A Green Thumb with a Side of Operations
One of the first things you notice about our guest is his enthusiasm for houseplants—a passion clearly visible in the background of our video chat. He jokingly refers to himself as a “connoisseur of houseplants,” a title earned not from expert knowledge but rather a trial-and-error approach. He recounts his six-year-long relationship with a stubborn fiddle leaf fig that has only grown two inches in that time. Another plant, affectionately dubbed “Cousin It,” hangs off-screen like a leafy member of the Addams Family.
This lighthearted start led us into a discussion on his career path, which, like his plants, grew in unexpected ways.
The Unplanned Path to RevOps
As with many professionals in the field, RevOps wasn’t the initial career choice. “I’m yet to meet someone who got into RevOps as their first career choice,” he muses, attributing his path to a series of fortunate (and sometimes unfortunate) events. Originally, he pursued law and economics, but toward the end of his degree, he realized that path wasn’t for him—“too much structure,” he noted with a laugh.
A move to London with his partner marked a significant turning point. With dreams of new opportunities, they packed up and moved, only to discover that summer is not exactly the best time to job hunt in the city. Despite the initial struggle, he eventually found his niche in sales operations, which evolved into a broader RevOps role.
The future of RevOPs
An honest look into the future where RevOps is going to continue to explode and perhaps even come into focus sooner than it does now. Which may well be amplified by the fact AI & tools will probably mean a reduction in sales and customer support/success teams. Making systems & processes even more important to get right.
Teams will be leaner, they will likely rely on consultants or advisors to help them get set up, teach you what’s going on and leave you to it. Full time RevOps teams aren’t a necessity in every business.
Sales Ops vs. RevOps: More Than Just a Rebrand
For many, the transition from Sales Ops to RevOps can feel like a midlife crisis—complete with the existential questioning that comes with any significant career shift. He explains, “RevOps is completely different from Sales Ops; it’s about looking holistically across the customer journey rather than just focusing on how the sales team works.”
This shift from a narrow focus to a broader, more integrated approach is what drew him into RevOps. While Sales Ops might have its roots in managing CRM implementations and IT functions, RevOps looks at the entire go-to-market organization, aiming to improve efficiency and effectiveness across all customer-facing departments.
The Importance of Internal Advocacy
In early-stage companies, where roles like CRO or CMO might not even exist, the misconception that RevOps must always report to a C-level executive is a common one. “Being dogmatic about it having to be a C-level report is kind of a misconception of the role,” he explains. Instead, he emphasizes the importance of finding an internal advocate—someone who understands the value of RevOps and can help champion its cause within the organization.
This approach has served him well, particularly in his current role at Prolific, where he’s had the opportunity to shape the RevOps function from the ground up. He’s onboarded two amazing colleagues and moved away from the traditional departmental alignment in favor of a more functional structure.
Building from Chaos
Despite the challenges, he finds joy in the chaos. “I’ve always liked to build things,” he says, reminiscing about his childhood love for Legos. This passion for creation translates seamlessly into his career, where he’s thrived in roles that allow him to build and shape RevOps functions.
At Prolific, his mission is to deliver high-quality human-powered datasets, catering to a diverse market that ranges from PhD students conducting behavioral science research to AI companies. The unique nature of Prolific’s business—a blend of marketplace dynamics and SaaS models—has offered him the perfect playground to meld his previous experiences and take on new challenges.
The Future of RevOps
Looking ahead, he’s optimistic about the future of RevOps, particularly in the UK and EMEA regions. While American RevOps might be more mature, with defined processes and roles, there’s a sense of excitement in helping to shape what RevOps will look like in his part of the world.
For those just entering the field, he offers a piece of advice: find your internal advocate. In a space that’s still defining itself, having someone who understands and supports the value of RevOps can make all the difference. And as for the future? He’s ready to build, adapt, and continue growing—just like that stubborn fiddle leaf fig sitting in the corner of his London flat.
Most Controversial RevOps Opinion
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