Still waiting on that CS promotion?

Hey CS Pro,

Let’s be real for a sec…promotions don’t happen by accident.

If you’re crushing renewals, saving accounts, and STILL being overlooked, this episode is your wake-up call.

This week, I shared the exact framework I used to go from IC to Head of CS in under a year and how you can use it to stop waiting and start owning your next promotion.

But first, today’s sponsor

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The proven system to track your value and secure your next promotion in Customer Success

Tired of being overlooked during promotion cycles? The CS Accomplishment Tracker is your secret weapon.

Inside this high-impact Google Sheet, you’ll:

• Track renewals, upsells, and CS initiatives across 4 quarters

• Quantify your revenue impact (even indirect influence counts)

• Build a compelling pitch for your next raise or title

• Access plug-and-play templates to showcase your growth

Promotions don’t come with time

If you’ve ever told yourself, “next time will be my turn,” I need you to stop.

Because unless you’re building and advocating for your own growth plan, nothing will change.

I talk to hundreds of CS pros every year inside RevUp and coaching sessions, and I see the same three career mistakes again and again:

1. Waiting for your manager to map out your path. Newsflash: they’re juggling a million priorities. Your growth isn’t always top of mind.

2. Vague goals. Saying “I want to be more strategic” doesn’t mean anything unless you define what strategic looks like in your role.

3. Only thinking about growth during reviews. Career development is not an annual event. It’s a weekly habit.

This episode is your reminder that your next promotion is your responsibility and you need a system, not just hope.

The CS Pro 5-Step Framework to Career Growth

Here’s the blueprint I break down on the pod:

1. Define your next move: Not just the job title, but the actual scope. What do you want your next role to look like? Write it down.

2. List your skill gaps: Rate yourself from 1 to 5 across all the competencies needed: commercial acumen, data storytelling, stakeholder management, and more.

3. Set specific development goals: Not “get better at strategy.” Try “deliver a strategic success plan by the next team meeting by August 15.”

4. Block CEO time: An hour a week, every week, where you work on you. Learning, planning, executing. This is non-negotiable. Insider tip, I personally blocked CEO time outside of working hours because sometimes there are not enough hours in the day.

5. Track your wins: Every renewal you save, every upsell you influence, every customer you retain. Document it all, or it’ll be forgotten.

The more proactive you are with tracking and sharing your results, the harder it is for anyone to say no when promotion time rolls around.

Why tracking your accomplishments changes everything

Your manager might remember your last big win for a week, but not by next quarter.

If you’re not tracking it, it didn’t happen.

That’s why I created the Customer Success Accomplishment Tracker. This is the same tool I used to move from individual contributor to Head of CS in under 12 months.

It helps you:

• Capture the revenue you’ve saved or influenced

• Record strategic plays and customer outcomes

• Turn your wins into compelling promotion pitches

3 Takeaways from this episode

1. Stop waiting for your manager. Your growth is your job. Build your own plan and drive it like a CEO.

2. Be clear and specific. “More strategic” won’t cut it. Define what that means and set deadlines.

3. Track everything. If you want that raise, that new title, or that next step, bring the receipts.

That’s it for this week! This episode is a must-listen for CSMs, CS leaders, and anyone aiming to level up their career in 2025.

Have a listen to the latest podcast:

That's all for now.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact us.

Cheers to your CS success,

Anika

PS - CSM RevUP Academy is currently full. Don't miss your shot at next time! Get the strategies, playbooks, and build your confidence into a revenue-generating CS Pro. Join the VIP Waitlist today to be first notified when the doors open again.