Evgeniy Kharam: Architecting Success With Soft Skills

Evgeniy Kharam is the founder of a cybersecurity consulting company and an industry veteran with extensive expertise in cybersecurity. He advises clients on navigating the complexities of the cybersecurity landscape and co-hosts two popular podcasts focused on cybersecurity architecture and business insights. Evgeniy is also a board advisor for the Canadian Cybersecurity Network, the largest technology group in Canada. Outside of his professional life, he is an active family man with four children, including twins, and enjoys organizing snowboarding events for networking in the cybersecurity community.

Evgeniy joined the Kitecast podcast to discuss his new book, Architecting Success: The Art of Soft Skills in Technical Sales. It is a reflection on the evolution of sales engineering, especially in the cybersecurity field. Evgeniy draws from his personal experiences to address the increasingly complex nature of technical sales and the gap between technical knowledge and the ability to communicate it effectively in business terms. The book also serves as a personal challenge for Evgeniy, as he admits that writing is outside his comfort zone, and he believes that improving soft skills is often about doing what you dislike most.

During the podcast interview, one of the key topics Evgeniy discusses is the importance of soft skills in cybersecurity sales. He emphasizes the need for adaptability, listening, and the ability to connect with clients. He points out that successful cybersecurity sales professionals must adjust their approach based on the client’s mood, energy, and current situation, moving from transactional interactions to building genuine relationships.

Evgeniy also explores the dynamics between sales professionals and sales engineers. He suggests that the sales engineer’s role is not just to support the sales team but to engage in a more collaborative manner, asking the right questions to help the sales team qualify deals effectively. This dynamic allows for a smoother sales process, where both parties respect each other's expertise and play to their strengths, without crossing into each other's responsibilities.

Another major point of discussion is the impact of virtual sales in a post-COVID world. Evgeniy stresses the importance of maintaining professionalism in virtual environments, from investing in proper equipment like cameras and microphones to ensuring a polished appearance. He also highlights the growing reliance on voice communication and the need to train one's voice for better delivery, as remote work has made verbal communication a primary tool for client interactions.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ekharam/

Architecting Success: https://www.softskillstech.ca/ 

Check out video versions of Kitecast episodes at https://www.kiteworks.com/kitecast or on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/c/KiteworksCGCP.