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
Senior Global Partnerships Manager
3-5 years in previous roleSkills to master
- Deep expertise in managing strategic partners, proven ability to hit revenue targets, strong negotiation and relationship-building skills, and some informal team leadership/mentoring experience.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently exceeding individual partner revenue targets.
- Successfully leading complex JBPs with top-tier partners.
- Mentoring junior colleagues and taking initiative on team-wide projects.
- Demonstrating strong cross-functional influence and problem-solving.
- 2
Lead, Strategic Alliances
3-5 years in previous roleSkills to master
- Experience in designing and launching new partner programmes, managing the most complex alliances, and a strong understanding of ecosystem strategy.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully architecting and launching a new, impactful partner programme.
- Managing the most critical, high-revenue alliances with executive-level engagement.
- Demonstrating strategic thinking beyond individual partner relationships.
- Influencing senior stakeholders on partner strategy and investment.
- 3
Sales Manager (with strong partnership exposure)
5-7 years in previous roleSkills to master
- Proven sales leadership, experience managing a sales team, and a strong understanding of how partners contribute to the sales cycle. You'd need to bridge the gap into partner-specific methodologies.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently exceeding sales team targets.
- Successful coaching and development of sales reps.
- A clear understanding of channel sales dynamics and partner-led motions.
- Strong relationships with existing partnership teams and a desire to transition.