pitching-codecademy-to-manager

How to get manager approval for Codecademy for Teams

02/18/2021

Thinking of asking your manager or leadership team to sign up for Codecademy for Teams but not sure how to approach the conversation? We know it can be tricky to pitch something to your boss, but we’re here to help! We’ve put together some tips on what to include in your pitch so that you can successfully convince your team or leader to get on board.

First things first: Do some research

It’s always a good idea to do some research before introducing something new to your team or approaching your leadership with an ask. Here are a few things you can do to familiarize yourself with how the process works at your organization:

  • Ask around if anyone has done something similar in the past. If so, ask them how it went!
  • Do a quick search into the types of resources your organization has previously invested in for their employees.
  • Look into whether your company offers educational stipends.

This knowledge can help you frame the pitch in an appropriate way and in line with the expectations of your organization. If you’re the first person to ask for something like this, that’s okay too! Think of it as paving the way for those who come after you.

How to structure your pitch

1. Start with your “why”

A good way to start your pitch is to lead with your personal reasons for bringing up Codecademy to your leadership. Here are a few tips on how to express yourself uniquely and genuinely:

Be specific

Maybe mention which language or framework you’ve been learning, and connect the dots to how those skills have helped you execute in your role or accomplish certain tasks.

Connect Codecademy for Teams to your organization’s goals

Take a look at the performance metrics or objectives that your organization is working to accomplish. How can Codecademy help your organization reach those goals?

For example, Michael is a Senior Marketing Programs Manager. In 2020, he began learning about data science and web development with Codecademy and he is already thinking about how he can use this knowledge to help his organization. In 2021, he says, “I want to use my new data skills to help the team become more data-driven.”

Let your enthusiasm shine through

Nothing is as inspiring as seeing someone passionate about what they’re learning, and that alone speaks volumes. Be honest and embrace the excitement that comes with learning a new skill and applying it to your day-to-day tasks.

2. Give an overview of  Codecademy for Teams

After laying out your “why,” it’s a good idea to give some context into what Codecademy for Teams is, and the features that set us apart from other platforms. Here’s some information that you can incorporate in your pitch to explain what Codecademy offers.

Codecademy for Teams is a Codecademy for Business offering that helps organizations provide technical training and education for their employees. We launched this product to help organizations — across all industries — unlock their potential by elevating technical skills and digital literacy for their teams. We do this through an interactive platform, which delivers a hands-on learning experience to help people learn and retain their new skills.

Some of our key features include:

  • Skills Paths to help learners get started with a language or framework based on their goals and interests.
  • A high quality catalog that includes courses in data science, web development, and machine learning.
  • An interactive platform that includes quizzes, refreshers, video walkthroughs, and real world projects to help learners apply their skills and build on them.
  • Access to community support where learners can collaborate, share resources, and ask questions.
  • Progress reporting for Account Managers, which gives visibility into skills efficacy and course completion.

Over 500 organizations are currently enrolled with Codecademy for Teams, from Fortune 500 companies to financial institutions, universities, and startups. Our customers include IBM, The Guardian, The Motley Fool, Mixpanel, Paradox, and more.

3. Explain the benefits of technical training for teams

Now that you’ve given some background on Codecademy for Teams, it’s time to dive into how it can help your organization. Part of pitching Codecademy to your leadership is showing them the benefits of technical training — you want to help them see the value of the investment as it relates to your work, your team’s work, and the goals of the organization as a whole.

Here are a few benefits that you can mention:

  • Bolster cross-functional collaboration: Equipping employees in less technical roles with a basic understanding of code can go a long way in promoting alignment across engineering, Data, Product, Sales, Marketing, and Operations teams.
  • Encourage employees to take initiative: When you allow employees to broaden their technical skillset, it can produce an incredible byproduct: confidence. Learning technical skills gives employees the courage to jump into problems that may have seemed daunting or “too technical” in the past.
  • Promote innovative problem solving: Technical training helps employees add tools to their toolbox to approach problems through a fresh new lens. Thinking differently can help people identify new opportunities within the “same old problems” which lead to innovative, creative solutions that push the boundaries of what’s possible.
  • Strengthen the culture of continuous learning: At an organizational level, supporting employees in their pursuit of technical skills says to them, “We encourage you to keep growing here!”

4. Share details about the cost

As the decision maker, your boss will need to know how much Codecademy for Teams costs — here’s how you can talk about those details:

  • Codecademy for Teams is an annual membership starting at $299 per seat, for a minimum of 5 seats. Our 14-day free trial offers an opportunity to try it out before purchasing.
  • We also offer volume discounts for purchases of 6 or more seats.
  • Membership includes unlimited access to all Codecademy content, with certificates for completed courses.

The benefits of technical training outlined above will likely help your boss see the positive impacts of this investment on your organization. But, you can also dive into the specifics of the return on investment if you feel it’s necessary:

  • The demand for technical skills is growing at an extremely fast rate.
  • When organizations nurture their tech talent in-house, they get high-skilled employees with experience specific to their needs, which reduces the need for hiring new technically skilled employees and cuts costs in recruitment, loss of productivity, and salary.
  • Codecademy is an affordable option for technical skills training, especially compared to finite training programs that only last a few weeks but cost more, per seat. If you do the math, our year-long memberships are less than a dollar per person, per day!

Pitching something to decision makers can seem daunting, but at the end of the day, it’s important to remember that your leaders just want what’s best for their employees and the organization. With these tips in mind, you’re well equipped to sound confident and get your point across.

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