I wonder if this was her choice.
17 replies (most recent on top)
"Pressure is a privilege". Right
@25x3 I agree that she was over her head in the beginning an a lot of good people were let go because of it. Over time she got better but lost all support of anyone who had worked with her closely who knew her limitations. Anyone who know her short comings were not long for their jobs. JG support over the years is why she lasted so long previous Sr. Management want to get rid of her but were ousted by JG. In the end she was not the face SAS needed to face Wall Street as they moved to an IPO and a more experienced person was required.
It was justified . She gain her position by stepping on everyone that supported her. in the early days she was more interested in what people think of her, and she was promoted over multiple better equipped persons, but she had a relationship with JG which gave her the inside track. There's a dozen ex-employees at Snowflake who are there because of her lack of management skills.
@4yhe
Thanks so much for the reply!
It was not announced anywhere, but she did send out a “farewell” email last week to people she has worked with over the years.
Can someone please confirm she really is gone? As in it was announced somewhere?
As the old saying goes "familiarity breeds contempt".
When PH was absent from the kickoff, citing personal reasons, it suggested a potential rift. Organizing these events requires significant effort, indicating the seriousness of her absence. Rumors of PH being on the hot seat were circulating, though it was believed her relationship with JG would protect. PH has consistently aimed to prioritize the interests of the customer, employees, and JG. However, the impending IPO is creating tension - you can't keep everyone happy! In addition, the DEI stuff that is being pushed internally is silly. The new Sales Leader, RG, is recognized for his dedication to customers and employees, but less close to JG. . Leaders that have tried to cultivate friendships/relationship with JG (to get an advantage) may enjoy a year or two of being at the top but the relationship always sours. RG would do well to continue focusing on customers and employees and don't try to get too close to JG.
"Approximately 30 days later "
Wasn't the drop off the fae of the earth back in January just before kickoffs?
Or maybe I'm misremembering.
I think she had a pretty loyal following in sales too. We may see some collateral fallout.
Nobody's got beef with her personally, snd I can't think of anyone who would disagree that PH was very good at her job. She's one of precious few in leadership who rose through the ranks the right way. My beef and that of many others is with the company for not being transparent about what's clearly a huge and also surprising change in senior leadership. For there to be no explanation at all is ridiculous.
Another brick in the wall if you ask me.
I think you might have hit the nail on the head. Sounds like she was more interested in supporting SAS's customer wants and needs over the wants and needs of the company's senior leadership. At SAS (now at least) senior management has taken the view that anyone that isn't "with the program" is an apostate who needs to be removed from their position so that their opposition doesn't interfere with the success of management's "vision".
Sounds like she was an advocate for continued SAS9 sales at a time when senior management has made it clear that they want to transition SAS9 customers to Viya. I can imagine someone believing that the problem with Viya is that Sales just hasn't pushed it hard enough. Somewhere in building C or the corner office in R, someone was shouting "We need to stop coddling our customers!" into a phone, and they had to do it so many times that they finally decided it woud be easier to get rid of the person they were shouting it at because she just "didn't get it".
PH was responsible for building a US sales team with sales people who could be trusted advisors. She didn't hire boiler room salesmen who would lie to customers for a commission. She hired industry experts who knew their market and had the right experience and personality to make customers believe SAS could solve their problems. This strategy enabled SAS to survive the disastrous rollout of Viya and forced march into Azure. She kept vertical markets alive when solution management failed. She kept SAS9 customers happy when OS made them call their lawyers. She personally returned more txt messages and phone calls from more customers than any other VP at any other software company ever would have. PH herself was the trusted advisor to hundreds of SAS customers big and small.
You can gossip about why she is going, but SAS needs a better explanation before SAS Innovate. Replacing trusted advisors with off-the-shelf salesmen and partners with pricelists will result is the sharpest decline in sales in the history of SAS. See what happens in May. By June, the yoy will make it obvious.
If anyone thinks PH leaving is good for SAS, you are now at the FO stage of the FAAFO process.
How many VPs of marketing and sales have been fired over the years? I don't know, but they always seemed like jobs that were destined for limited tenures. I have no first-hand knowledge, but given the history, I doubt if it was her decision.
In that other thread, posted Jan 22nd, at least one person was adamant that she was out for personal reasons.
When was the announcement? She's still in directory so departure was less than 30 days ago.
I find it doubtful it was her choice. She seemed like a SAS lifer, chosen one, golden child to me...but I guess all that ended.
She drops off the face of the earth, and someone posted on this site about it. Approximately 30 days later it's announced she is leaving? I'm guessing not her choice.