John May, Head of Sales, Okteto
Professional Background
John May currently holds the position of Head of Sales at Okteto, a company specializing in cloud-based development environments. His career trajectory reflects significant experience and achievements in sales and business development, particularly in the tech and software industries.
Previous Roles and Accomplishments:
- Rally Software (2006-2016): John played a pivotal role in introducing and promoting agile project management. He worked with notable clients such as Cisco, eBay/PayPal, and Microsoft, assisting them in adopting agile methodologies. His contributions were instrumental in Rally Software's growth.
- GitLab (2016-2020): John joined GitLab, where he fostered significant client relationships and contributed to a substantial increase in company valuation, from $200 million to over $5 billion, culminating in a successful IPO in 2021. Key clients included Goldman Sachs, BNY Mellon, Verizon, and Dell.
- Remote (2020-2022): Prior to joining Okteto, John served as Vice President of Sales at Remote. He built the sales team from scratch, achieving a 2000% sales growth in the initial four months and surpassing the 10X growth target by 50% within a year. The company secured a Series B round at a $1 billion valuation.
Professional Expertise and Attributes
John is widely recognized for his potential to drive exponential sales growth and lead successful sales teams. He demonstrates a strong commitment to customer advocacy and emphasizes building long-term client relationships based on trust and mutual benefit. His approach often results in customers perceiving him as an integral partner rather than a typical salesperson.
Okteto's Strategic Vision and John's Role
Okteto aims to revolutionize the developer experience by providing cloud-based development environments that remove the limitations of local machine-based development. This aligns with John’s extensive background in promoting innovative solutions that enhance development and operational efficiency in tech organizations.
Notable highlights from John’s public statements about his role at Okteto:
- He views Okteto as the next wave in software development, continuing the evolution he witnessed from agile methodologies at Rally Software to cloud-native applications at GitLab.
- His ambition at Okteto is to help the company achieve "Unicorn" status, making it the third company in his career to reach a billion-dollar valuation.
- John is actively involved in the expansion of the sales organization at Okteto, indicating a hiring phase within the department to support the company's growth objectives.
Public Engagements and Thought Leadership
John May is an active participant on professional platforms like LinkedIn, where he shares insights and milestones regarding Okteto's progress:
- LinkedIn Highlights:
- Regular posts about Okteto’s achievements, such as the company’s rapid user adoption and technological advancements.
- Sharing experiences and methodologies on using Okteto's solutions alongside other tech tools like ArgoCD and JFrog Artifactory.
- Advocacy for Okteto’s availability on platforms like Google Marketplace, emphasizing the flexibility and extensive reach of the company's offerings.
Contact Information
- Email: john@okteto.com, johnmay0823@gmail.com
- Phone: 303-947-4591
- LinkedIn Profile: [John May - LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayjohn)
Summary of Key Attributes for Sales Background Research
- Extensive Experience: Over 15 years in high-impact sales roles, particularly in software and tech industries.
- Proven Track Record: Demonstrated ability to drive large-scale sales growth and contribute to significant increases in company valuations.
- Customer-Centric Approach: Strong focus on building trusted relationships with clients, often extending beyond professional interactions to personal friendships.
- Strategic Vision: Committed to leveraging advanced tech solutions to transform industry standards and enhance operational efficiencies.
John May’s contributions are characterized by strategic foresight, robust leadership, and a profound understanding of the tech landscape, making him a vital asset to Okteto’s ambitious growth plans.
