cw95 profile picture
cw95 profile picture

cw95

Sales Development Lead

Politicker
Valued Contributor
Opinionated
+4

Business Dev or AE Role?

I have the option to stay within the BD team or move across to become an AE. 

I'd be the sole AE and don't really have experience in what it entails but would learn as it's a small start up - google says a lot but I wanted to know from people with experience which route is the best to take? 

Does being an AE take you down a completely different career path and equally does staying within the BD area create more opportunities for you? 

I haven't a clue so open to everyone's suggestions! 
🎯 Career Development
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14

26 comments

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CoorsKing
WR Officer
9
Retired King of the Coors Knights
So I’ve never been in BD (for us that means partner relationships), assuming that is what it means for you too, or is your BD org your SDR org?

Honestly I think being an AE opens so many doors. 

Most CROs, COOs, (some) CEOs, and some CMOs come from sales backgrounds. It is crucial to understand not just how to go to market, but how to communicate. Plus, the skills translate over to real life as well. 

I know a ton of people that moved from sales back to BD. 
cw95
Politicker
4
Sales Development Lead
Nice, cheers, BD here just means business development so the whole lead gen inbound outbound job. But yeah thanks will note this down!
CoorsKing
WR Officer
6
Retired King of the Coors Knights
Makes sense. Yeah in that case I would say try it, worse case you don’t like it and can always go back, but now you will have the experience of the back half of the funnel so it makes you a more complete rep when qualifying leads.
paddy
WR Officer
7
Director of Business Development
If you want to step out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself, take the AE role. If you're younger(ish), now is the time to take risks.
cw95
Politicker
2
Sales Development Lead
Cheers for this, why would it be more risky to do an AE role?
paddy
WR Officer
6
Director of Business Development
Well for one, I'd assume you're responsible for carrying a quota where you have to close revenue, as opposed to a simpler BD metric like setting meetings. 
CuriousFox
WR Officer
7
🦊
Do it. Get the experience now so you can go on to bigger better things later. You will be a closer 🔥
cw95
Politicker
3
Sales Development Lead
Well every comment so far is say AE so it’s a’looking that way!
CoorsKing
WR Officer
6
Retired King of the Coors Knights
The other benefit is way more money so it’s not surprising haha
cw95
Politicker
1
Sales Development Lead
Always a plus!
hh456
Celebrated Contributor
5
sales
It’s just a different stop in the pipeline. Do you want to source leads or do you want to close leads? What do you enjoy more? Also - how does the comp plan change? Are you more comfortable building your own check or relying on your team to funnel you quality accounts? Those are a couple things I’d consider before moving to a new role.
cw95
Politicker
2
Sales Development Lead
Yeah makes sense, difficult in a small company when many things that you said already occur daily in my role. I guess it would be a case of structuring it properly!
funcoupons
WR Officer
5
👑
Unless you want to be a BD manager one day, take the AE role. It's an upgrade from BD and you'll earn more money. If you hate it you can always go back to BD.
cw95
Politicker
1
Sales Development Lead
Yes, very true!
BmajoR
Arsonist
4
Account Executive
I think you should take the AE role. You have veteran AEs in here that can help you with nearly every facet of the job. Plus, as other's have mentioned, it will open doors for you that you otherwise wouldn't have access to. 
cw95
Politicker
1
Sales Development Lead
Perks of the war room, didn’t consider that if I were to!
mitts2
Politicker
2
Account Executive
The skills you will learn and develop as an AE transfer across almost all business functions regardless of whether or not being an AE is your long-term path. If you go AE and end up switching back to a different role, you will be better at your new role given the skills and experience you will take from your time as an AE. It will certainly be a challenge but one that will pay off in more ways than one.
artofsales
Good Citizen
1
Sr. Director of Enterprise Sales
In some ways, the movement from BD to AE is your natural progression. 

I'm assuming in your org, BD is looking in to demand gen, new market developments and AEs are the ones closing, scaling , maintaining .
Coffeesforclosers
Notable Contributor
1
Director Sales and Market Development
With already having BD experience (this will also be a big part of the AE role if you are the sole AE) there is no reason not to start a closing role as meech said this opens all the doors. BD world you could manage a BD team but never move to far up in sales without closing experience. 

Now caveat, them not having an AE before and goals they may put in place or their expectations for this new role is my concern. But fuck it, if it fails ill bring you to my SDR team and groom you into an AE role at my place. Game on
cw95
Politicker
1
Sales Development Lead
Yeah makes sense, thanks for this! And I’ll hold you to that haha!
Coffeesforclosers
Notable Contributor
1
Director Sales and Market Development
Keep an eye on their plans for the role, happy to help you map out that piece. 
cw95
Politicker
1
Sales Development Lead
@Coffeesforclosers for some reason this comment wouldn't load until today! Thanks, I appreciate it and will definitely ask if needs be! 
Blackwargreymon
Politicker
1
MDR
If you want to step out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself, take the AE role. If you're younger(ish), now is the time to take risks.
Clashingsoulsspell
Politicker
1
ISR
If you want to step out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself, take the AE role.
Diablo
Politicker
0
Sr. AE
Depends upon your goal. If you're looking for a challenging move, then AE would fit.
MR.StretchISR
Politicker
0
ISR
So I’ve never been in BD (for us that means partner relationships), assuming that is what it means for you too, or is your BD org your SDR org?

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