Pros
Podium has one of the most unique and incredible software platforms on the market for small businesses. Our software is something that impacts small/local business and drives revenue. You can feel good about what you sell and what you're doing. Podium has an incredible vision, and they provide crucial tools to small businesses as a pricepoint that is incredibly affordable for how much value our software brings to the table. Customers that use Podium LOVE the platform. Key word being "use". Podium is fun, fast paced, and has great company culture that is diverse and inclusive (outside of sales..) and energy.
Cons
Podium is experiencing MAJOR growing pains. Primarily when it comes to scaling operations. This company has existed off of the back of brute forcing it's way to market by an incriblely talented sales team, but have neglected investing in customer success, support, and all of the other crucial departments needed for a business to run effeciently. Becuase of these growing pains, Podium is hemoraging it's top talent who are going to new companies who pay more. Podium's compensation leaves a lot to be desired. There has been a major shift in upper sales leadership that has become extremely unbearable with micromanagement. We used to support remote work and although we still "allow" remote work, you are shamed and guilted by sales leaders when you're not in the office every day. Upper sales leadership has started to care more about hitting metrics like dials, appointments set, and other KPIs to the point that it's getting obnoxius. As a tenured AE it seems like there isn't the trust that we deserve as tenured sales people. Podium's #1 issue in it's sales organization is that leadership "feeds" top performing reps. While this seems to incentivize performance, instead what it does is creates an "un-attainble" standard and demotivates AEs who are struggling and need help and or coaching. You have to grind to the top just to get contistent sets from SDR's & go to trade shows. This is not a model that can be duplicated consitently, and it burns reps out along the way. Podium is looking to scale, and part of that scaling process is making quota's and resources more equitable and attainable. More accessable sales coaching for reps struggling to hit quota needs to be availbale. Until Podium ditches the "tech bro" sales culture that is extremely prevelent, they will continue to fail. The sales culture has a major "cis-white male" problem. There are constant jokes, teasing, and conversations, etc that crosses the line and makes it an unprofessional environment to sell in. This is a professional sales environment, not the boys lockeroom. The very few female AE's in the organization often seem uncomfortable.
