Inside Preply B2B: Strategies & Skills for Career Growth
Over the last two years, Preply’s B2B team grew from 10 members to 150+ across Europe and the Americas. This achievement has been accompanied by countless stories of personal and professional development.
We sat down with four exceptional Preplers from our rapidly scaling B2B Account Executive and SDR team and asked them about business challenges they tackled, lessons learned, and what skills helped them to truly make a difference. Find out what they said and much more in our interview below!
Backstory. What was your career path before starting working at Preply?
Kateryna: I’ve always loved languages, starting with English and then adding Spanish to the mix because of my background in linguistics. Even though teaching wasn’t my thing, I always thought of creating projects and programs to help people get better at languages. When I saw how tough it was for my language teacher to make good lessons, I realized I could help teachers and businesses with this. And then, out of the blue, Preply offered me a job that matched exactly what I wanted to do (by that time I had been working as an Account Executive for more than two years) — designing & selling learning programs for businesses and organizations.
Tristan: Being from an international background (French/Danish family), and having lived in the US, I have always lived in a multilingual environment so I have seen firsthand how important it is to be able to communicate in several languages. I loved how Preply allows people to connect globally and grow in their personal life or their jobs, which is why I decided to join the company 3.5 years ago, back when Preply B2B was just a start-up within the startup.
Carlos: I worked as an SDR for about 2 years before joining Preply. Starting at Travelperk, I handled inbound inquiries, then moved to outbound for the Spanish market. After a year, I wanted a change, so I joined a smaller startup remotely as an Enterprise SDR. About 9 months in, things weren’t going well, and I wanted more growth opportunities. Then Veronica (TA partner at Preply) reached out on Linkedin about an SDR role for the Spanish market. After chatting with her and checking out Preply, I fell in love with the principles and product. The role seemed perfect — it offered growth, a great team, and a chance to be part of a cool company culture. So, I made the switch, and it turned out even better than I hoped.
Raquel: I pursued a double degree in international relations and translation and interpretation before earning my MBA. Living and working in various countries (the US, UK, France, Malta, and Tunisia) honed my language skills and enriched my cultural understanding. Education and innovation have always been passions of mine, as I believe in their ability to drive positive change in society. Joining Preply felt like the natural next step for me, as it brings together technology, languages, and innovation in a multicultural city like Barcelona.
The sales environment is always about business challenges and challenging yourself. What was the biggest challenge you were faced with last year?
Carlos: The biggest challenge I faced last year was leading and growing a team of 16 SDRs. During this period I was leading the teams for Spain, Portugal, and Poland, (Spain and Poland being two of our highest priority markets). During this period I was in charge of onboarding each team member, coaching sessions with them, and ensuring they had all the tools to succeed in the role. And, of course, having at least sixteen 1 to 1’s every week! While these few months were very challenging, it was a great experience where I learned many things about leadership, communication, time management, and coaching skills.
Raquel: Last year, I landed a promotion as an Account Executive in a brand-new department (SMB), which was a challenge for me. Starting out, I didn’t have a manager to lean on or colleagues to turn to for support. It was tough feeling a bit lost and alone at times. But I stayed focused on my work and tried to enjoy the challenge, even though there was a lot of uncertainty. Being in this situation really pushed me out of my comfort zone and forced me to figure things out on my own, reaching out to different people and departments for help. Later on, my manager and colleagues joined and I couldn’t have asked for a better team — again, I think I’m in a great place to learn and grow.
Kateryna: The big challenges I’ve faced in both business and personally are dealing with uncertainty and keeping up with fast growth. For the markets I work with — Ukraine and the Baltic region, especially in Ukraine — it’s all about managing risks and uncertainties to keep their business going. On a personal level, keeping up with our fast growth and staying flexible to meet changing market needs has been tough. My approach has been about building trust and supporting everyone involved in projects, whether they’re leaders or team members, by understanding their needs. This has helped me see the value we bring to our clients and feel more confident about expanding our services to more companies.
In addition to the value we bring to the companies as their language learning providers, it was nice to see how our rebranding helped us to stand out from the crowd. Seeing how people react to our rebranding efforts has been super interesting, especially among our business clients who used to be regular Preply users. Our new pink palette has been particularly notable (and well received). Our product became even more recognizable due to its rebranding.
Tristan: We have seen incredible growth last year in Preply B2B, and sometimes it can be hard to keep up with the changes! But that also means you learn everyday how a company can scale, get to work with great people and more importantly see how you directly impact people’s lives with a great product.
Reflecting and connecting all the dots, what skills do you think led you to succeed in your career?
Raquel: Looking back and piecing it all together, I can say that my dedication to continuous learning is a key to my career success. Embracing challenges and never settling for the ordinary has really pushed me forward. Being adaptable and keeping an open mind has helped me tackle different situations and make the most of opportunities that come my way.
Tristan: To thrive in an AE role, you need a lot of different skills but the most important for me would be natural curiosity, active listening, and integrity, to truly understand your customers’ needs and aim at finding the best solution for them. I always try to act as a partner and an advisor rather than just a salesperson.
Katya: Considering everything happening in the market, I’d say the key ingredients to my success are staying curious and never stopping learning. Being curious keeps you on top of market trends and helps you adapt your sales approach accordingly. Understanding your ideal client deeply, knowing why they buy your service and what they need, is crucial for meaningful connections and conversations that bring value to the table. Teamwork is also vital; I’m proud of my region’s team because we share the same passion and mindset in serving our clients from pre-sales to after-sales, ensuring each project’s success.
Carlos: In my role, effective communication is key. Whether I’m conveying ideas to my team, starting negotiations with potential clients, managing stakeholders, or drafting email follow-ups, clear and concise communication is paramount. Strategic thinking is another skill that’s been essential for my success. Continuously honing this skill allows me to provide my team with the tools they need to thrive, whether it’s by implementing new strategies, and initiatives, or addressing challenges promptly. Additionally, persistence and resilience are must-have qualities in the fast-paced environment we work in. While facing rejection and setbacks is inevitable, how we bounce back from them defines our success. I’ve tackled these challenges before and now I help my team members develop the same resilience and persistence by sharing my experiences and supporting them through tough times.
As Preply is hosting its first-ever B2B meet-up in Barcelona, we’re looking forward to seeing you and sharing even more tips & insights on the success of our B2B team. Don’t miss out — RSVP now!
