Is career progression in tech more accessible than we think?

In this episode,  Jarod Greene chats with Marjorie Abdelkrime, Head of US West and Healthcare Solutions at Broadcom, to unpack the many pathways into the Sales Engineering career. From breaking into the field to thriving in a highly technical industry, Marjorie shares her unconventional journey and offers practical advice for leveling up your SE career.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. Breaking Industry Stigma: Marjorie challenges the traditional view of SE roles. Varied career experiences—from IT to project management—can be the perfect launchpad for the role. There is no perfect background.
2. Essential Skills for an SE: Everyday tasks like managing stakeholders and positioning projects build critical selling and technical skills necessary for excelling in an SE role.
3. How to Level Up Your SE Career: If you want to grow as an SE, start with understanding your customers’ businesses, mastering the ecosystem around your solutions, and staying sharp with evolving technologies.

Things to listen for: 

(00:00) Introduction

(00:27) Why career progression for SEs is top of mind

(01:02) Marjorie’s unconventional journey into solution engineering

(01:47) How overcoming stigmas opens doors for aspiring SEs

(02:37) Why everyday skills are essential

(03:15) How to build confidence in transferable skills

(03:50) How understanding customer ecosystems enhances your impact

(04:09) The key to leveling up: staying sharp and thinking holistically