Start Here, Go Anywhere: Inside Navan’s Proven Path for Early Sales Talent

At Navan, we’re on a mission to take over the massive $1.5 trillion travel and expense (T&E) industry — and it all starts with our sales development representatives (SDRs).

Navan’s inimitable SDR program provides early sales professionals with a well-defined career path for high-performing individuals looking to build a career in technology sales — and have fun along the way.

This blog post spotlights some of our current, talented global SDR team members and those who have successfully progressed in their careers since starting in the SDR role. From Paris and London to San Francisco and New York City, their stories highlight why Navan is the best place for top talent to kickstart their sales careers.

Discussing everything from what sets Navan apart as a top sales employer in the tech industry to the inside scoop on how to set yourself apart from other candidates, these stories demonstrate the mentorship, first-class training, and teamwork that define the life of an SDR at Navan.

Morgan Hildebrand

• Title: Commercial Account Executive
• Location: NYC
• Time at Navan: 2 years
• Journey: SDR -> Commercial AE

Morgan’s journey at Navan began two years ago when she joined the New York City sales team as a mid-market SDR.

When it came to onboarding and training, Navan didn’t waste any time. Morgan shared, “My second week at Navan, I was flown out to Palo Alto for Sales Bootcamp. This was extremely valuable in terms of learning about our product, the competitive landscape of T&E, and how to be a successful SDR.”

But it’s not all about business — it’s about the in-person connections that Navan strives to create across its Sales organization. “I also created connections with other new employees and built friendships. It helps to have a support system at a new organization, and bootcamp is the perfect way to start.”

So, what has kept Morgan motivated at a fast-paced company like Navan? It’s a meritocratic culture. “Navan values hard work — it’s great to be at a company where it is recognized and rewarded.”

From Navan’s annual Excellence Club trip for top performers across departments to internal mobility opportunities that span not only across roles but also various regions worldwide.

Henry Pehl

• Title: Sr. SDR Enterprise Expense
• Location: San Francisco
• Time at Navan: 8 months
• Journey: SDR -> Sr. SDR

Henry was drawn to Navan because of its dedicated program for continued sales education and the promise of a collaborative culture. He joined the team just over 8 months ago, in August 2024, as an SDR.

For Henry, Navan was the perfect place to land post-grad. “Navan was and is an exciting place to be for someone in my shoes. It provides an opportunity to be a part of an established sales team selling a well-developed product while still keeping on my feet with change and opportunities for career growth.”

One of his favorite things about Navan is its ‘startup within a startup’ company structure. “Since Navan is still very much a growing company, you’ll have access to so many people in so many different positions that you wouldn’t otherwise have at a big company.”

Noorain Zulfiqar

• Title: Enterprise SDR
• Location: London
• Time at Navan: 1 year
• Journey: Commercial SDR -> Enterprise SDR

At Navan, we believe that unconventional career paths can breed some of the best talent — and that was certainly the case with Noorain Zulfiqar, who joined the company one year ago following a career shift.

After starting her career in tech recruiting, Noorain was attracted to Navan’s SDR program because of its positive reputation in the EMEA market and promise of rapid professional growth. “What attracted me to Navan was that I still wanted to stay in the tech space but work in a company that continued to grow alongside me, particularly at the beginning of my career, and provided me with clear career progression to work toward.”

And that’s exactly what she found at Navan.

Flash forward: Noorain made the jump from a commercial SDR to an enterprise SDR within just 9 months of her starting at the company.

When asked what her most rewarding moment has been since joining the sales team at Navan, she said it’s all about the customers.

“It’s super fun working and researching companies that I myself am a huge fan of, so a rewarding moment for me was when I sourced my first ‘close won’ deal with a market-leading fashion/beauty company that I have been a personal customer of for years!”

Dan Zoritch

• Title: Commercial Account Executive
• Location: Paris
• Time at Navan: 2 years
• Journey: Senior SDR → Commercial Account Executive

Dan Zoritch, commercial account executive for Navan, based in Paris, France, recently celebrated his second anniversary at the company.

His previous experience as a senior business development representative (BDR) equipped him with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel, resulting in his promotion from Senior SDR to growth mid-market account executive.

For Dan, the growth potential that attracted him to the company quickly paid off.

“Managers take care of their teams, too, to be sure that we are in a good position to unlock our full potential.”

But SDR life isn’t just about closing deals at Navan. Dan says, “We know how to celebrate strong results as a team, and we know when we have to work harder when results are not as expected. Simply put, there is a very cohesive culture — we are a team.”

And when he’s looking to unwind, Navan’s offices have plenty of tasty treats to make the day fly by. “I like to drink a good hot chocolate on a cold winter’s morning.”

Interested in learning more about the opportunities available across Navan’s Sales team?

Check out navan.com/careers to learn more.