As an SE in US Commercial, which I don’t share which area, operation, or select region, it is ridiculous that we are on a region goal and are expected to help our AEs, but we never get paid. We get paid only on the region attainment. I have the primary AEs I support usually making a lot of money based on my engagement into the accounts but I am held back from compensation due to being goaled at region level. My SEM and SSEM are unwilling to advocate for a change. We need engineering directors and leaders that are willing to stand up and advocate for change. The
7 replies (most recent on top)
Completely sc--wed up org.
Commercial SE Leadership is weak overall especially the East SED. He blames everyone else when things are bad and takes all credit when it is good. He is all about himself. He should be LRd.
FYI - your SEM's accelerators kick in at 80% of goal while your team suffers. Nice eh?
They don't have any trouble in the Enterprise segment paying the SEs for only those accounts they work in. Never understood why this was good for the commercial SE. I know why it is good for leadership as you can a SE "fill" in if a SE leaves. The other reason given was AM to SE ratio wasn't 1:1 but today that doesn't hold water
I have news for you - it has been that way for over 25 years in all Cisco Sales. The SE has a Region goal/commissions to support the "team". Sometimes it works out for you, sometimes it doesn't. I am now at a competitor, and most all of them (Palo, HPE/Aruba, Fortinet, Arista) have the SE compensated only on the module they cover. There is a slacker vibe at Cisco with the socialized SE commisions, but it's always been that way. And it's not limited to Commerical only - all theaters have it.
As an AE / AM, I am typically very successful in exceeding goal and making good money. There have been a couple of years where I have paid the penalty of being very successful the previous year. I have always tried to recognize and reward the SEs supporting my accounts. It is pathetic how the SE leadership from top to bottom has treated SEs. The SE leadership is too worried about trying to show they are such a business leader, by trying to act like an RM, OD or AVP. They have become so obsessed with acting like an RM, OD, or AVP, they have ignored taking care of the SEs.
USC Commercial needs consolidation. Way too many useless regions and with that too many AMs an SEs and overlays.