Biz Dev/GTM/Strategic Partnerships/Tech Enterprise Sales as an alternative to corp dev/strat?

Currently an A2 at a BB, and I’m seriously looking to get out of banking. Initially thought about going the Product Manager route, but it seems like you either need a CS background or an MBA to break in, so that door seems pretty closed for now.

I’ve started looking into roles like GTM, Strategic Partnerships, Biz Dev, and even Enterprise Sales at top tech/software companies. I have a few interviews lined up at some well-known names (think FAANG, big SaaS players, etc.), but I’m trying to figure out if these roles are worth it.

Would love to get your thoughts on: Comp, culture, career path, day to day etc.

I’m avoiding corp dev because, frankly, I hate modeling. Corp strategy also seems risky and feels like a cost center that could get axed anytime. Plus, both these roles seem to just funnel IB analysts into more IB-style work, which I’m not down for.

Anyone here made the leap into GTM/Partnerships/Biz Dev or know people who have? Is this a solid move, or am I setting myself up for disappointment?

9 Comments
 

I actually think if you want to follow this path then recruit out of undergrad (Am OP but will let someone with more experience chime in)

 

The role title you’re looking for is “strategic finance”. That covers everything you listed out except for BizDev, but that’s just a tech sales role anyway. The most comparable to that in high finance is sourcing at a growth equity shop like TA Associates…not everyone’s cup of tea.m so honestly if you take a look at Strat fin. You’d be happy.

In terms of hierarchy of quality of work / intellectually stimulating / prestigious / pay itgoes Accounting > FP&A > Strategic Finance.

 
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“Glorified FP&A”, yeah no you don’t know what you’re talking about herebut that’s okay. There is a heavy dose of operational modeling but honestly OP needs to know if he hates modeling or if he just hates valuation type modeling in IB. Does OP hate modeling or does he hate modeling in the context of sleepless nights and 4 layers of management breathing down your neck for 24 hour turnaround times? Sales finance modeling is very different than IB modeling for example, and the best part of that type of modeling is that your work doesn’t just go into some zoom meeting ether , your work changes the sales playbook or it allows you to go into a war room and developing better negotiation playbooks to close more deals, or it allows you to effectively manage sales rep productivity. OP is an An2 he possibly can’t know every single discreet form of modeling corporate has to offer and news flash: any corporate job that will pay you well expects you to demonstrate a strong quantitative skill set of some sort, unless OP really thinks he’d be happier in a call center role.

 

These roles are essentially a nice title for a sales job. If you're good at it you can make great money, but the burnout rate is high and your base comp won't be much - commission is where meaningful money is. How good are you at selling stuff? Are you super extroverted and love talking to new people all day long? 

FAANG is a bit easier because the brand will get you in the door. Small tech company sales is a tough job differentiating yourself. But it's still really only for a very extroverted person who loves to sell

 

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