The pathway
How you actually get there, here
How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.
- 1
Account Manager (B2B Services)
2-4 yearsSkills to master
- Client relationship management, understanding client needs, identifying upsell/cross-sell opportunities, basic negotiation. You'll have experience being the main point of contact for clients, which is very similar to managing partners.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently exceeded client retention or growth targets.
- Received positive feedback on client relationship building.
- Demonstrated ability to resolve client issues independently.
- Expressed interest in working with a broader ecosystem rather than just direct clients.
- 2
Junior Channel/Partner Executive
1-3 yearsSkills to master
- Supporting partner programmes, basic partner onboarding, administrative tasks related to partnerships, understanding channel mechanics. You'll have a foundational understanding of how partnerships work.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully supported senior partner managers on key initiatives.
- Proactively identified areas for process improvement in partner operations.
- Demonstrated strong organisational skills and attention to detail in partner admin.
- Expressed a desire to take on more direct partner ownership.
- 3
Sales Executive (with BPO focus)
3-5 yearsSkills to master
- Direct sales cycle management, lead qualification, proposal development, closing deals, understanding BPO solutions. You'll understand the sales process inside out, which is invaluable for enabling partners.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently hit or exceeded sales targets for BPO services.
- Skilled at articulating the value proposition of complex services.
- Strong negotiation skills and ability to manage a pipeline.
- Expressed a desire to influence sales through others (partners) rather than just direct selling.