Reach for the stars - Senior Account Executive Michael
Meet piloteer Michael Falk who knows that by working as a team we can face every challenge. You simply must never stop reaching for the stars.
Meet our first employee in the US, Jaryd. He loves working for a Tech Scale-up because everyday you have the chance to grow an learn something new.
Meet Jaryd, our first full-time employee in the US. In 2022, he started as Business Development Representative, and now works as an Account Executive, bringing years of experience in the industry. Fun fact: He is always the one who takes the roll as BBQ chef! 😉
Who are you?
Hi, I am Jaryd. Account Executive in the Chicago office at MARKT-PILOT. I was born in South Africa, hold a German passport, and grew up in 8 different countries on 4 continents. Also, I am a trained chef and love cooking and entertaining. 👨🍳
What does a day in your work-life look like?
I have a son so it is very structured 😀
| 6:45 – 7:40 AM | I wake up, check my daily schedule and reply to any pertinent emails. |
| 7:40 AM | I wake up my son, get him ready for school and pack his lunch. |
| 8:00 - 8:25 AM | I take my son to school. I really enjoy the 30-minute walk, because this is my time to take the day in and appreciate life. |
| 9:00 AM |
I am back home and then the schedule varies. Of course, I attend any meetings I have and work around those meetings. My daily to do’s mostly consist of:
|
| 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM | I pick up my son from school. |
▶️ Repeat and do it all again. Honestly, I love that routine and my team. As we have always new projects and clients, it never gets boring!
How did you come to join the MARKT-PILOT crew?
I owned my own offshore development company with eight employees, which, unfortunately, after 1.5 years, wasn’t doing as well as I had hoped. I have been in sales within the chemical manufacturing industry for years prior, and so I was looking for a new opportunity. My son was invited to a class play date at the park and I met Alex Morbe, who was there with his family as well. We started talking about Germany and how he has just moved to the U.S. at the beginning of the Chicago winter. Alex told me all about MARKT-PILOT and how he was building the business in the U.S. I asked him if they were hiring, and two weeks later, I was the first full-time employee in the USA. The rest is history…
How has your career journey evolved since joining MARKT-PILOT in May 2022?
I have been at MARKT-PILOT for over a year now and professionally I have grown from Business Development Representative to Senior BDR to Account Executive. I have helped understand how to sell a software product in the U.S., as well as learning about and adjusting to cultural differences. I have also been part of prospecting strategies and training for new BDRs. Now we have a system in place that helps BDR new joiners to easily understand our target market. I am able to continue to grow and learn every day within my sales career. I fell in love with the industry and the product MARKT-PILOT offers, seeing first-hand the amazing results it brought to so many OEMs.
What’s your favorite part of your job as Account Executive?
Being able to really get to know our prospects, learn about their business model and the ins and outs of the industry is very interesting. Additionally, meeting with management and C-suite executives along the way helps me to always improve my own communication skills and understanding.
What’s your favorite thing about working at a tech scale-up?
It's exciting! In one year alone, you gain as much work experience and growth as you would in three years in a traditional company. It's extremely fast-paced, never gets boring and you have to be flexible to adapt to changes. The dynamic environment is very motivating and gives you the opportunity to grow by leaps and bounds in a short period of time if you want to learn yourself.
What is a recent achievement you are most proud of?
Lately, I have achieved a lot of firsts as a father. Teaching my son to ride a bike and swim has been the highlight of summer 2023 so far.
Describe the team at MARKT-PILOT in three words.
Driven, adaptable, passionate
Which key qualifications should applicants have to join Team Business Development?
- Attention to detail
- Drive to succeed
- Go-getter/never give up
- Fail with pride and learn from failure
- Teamplayer
- Student for Life – Never stop improving and learning
Sounds like you? Apply! 🚀
Ready for your next big career step?
