Episode 5: Ian McDonald, Account Executive @ Gong

New Technique is an interview show - asking VPs, CEOs, Sales leaders, and operators at SaaS companies, how they got to where they are and tips for success along their climb to the top.

In season 1 of New Technique, there's a focus on Product Led Growth (PLG) - one of the hottest trends in SaaS sales. Asking Sales leaders about their path to success and getting their opinion on Product Led Growth and the future of sales.

In episode 5, Ian McDonald, AE at Gong, joins Paul De Barros to talk about his days pre and post college working at a golf course, how he got started in SaaS and worked as a BDR at CEB, then dives deep into his career changing roles at Linkedin and then after the shocking COVID layoffs, how he ended up grabbing a dream job at Gong. The conversation then pivots to the Investor Corner where the two discuss REITs, Robinhood, and Real Estate investing.
When it comes to Finance and Real Estate advice, Ian keeps it very simple:

“Just keep buying”.

Highlights:

Intro - "acumen matters now more than ever"

3:00 - ⛳ Ian's first role ever was at the local golf course

7:11 - BDR life at CEB, now Gartner

8:30 - Joining LinkedIn and living the #linkedinlife

9:45 - 11:00 - What his territory at Linkedin and then at Gong felt like

12:00 - How he got to Gong and what it felt like being one of the early first ever customers back in 2015

12:55 - Going through the #layoffs at Linkedin to start Covid

20:57 - Jason Calacanis and where Ian get's his perspective from

25:03 - Why Robinhood really changed the game and got him into Investing

29:55 - How he got started in Real Estate and now owns 4 condos in Chicago and he's following a simple plan: "just keep buying".

Arrived Homes is one of the new hot platforms Ian mentioned for his Real Estate focus:

https://arrived.com/

Watch here on YouTube for the full experience.

Job Openings (each week we try to share GTM jobs in Tech) -
drop me a message if you’re interested and would like to be put in touch with the hiring team.

Sales Leadership:

QuotaPath: VP of Sales (Austin)
GoLinks: Head of Sales (Remote) and Account Executive roles too
Terminal49: Sr. Account Executive

Marketing Leadership:

Wrike: Growth Marketing Manager (Remote)

Terminal49: Head of Marketing (Oakland/Remote)

Meaningful Gigs: Director of Marketing (DC/Remote)

Stockpress: Growth Marketing Manager (Remote-US Based)

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