RingCentral’s business development reps are the first ones to make a lasting impression of the company for prospective clients. It’s a significant role that deeply impacts the future success of the communication platform’s business.
The role is so important, actually, that when BDRs continually hit their goal, other RingCentral departments are quick to approach them for advancement opportunities within their own teams.
“There's a sentiment from other teams: If someone is successful as a BDR, they are the ‘top-of-the-crop’ and are sought after when there are advancement opportunities,” said Cassandra Taylor, a lead on the BDR team.
We connected with Cassandra, plus two other members from RingCentral’s business development team, to learn more about what it’s like to work on such an integral part of the sales org and how they support one another while ensuring they have a good time.
FOUNDED: 1999
EMPLOYEES: 3,500 (550 locally)
WHAT THEY DO: RingCentral’s cloud communication and collaboration tools connect businesses of all sizes through voice, video conferencing, messaging and more.
WHERE THEY DO IT: Centennial
ORDER UP: RingCentral employees can enjoy free breakfast and lunch served daily.
RECHARGE AT WILL: Enjoy the ability to take time off for yourself when you need to as part of RingCentral’s flexible PTO policy.
GRIND ON: While a strong work ethic is a must to join the BDR team, new members should also exude strong time management, integrity, humility and coachability.
Cassandra Taylor, Business Development Representative II
In addition to her responsibilities as a senior business development representative, Cassandra is partnering with her managers to create a “level-up” program that will layout a clear path for career advancement for business development reps. She was recently promoted to team lead.
SCALE THE ROCKIES: Cassandra and her husband are on a quest to summit all of Colorado’s 58 mountain peaks exceeding 14,000 feet, aka “the 14ers.” She’s also a youth lacrosse coach.
What is “coopetition” (cooperative competition) and how does it impact the work that you and the company do as a whole?
The BDR team fosters healthy competition and “coopetition” within the department. We are a sales-driven team and organization, and you can't be successful in sales if you don't have a healthy hunger for competition. The great thing at RingCentral is that our competition is focused on pushing one another to excel, rather than trying to knock someone out of place in order to get ahead. We succeed through cooperative competition.
Career growth inside RingCentral is limitless, and our managers advocate for us across the organization.”
Congratulations on your recent promotion to team lead! What and who helped you get to where you are today?
I'm stoked to take my success a step further by finding more ways I can help my teammates crush their daily, weekly, monthly and long-term goals. There are an abundance of supportive mentors and helpful resources here at RingCentral. I was extremely fortunate to be earmarked for two different opportunities for my next step. Eagerly, my managers and mentors initiated some real-talk conversations, after which I had the confidence and the support to make the best possible decision.
How else does RingCentral support career growth on the BDR team?
Career growth inside RingCentral is limitless, and our managers advocate for us across the organization. There's a sentiment from other teams: If someone is successful as a BDR, they are the "top-of-the-crop" and are sought after when there are advancement opportunities. Our employee success team emphasizes the idea of career-growth as a trellis, rather than a linear ladder. You may need to zig and zag, like a vine through a trellis, to gain the proper skills and experience to achieve the ultimate goal.
Eric Fischbach, Manager Business Development
The BDR team sits at the tip of the spear for the sales organization, which means they often make the first impression of RingCentral to prospective clients. For this reason, Eric focuses on helping his team build value and establish rapport quickly, in addition to coaching his team on the best outbound prospecting practices and cold-calling efforts.
ANGLING UP: Eric mentally resets by fly fishing on the weekends. He describes the sport as peaceful, relaxing and challenging all at the same time.
How has your time in the military impacted how you approach your work today?
I spent some time in the military, and what I learned out of that experience has helped me approach every day with structure, discipline and to get the most out of every day. It taught me to leave things better than I found them, which is a philosophy I instill in my team and my team members. I hope when they are promoted or move on, they have grown personally and professionally and we have set them up to be successful.
How do you support your team beyond the job description, and why have you chosen to do so?
My employees are my top priority, like my family outside of work — not only is my team’s success important to me, but their work-life balance is extremely important. They have a tough job and it is a grind day-in and day-out. It is important they are able to take time for themselves, and I make it a point they get what they need to be physically and mentally refreshed as much as possible to give their best every day.
I hope when [my teammates] are promoted or move on, they have grown personally and professionally and we have set them up to be successful.”
Describe your team’s culture. How does this play into RingCentral’s culture as a company?
Work hard, play hard! We have a job to do, and we have an amazing opportunity at RingCentral. However, it is important we celebrate individual, team, and company success as well. We need breaks throughout the day to enjoy what we do here, so you may see a Nerf dart fly over your head or other shenanigans throughout the day.
What events or opportunities does RingCentral host to bolster that culture?
We have a program called RCause that allows us to give back to our community. We have a quarterly reward for our top performers that have included things like Rockies day games, trips to the mountains and whitewater rafting. Outside of company events, we frequently host happy hours and other outings for everyone to build that camaraderie and personal connection with their team.
Vik Gopalan, Business Development Representative
Vik joined RingCentral less than a year ago. Following his individual success within the first few months as a BDR, the company moved to add another 20 reps to support this team. He attributes his success to RingCentral’s formal trainings for new employees, continued education, adequate ramp period and shadowing more senior members within the company.
TOUR DE TASTE: Vik loves to travel while experiencing new cuisines and culture along the way. He hopes to soon cross off a few wildlife safaris on his future destination list.
How have you helped your team to replicate your success?
I am passionate about coaching and mentoring others to help them achieve their goals. I encourage my colleagues to swing by my desk, and we often bounce ideas off one another. Fostering a culture of mentoring and coaching on my team has helped newer members ramp up quicker.
We are committed to improving every day, and the learning never stops.”
Describe a recent time that perfectly exemplifies your team’s history of collaborating.
We are committed to improving every day, and the learning never stops. I recently attended a sales and marketing strategy conference with some of my colleagues and members of the RingCentral leadership team. We each attended different sessions aligned to our desired team outcomes. Afterward, we held brainstorming debrief sessions on how to apply what we have learned to improve our business and share best practices with other teams.
What makes your team’s culture and camaraderie unique?
We have a very close-knit team, and we love exploring our interests: food, drink, music, movies — you name it. Grabbing lunch at a nearby restaurant or a couple of drinks after work as a team is not out of the ordinary. In the office, you might find us in an intense ping-pong tournament while talking through a deal or random video game challenges against other teams while discussing our success.
