SV Academy

Pre-SVA me:  Skeptic
Post-SVA me:  Total acolyte of SVA

By far, the most grueling, exhilarating, rewarding, enervating, transformational learning experience I have ever gone through.  SVA will not only teach you the skills you will need to prepare you to break into the tech industry, they will also teach you the life skills to make it a well-rounded experience.  For so long, the workforce has been acclimated to the compartmentalization of career and personal life.  SVA teaches you how to approach that you do not have to choose which area to thrive in.  You can have both.  The mindfulness approach to a career, the embracing of the commitments of Conscious Leadership are just the tip of the iceberg to prepare you for your career in tech.  

With skilled and empathetic, talented and unique program managers, each of their skills and expertise completely complementary of one another, every day in class was chock-full of information.  The program managers are the best.  They know the field and they know how to teach it at a level that everyone will understand.  They are open and accessible, supportive and empathetic.  Everything that a learner will need to go through a life-changing course like SDR course in SVA.  The curriculum, though excellent and comprehensive, felt like the least of what I had to learn.  The program managers exemplified and practiced what they thought.  They love what they do and you can see it with the way they care for their learners.  

The staff of SVA, especially the visibility and participation of Rahim (the founder) in a leaner's journey, for me was the cherry on top.  Where else would you find a busy founder still find time to interact, share, and teach learners?  The support that I felt in that community is tremendous.  The school is not afraid of feedback.  They take feedback and examine it, always finding ways to improve.  And it is just getting better.  

I was looking for a career shift and what I found was a life transformation.  It's by far one of the best decisions I have ever made.  

I came into this program with a vague understanding of how to utilize my personal life and professional work experience. I realize now I was pretty much lost when it came to knowing how to apply everything I've done in the past and apply them to my future endeavors. I have always been insecure about the quality of my linkedIn, resume, cover letter, and narrative. This is the first time in my life that I can display all of these components with pride and confidence. I have SV to thank for that. SV didn’t just tell us how to restructure and re-draft our documents, they literally taught us how to be a walking talking example of everything we have learned in life. SV academy gave me an opportunity to prove myself to myself. They not only gave me the tools to succeed in a specific industry but also taught me how to analyze multiple past versions of myself and how to pick the best qualities of each version. Up until now I feel like I have been running in circles trying to find a career path. This program has finally given me the ability to see clearly. I now have short term, mid term, and long term goals and am excited to finally be able to pursue them. I now have a very solid set of skills that will never leave my arsenal. 

The "CS You" program is an intense month of training and self-reflection.  I'm sure one aspect or another will be a challenge but, you will gain practical knowledge of the work of Customer Success within the SaaS industry and discover your unique value proposition.  The job hunt is competitive, and SV Academy's tools will prepare you to stand out.  Everyone involved will have your back if you put in the work because they reflect the growth mindset that's encouraged.  As a perpetual student, I can say with some authority that SV Academy is doing it right.  I applaud the audacious goal to diversify the tech industry, let alone their success in establishing a virtual community that grows stronger with each graduating cohort.  

To get the most out of your experience with SV Academy, you must go in with an open mind. When I began my journey with SVA, I realized that this was going to be hard work. But the best part about this is that it will open doors to opportunities I would otherwise not have. SVA taught me how to navigate the world of tech with experienced mentors, leaders, and trainers. The coursework was always very engaging and instructors would be open to feedback. 

SV Academy helps you with your job search and makes sure to give you the tools you need to succeed in your new job. Three years ago I was at a job that was barely over 50k and now I'm trending to hit 100k for the first time in my life. I would highly recommend SVA to anyone thinking about a career change or to start their professional career in sales. 

SV Academy is on a noble mission to increase diversity in tech and enable people from non-traditional backgrounds to enter, and excel, in the fastest growing industry on earth. The program is extremely well thought out and executed with enormous professionalism. The instructors, managers, and mentors are all wonderful people, with great energy, authenticity, and expert know-how. Let me tell you though: IT IS TOUGH! Not for the faint of heart or the uncommitted. If you are determined and just need an opportunity to prove yourself, this program is for you! If you are unsure and just want to "see how it goes," you will not make it past the first day. If you give it your all, it will change your life—I highly recommend it!

Incredibly refreshing group of driven, joyful and determined individuals allowed for an exciting journey into WHAT a tech sales job is like, WHY are you going to do it, and HOW do you keep yourself in the game! Every team member is dedicated to the excellence of the students from the top down - CEO's Rahim Fazal and Joel Scott make themselves available as empathetic, kind and powerful leaders and it radiates out to every single one of the SV Academy Faculty; Norman, Kristian, Kehau, Loi, Sasha, Megan, Gabby, Cesar, Amitai, and Kate are just to name a few! I wouldn't recommend any other program to better connect, prepare and launch you into a career in tech!

Excellent preparation in tech tools SalesLoft, InsideView, LinkedIn, Salesforce and others. Wonderful articles, additional reading and videos, mentorship, coaching, career counseling, job placement... the Pro list goes on and on and on. Any con that arose during the course I reached out and the team IMMEDITATELY solved the road-block! I couldn't be happier with my experience!

SV Academy helped me switch careers from finance (insurance/banking) to tech sales (SaaS). The program is top-notch. SVA prepares you with a rigorous training program, high-quality instructors, and all the resources and tools you need to break into the tech industry. The community and mentorship also set you up for success.

Pros:
-Great instructors 
-Exposure to tech tools you will need in your career 
-Mentors -Partnerships with hundreds of companies for job placement 
-Community -Professional coaching after you land a job 
-Masterclasses 
-Building up your professional brand

Cons:
I don't have anything negative to say. The program could be challenging for some people, but if you have the drive, the payoff is worth it when you land a job.

Pros:

• Their internship program that works with their company partners is very valuable.
• Their curriculum is very in-depth and useful throughout all the workshops and assignments.
• There is a very supportive community behind SV, fellows, alumni and faculty are always there to offer help!

Cons:

• Part-time program can be hard to balance with a full-time job.

Advice to Management:

• Partner with more tech companies!

Since graduating from SVA 2 years ago, I've been lucky enough to have worked with Faris Khalifeh and Corinne Allen as my career coaches. I highly recommend both for whether you're starting your SDR career or you're finely seasoned. I've overcome challenges I otherwise wouldn't have with them. I learned transferrable skillsets which I have applied outside of work and I'm in a happier and better position in all aspects of life now than I was before I started this journey. Take the leap; I'm glad I did. Thank you SVA!

Prior to SV Academy, I had been applying for sales roles every time something came up but unfortunately would be met with the same response from all of them: "I lacked experience". I was thinking to myself how can I ever get experience in tech if no one gives me a shot in an entry-level role?? Luckily, I came across SV Academy through an ad on LinkedIn and thought why not and applied. The next thing I know, I was in the program and thriving. Just as I graduated, COVID hit and job losses were in the news and I began to have some doubts - SOMEHOW, in the heat of the pandemic, SVA connected me with a company and I was hired less than a week later. I credit SV with equipping me with the skills needed to excel in the interview and land the job and also in the job itself - A testament to what they do, I was promoted to a Director position within 8 months. SVA changed my life and it's been the best decision I've ever made.

After spending months searching for a job in the difficult pandemic market, I serendipitously came across a posting for the SVA Tech Sales Fellowship program. I was unsure until the last day whether to enroll or not because, quite frankly, I didn't have a lot of faith. I was doubtful if SV would actually lead me to get a job and I was afraid I would be stuck paying off the program's cost while unemployed. Not only did the month of SV help me grow my skills exponentially, it set me up with so many connections (including a mentor from a Fortune 500 company) and I had recruiters knocking on my virtual door before I even finished the program. I had more interviews than I could handle, sometimes with four different companies in one day. Ultimately, I got not one, but THREE job offers that gave me the leverage to even negotiate my salary. I have been happily employed by my dream company for three months now and never looked back! SV is the best thing that happened to me this past year. 

Unparalleled mentorship opportunities. Instructors do a great job preparing you for a career in SaaS sales, even for those going into the experience completely cold. Week-long live internship w/ industry-leading SaaS partner company. Hand-on sales tech-stack training. I was hired within a month of graduation. CEO is sincerely driven to deliver on democratizing access to training that facilitates career pivots into tech. No tuition repayment obligation until you are hired. Instructors prepare you well for job search, especially as it relates to personal branding materials and compensation negotiation. You are connected with a mentor during your first year on the job. 

Personally, SV Academy was a game-changer for me. Literally, LIFE CHANGING. I was a bit nervous at first. The price tag was a bit hefty for where I was in my life before entering the program. I looked at it as an investment! The way I saw it, I could continue working odd jobs that I dreaded, or I could take a risk and start a career in tech that would allow me to scale to nearly any tech role within a company! I chose the latter. My salary more than DOUBLED within two months. That's absolutely unheard of. I would recommend the program for sure. It opens doors. It isn't hard, but it is time-consuming. 

I had a long career in hospitality sales and marketing and after the pandemic, I was very unsure about my future.  SVAcademy gave me the opportunity to really understand the process of SaaS sales and gave me direct training so I can figure out if this is actually what I want to do next in my career.  It is completely legit and has all of the technology and tools to help you/mentor you to the next steps.  I highly recommend the program if this is something that you want to do and ALSO want to put in the work to get there.  I can go on and on for hours about the program and I am eternally grateful for all of the instructors, mentors, and positive energy that brought me here.  I will say 100% that you put in as much as you get out of it - no one is a miracle worker, you have to do the work.  BUT if you put the work in, you will have all the support in the world.

This Fellowship Program Helped Me Land My Dream Job In Tech Sales In Under 6 Weeks!!

ProsThis fellowship launched my career into tech sales in 6 weeks!! Can't say enough good things about this program, it's structure, content, and advising/mentoring team! The first two weeks I learned about the role of a Sales/Business Development Representative (which is the job this fellowship trains you for). The next two weeks I put the learnings to practice in an internship where I got to do the work that will be expected of me in seat (prospecting leads, setting up a sequence of planned outreach via cold calls, emails, LinkedIn messages). I learned so many tools (such as Zoom, LinkedIn Sales Navigator, Salesloft, Salesforce, Vidyard, etc.) and I got incredible coaching on my interviewing skills to prepare me for interviewing for jobs. The final two weeks I was actively interviewing with several different companies my mentor in this program knew would be a good fit any they definitely were!! I accepted an offer with the tech company of my dreams only 6 weeks after starting this fellowship! I didn't just gain a job, but also a whole community of colleagues and mentors to take with me throughout the rest of my career and personal life!


ConsAll I would stress here is the importance of motivating yourself to grow and improve throughout this program professionally and personally. SV Academy will give you all of the tools you need to succeed in this role, but the ownership of your success in this fellowship is on YOU! Be professional, have a great work ethic, be coachable, and be ready to develop your emotional intelligence as well. What you are willing to put into this program is what you'll get out of it. Be prepared to commit 8 hours per day to being in live online video classes, and be willing to put in more work and effort individually outside of these hours as well. If this sounds like something you are prepared to commit to in order to reach your goal of starting a career in tech sales, then study this fellowship, be prepared to answer why you want this opportunity, and GO APPLY!!

Pros: 

• Fellowship is free 
• Instructors and SVA team really invest in you, you are paired with a mindset coach, communications coach, interview readiness coach, and mentors. 
• There is always someone there for you to ask questions SVA guides you through the entire process from start (applying to the fellowship) and finish (accepting your job offer)
• Network of SVA community 

Cons: 

• A lot of meetings 

I was looking to change industries and SVA allowed me to do that without having to go back to school to study something new. Highly recommend!

Great curriculum with an incredibly supportive staff. SVA will teach you all you have to know to succeed as an SDR including what the role entails, tech tools you'll be using, successes and struggles you'll be going through, and the best strategies to be successful in winning over prospects. 

In addition to the curriculum, SVA provides an enormous amount of resources and mentors, so all you're questions and concerns are answered with depth and care. 

I joined SV academy earlier this year and It was everything it was made out to be and more. With the two week guided course and interactive lessons I was able to prepare myself for the opportunities that were lined up for me with the employer partners. I was set up with MULTIPLE companies to interview with until I landed a residency. If your thinking about applying to SV academy I would say that it is definitely worth your time.

SV Academy got me into a tech sales job I love, I've been here 8 months now. People assume it costs money, but there's no tuition and no debt. Worth knowing how it actually works: after the training period they line you up with interviews at partner companies that match your expectations, and once you're hired the first few months are at slightly reduced pay while you ramp. SV Academy's partner companies keep 92% of people past this ramp up period, so it's not a coin flip. I got kept, I'm making good money, and I'm really happy. Whether you're brand new to sales or have experience, it's a no-brainer if you're serious about a long-term tech sales career.

As a recent graduate I'm here to say: I LOVE SV ACADEMY! Truly it's been one of the best decisions I've made in years. The instructors are top notch, experts in their fields, the lessons are thorough and engaging, and you'll finish with the tools & knowledge you need to successfully jump into your next career in SaaS sales, etc.
If you want to coast by and do the bare minimum, go elsewhere. If you want to get to the next level and are ready to work hard, adapt, learn and grow...START AT SV ACADEMY!
P.S. Andrew & Astrid are AMAZING!

I am grateful to have been granted admission and to graduate from the Sales Development Fellowship at SV Academy. This program provided comprehensive coursework and invaluable hands-on experience to prepare me for my role as a Sales Development Representative or Business Develop Representative so that I can be an asset to a Tech Sales Team. This program also offers excellent instructors that provide applicable skills and learnings to the daily life in the SDR/BDR role, class participation that keeps you engaged, and fantastic community events to keep you knowledgeable about the current industry trends and news. This is a very intensive experience, so you must consider if you have the time and energy to commit to this program. I participated in the part-time program, and it was very intense but worth it. 

I would not recommend this Academy to anyone. The learning foundation is okay but the professors and getting disbursement for the program is another story. They will not understand situations with getting disbursements from stride if it takes longer than their “ due date” even if it is out of your control. They seem to only care about getting the money asap instead of the success rate. Don’t waste your time.

I was enrolled in the 4-week full-time program. I was initially skeptical about this program, but after the first day, I knew it would be a good investment of my time and money. Everyone who works there is committed to supporting your journey to becoming an SDR in tech sales. Assignments and expectations were made clear from the beginning. I also appreciate that after the course is over, they assign you a career counsellor to help you navigate the job search, interviews and even negotiations upon getting an offer. You can also choose to keep this mentor while working to gain advice on how to get a promotion for example. Overall, a great learning experience.

GENERAL: Founders Rahim and Joel, plus the dedicated SVA team, have really created something special with SV Academy. I say special because it is not merely a program to acquire the requisite skills to hit the ground running in your new role as, in my case, an SDR for Tech Sales, but the mindset and practice to understand what it means to be a professional.

 SV achieves this with not only well-organized and impactful learnings, but by providing a whole heap of support, on support, on support-- YOU WILL BE SUPPORTED. Yet, this does not discount the fact that if you do not support yourself by keeping yourself accountable and taking this program SERIOUSLY, you will likely be cut.

As a startup CEO looking to improve my capacity and competence for Tech Sales, I wanted a curriculum up to date with the state of the art, rigor, and a clear path to move from SV Academy into an organization that I could then join for even greater rigor, professional growth, and world class standards. All three of these boxes have been checked.

In short, if you're serious about transitioning into Tech and imbibing in the Silicon Valley spirit of hungry to learn, grow, and quickly generate shared value as a team, then SVA is for you. If not, then there are plenty other programs that can serve to simply introduce you to a new skill set. SVA is for the man or woman who wants to become a world-class professional in the tech industry, and not stop at sales or customer success, but who wishes to grow over and beyond through the course of his or her career and contribution to the technologies that make life on earth better.

PRO: Holistic training: (1) Sales Development (2) Interview and Industry Confidence (3) Professional Development in terms of the most important skill set of any professional in any industry-- Emotional Quality (EQ)-- how you understand yourself and others in the face of challenge and adversity, plus the tools to develop oneself into a consistent winner for ultimate victory no matter what.

CON: Nothing coming to mind quickly enough. 

I'm very thankful I completed the SV Academy Tech Sales Fellowship. As someone with zero formal training in sales, I found it educational, informative, and very challenging. There were quite a lot of materials to learn - self-study and live sessions. Your time management skills will be very helpful while you go through the fellowship. 

The fellowship gave me a confidence boost to plan my new career in tech sales. (I am pivoting from healthcare.) It's also very encouraging to know that they have mentoring and career counselors as well to help their graduates.  I'm hoping they'll make the transition as smooth as possible. Don't get me wrong. It's a lot of work by myself as well. But it's nice to know that they are there to assist me in case I need it.

Great program! Getting in feels like such an honor! You get to work with some amazing people and really feel prepared and supported in taking that next step in your career. I can be challenging at times - It is a lot of work - but so rewarding to complete and you get to take chances in a simulated work-like setting without the fear of messing up your actual job. Great feedback as well with all assignments.