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
Sales Coaching Manager (Level 5)
3-5 yearsSkills to master
- Leading a team of coaches, owning a P&L for a specific function, developing and executing enablement programmes for a business unit, and influencing senior stakeholders.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully managed a team of 5+ sales coaches/enablement specialists for at least 3 years.
- Demonstrated measurable impact on sales performance for a specific business unit or region.
- Consistently presented strategic initiatives and results to senior leadership.
- Proven ability to build and scale enablement programmes from concept to execution.
- 2
VP of Sales (Regional/Product Line)
2-4 yearsSkills to master
- Directly managing large sales teams, achieving revenue targets, P&L management, and understanding the day-to-day challenges of sales execution at scale. This gives you invaluable credibility.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully led a sales organisation of 50+ reps to consistently exceed revenue targets.
- Managed a significant P&L (e.g., £10M+).
- Deep understanding of sales process, forecasting, and pipeline management from a leadership perspective.
- Proven ability to hire, develop, and retain top sales talent.
- 3
Head of Global Sales Enablement (for smaller companies)
3-5 yearsSkills to master
- Building an enablement function from the ground up, managing global programmes, and influencing across diverse cultural contexts. This path often comes from a smaller, high-growth company.
You're ready to move on when
- Built and scaled a sales enablement function in a global or multi-regional context.
- Successfully implemented a company-wide sales methodology.
- Demonstrated strong cross-cultural communication and leadership skills.
- Managed significant budgets and vendor relationships.