VP, Strategic Initiatives - Global Exhibitor Sales

Gartner•Stamford, CT

8d•$164,000 - $226,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Vice President of Strategic Initiatives will help optimize and scale the Global Exhibitor Sales function as we seek to double the Conferences business over the next 5+ years. The VP will act as a strategic partner to the leaders of the Global Exhibitor Sales function and their teams. This role requires proven experience in a business leadership/management role, with a special focus on executive-level advising, project execution, and key interdepartmental collaboration across Gartner. This role will report to the GVP of Conferences Strategy and dotted-line report to the two GVPs of Global Exhibitor Sales. The Conferences Strategy team is a center of excellence responsible for helping to shape and drive the medium- and long-term strategy and vision of the Conferences business. This includes leading Conferences’ Long Range Planning (LRP) – the strategic planning process for Gartner – and working with the Head of Conferences and the Conferences Global Leadership team to identify, structure and solve the most pressing strategic questions and opportunities facing the Conferences business. Within this team, the individual will work alongside like-minded colleagues. The mission of Global Exhibitor Sales (GES) is to help connect business and technology providers with their next customers. Supporting Gartner’s destination conferences and C-level communities, the team is focused on combining proven playbooks and best practices to accelerate and scale the Conferences business, through strategic collaboration with key internal and external partners. This enables the Gartner Conferences platform to provide unparalleled connections and help exhibitors reach new markets, furthering the overall value proposition of Gartner. This role will be singularly focused on supporting the key business priorities of the Global Exhibitor Sales function – as defined with GVPs of Global Exhibitor Sales and GVP of Conferences Strategy.

Requirements

10-15+ years of progressive business experience, preferably in a strategy or consulting role with a focus on sales
Exceptional problem-solving capability: You have a proven track record of solving complex problems, thinking creatively and using data to tell a story
Fast-paced: You operate with a sense of “urgency” and can excel in an execution-focused environment
Relationship builder: You work well with others and effectively harness the power of collaboration
Passion: You are intellectually curious and have the hunger to proactively and independently identify the opportunities where you can drive the most impact for the business
Drive / Self-sufficiency: You have a demonstrated ability to own a problem and aggressively drive from problem statement to solution in a self-sufficient capacity, even in a matrixed environment
Communication skills: You’re an excellent and structured verbal and written communicator with exceptional presentation and platform skills
Executive presence: You have the ability to effectively engage, lead and influence senior Gartner executives - this role offers high visibility and access to senior Conferences and Gartner leadership
Strong core values: You demonstrate integrity, collaboration, a no-limits mindset, objectivity, and consistent results using global best practices
Leadership experience: You’ve led successful initiatives, engaging teams and key stakeholders across business functions and all the way up the organizational ladder
Influence: Must demonstrate a high level of collaboration and strong negotiation skills
Bachelor's degree required

Responsibilities

Optimizing the GES organization as it rapidly scales – helping define and deliver on the organizational vision and priorities for the GES function. This is an opportunity to learn and shape the GES function from the inside. This will include helping to define the organizational design and capabilities required to support a business twice the size of today.
Leading strategic efficiency projects in partnership with members of GES leadership team that may include new tools and technologies to help ensure we are prepared for a large-scale business. This would include transitioning plans from old processes and technologies into new technologies, including possible AI solutions.
Leading strategic projects on behalf of GES leadership team, helping to apply more rigorous data analysis and problem-solving frameworks in partnership with the existing functional experts. This will require defining and implementing creative and scalable solutions to complex, often ambiguous, problems that drive meaningful and measurable business impact demonstrated through increased operational efficiency, and/or improved operating margins.
Directly supporting the GVPs of Global Exhibitor Sales in preparing for leadership meetings and executive presentations.