Meet Chris Y, Head of Agency Development here at Yelp! Chris recently celebrated his fourth year at Yelp. Take a look as we dive into his #FiveStarCareer journey.
How did you know you wanted to pursue a job in sales?
I actually studied pre-med, chemistry, and music. In my junior year of college, I decided that being a doctor wasn’t for me and wanted to pursue the music route. After quickly realizing that it was not going to be an easy career path, a friend of mine referred me to a company as an account manager where I eventually moved into sales. I realized that leveraging my creative and analytical background translated very well into sales. Being solutions-oriented, data-driven (all that music theory!), and client-centric seemed to come naturally for me given my background.
What is your advice to someone interested in sales?
Sales can be a very rewarding career! It requires tenacity, passion, and truly believing in the product you are selling. Yelp ads work and our consumer and B2B audiences are unparalleled. The ability to bring our solutions to clients to help solve their marketing challenges has been very fulfilling.
Why did you want to work at Yelp?
The growth opportunity of the Multi-Location Sales org and the company culture are the two greatest reasons why I wanted to be a Yelp employee. At Yelp, I have never been more comfortable being an LGBTQ+ and Filipino-American employee due to the company’s focus on social change and inclusivity. The ability to be my true self has unlocked success for myself and my team.
What does a typical day look like in your role?
My typical day consists of client meetings and events and 1:1s with my team members to strategize on how to grow our agency partnerships. I love to take clients out to get to know them on a personal level, build trust, and truly understand their marketing challenges.
What is your #1 tip for staying productive while working from home?
Take breaks and go for walks to avoid video call fatigue. I also love playing classical music in the background.
How do you stay motivated to hit your goals when you’re having a tough day?
I stay motivated to hit my goals by looking at the big picture, thinking about the long-term win ahead, and brainstorming how to overcome sales challenges with my colleagues. I am also motivated by my kids and their resilience.
Tell us something you learned from the Yelp Sales Development Program that made you a better salesperson
Yelp’s onboarding and sales development programs are some of the best I have seen. I’ve learned a lot from these programs about how to be a better leader, how to ask impactful questions to clients, and how to coach and inspire reps.
How does Yelp support your work-life balance?
The main thing I would say is that Yelp listens to their employees. For example, most Yelp employees preferred to work remotely full-time, so leadership listened and we now follow a fully remote work model. This has allowed me to spend more time with my family. Perks like office equipment and wellness reimbursements have also been super helpful.
How does Yelp’s leadership tell you that your work is valued?
Yelp’s leadership has shown me my work is valued by recognizing my work and supporting my career path. I have been promoted twice since I started four years ago, and I believe that Yelp has allowed me to write my own destiny. When I first started, we did not have a full agency development team. This was something that was always on my radar, and in January 2022, we made it happen.
Tell us about a community that you are proud to be a part of at Yelp
OUTBurst and YAPI are two of Yelp’s employee resource groups. OUTburst focuses on highlighting the achievements of the employees of the LGBTQ+ community, and Yelp Asian Pacific Islanders is a space for Yelpers identifying as Asian Pacific Islander and allies to connect, support, and learn from one another. I love Yelp’s focus on diversity, inclusion, and belonging.
Want to work with Chris?
With the help of our comprehensive training program, ongoing support, coaching, and development opportunities, you can take your career to the next level at Yelp, whether you’re a seasoned sales professional or just starting out in the industry. Check out our open opportunities and apply today!
