Sarah Bennett - Senior Vice President of Sales at Birdeye
Professional Background and Current Role
Sarah Bennett is currently the Senior Vice President of Sales at Birdeye, an organization known for its powerful customer experience platform. She operates out of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Sarah's tenure at Birdeye started in 2013, and she has been instrumental in the company's growth, now serving more than 25,000 customers.
Experience and Impact at Birdeye
With over 20 years in sales leadership, Sarah has a proven track record of building and developing top-performing sales teams. Initially joining Birdeye as their first employee, Sarah played a pivotal role in scaling the company's operations from a home office setup to a sprawling 11,000-square-foot Dallas office at Cypress Waters. In her tenure, she has seen Birdeye grow over 100% year-over-year.
Sarah's initial months at Birdeye involved substantial challenges, such as selling without leads or sales enablement materials, but she achieved near-target quotas that boosted confidence in the company's trajectory. Her leadership now spans managing a large team of over 100 sales representatives. Her approach is characterized by radical candor, prioritizing ownership, customer obsession, and maintaining the highest standards.
Key Achievements and Responsibilities
- Promotions and Leadership Positions: Sarah has steadily risen through Birdeye's ranks, from an individual contributor to leading the entire SMB (Small and Medium-sized Business) division.
- ARR Milestone: Celebrated Birdeye reaching $100 million in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR).
- Team and Culture Development: Integral in maintaining and fostering a diverse and inclusive team culture, with a notable emphasis on women in leadership roles.
Previous Experience
Before Birdeye, Sarah was an Account Executive at YP (formerly AT&T), where she honed her skills in sales by driving significant revenue growth through robust client partnerships.
Professional Acumen
Sarah is recognized for her high energy and assertive professional style, making her a valued leader at Birdeye. Her insights into leveraging customer feedback to drive sales strategies have been critical in Birdeye’s market positioning. Her dedication to customer obsession is evident in Birdeye's swift response to customer feedback, often translating into new product features.
Strategic Perspectives
Sarah believes in empowering her team members by emphasizing ownership and providing clear, candid feedback to achieve high performance. Her effectiveness is underscored by Birdeye’s results-oriented culture that supports rapid employee and organizational growth.
Conclusion
Sarah Bennett's career at Birdeye highlights her strategic vision, operational expertise, and leadership capability in driving significant sales growth and organizational expansion. Her journey from the company's first employee to a strategic leader offers invaluable insights into Birdeye’s growth trajectory and its commitment to developing talent and fostering a strong, inclusive workplace culture.
