Socket

You use open source software? Do you know if the direct and transitive dependencies in those packages are safe? No? You need Socket. 

At Socket, we’re transforming how organizations protect their applications from the rising threat of software supply chain attacks. Founded in 2021, Socket offers a developer-first platform that proactively detects and blocks malicious packages in real time, securing the open source ecosystem that powers modern software. Socket is backed by a16z, Abstract Ventures, Elad Gil, South Park Commons, Village Global, Unusual Ventures, WndrCo, and dozens of CISOs and world-leading business leaders.

Account Executive

2024
Q4 - 102.5% to ramp ACV target and 248% to pipeline target  

Other contributions in 2024:
2nd ranked attainment achiever on sales team (#1 in ramping class) 
Closed first deal 3 months ahead of ramp goal
Helped lead interview process for first US SDR role

Founding US Account Executive

Drata

Consistent top achiever (in the top 10 of reps QoQ in a sales org of 30+).

Quota Achievement: 

2024 - 100.5%
Q2 - 114% (got things back on track) 
Q1 - 87% (took a minute to get pipeline built coming back from paternity leave) 

2023 - 89% 
Q4 - Paternity leave 
Q3 - 102%
Q3 - 82% (a top 10 rep during this time)
Q2 - 82% (a top 10 rep during this time, top overall rep in May for entire business) 
Q1 - 89% (a top 10 rep during this time)

2022 - 115% 
Q4 - 112% (top 5 rep)
Q3 - 117% (top 5 rep)

All-time Stats:
- $1,180,997 new business won 
- Attainment 99%
- 89 net new customers 
- Sold deals up to $135k in size

Other contributions:
- Selected to mentor new AEs and SDRs
- Given special projects to work with the product team
- Selected to join task force to improve POC process

What I sold and who I sold to: 
- Compliance automation SaaS platform to help companies achieve compliance faster, pass audits with flying colors, and win more business. 
- Highly technical and non-tehcnical personas. Founders, CTOs, COOs, VP of Engineering, and other IC-level operations, engineering, and compliance folks.

Censys

Quota Achievement: 

2022
Q1 - 148% (#1 achieving rep in sales org)
#1 overall rep for attainment on the Mid-Enterprise team 

Other Achievements: 
- During tenure in closing roles I closed 22% of the entire customer base adding $1.2M in ARR.

What I sold and who I sold to: 
- Helped CISOs sleep better at night by closing the gaps in their external digital attack surface with a SaaS platform. 
- Sold to highly technical CISOs, Heads of Security, Attack Surface Managers, and IC-level security team members like security engineers.

Mid-Enterprise Account Executive

Quota Achievement: 
- #1 Rep in sales org for attainment during tenure (95%)
- Deal sizes up to $125,000
- Average deal size $51,000
- Won 16 enterprise logos (Some logos include the likes of Deloitte, Crowdstrike, Nubank, Swiss Life, Carhartt, Coinbase, Falabella)

What I sold and who I sold to: 
- Helped threat hunting teams discover forgotten, rogue or newly acquired internet assets using our SaaS internet data scanning platform. 
- Highly technical buyers CISOs, VPs of Threat Detection, Threat Analysts, and other IC-level security team members like security engineers and threat hunters.

Top achiever - Promoted twice in first year 

Quota Achievement:
- 85% all-time (Top Performer to quota in sales org)
- $177,461 new ACV closed won
- 11 new logos won

ISR + SDR

Employee #40 and first full-time BDR

Quota Achievement:
- All-time - 95%
- 265 meetings set

Other Achievements:
- Created a campaign that generated 32 additional meetings over the course of quarter
- Set company records for most meetings set in a day and month

Founding Enterprise SDR

Cisco

Quota Achievement:

All-time: 100%

Other achievements: 
- Only Duo BDR to be promoted from SMB directly to an Enterprise BDR role (skipping Mid-Market)
- Over $1.2 million in pipeline sourced

What I sold and who I sold to: 
- Simplified the multi-factor auth process for Enterprise companies with easy and affordable MFA software.
- Worked with CISOs, Heads of Security, Directors of Authentication, and the IC-level security team

Enterprise Sales Development Rep

2019
121% - All time (highest on team)
$4.2M pipeline sourced (highest on team)
500+ opportunities sourced (highest on team)
Top achiever's club '19

What I sold & who I sold to: 
- Simplified the multi-factor auth process for SMB companies with easy and affordable MFA software. 
- Worked with highly technical personas: CISOs, Heads of Security, Directors of Authentication, and the IC-level security team

SMB/MM Sales Development Rep

Duo Security

Hired at Duo during the acquisition by Cisco.

Sales Development Representative (Acquired by Cisco for $2.35B)

For over 6 years, I've been involved in the infosec community helping engineers solve challenges in identity access management, threat hunting, attack surface discovery, compliance and supply chain security. 

Trust between sellers and engineers is broken and needs to be restored. 

I've been focused on this restoration since the early days at my first security startup. 

I've spoken with hundreds of security pros and business leaders and helped them solve challenge after challenge in their security stack. 

From stealth mode startups to Fortune 10 organizations, I've worked with them all. 

My passion isn't to just close deals. It’s to help connect engineers and leaders with tools that make their lives easier, make them look good, and protect their teams and assets. 

I'm obsessed with earning and keeping this trust.

When I'm not working I:
🏌🏼‍♂️  Play golf
🥾  Hike with my wife
📚  Read (at least 10 pages a day)
🎥  Watch movies (400+ reviewed on IMDB)

Nick Bontrager

Thoughtful Leader

Thoughtful Leader is my coaching, training and consulting business that helps thoughtful, reflective leaders grow their confidence, speak up when needed and lead effectively without trying to be somebody they aren't.

I write leadership articles (350+ so far!) and release a podcast episode every week (200+ and counting). You can check them out at https://www.thoughtfulleader.com.

Leadership Coach, Trainer & Consultant

Capstan Partners

Providing leadership coaching and facilitation services as a consultant for Capstan Partners.

Associate Coach

ATI-Mirage Training & Business Solutions

Providing training and coaching services as a consultant to ATI-Mirage.

Consultant Leadership Trainer

AIM WA

Delivering training for AIMWA programs including:
• New Manager / Supervisor Training
• Effective People Management
• Coaching Skills
• Time Management
• Negotiation Skills
• High-Performing Teams
• Difficult Conversations
• Networking Skills.

Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO)

Technical Program Manager

Water Corporation

Manager - Digital Engagement 

Bethanie

Business Transformation Project Manager

ABN Group

Senior Project Manager

Isobar

Team leadership and delivery of digital solutions using CMS platforms including SharePoint, EPiServer and Sitefinity and migration of sites to cloud hosting environments.
Involved leading teams of local and remote staff, for clients across Australia.

Management consulting for major programs, technology transformations and program governance.

Manager, Projects & Transformation Services, PwC Consulting

Hi, I’m Ben Brearley.

I coach thoughtful, reflective leaders who aren’t the loudest in the room, but who want to lead with confidence, without burning out or pretending to be someone they’re not.

If you’re someone who thinks things through, cares about your team, and sometimes wonders whether leadership was built for people like you - you’re not alone.

Before becoming a coach, I spent 15+ years in leadership and consulting roles as a quieter, more reserved leader, juggling deadlines, leading teams, and navigating high-pressure environments. I know what it’s like to hesitate, to doubt yourself, or to feel like the loudest voices always win.

These days, I work with thoughtful leaders to help them:
- Understand how they work best (and where things tend to unravel)
- Set boundaries that feel right - and stick to them
- Lead their teams with steady confidence and clarity.

Through one-on-one coaching, the PRINT® Assessment, and practical tools like The Useful Thinking Journal, I help people lead in a way that’s grounded, sustainable and aligned with who they really are.

My goal? To support more thoughtful leaders to succeed in senior roles without leaving their values behind.

If you’d like support to lead with more ease, clarity and self-belief, I’d love to help.

➡️ Visit thoughtfulleader.com to learn more or book a free consultation.

taplio

The Battle

Nick Bontrager

Ben Brearley

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?