Seismic, SV Academy And Sales Enablement Society Partner To Bring Sales Enablement Career Opportunities To Underrepresented Candidates

Over the past few years, the role of enablement has expanded to encompass not only sales reps, but also anyone who interacts with buyers and customers. This expansion has fueled explosive demand for enablement professionals. Recent data from the LinkedIn State of Sales 2021 report indicates that sales enablement roles have increased by 200% in the past two years, 18 times faster than sales organizations as a whole. However, diversity remains an issue in the industry with Black and Latinx candidates filling less than 10% of available roles, according to estimates by Seismic.

The goal of the Enableship program is to make entry-level enablement roles more accessible for candidates of diverse backgrounds and achieve wage expansion of $22 million over three years. Since 2017, SV Academy’s entry-level career tracks in sales and customer success have more than doubled the wages of underrepresented candidates upon graduation, with 60% of individuals receiving promotions in the first year.

“As the global leader in enablement, we have a responsibility to expand the pipeline of candidates for this rapidly-growing industry, with diversity and inclusiveness at the center of our efforts. Partnering with SV Academy is the first step in this ongoing initiative,” said Doug Winter, CEO and co-founder, Seismic. “I’m thankful to the Sales Enablement Society, as well as the Seismic customers and partners that have pledged their support to this important program by offering apprenticeships and mentor guidance. We look forward to more partners joining us in this important hiring and career initiative. Together, we can make the enablement industry more equitable and inclusive.”

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The Enableship program includes training that maps to the competencies needed for an entry-level enablement role. The program will be offered as a specialization to SV Academy learners as part of 300 hours of rigorous technical skills and leadership training. Graduates will have the opportunity to apply for paid apprenticeships and full-time roles with employer partners. Support continues with 12 months of coaching for associates and their managers after placement.

“At SV Academy, we’re passionate about helping employers hire and develop people of all backgrounds as they launch their careers in the tech industry,” said Rahim Fazal, co-founder and CEO at SV Academy. “There are many barriers to entry for diverse jobseekers, including practical work experience, technical training, mentorship and employer connections. I’m excited for Enableship to break down these barriers while filling in-demand roles in sales enablement with the support of industry leaders like Seismic and the Sales Enablement Society.”

The launch of Enableship coincides with the Sales Enablement Society’s annual conference, Experience 2021. The Sales Enablement Society (SES), the largest and most active industry organization focused on elevating the role of sales enablement in organizations worldwide, is a founding industry partner of Enableship.

“The enablement space is booming, and yet it is disproportionately white compared to the U.S. population,” said Donna DeBerry, Seismic Vice President, Global Inclusion. “With SV Academy, the community from Sales Enablement Society, and our hiring partners, Seismic is not only helping fill the tens of thousands of open enablement roles, but also taking action to close the wealth and education gap.”

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