Hey! I’m Shawn 👋🏼
I love startups and all the challenges that come with trying to do impossible things.
I love startups and all the challenges that come with trying to do impossible things.
I’ve been fortunate to experience a lot of personal and professional growth over the last 7+ years. My goal in life is to create as much impact as possible on the world and the people around me. Seeing the people and businesses I care for grow is a core reason for my work ethic and desire to help.
Today, I’m at Snowflake, helping startups become data-driven and AI-ready by building on the world’s best data platform. I work with founders, CDOs, CTOs, and engineering leaders to design and commercialize AI/ML use cases — from RAG pipelines and AI agents to text-to-SQL applications built on Cortex AI.
Before Snowflake, I was at Minerva AI helping lead sales strategy for a technical API product that transformed how Fortune 500 companies handle risk and compliance screening. I focused on rethinking the buying experience and proving an outbound-first GTM motion with key accounts like FIS, Coinbase, and Robinhood.
Being employee #1 at Float is what cemented my love for startups. I helped take us from 0 customers to over 3,000 while the company raised $70M from investors like Goldman Sachs, Tiger Global, and Golden Ventures, and scaled internally from 1 to over 40 employees in less than 12 months — by doing whatever the business needed to do to win.
Selling Cortex AI and the broader data platform to net-new FinServ, Fintech, Crypto, and tech accounts across Canada. Partnering with technical leaders to design AI/ML use cases and help organizations become truly data-driven.
Led 6–7 figure deals for a technical API product targeting Fortune 500 companies in financial services — without a dedicated SE. Stepped up as interim head of sales, owning GTM strategy, pricing, RevOps, and cross-functional alignment while proving product-market fit for our enterprise screening solution.
First hire. Built the revenue function from scratch — from first customer through to over 3,000 and $20M in revenue. Hired 20 reps, got promoted 3 times, and helped the company raise $70M from Tiger Global, Goldman Sachs, and Golden Ventures. Did whatever the business needed to win.
Built pipeline by prospecting into $1B+ revenue organizations. Managed and onboarded 15+ new hires. Selected as the only rep to spearhead EMEA expansion.
Promoted in 5 months. Covered 25% of territory in my first two months and helped drive $15M in sales through 120+ meetings booked with institutional and retail clients.
Where it all started. Managed client advisory across retail banking, consistently exceeding weekly sales targets while navigating compliance and regulatory routines.
I don’t just sell AI — I use it. AI and ML tools are a core part of how I work and how I think about solving problems. A few examples of how this shows up in my day-to-day:
Deep research, account planning, competitive intel, writing, and brainstorming. I use Claude’s Cowork mode to build workflows, analyze data, and even coded this site.
AI-assisted outbound sequences, ICP research, and persona mapping. I use LLMs to synthesize 10-K filings, earnings calls, and news into targeted messaging.
Scheduled AI agents for daily job market scans, email drafting, and research briefs. Building personal tools on top of APIs and MCP servers to automate repetitive work.
I’ve spent my career at the intersection of startups and enterprise sales. The AI/ML space is where both of those worlds are colliding right now — companies building foundational infrastructure, applying AI to unsolved problems, and rethinking how enterprises buy and adopt these tools. That’s the space I want to spend my career in, whether at an industry leader or a five-person team with a big idea.
I believe through my experiences I can provide valuable insights and direction. Whether you’re building from scratch or scaling an existing function, here are some areas where I can be useful.
Building a revenue function from nothing — first customers, first hires, first playbook. I’ve done it three times and learned something new each time.
Go-to-market planning, ICP definition, territory design, and finding product-market fit when the answer isn’t obvious yet.
Full-cycle enterprise selling — prospecting, discovery, demos, procurement, close. I consistently hit quota and have carried complex 6–7 figure deals from first call to signed contract.
I take pride in helping teammates get better at their jobs. Whether it’s onboarding new reps, running deal reviews, or building training programs, I enjoy enabling the people around me.
Sales infrastructure, CRM architecture, and building the systems that let a small team move fast and punch above its weight.
Selling technical products — APIs, data platforms, AI/ML solutions — to technical buyers like CDOs, CTOs, and VPs of Engineering. I can run a deal without a dedicated SE when needed.
I produce minimal house and deep tech in Ableton at 128 BPM. 10+ years in the house music scene with sets across Toronto and Costa Rica. Influences: Josh Baker, John Summit, Dom Dolla.
A Toronto-based collective of DJs, dancers, and creatives building an alternative to mainstream club culture. We throw events, grow community, and are working toward becoming a label.
My border collie. Morning runs, park hangs, and the occasional office cameo. Non-negotiable part of the daily routine.
Sales methodology, psychology, AI research, personal development. I think the best sellers are the most curious people in the room, and reading is how I stay sharp.
Lazaridis School of Business & Economics. Entrance Scholarship recipient. Ontario Scholar. Varsity rugby athlete (2015–2019). Founded The Stath Network Laurier as President.
Languages: English (native) · Farsi / Persian / Dari (fluent) · French (working)
Always happy to connect — whether it’s about AI, startups, sales, or music. Shoot me a message.