Meet Indre, a Strategic Partner Manager at Adaptavist

What is your role? 

I am a Partner Manager at the Strategic Partnerships team here at Adaptavist. 

What does being a Partner Manager mean to you? 

For me, the role is about being enthusiastic and passionate about what you do day to day. You need to be a good multitasker, have a go-getter attitude and a ‘let's do it’ approach.

My previous manager told me once that you need to have empathy to be a partner manager. I couldn't agree more. The role is about trust first and business second. Spending time getting to know people, learning and understanding their business goals is a crucial part of the role. Once you are aligned, it's about working together to develop shared success stories. 

Working with partners is like building a small business within an established business (The Adaptavist Group). Building something brand new is challenging, with a lot of unknowns but navigating that ambiguity, building clarity, and solving problems…it’s the part of the job I enjoy most. 

What are you responsible for? 

I run new platform partnerships here at Adaptavist and am responsible for developing our existing partnerships, such as; monday.com, Aha!, and Slack. My goal is to create, nurture and grow new opportunities for Adaptavist beyond the Atlassian ecosystem. 

How did you get into partnerships? 

It happened very naturally, to be honest. I started in the partner sales admin role and moved quickly to the Channel Manager role, which immediately clicked with me and my personality. I believe my approach to work, passion and go-getter attitude got me into partnerships, and now I couldn't see myself in any other role. 

Did you always want to work in tech? 

Actually, no. Early in my career, I imagined myself in retail management or supply chain management. After trying different roles (within retail, buying & merchandising, and education), I realised I wasn't enjoying it as much as I thought I would. I wanted a challenge, to grow, and to learn something new. Then I started working for a Software as a Service (SaaS) company, and immediately felt, ‘I’ve found it, I found my crew'. 

For me, it's always been about the right culture, people and environment. And enjoying what I do. Working in tech is often associated with high-stress levels, long working hours and a poor work-life balance, but I'm glad that Adaptavist proves otherwise. 

What does a typical day look like? 

No two days are the same. And that's what I love most about my role. 

My day-to-day priorities change depending on what needs to be done and what partnership areas need my focus. I spend a lot of my day talking to people internally and externally and working cross-functionally to ensure things are moving forward and our goals are on track. As a partner manager, you need to work and collaborate with many different teams, including client services, sales, marketing, professional services and product teams, to drive the partnership forward. It's certainly never lonely.

What is a memorable moment in your career so far? 

Making a move into the SaaS/Tech space. And joining Adaptavist!

What's the worst part of your job? 

There is nothing I would call out about the role specifically, to be honest. 

But like so many others, being on Zoom and Slack all day can take its toll. To tackle this, I've learned to prioritise time out. Whether that's for mental well-being or to focus on work, it's good to take a break from the screen. It boosts my creativity and gives me time to think through new ideas and return to my job with a fresh take on things.

And the best? 

If I had to pick one thing, it would be when the ideas, vision, and strategies I've been working on finally come to life. Seeing all the different pieces of the puzzle come together to create one complete picture is the best part of the process. That moment you realise all your hard work and patience has paid off is a rewarding experience. 

Working and collaborating with so many amazing people every day is a privilege. I really enjoy getting to know our partners and building a trusted relationship with them. People must be at the heart of any successful business or partnership; without their support, you won't achieve much.

What do you want to do next with your career?

Currently, I’m focusing on growing my role further within partnerships. Life can change, so you never know, but long-term strategy and commercial roles are definitely where my passion lies. 

What's it like working as part of The Adaptavist Group? 

It's exciting, challenging, rewarding, and fun. It's always different. To work for an organisation that is growing as fast as The Adaptavist Group, you have to be adaptable, flexible, and ready to embrace change. 

Above everything else, it's the people at Adaptavist I value most. Being part of a community where you have trust from day one and can truly be yourself is both liberating and empowering.

How do you use The Adaptavist Group benefits?

Unlimited leave is a huge help. But what matters most to me is the flexibility I get to work in a way that suits me. To have the chance to work remotely, travel and spend time with my family when I need to is priceless.

What would you have told your younger self about work? 

Trust in your vision and the path you have chosen. Be up for a challenge. Ignore that negative inner voice. There will also be times in your life when other people will make you doubt yourself. Remember, life is about learning, evolving, growing and keeping your eyes open to what's next. Don't limit your ambitions; keep your options wide open. Build a network early and connect with as many positive people and communities as possible. 

What has being a woman in tech meant for you? Has it impacted your career or experiences? 

It has had an impact on my experience, especially since I made a move into tech. There is still a lot of bias, outdated attitudes, and assumptions towards women. Sometimes it can feel like you have to prove yourself to the industry, but that shouldn't be the case. Gender should be irrelevant. The focus should be on the value you bring to the role and how you apply your skills and knowledge.

What really stands out to me is that when women achieve something significant in tech, it's still considered unusual, something to aspire to. It should be the norm. No doubt, behind the scenes, they had to work two or more times harder to get there than a man. But that should not be the case.

I see many fantastic women in leadership roles, but sadly they are still in the minority. I would love to see a better balance between women and men; it would make such a positive difference. 

Anything else you’d like to share? 

If you are passionate about something and want to do it, go for it! It might sound cliche, but life's too short to be stuck in a job or work for a company you don't like. 

So if you're thinking about moving into tech or partnerships or are just curious about what it's like working for The Adaptavist Group, get in touch; I'd love to chat with you.