatives (MDRs); Sami started as a BDR, describing it as "the hardest job in the sales role" due to the high volume of cold calls and inevitable rejection, requiring "thick skin."
Significant Career Lesson From An Enterprise Account Executive At Wiz.io And DocuSign
Sami's most significant career lesson, gleaned from a former CEO, is the "triple A plan"— "actions, attitude, and answers"— for meeting preparation. This framework, involving pre-planning questions to ask, desired outcomes for the meeting's conclusion, and subsequent actions, ensures a productive and successful interaction, providing a key differentiator in their career.
College Experiences That Helped An Enterprise Account Executive At Wiz.io And DocuSign Succeed
Sami's undergraduate major, commercial real estate and regional development, didn't directly relate to their current role as an Enterprise Account Executive; however, participation in "internships, fraternities, intramural leagues, and refereeing" significantly impacted their career success by building the ability to "talk to many different styles of people" and confidently initiating conversations, a crucial skill in sales.
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