Flan

Sr Account Executive

3 Companies 3 Builds Outs 3 eventual layoffs

Hey Savages! First love this place, yall are amazing and have great advice and I am looking for some direct advice here.

I work in the staffing space where I build out the Business Development function for businesses. I have now done this for my past two companies and have built out another nationwide BD plan for my current.

All three seem to be ending in the same way unfortunately, with a layoff. All three companies have had me build out the BD function and get it to a point where all the KDMs are identified and email marketing is automated so they no longer need me.

Im a little lost on what my career actions should be here. Should I just move along and make this a niche of mine? Or should I just stop doing this for founders and make my own company?

🎈 Mentorship

17 comments

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jefe

Arsonist

🍁

Do this exact thing as a consultant, know and define the expiration date, and charge 3x as much.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

ChumpChange

Politicker

Channel Manager

Sage advice... take the opportunity and knowledge that you've acquired and repurpose it for your own ambition.

ThatNewAE

Big Shot

Account Executive - Mid enterprise

Exactly! Capitalise on everything you can!

Flan

Executive

Sr Account Executive

Yall are the best thank you for the advice!!

BTQ

Politicker

Account Manager

If this is the way it's been going you could offer services to help bootstrap their BD and KDMs. Then kinda fire yourself so to speak and let them automate it.
In my opinion, the answer is almost always make your own company. Seems like there's plenty of low hanging fruit to help founders early on your own.

Pachacuti

Politicker

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

Honestly - it sounds like you should do your own thing. With your experience it should be an easy endeavor for you. Go for it!

Retired Sales Professional

It seems you are very good at what you do, companies are not in the habit of implementing a BD if it was not executed currently or if they dont believe in it. The Tech industry is knee deep in layoff that are the consequence of many different variables. Nature of the beast type thing. So my opinion to you would be perhaps starting your own company using the connections you already and have run with it. Truly all the best. 👍👍

Beans

Big Shot

Enterprise Account Executive

Jefe hit it, do this as your own business vs as an employee.
You've got case studies and references to prove your model.

GDO

Politicker

BDM

Master the niche before doing it yourself

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

Sales Rep

Really depends how much you like it, it can be a very nice niche

oldcloser

Arsonist

💀

I’m just wondering why your handle is Flan.

Flan

Executive

Sr Account Executive

The worst part is more people know me by Flan than my real name lol

oldcloser

Arsonist

💀

I like it!

Justatitle

Big Shot

Account Executive

Incorporate yourself, contract it out make a killing

BadColdCaller

Politicker

Account Executive

Since you're not getting laid off for performance, gather some referrals from them with other leaders/founders to do that at scale or join a firm that has portfolio companies/access to startups to build out their BD function. I'm personally aware of people who have done workshops with startup cohorts where that was very valuable, putting you in a good place to build your own business by having those as clients.

VP Enterprise Sales

Sorry to hear about your situation. Would you mind answering a few more questions so I may offer an answer.

Were you the only person let go or were there others? Were these startups without a sustainable business?

When you say BD function, do you mean new business development targeting enduser customers? Or potential resellers or partners?

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Flan

3 Companies 3 Builds Outs 3 eventual layoffs

17 comments

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