Meet the Ripplers: Clinton's journey at Rippling
Name: Clinton
Role: Sales Development Manager
Location: Bangalore, India
Rippler since: December 2020
As a Sales Development Manager at Rippling, Clinton leads a dynamic team of five Sales Development Representatives (SDRs) focused on booking demos through targeted emails for Rippling’s Mechanised Outreach project, where they engage with prospects at various interest levels, crafting compelling messages that drive product awareness.
Clinton is directly responsible for coaching his team in email and call techniques, helping them implement innovative game plans to meet quotas. He’ll tell you collaboration is essential; they work closely with cross-functional teams to refine campaigns and align with product launches for maximum impact.
Clinton’s journey to management
Prior to joining Rippling, I worked at a company that offered similar products and services, so I was vaguely familiar with Rippling in mid-2020, when I started hearing a lot of buzz about the company, its culture, and the product, I reached out to an SDR on LinkedIn, and at the time, they were on a hiring freeze. That November, I tried again, and this time, the response was lightning-fast. Within minutes of messaging, I had a call scheduled. I remember it was a Tuesday and by Friday, I had my offer letter in hand. Honestly, I’ve had Amazon packages take longer than that hiring process!
When I joined, Rippling’s SDR team had only seven reps in India. Fast forward to 2024, and we now have over 300 SDRs globally! That’s like watching an SDR team on growth steroids. Despite the challenges of working remotely during the pandemic, we were tight-knit and stayed motivated with daily activities and stand-ups. Nine months later, I was promoted to Senior SDR, quickly earning the nickname "lab rat" for experimenting with new projects. After consistently hitting targets, I was promoted to Team Lead, where I balanced individual contributions with mentoring, sharpening my leadership skills.
I knew a managerial promotion was coming at some point, but there were no open leadership roles. One evening, the Director of Sales Development messaged me, asking if I could join him for a call with the Growth team to provide feedback on a campaign. I agreed, and when I joined, I saw the VP of Sales Development on the call too. My first thought was, “Wait, am I in trouble?” They both burst out laughing, and after a minute of suspense, they announced my promotion to SDR Manager for Mechanized Outreach!
As a manager, I strived to build a culture of trust and mentorship and watching my reps grow and transition to new roles has been the most rewarding part. Messages of appreciation from my team members is the ultimate payoff and a reminder of the impact I can make.
Tips for Future Ripplers
- One of my most memorable moments at Rippling was undoubtedly the return to Office Party. After a long stretch of remote work due to the pandemic, it felt incredible to finally gather with the team in person. Connecting face-to-face with colleagues I’d only seen on Zoom brought a renewed energy to our interactions, and the joy of sharing laughter and stories reminded us all of the strength of our team spirit.
- Another unforgettable moment was when I became a first-time manager. The announcement of my promotion was made even more special by a playful prank from my Director. This humorous twist lightened the atmosphere and created a memorable kickoff to my new leadership journey, filled with camaraderie and excitement.
- I cherish our quarterly retreats and offsites where we engage in team-building activities, all while enjoying outdoor adventures and relaxation. The evenings are dedicated to networking and socializing, fostering connections in a vibrant and casual atmosphere to strengthen our bonds.
When I’m not building Rippling, I’m…
When I’m not at Rippling, you can find me in my kitchen experimenting with new recipes. Cooking is my creative outlet, and I love the challenge of trying new dishes. Whether I’m whipping up a classic comfort dish or trying something completely new, I enjoy the process of cooking as much as the final meal itself. It’s my way of unwinding and connecting with creativity outside of work.I’m a huge fan of MasterChef and often (jokingly) claim I was one of the finalists on MasterChef India. However, I always keep a straight face when I say it though!
