Redefining career growth: a tale of two sales leaders

Carissa Evans, Mid-Market Sales Manager and Robbie Keegan, Grocery and Retail Head of Sales, have had two different career paths at Uber Eats but have both been able to grow their careers as sales leaders by moving across different categories. Today they lead sales teams in two different lines of business. Carissa’s team supports our restaurant partners to achieve their business goals on our platform. Robbie and his team partner with brands outside of restaurants to help our customers get almost anything delivered with the convenience of Uber Eats. They both agree that the exposure and experience outside of the traditional sales role is what sets apart a career in sales at Uber.

Robbie says, “Uber’s different lines of business are at different stages of growth in each of our markets, which in turn means the opportunities for personal and professional growth are wide-ranging and readily available. Whether you’re seeking to deepen your expertise in a specific area or explore new horizons,  there’s always a path forward.”

We sat down with Robbie and Carissa, both based in Sydney, to find out more about their career paths, the support they’ve had to grow at Uber and what advice they have for other sales professionals.

Carissa: “I joined Uber Eats 2 years ago as a Partner Success Manager in our Enterprise Sales team and I’m now leading a team of 8 Account Managers on our Mid-Market Sales team. My role is to set the strategy and coach the team to better support our Restaurant Partners. Ultimately, we are responsible for helping the restaurants on our platform achieve their business goals with Uber, which means we get to solve an ever changing variety of problems.”

Robbie: “I joined Uber Eats 4 years ago as an Account Manager looking after small and medium sized businesses in New Zealand. I quickly transitioned to a new role focused on the highest potential mid-market brands which I managed for two quarters before joining the grocery and retail team, a newly established line of business for Uber at the time. Our mission is to help our customers get almost anything on the Uber Eats platform through partnerships outside of restaurants such as grocery, liquor, convenience, pharmacy and more. Initially I led account management for small-medium sized businesses and have since taken on mid-market and enterprise customers, now overseeing both account management and acquisition.”

Carissa: “I get to work in an environment with intelligent, positive people who support career growth. There’s lots of opportunity to take on more work and develop professionally, so I’ve been able to continue to learn and challenge myself. The business makes sure you have an understanding of the role you play in the broader business strategy and then recognises performance and supports your growth. In summary, it’s a culture that promotes growth and supports your aspirations.”

Robbie: “Uber’s work environment is synonymous with speed. It’s a place where the pace is fast, and collaboration between different teams, especially sales and operations, is not just encouraged but fundamental to success. The synergy between these elements creates an atmosphere where ideas flow freely, and everyone plays a vital part in Uber’s success.”

Carissa: “I’ve been given all of the flexibility I’ve needed aligned to where I was at in my life and it hasn’t held me back from growing my career. I was promoted whilst I was on parental leave and was given the opportunity to come back part-time when I returned to work. The flexibility we have to work around personal commitments is amazing and I’ve always felt supported to put my health and family first.” 

Robbie: “There has been a genuine investment in my professional growth. Our leaders have consistently shown a keen interest in guiding my career trajectory, fostering an atmosphere where open communication is not just welcome but encouraged. I’ve always felt empowered to express my thoughts honestly and knowing that my concerns are heard and valued.”

Carissa: “You get so much exposure outside of your role and gain such a breadth of experience at all levels of the organisation. Part of that means that you get to work with such a variety of people with different ideas and ways of thinking that really opens your mind and gets you exposure to such diversity of thought.”  

Robbie: “Regardless of your role, you get a panoramic view of the operation. The visibility extends far beyond the boundaries of traditional sales roles and you get to work on such a range of different projects. One of the most rewarding aspects is witnessing the tangible impact of your work on the lives of those around you. Ideas come to life and you get to see the ripple effect reaching your friends and family in real life.”

Carissa: “Be proactive about your career growth by building your network and ensuring the right people are aware of your aspirations. Also, don’t be limited to the most obvious next career step and be open to what that next challenge is–experience from a lateral move can give you valuable experience in the long-term.”

Robbie: “Start by mastering your core role to become the go-to expert in your field. Once you’ve established a solid foundation, cultivate a mindset of openness to diverse opportunities. Actively seek chances to work beyond the confines of your role, as the experience gained in different areas is invaluable when transitioning into more senior positions.”

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