Enterprise Account Executive, Kong
Chicago
$131.6-197.4k
Offers Equity & commission
Microservice API gateway
Be an early applicant
Microservice API gateway
501-1000 employees
Be an early applicant
$131.6-197.4k
Offers Equity & commission
501-1000 employees
Company mission
To build the nervous system that will safely and reliably connect all of humankind!
Role
Who you are
- We are seeking a committed Enterprise Sales Executive with a successful background in sales and account management, ideally within open source or similar enterprise software environments
- This position is ideal for a sales professional who has experience in landing new clients, retaining existing customers, and driving account expansion for early-stage enterprise products in a dynamic, entrepreneurial setting
- 7+ years of experience in enterprise sales (>1k employees), with a proven track record of closing complex deals in a SaaS, cloud, or enterprise software environment
- Demonstrated success in selling to large enterprises, particularly to senior-level executives and across multiple departments
- Strong consultative selling skills, with the ability to understand customer needs and present compelling solutions that drive business outcomes
- Excellent communication and negotiation skills, capable of managing high-stakes conversations and building lasting relationships with stakeholders
- A results-driven mindset, with a passion for meeting and exceeding sales goals and revenue targets
- Experience working with CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce) and leveraging data to forecast accurately and track sales metrics
- Knowledge of open-source software, APIs, or infrastructure software is highly advantageous
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment, taking ownership of your sales territory and adapting to changing market dynamics
- Analytical and strategic thinking, with a knack for identifying business growth opportunities and devising plans to capitalize on them
What the job involves
- In this role, you will be a key driver of our growth strategy, directly impacting the stability and expansion of our recurring revenue
- Develop and execute sales strategies to target enterprise customers, focusing on building and maintaining a robust pipeline that drives long-term growth
- Own the entire sales cycle, from prospecting and initial outreach to contract negotiations and closing deals, while consistently meeting or exceeding revenue targets
- Collaborate with internal teams, including product, marketing, and customer success, to ensure a seamless sales experience and alignment on customer needs
- Identify customer pain points and align our solutions to address these, delivering customized product demos and presentations tailored to their specific business needs
- Build and nurture relationships with C-level executives and key decision-makers within target accounts, establishing yourself as a trusted advisor and ensuring customer satisfaction and retention
- Lead account planning efforts by researching potential customers, understanding industry trends, and developing strategies to win new business and grow existing accounts
- Monitor and manage sales activities and results, accurately forecasting opportunities and keeping detailed records of interactions and progress in CRM systems
- Stay updated on industry trends, competitor offerings, and market changes to position our product effectively and maintain a competitive edge
- Contribute to business growth initiatives, providing feedback to product and marketing teams to influence product development and go-to-market strategies
- Represent Kong with professionalism, acting as a brand ambassador at industry events, conferences, and customer meetings
Our take
Kong provides a cutting-edge API and service lifecycle management platform tailored for modern architectures, such as microservices, containers, cloud, and serverless environments. With a focus on flexibility, scalability, speed, and performance, Kong allows developers and Global 5000 enterprises to securely connect and orchestrate microservice APIs for today's sophisticated applications.
The core products offered by Kong include Kong, an open-source API and Microservices management solution Galileo, a platform for API analytics and debugging; Gelato, a platform for creating developed portals for PIs and Microservices; and API Marketplace, a hub for discovering and publishing cloud APIs. Additionally, the recent introduction of a new collection of AI plug-ins in Kong Gateway 3.6 enhances the platform's capabilities further, reinforcing its commitment to innovation and advancement.
In pursuit of growth, the company is prioritizing expanding its marketing efforts, bolstering its customer service team, and accelerating product development. By focusing on these key areas, Kong aims to continue providing unparalleled solutions and support to its ever-expanding user base in the rapidly evolving landscape of modern application development.
Kirsty
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Insights
Company
Funding (last 2 of 7 rounds)
Nov 2024
$175m
SERIES E
Feb 2021
$100m
SERIES D
Total funding: $344.1m
Company benefits
- Flexible time off: Take time to take care of yourself and the things that matter most
- Stock options: We want you to share in our success. That's why stock options are offered to most Kongers
- U-First Fridays: Get 4 hours a month for continuous learning with a book, podcast, or course of your choice
- Virtual events: Stay connected with Donut chats, trivia, fitness challenges, guided meditations, and more
- Dedicated unplug days: Silence those notifications. Enjoy some well-deserved long weekend where the entire team unplugs
- Home office stipend: Build a home office environment tailored to support your productivity
Company HQ
The East Cut, San Francisco, CA
Leadership
Augusto Marietti
(CEO)Previously founded Mashape API Marketplace. Before Mashape, Augusto was an SF homeless immigrant from Italy.
Janet Phillips
(Vice President of People)Previously Director at SonicWALL for 5 years and Senior Director at Symantec for 7 years.
Marco Palladino
(CTO)Previously co-founded MemboxX, an online service for storing documents and small pieces of personal data.
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