SV Academy

I knew from the start that SV Academy was going to be a good fit for me and my career.  Even when others tried to deter me from signing up for SV Academy, I followed my gut instinct.  I'm glad I did because exactly 1 month after graduation, I landed a job of my dreams!  The program is very challenging and at times, I wanted to give up.  If it were not for the support of SV Academy instructors, I would not be here today writing this review.  SV Academy delivered on their promise of getting me a job in the tech industry as long as I made an effort to meet them halfway.  This is not a scam or a waste of your time.  SV Academy has improved my life and the direction of my career in only one month.

I felt like if I could break into tech, I could make more money. I also thought I could find a company culture that was better suited to my values and more ‘human-focused.’ But I didn’t know how to get in. 
Before SV Academy, I didn’t really understand what ‘tech’ was looking for. SV helped me figure it out. 
I came to SV with almost a decade of experience selling to executives. In my work in Architecture/Engineering/Construction, I sold eight-figure deals to billionaires. Despite having some sales experience and talent, I did not feel confident transitioning into ‘tech.’ 
SV helped me understand what companies are really seeking – willingness to learn and grow; grit and work ethic. They taught me to showcase those in interviews and leverage them for growth once I found a role.
SV will teach you the relevant tech stack tools and give you the latest thinking in SaaS sales, but they will also give you the edge to get hired and find success in your role. 

The SV courses on emotional intelligence and interview storytelling combine with live small group workshops to develop your skills beyond the tech tools. SV changed my understanding of what was valuable about my own experience and skillset in a way that was transformational for my career. 
With the SV coaching, I had more interview success than I’ve ever had in my life. Recruiters, managers, and executives were profuse with praise and respect for the approach to SDR work that SV helped me develop. 
I received three job offers within a week of graduating. Within hours of graduating I had been offered a role with my top target that also included a full tuition reimbursement. 
Beyond curating students, SV curated employer partners that were invested in our success and valued the training SV provides. I felt that I had dozens of top-tier options available to me. 
Beyond the direct employer connections, I quickly found that SV graduates are spread throughout the tech landscape and I found champions and supporters within multiple companies through the SV network. 
SV academy helped me transform my professional life, provided lucrative job opportunities, and also gave me about a dozen friends that I think I will have for many years. The relationships our cohort formed were substantial and critical to my success. 
For me, it's impossible to put a price on the experience of belonging and participating in the SV Academy community. There’s no free lunch, but this meal is worth the price.

SV Academy prepares you for the SaaS space with soft and hard skills. Many of you reading are looking to make a career change or to get a leg-up in this industry and are wondering if SVA is legit. I’ll tell you upfront:
It is.
Before applying, I was lurking through these reviews looking for rational reasons to take the chance on something like this. The key piece of advice I picked up was that you get what you put in. 
A highlight of the program is a week-long internship where you will be utilizing the tools that many people in this industry are using. This alone gives you an edge when interviewing after graduating. 
The coursework is heavy but you’ll manage. All coursework is engaging and relevant. Everyone (including fellow-mates) are incredibly supportive. The career transition team is also amazing, and I owe them a lot of gratitude in checking in with me throughout my interview processes and well-being. 
I will conclude with the following: oftentimes, motivation comes after action. I challenge you to take the first step in applying to this wonderful fellowship. I hope this alone brings a momentum of positive decisions in your life. 
Oh. I landed a job about 2-3 weeks after graduating SV. Not all of you will land something so quickly (some of you will beat that!) but I truly believe that anyone that comes out of SVA WILL find a position where they can make an impact. 

Pros
The most helpful parts of this program are the:
Program & Classroom Assignments: I got a really good feel of the curriculum and the knowledge I would need to be successful in CS. The information was sufficiently organized and succinct to where if you wanted to learn more, there was no end. The challenge of the assignments prepares you and makes you feel confident that you can do the job.
Slack Communication: The connections I made at SVA were so invaluable to my career growth. I would say this is one of the most important aspects of SV because you realize you are not alone.
Tech tools: Gainsight was the tool that got my foot in the door at my current job.
To be an SV Fellow means to take on all the knowledge and support from SVA and use it in your career and pass it on to other learners.
I have yet to start working at my job but my biggest win is my confidence in that I can do the job.

Cons 
I would probably set better expectations for the job hunt and let people know how much they have to take into their own hands. Jobs are not just handed to you and they have to be taken by force at times. By that, I mean, learners should realize their own strength and power in getting a career in tech. No challenges so far but I know that I can face them head-on.


Advice 
I feel that SVA is great for people who take full advantage of what is offered. I look forward to the mentorship community and I like how SV sets expectations for week 1 and does not charge for the first week of the course. I would just reinforce to students that it is them investing in themselves and SVA is trusting that they will do so in good faith. 

SVA's mission is admirable and its instructors care about your success. It's set up in such a way that you have the resources and network at your disposal to help you get your foot in the door in tech. Like any other program though, It's up to you to be hungry and to use it accordingly. Overall, I had a great experience with SVA. I came out knowledgeable about customer success, with new certifications, and confident that I was able to speak the lingo during interviews with tech companies. I also came out with friends in the industry that I otherwise would not have met, which is a plus.

 I would just caution you that if you are considering the CS program, please understand that 1) the CS program is still new and so it hasn't been perfected, and 2) the job search portion is totally in your hands! Unlike the SDR program, you will not be placed (for now anyway--SVA is working on making this a reality). During admissions, I was given the impression that I would be placed, which was in large part my reason for going with SVA. This wasn't the case, and that was clarified during my first week. That being said, we still received other forms of support with the search (and again, it's up to you to be hungry enough to use them as necessary for you).

This is a great opportunity--not to have your hand held through your transition but to invest in/bet on yourself. If that's what you're looking for, I'd def recommend it.

The program was long and arduous, which was communicated from the start. But along the way: we leaned on our peers (through a fostered collaborative environment), learned to combat fixed mindset with growth mindset practices, fine-tuned our interview skills,and practiced cold outreach through a week-long internship.In the end, we were introduced to a network of companies/employers and received support through the job search process. 

Areas of improvement include managing the growing pains associated with the organization (hyper-focus on numbers and metrics), and incorporating more live role-plays within the curriculum

The best thing I got from SV was being immersed in an environment that demanded work ethic, social skills, tech skills and a gritty, versatile attitude. They made it clear that the opportunities are out there, but it was up to us put in the work and be the stewards of our own careers, keeping ourselves motivated and directing our own learning to fill the gaps in our knowledge. 
That said, I met a lot of great and inspiring people in my four weeks there, and without them I don't know if I would have made it. It was this balance of community and self-reliance that empowered me to make this transition from flower delivery guy to an SDR in the tech industry.