More Than a Pipeline: How I Became Friends with a Business Development Executive
When I first met Rohan, he introduced himself with a firm handshake, a confident smile, and a title. "Rohan," he said, "Business Development Executive." The title hung in the air, crisp and professional, like the starched collar of his shirt. In my mind, a "Business Development Executive" was a species of human I'd only seen in corporate dramas. Someone who lived in a world of targets, leads, and conversions. Someone who probably saw every conversation as a potential networking opportunity. And for the first few weeks of knowing him, Rohan did little to change that impression. Our early interactions were always in group settings. He’d be on the phone, pacing and talking about "Q4 projections" and "strategic alliances." He had a way of making "let's circle back on that" sound like a profound statement. He was charismatic and driven, but there was a professional gloss to him that felt impenetrable. I was a friend of a fr...