We work with companies who are hiring their 1st Sales Leader. Often these are stretch hires. Here are five things I wish I had known as a first-time VP Sales: 1. Joining at the right stage matters; I would have asked "why now" more insistently. Asking the right questions, including gaining access to all the metrics, will help here. 2. Being excellent with data - the role is much more than just "selling." Being able to dissect data to help make decisions is key. 3. Hiring is much harder than expected. Knowing when to hire, who to hire, and spending time interviewing while trying to hit a number is tough. 4. Assess FVP fit (Founder/VP fit). It's not a 9-5 job; you need to ensure the right fit here. Invest time outside of the interview process to ensure values and ways of working align. 5. Build the sales playbook early; documenting this really helps in understanding where the gaps are and building trust with the Founder and VC. #vpsales
This honest advice is helpful for new Sales Leaders dealing with the challenges of their jobs in fast-paced startup settings.
Spot on Matthew Codd! Hiring for sure. Talent is number 1 for me
Partnerships | Business Development | Strategic Alliances I B2B Sales | Scale-ups I Marketplace I E-commerce | AI | SaaS | Ex-Oyo Rooms | I help SaaS companies drive 7-figure growth through partnerships 🔥
9moJoining at the right stage matters. You don't need a VP Sales if you are at sub-1 million ARR