From SDR to Account Manager – Career paths at 10Clouds

At 10Clouds, we pride ourselves on cultivating meaningful career paths for individuals who drive our business forward. With a team of top talent, we're dedicated to fostering growth and development opportunities that contribute to our business success.

Join us as we highlight the journey of one such individual, Ryugo Kimura, who has made a remarkable contribution to our team.

Welcome Ryugo. I’m really happy to have the chance to talk to you about your career path.

At 10Clouds, you’re part of our Sales team. What does your work involve?

Thank you. I’m currently mainly focused on cultivating and managing relationships with both prospective and existing clients. This involves devising strategic pricing models tailored to accommodate different project requirements and financial parameters. I see myself as a liaison between clients and the development team. I’m always learning because I’m keen to stay abreast of industry trends and best practices.

Tell us a bit about starting out at 10Clouds. Where has your career with us taken you?

Starting out at 10Clouds was a pivotal moment in my career journey, marked by important lessons and growth opportunities. I've been fortunate to be surrounded by exceptional sales professionals who have served as mentors and guides. They played a huge part in helping me understand the markets that we’re operating in and to hone sales strategies.

I’ve always been looking to push myself, and a few months ago, after 12 months at 10Clouds I got a tempting offer from a renowned fintech company. But I decided not to take it up. Why? I was really invested in the vision of the 10Clouds’ founders when it came to the vision and future trajectory of the company. It offered me huge opportunities for growth.

Within the next three months, with a fresh strategy and outlook, I overachieved my KPIs, and, as a result, got the promotion that I originally wanted.

What do you find most fascinating about your current role? How is it evolving?

The most fascinating aspect of my role is that I learn a lot about how the start-ups, scale-ups, and enterprises we work with operate in different industries. I help them implement software solutions effectively through strategic account management and consulting activities and at the same time I observe their way of work, daily operations, decision making processes, that gives me a holistic perspective and puts me at a unique angle. I’m definitely seeing myself as more of a strategic business consultant, rather than just a sales executor. 

And in terms of the evolution of the role, I’m excited to see the new opportunities that AI is bringing to our business. We’re focussing on providing Custom GPT for our clients to streamline their operations, save time, and help scale up quicker– this will be a key area of growth for us over the coming months.

I feel that my voice matters regarding the company’s trajectory and vision – and it’s great that our board is open to employees' suggestions.

What advice would you give anyone starting out in a Sales role in the current climate?

Here is my top advice, which I would have also given my younger self:

• Focus on becoming a well-rounded sales professional quickly, especially in today's dynamic and sophisticated market. It's crucial to adapt and excel in finding new customer acquisition channels and nurturing existing business.
• Surround yourself with exceptional sales people within your organization. I've been fortunate to learn from several top performers who've shared invaluable insights and strategies.
• Remember, success in sales often comes down to volume. Once you've grasped proven systems and frameworks, push yourself to take more action. Replicate success, exceed targets, and innovate whenever possible.
• Be proactive in seeking knowledge and helping others. Stay curious, hungry for learning, and always strive to contribute positively to your team.
• Don't let imposter syndrome hold you back. Embrace discomfort and take action despite any doubts or fears. Growth often comes from pushing through challenges and stepping out of your comfort zone.
• Being a sales expert doesn't mean the technical part doesn't matter. Once you master sales and have a good holistic understanding of tech, you become unstoppable in your ability to help clients.
  

Thank you Ryugo. Some very useful tips!

Want to see where your career at 10Clouds could take you?

Join our team by applying to one of our job ads, or send us your CV. Who knows, we might be looking for someone with your skillset right now.