Is Sales Manager the natural progression for Account Executives? Maybe so. Is it the only viable next step? I don't think so. Not all AEs are well-suited to being managers. Some are better off focusing on selling. Some don't have the leadership abilities required to manage. Others just don't want to be in management. Others are looking for a different and new challenge. A road less travelled is the Customer Success Manager. I think it makes a ton of sense for an AE to be drawn to this position. Sales professionals are incredible at: -Fighting for the customer's best interests -Being able to effectively communicate and present -Being responsible for carrying a monthly/quarterly quota -Working collaboratively with multiple internal departments -Knowing where things can go wrong after the sales process -Having the skills to up-sell them and manage renewals like a boss -Building relationships with the customer for long-term partnership opps For these reasons and more, I think the best CSMs have sales experience. I know of a couple of AE friends of mine who've made the jump and never looked back. I'm curious, as a sales professional, have you ever thought you might make an incredible customer success manager? (I know I have) What other positions have you considered outside of a direct sales role?