Salary Stories: Salaries of Business Managers

Name: Hany Maurice
Job Title: Regional Business Development Manager
Where: Dubai, AL – United Arab Emirates
Current Employer: Grapheast Computers LLC
Years of Experience: 3 years
Education: B.S. in Information Technology from Cairo University, Egypt, School of Computers and Information. Oracle Certified Professional in Applications Development.
Other Relevant Experience: Over five years of working experience in the field of IT (System Analyst, Pre-Sales and Senior Account Manager).
Annual Salary: See PayScale's Research Center for the median salaries of business managers and business management salaries by city. Also, learn how to increase your salary with an MBA.

Have you ever asked, “What is the role of a business manager?” The job description of a business manager depends for the most part on how a company is structured. In general terms, a business manager's job description can be summed up with one primary goal, to “grow the company." Of course, that kind of goal is always easier said than done. Business managers are responsible for increasing brand awareness, attracting new customers, and communicating with clients. In addition, the job description of a business manager involves managing employees and reaching company goals.

In this Salary Story, we hear from Hany Maurice, a business development manager for Grapheast Computers, the sole distributor of Adobe and other design products for the Middle East. Maurice answers the question, “What is the role of a business manager?” and shares what skills will lead to earning the most rewarding business management salaries. Learn more about the job description of a business manager and the salaries of business managers at PayScale.com.

Job description of a Business Manager:

My job responsibilities include: creating a channel of partners to increase our sales network, training country managers to establish a good knowledge in the new enterprise product base, managing sales activities with the key accounts across the Middle East and North Africa, increasing market share, preparing for events in order to spread awareness of our new business line, building business prospects, preparing sales and marketing material, and studying the market competition.

PayScale: How did you get started as a business manager?

How to Increase Your Salary in Business Management.
Education is the key to increasing your salary as a Business Manager. There are degrees and certifications that will increase your salary and make you a more valuable employee. In this economic downturn, education is a key strategy for a successful career in Business Management. Click here to Research Business Degrees.

I enjoy this career, and was attracted to it because it matches my extroverted character type. That adds value to me, plus I enjoy practicing the excellent communication and presentation skills which are heavily required in this kind of job.

I originally started as a pre-sales engineer. Since I have that strong technical knowledge, it helps me to be able to talk technical with IT managers, and CIO's. Additionally, I have a strong business knowledge that enables me to efficiently communicate with business decision makers, and justify the solutions in terms of ROI (return on investment) and TCO (total cost of ownership).

PayScale: What do you like best about being a business manager?

I love the challenges in my job and the different variety of communications required with partners, principals, third parties, and clients. I also enjoy traveling, which is an important part of my job, as I handle the MENA Region (Middle East and North Africa). Communicating and closing deals with people that you only communicate with through emails, phone calls and conference calls can be a challenge, but it’s also satisfying.

PayScale: What are the biggest challenges you face as a Business Manager?

The main challenge I face is lacking enough resources to run the projects as efficiently as I’d like. But, that’s also a problem faced by many people in the software and enterprise arena.

PayScale: What advice would you give to those interested in becoming a Business Manager?

The enterprise business needs lots of preparation, lots of follow up, and a strong knowledge of your product. You need to have good communication, presentation, and negotiation skills. Knowing the product you’re selling is so important! Just like you can’t be an alibi to a witness you’ve never seen, you can’t sell a product you don’t know. You have to know about it, and present it from multiple positions and angles. It’s important to talk with technical people to learn more about the product. You also need to have a knowledge of the market, and keep in touch with other industries. The more you know about your market, the more you’re able to analyze when, where, and how to position your product.

PayScale: What's the most exciting thing that’s happened to you as a business manager?

Getting the first big deal with one of the largest gas companies in the world, without ever meeting the people in person.