Sales Consulting Manager
The cycle of learning at NetSuite’s Solution Consulting Academy
Learning isn’t just about what you take in—it’s also about what you give back. Matthew Williams knows this better than anyone. As a graduate of the NetSuite Solution Consulting Academy and a current manager for the program, he has a unique perspective on NetSuite’s cycle of learning. We spoke with him to discover more about his experience and why he loves helping others grow.
Eager for knowledge
When Matthew first found out about the Solution Consulting Academy, he was immediately intrigued. The program offered him a new, exciting career path that catered to his strengths and interests.
“The ability to use my natural love of presenting mixed with digging my heels into a software and problem solving was just something that I really thought that I’d be good at.”
Matthew’s passion for teaching was apparent from his early days at the academy. He excelled at developing creative solutions to problems and soon gained notoriety among his peers for his deep knowledge of the Oracle NetSuite platform.
“I could help people answer a lot of issues that they were facing. That, coupled with the ability to build inside the platform itself, made me love my job even more,” he recalls.
After the academy
The skills and experience he gained over seven months were put to the test when he took up a position within NetSuite’s apparel, footwear, and accessories space. It was his first role out of the academy and one he embraced with confidence.
“The program truly taught me how to learn quickly about a prospect’s business, research the things I might not know, and turn around an effective and pointed demo to provide them with a solution to their problem,” Matthew shares. “It filled in whatever gaps in knowledge I might have had about core business processes like sales and procurement.”
When he moved up to mid-market products, he applied the same skills and performed extremely well without much solution consulting help.
Shaping a new class
Now, Matthew is a sales consulting manager for the Solution Consulting Academy. During the program, he has three important responsibilities.
The first is recruiting and hiring an all-star team to manage through the academy until graduation. Graduates go on to become live SCs, who work with the sales team and support partner and customer deals. The second is being an evaluator on checkpoints that gauge people’s progress throughout the program and their readiness to present in front of prospects and customers.
He often draws from his own time in the academy when working with current participants.
“Not only am I able to teach the things that I’ve learned over the years, but I also relate to my SCAs making a career change,” he says.
Matthew also highlights the importance of empathy, a quality that the program helped him nurture.
“Many of us come from different backgrounds, and that ability to empathize is huge. It helps in retaining information, making the SCAs confident that they can do it too, and understanding when things are tough. I think going through the academy truly made me into a better manager because of this.”
Paying it forward
When asked what he likes most about being part of NetSuite, Matthew acknowledges that the most obvious answer is the people. For him, however, it goes further than that.
“The ability to pour into others runs so deep within the organization, and I haven’t found that anywhere else that I’ve worked,” he tells us. “I have so many people that I’ve mentored and helped within the organization and others have done the same to me. It’s really kept me confident that I want to be here long-term.”
In addition, NetSuite’s prioritization of work-life balance gives him the chance to enjoy his many hobbies, which include graphic design, photography, travel, and baking.
“I take time to bake for the people I care about for their birthdays, including everyone on my team within the office.”
Insight from an expert
Having experienced firsthand the value of the NetSuite Solution Consulting Academy—both as a new associate and as a confident leader—Matthew has some advice for those who are looking to make the most of the program.
“Be confident in your abilities regardless of your background. Some of the best SCs that I’ve worked with and gotten to know over the past almost five years don’t have a supply chain or accounting background. Be adaptable, inquisitive, and willing to work on presenting—including the ability to take feedback. Those three things will turn you from being a good SC into a great SC.”
Do you want to join a community of people like Matthew who are dedicated to helping you learn? Check out our open roles today.