Podcasts about B2B

Today's conversation is all about the thrilling intersection of AI and entrepreneurship, featuring the dynamic Mike Russell, a prominent voice in the B2B space. We delve into the rapid evolution of AI tools and how they can empower business owners to optimize their operations, making complex tasks simpler and more efficient. Mike shares his insights on using AI effectively, including how to avoid the common pitfalls of getting lost in the tech rabbit hole. We also touch on the upcoming B2B Content Live event in Belfast, where attendees can expect to learn about cutting-edge strategies and connect with like-minded professionals. Join us as we unpack these exciting developments and share a few laughs along the way! Raise Your Visibility Online is all about empowering B2B companies and entrepreneurs to harness the power of LinkedIn and video in their marketing strategies. In this episode, Louise Brogan welcomes Mike Russell, a LinkedIn expert and dynamic speaker, to discuss the ever-evolving landscape of AI and its impact on content creation and marketing. Mike shares his insights on the latest AI tools and trends that businesses can leverage to enhance their visibility and reach. He highlights the importance of adaptability in the face of rapid technological changes, emphasizing that marketers need to stay ahead of the curve to maintain their competitive edge. The conversation dives deep into actionable strategies and real-world applications, making it clear that the future of marketing lies in the intersection of technology and creativity. One of the key takeaways from this episode is the need for businesses to embrace AI as an integral part of their marketing efforts. Mike discusses his experience in using various AI models, including Claude and Gemini, to streamline processes and improve productivity. He outlines how these tools can help marketers generate high-quality content, optimize their campaigns, and ultimately drive better results. Louise and Mike also touch on the importance of community and connection in the digital age, advocating for a balanced approach that combines technology with genuine human interaction. As they look towards the B2B Content Live event in October, the duo emphasizes the value of networking and learning from industry experts, encouraging listeners to engage actively in their professional communities. In a humorous exchange, Mike's excitement for the upcoming event shines through as he reflects on the unpredictable nature of AI discussions. Both speakers acknowledge that the landscape is constantly changing, making it essential for marketers to remain flexible and prepared for new developments. With a blend of insightful commentary and light-hearted banter, this episode not only educates listeners about the latest trends but also inspires them to take action and elevate their online presence. If you're looking to enhance your business visibility and connect with like-minded professionals, this episode is a must-listen!Takeaways:Louise Brogan emphasizes the power of leveraging LinkedIn and video for B2B success in business.Mike Russell shares his insights on adapting to rapidly changing AI technologies for effective presentations.The podcast discusses the importance of human connection in the face of advancing AI tools and automation.Listeners are encouraged to explore various AI tools, including Perplexity and Claude, for optimizing their work processes.The conversation highlights the balance between using AI for productivity while maintaining the value of human creativity.

En este episodio de Growth, nos acompaña Blanca Miñano, CEO y fundadora de Skinvity, el e-commerce de referencia en tecnología cosmética para el hogar en España. Blanca comparte cómo ha construido una compañía sólida que factura 3,5 millones de euros siendo rentable desde el primer día, financiando su crecimiento con recursos propios y manteniendo una cultura de frugalidad.

W dzisiejszym odcinku „BSS bez tajemnic” wspólnie z mecenasem Mateuszem Chudzikiem bierzemy pod lupę rewolucję w prawie i podatkach, jaka dokonała się w styczniu i lutym 2026 roku. Czy polski biznes jest gotowy na budżet z rekordowym deficytem 271,7 mld zł? Analizujemy, co dla przedsiębiorców oznacza utrzymanie wysokiej presji podatkowej na VAT i akcyzę oraz jak planować budżety płacowe przy prognozowanym wzroście wynagrodzeń o 6,4%.Głównym tematem naszej rozmowy jest „wielkie pożegnanie z papierem”. Omawiamy historyczną deregulację w Kodeksie pracy, gdzie w wielu obszarach skan lub e-mail oficjalnie zastępują formę pisemną. Przyglądamy się również istotnym zmianom w KSH – całkowitej likwidacji akcji na okaziciela i nowym obowiązkom informacyjnym zarządów spółek. Nie pomijamy nowinek technologicznych: mObywatel pozwoli teraz przeszukać księgi wieczyste po numerze PESEL, a KRS wprowadza system subskrypcji zmian. Rozmawiamy także o nowych zasadach dotyczących rzeczy znalezionych (uwaga na zarządców galerii i dworców!) oraz o surowszych karach dla kierowców poza terenem zabudowanym.Zapraszam do słuchania!  Linki:Mateusz Chudzik na Linkedin – https://www.linkedin.com/in/mateusz-chudzik/Chudzik i Wspólnicy - https://chudzik.pl/   ****************************  Nazywam się Wiktor Doktór i na co dzień prowadzę Klub Pro Progressio https://proprogressio.com/pl/dzialalnosc/klub-pro-progressio/1 – to społeczność wielu firm prywatnych i organizacji sektora publicznego, którym zależy na rozwoju relacji biznesowych w modelu B2B. W podcaście BSS bez tajemnic poza odcinkami solowymi, zamieszczam rozmowy z ekspertami i specjalistami z różnych dziedzin przedsiębiorczości.Zapraszam do odwiedzin moich kanałów na:YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@wiktordoktor Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wiktor.doktor LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/wiktordoktor/ Moja strona internetowa - https://wiktordoktor.pl/ Możesz też do mnie napisać. Mój adres email to - kontakt(@)wiktordoktor.pl   ****************************  Patronami Podcastu “BSS bez tajemnic” są: Marzena Sawicka https://www.linkedin.com/in/marzena-sawicka-hillway-training/Przemysław Sławiński https://www.linkedin.com/in/przemys%C5%82aw-s%C5%82awi%C5%84ski-155a4426/ Damian Ruciński - https://www.linkedin.com/in/damian-rucinski/ Szymon Kryczka https://www.linkedin.com/in/szymonkryczka/Grzegorz Ludwin https://www.linkedin.com/in/gludwin/ Adam Furmańczuk https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-agilino/ Anna Czyż - https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-czyz-%F0%9F%94%B5%F0%9F%94%B4%F0%9F%9F%A2-68597813/ Igor Tkach - https://www.linkedin.com/in/igortkach/ Damian Wróblewski - https://www.linkedin.com/in/damianwroblewski/ Paweł Łopatka - https://www.linkedin.com/in/pawellopatka/ Ewelina Szindler - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ewelina-szindler-zarz%C4%85dzanie-mark%C4%85-osobist%C4%85-0497a0212/Wiktor Doktór Jr. - https://www.linkedin.com/in/wiktor-dokt%C3%B3r-jr-916297188/Agata Stolarz - https://www.linkedin.com/in/agata-stolarz/Hubert Antczak - https://www.linkedin.com/in/hubert-antczak/  Wspaniali ludzie, dzięki którym pojawiają się kolejne odcinki tego podcastu. Ty też możesz wesprzeć rozwój podcastu na: Patronite - https://patronite.pl/wiktordoktor Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/wiktordoktor Buy me a coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/wiktordoktor Buycoffee.to - https://buycoffee.to/wiktordoktor Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bss-bez-tajemnic--4069078/support.

Soap operas are back, but they look a lot different on TikTok, and even B2B brands need to pay attention to this exploding trend. Jay Schwedelson explains why serialized micro-dramas are the new engagement goldmine and how to adapt the format for professional content. He also shares fresh research on why adding just a few extra links to your email marketing campaigns might be destroying your click-through rates.Best Moments:(00:55) TikTok launches "Pine" to capitalize on the exploding micro-drama trend(01:52) Why Deloitte predicts this bite-sized content format will generate billions this year(02:20) How B2B marketers can use serialized storytelling on LinkedIn to boost engagement(03:22) New data shows hero offer clicks drop by 50% when an email has three or more links(04:50) Mondelez leans into internet culture with their hilarious "Nepo Cookie" campaign(05:50) The problem with "nepo babies" demanding privacy while oversharing on social mediaCheck out Jay's YOUTUBE Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@schwedelsonCheck out Jay's TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@schwedelsonCheck Out Jay's INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/jayschwedelson/ㅤPre-order Jay Schwedelson's new book, Stupider People Have Done It (out April 21, 2026). All net proceeds are donated to The V Foundation for Cancer Research—let's kick cancer's butt: https://www.amazon.com/Stupider-People-Have-Done-Marketing/dp/1637635206

JJ welcomes Sheila Donohue for a conversation that blends entrepreneurship, lifestyle, and the art of curated Italian wines and foods. Sheila shares how her company, Verovino, sources small-batch, farm-made wines, olive oils, and specialty foods—many not readily available in the U.S.—and delivers them to both consumers and businesses across America. In This Episode Meet Sheila in Bologna: Sheila shares her life in Bologna, Italy, where she's lived since 2001, and how Italy shaped her expertise and relationships with producers. What Verovino does: Verovino curates and imports authentic, sustainably made, small-batch products—primarily from Italy, plus select producers from other countries and California—selling B2B and direct-to-consumer. From fintech to food & wine: Sheila explains her background in financial technology (fintech), her sommelier training in Italy, and how her personal immersion in artisan food culture inspired the company. Starting from a "clean slate": In 2017, after major life changes, Sheila began building Verovino—funded through savings—and took early action by importing product and going door-to-door to find customers. How the business grows: Sheila emphasizes the importance of continuity (repeat business), building scale, and covering operating expenses. She explains how an omni-channel strategy helps stabilize the business: Distributors nationwide Wine stores & restaurants (especially in California) Direct-to-consumer shipping across the U.S. Corporate gifting & events Marketing & education that compounds: Verovino invests in education and storytelling through digital marketing—especially their blog and YouTube channel—to build long-term brand trust and demand. Product philosophy: As a sommelier-led team, Sheila curates for variety and distinction: reds, whites, rosés, orange wines, sparkling (dry and sweet), plus standout olive oils—including single-varietal olive oils with specific pairing profiles. Events as a growth engine: Sheila shares how tastings, fundraisers, private events, and collaborations introduce people to the products—because tasting creates appreciation and connection. Specialty foods: The conversation highlights a Piedmont hazelnut producer offering toasted hazelnuts, caramelized hazelnuts, hazelnut creams, pasta, and pestos—plus JJ's enthusiasm for pistachio cream and clean ingredients. Wine club & gifting: Sheila describes Verovino's monthly or quarterly wine club, curated shipments with insider notes and stories, and a growing trend of gifting memberships (including personalized letters). Gift sets: Verovino offers curated gift sets—popular in December—and a standout option that pairs wine + olive oil, plus expanded options for non-wine drinkers. A second brand line for broader appeal: To avoid being pigeonholed and to meet different market needs, Sheila shares how Verovino expanded into a separate line for more "recognizable" wines, including Prosecco and kegs—ideal for events and high-volume restaurant service. Advice for new producers: Sheila emphasizes the need to stand out in a crowded market—especially as the wine industry faces headwinds—and to clearly differentiate your product and message. Memorable Moments JJ connects her own journey as a winemaker (High Vibrational Wines) and discusses why she values small-batch, purpose-driven production over mass distribution. A fun community collaboration emerges: JJ invites Sheila to co-create a March event in Ojai with "Women Behind the Business: Real Conversations," potentially adding a wine tasting experience—and they discover their birthdays are both in March. Connect with Sheila / Verovino Website: Verovino.com YouTube: Vero Vino Instagram & Facebook: VeroVinoGusto Closing: JJ encourages listeners to explore Verovino for personal discovery, gifting, and creating meaningful food-and-wine experiences that bring "a taste of Italy" home.

"I kinda told myself I need to take a step back from e-commerce. When I took a step back, e-commerce said no and put me back in."Amer Grozdanic burned out running paid media for brands. The results were good — but never good enough. So he walked away, rebuilt his agency around what he could actually control, and landed clients like MVMT Watches and Billie Eilish without spending a dollar on ads. Today, Praella works with brands up to $400M in revenue, and Amer's seen the same blind spots in almost every store.We dig into the Shopify features most merchants ignore (B2B, Markets, Flows, Collective), why BattlBox's Whatnot channel converts 10X better than TikTok Shop, and the one question you should ask any agency before signing a retainer.SPONSORSSwym - Wishlists, Back in Stock alerts, & moregetswym.com/kurtCleverific - Smart order editing for Shopifycleverific.comZipify - Build high-converting sales funnelszipify.com/KURTLINKSWatch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/J3QTUEVulFcPraella: praella.comAmer on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amergrozdanicWhatnot: whatnot.comBattlBox: battlbox.comShoplift (A/B testing): shoplift.comIntelligems (A/B testing): intelligems.ioShopify Collective: shopify.com/collectiveShopify B2B: shopify.com/plus/b2bShopify Flow: shopify.com/flowWORK WITH KURTApply for Shopify Helpethercycle.com/applySee Our Resultsethercycle.com/workFree Newsletterkurtelster.comThe Unofficial Shopify Podcast is hosted by Kurt Elster and explores the stories behind successful Shopify stores. Get actionable insights, practical strategies, and proven tactics from entrepreneurs who've built thriving ecommerce businesses.

JJ welcomes Sheila Donohue for a conversation that blends entrepreneurship, lifestyle, and the art of curated Italian wines and foods. Sheila shares how her company, Verovino, sources small-batch, farm-made wines, olive oils, and specialty foods—many not readily available in the U.S.—and delivers them to both consumers and businesses across America. In This Episode Meet Sheila in Bologna: Sheila shares her life in Bologna, Italy, where she's lived since 2001, and how Italy shaped her expertise and relationships with producers. What Verovino does: Verovino curates and imports authentic, sustainably made, small-batch products—primarily from Italy, plus select producers from other countries and California—selling B2B and direct-to-consumer. From fintech to food & wine: Sheila explains her background in financial technology (fintech), her sommelier training in Italy, and how her personal immersion in artisan food culture inspired the company. Starting from a "clean slate": In 2017, after major life changes, Sheila began building Verovino—funded through savings—and took early action by importing product and going door-to-door to find customers. How the business grows: Sheila emphasizes the importance of continuity (repeat business), building scale, and covering operating expenses. She explains how an omni-channel strategy helps stabilize the business: Distributors nationwide Wine stores & restaurants (especially in California) Direct-to-consumer shipping across the U.S. Corporate gifting & events Marketing & education that compounds: Verovino invests in education and storytelling through digital marketing—especially their blog and YouTube channel—to build long-term brand trust and demand. Product philosophy: As a sommelier-led team, Sheila curates for variety and distinction: reds, whites, rosés, orange wines, sparkling (dry and sweet), plus standout olive oils—including single-varietal olive oils with specific pairing profiles. Events as a growth engine: Sheila shares how tastings, fundraisers, private events, and collaborations introduce people to the products—because tasting creates appreciation and connection. Specialty foods: The conversation highlights a Piedmont hazelnut producer offering toasted hazelnuts, caramelized hazelnuts, hazelnut creams, pasta, and pestos—plus JJ's enthusiasm for pistachio cream and clean ingredients. Wine club & gifting: Sheila describes Verovino's monthly or quarterly wine club, curated shipments with insider notes and stories, and a growing trend of gifting memberships (including personalized letters). Gift sets: Verovino offers curated gift sets—popular in December—and a standout option that pairs wine + olive oil, plus expanded options for non-wine drinkers. A second brand line for broader appeal: To avoid being pigeonholed and to meet different market needs, Sheila shares how Verovino expanded into a separate line for more "recognizable" wines, including Prosecco and kegs—ideal for events and high-volume restaurant service. Advice for new producers: Sheila emphasizes the need to stand out in a crowded market—especially as the wine industry faces headwinds—and to clearly differentiate your product and message. Memorable Moments JJ connects her own journey as a winemaker (High Vibrational Wines) and discusses why she values small-batch, purpose-driven production over mass distribution. A fun community collaboration emerges: JJ invites Sheila to co-create a March event in Ojai with "Women Behind the Business: Real Conversations," potentially adding a wine tasting experience—and they discover their birthdays are both in March. Connect with Sheila / Verovino Website: Verovino.com YouTube: Vero Vino Instagram & Facebook: VeroVinoGusto Closing: JJ encourages listeners to explore Verovino for personal discovery, gifting, and creating meaningful food-and-wine experiences that bring "a taste of Italy" home.

Notes Connect with Ruby on LinkedIn Download the reports filled with executive thought leadership gold! Tune in to the LinkedIn Live event with Ruby and her cutting-edge thought leaders Join the LinkedIn Ads Fanatics and get access to our 4 courses to take you from beginner to expert. Just hit 100 members so a shoutout to our awesome LI Ads fanatics for making it such an awesome community! Rate/Review Contact us with any questions, suggestions, or corrections! Summary In this powerhouse episode of the The LinkedIn Ad Show, host AJ Wilcox sits down with Ruby James to unpack the explosive rise of executive thought leadership — and why it's now one of the most powerful drivers of B2B pipeline on LinkedIn. Backed by brand-new data from LinkedIn's latest Founder-Led Sales & Marketing playbook, Ruby reveals that startups with founders who post just 10 times per year generate 33% more leads — and that deals influenced by executive engagement can see up to a 120% increase in deal size. Together, they dive deep into practical strategies for mobilizing busy executives, creating authentic content that builds trust (not just noise), and amplifying it all with Thought Leader Ads for measurable ROI. If you're a B2B marketer looking to connect brand, leadership, and paid strategy into one high-performing growth engine, this episode delivers the data, tactics, and real-world examples to make it happen. Transcript For the full show transcript, see the show notes page here: Episode 167

Send a textThis week's enterprise software developments underscore a widening gap between rapid AI-driven platform innovation and the unresolved execution risks embedded in large-scale ERP programs. On one side of the ledger, Mendix and OutSystems both advanced their agentic AI roadmaps with new releases aimed at operationalizing autonomous workflows, while ServiceNow's unveiling of its AI Experience, Sprinklr's new AI capabilities, and Braze's product enhancements at Forge 2025 reinforce how aggressively vendors across ITSM, CX, and marketing automation are repositioning around AI-first interaction layers. Salesforce's latest Slack updates and Upstream Works' enhanced agent desktop further extend this trend into collaboration and contact center operations, signaling that AI augmentation is now table stakes across front-office and service environments. In parallel, Plex's expanded connected worker integrations highlight how these same concepts are being pushed into manufacturing execution and workforce enablement, while Cleo's invoice payment and financing solution reflects growing pressure to modernize B2B financial operations. Yet this innovation narrative is tempered by Daedong USA's loss of an injunction in its ERP dispute—placing its $11.4 billion suit in jeopardy—which serves as a reminder that beneath the AI acceleration, legacy implementation failures, legal exposure, and governance breakdowns continue to create material risk for enterprises betting on large transformation programs.In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry analysts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to analyze current enterprise software stories. We covered many grounds including the direction and roadmaps of each enterprise software vendors. Finally, we analyzed future trends and how they might shape the enterprise software industry.Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Arr9GjwOBsQuestions for Panelists?

Show: West Coast Women Rising (also airing on: Spirit, Purpose & Energy • Nutrition Alternative Medicine • Fit 2 Love • Women, Men & Relationships • Health & Wealth) Host: JJ Flizanes Guest: Sheila Donohue, Founder of Verovino (based in Ventura, CA; living in Bologna, Italy) Overview JJ welcomes back Sheila Donohue for a conversation that blends entrepreneurship, lifestyle, and the art of curated Italian wines and foods. Sheila shares how her company, Verovino, sources small-batch, farm-made wines, olive oils, and specialty foods—many not readily available in the U.S.—and delivers them to both consumers and businesses across America. In This Episode Meet Sheila in Bologna: Sheila shares her life in Bologna, Italy, where she's lived since 2001, and how Italy shaped her expertise and relationships with producers. What Verovino does: Verovino curates and imports authentic, sustainably made, small-batch products—primarily from Italy, plus select producers from other countries and California—selling B2B and direct-to-consumer. From fintech to food & wine: Sheila explains her background in financial technology (fintech), her sommelier training in Italy, and how her personal immersion in artisan food culture inspired the company. Starting from a "clean slate": In 2017, after major life changes, Sheila began building Verovino—funded through savings—and took early action by importing product and going door-to-door to find customers. How the business grows: Sheila emphasizes the importance of continuity (repeat business), building scale, and covering operating expenses. She explains how an omni-channel strategy helps stabilize the business: Distributors nationwide Wine stores & restaurants (especially in California) Direct-to-consumer shipping across the U.S. Corporate gifting & events Marketing & education that compounds: Verovino invests in education and storytelling through digital marketing—especially their blog and YouTube channel—to build long-term brand trust and demand. Product philosophy: As a sommelier-led team, Sheila curates for variety and distinction: reds, whites, rosés, orange wines, sparkling (dry and sweet), plus standout olive oils—including single-varietal olive oils with specific pairing profiles. Events as a growth engine: Sheila shares how tastings, fundraisers, private events, and collaborations introduce people to the products—because tasting creates appreciation and connection. Specialty foods: The conversation highlights a Piedmont hazelnut producer offering toasted hazelnuts, caramelized hazelnuts, hazelnut creams, pasta, and pestos—plus JJ's enthusiasm for pistachio cream and clean ingredients. Wine club & gifting: Sheila describes Verovino's monthly or quarterly wine club, curated shipments with insider notes and stories, and a growing trend of gifting memberships (including personalized letters). Gift sets: Verovino offers curated gift sets—popular in December—and a standout option that pairs wine + olive oil, plus expanded options for non-wine drinkers. A second brand line for broader appeal: To avoid being pigeonholed and to meet different market needs, Sheila shares how Verovino expanded into a separate line for more "recognizable" wines, including Prosecco and kegs—ideal for events and high-volume restaurant service. Advice for new producers: Sheila emphasizes the need to stand out in a crowded market—especially as the wine industry faces headwinds—and to clearly differentiate your product and message. Memorable Moments JJ connects her own journey as a winemaker (High Vibrational Wines) and discusses why she values small-batch, purpose-driven production over mass distribution. A fun community collaboration emerges: JJ invites Sheila to co-create a March event in Ojai with "Women Behind the Business: Real Conversations," potentially adding a wine tasting experience—and they discover their birthdays are both in March. Connect with Sheila / Verovino Website: Verovino.com YouTube: Vero Vino Instagram & Facebook: VeroVinoGusto (Links can be added to your show notes page.) Closing: JJ encourages listeners to explore Verovino for personal discovery, gifting, and creating meaningful food-and-wine experiences that bring "a taste of Italy" home.

Most B2B brands want to stand out, but they end up blending in by trying to look more professional and more polished than everyone else. The result is marketing that's safe and completely forgettable.That's why Snoop Dogg is such a powerful case study. Behind his music, reinventions, and cultural ubiquity is a masterclass in relevance. In this episode, we break down Snoop's B2B marketing lessons with the help of our special guest Shay Thieberg, CMO & Co-Founder at MAIA Digital.Together, we explore what B2B marketers can learn from leading with authenticity, owning a clear niche, and building trust through consistent presence instead of chasing short-term attention.About our guest, Shay ThiebergShay Thieberg is the CMO & Co-Founder at MAIA Digital. Specializing in LinkedIn marketing, Shay holds a Masters degree in Social Psychology & Decision-Making. Shay is among 30 Global LinkedIn Certified Experts and Faculty members at Reichmann University where he teaches “B2B Marketing for Tech”.What B2B Companies Can Learn From Snoop Dogg:Authenticity scales better than polish. Snoop Dogg's enduring relevance comes from never pretending to be someone he's not. Shay points out that when Snoop came to LinkedIn, he didn't dilute his identity to fit the platform. Instead, he expanded the platform by being himself. As Shay explains, “He could have come to LinkedIn, put up the suit and tie, be a super LinkedIn-ish persona…  he was able, two years ago, to start making a shift and bringing and showcasing to other people with uniquenesses that they can stay cool, they can stay themself.” The B2B lesson is clear: credibility isn't earned by sounding professional. It's earned by sounding real. Brands that over-polish lose signal. The ones that feel human get remembered.Be known for one thing before you try to be known for everything. Snoop's brand works because it's anchored. No matter how many industries he touches, there's a core idea people immediately associate with him. Shay translates this directly into B2B positioning: “You want to be well known for this exact thing that you do uniquely from other people.” The strongest B2B brands don't chase every opportunity, they reinforce a single, unmistakable identity until the market does the work for them.Visibility is about presence. One of Snoop's most underrated strengths is that he never fully disappears. He doesn't overwhelm audiences, but he consistently shows up across moments, mediums, and decades. Shay say, “It's not about motivation, it's about staying constant.” For B2B marketers, the takeaway is uncomfortable but liberating: you don't need viral hits to stay relevant. You need continuity. In markets where buyers forget fast, staying present is the strategy.Quote“ Smoking, that's his thing. Now maybe some people will think it's a bad thing, which is fine, but I'm looking at it from a B2B perspective… That's his thing. So he is well known about this one and then he utilizes it for its own good… So you want to be well known for this exact thing that you do uniquely from other people.”Time Stamps[01:20] Meet Shay Thieberg, CMO & Co-Founder at MAIA Digital[01:30] Why Snoop Dogg?[02:26] Founding MAIA Digital[06:07] Who is Snoop Dogg?[16:46] B2B Marketing Takeaways from Snoop Dogg[23:31] Optimal LinkedIn Strategy for 2026[25:28] Thought Leadership and Trust[26:23] Challenges with LinkedIn Video Content[30:33] Creating Effective LinkedIn Videos[33:00] How to Optimize Your Content on LinkedIn[40:32] Final Thoughts and TakeawaysLinksConnect with Shay on LinkedInLearn more about MAIA DigitalAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today's episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

SHOW NOTES:In this episode of Stories With Traction, host Matt Zaun sits down with John Welch, a B2B lead generation specialist based in Indianapolis, for a raw, unfiltered conversation about what actually works regarding lead generation and why most companies are playing the game completely wrong.John brings a decade of sales and marketing experience, including nearly 4 years focused on lead generation. Together, they unpack the uncomfortable truths about rejection, consistency, commissions, and why lead generation is fundamentally a long-term discipline, not a short-term tactic.

JJ welcomes back Sheila Donohue for a conversation that blends entrepreneurship, lifestyle, and the art of curated Italian wines and foods. Sheila shares how her company, Verovino, sources small-batch, farm-made wines, olive oils, and specialty foods—many not readily available in the U.S.—and delivers them to both consumers and businesses across America. In This Episode Meet Sheila in Bologna: Sheila shares her life in Bologna, Italy, where she's lived since 2001, and how Italy shaped her expertise and relationships with producers. What Verovino does: Verovino curates and imports authentic, sustainably made, small-batch products—primarily from Italy, plus select producers from other countries and California—selling B2B and direct-to-consumer. From fintech to food & wine: Sheila explains her background in financial technology (fintech), her sommelier training in Italy, and how her personal immersion in artisan food culture inspired the company. Starting from a "clean slate": In 2017, after major life changes, Sheila began building Verovino—funded through savings—and took early action by importing product and going door-to-door to find customers. How the business grows: Sheila emphasizes the importance of continuity (repeat business), building scale, and covering operating expenses. She explains how an omni-channel strategy helps stabilize the business: Distributors nationwide Wine stores & restaurants (especially in California) Direct-to-consumer shipping across the U.S. Corporate gifting & events Marketing & education that compounds: Verovino invests in education and storytelling through digital marketing—especially their blog and YouTube channel—to build long-term brand trust and demand. Product philosophy: As a sommelier-led team, Sheila curates for variety and distinction: reds, whites, rosés, orange wines, sparkling (dry and sweet), plus standout olive oils—including single-varietal olive oils with specific pairing profiles. Events as a growth engine: Sheila shares how tastings, fundraisers, private events, and collaborations introduce people to the products—because tasting creates appreciation and connection. Specialty foods: The conversation highlights a Piedmont hazelnut producer offering toasted hazelnuts, caramelized hazelnuts, hazelnut creams, pasta, and pestos—plus JJ's enthusiasm for pistachio cream and clean ingredients. Wine club & gifting: Sheila describes Verovino's monthly or quarterly wine club, curated shipments with insider notes and stories, and a growing trend of gifting memberships (including personalized letters). Gift sets: Verovino offers curated gift sets—popular in December—and a standout option that pairs wine + olive oil, plus expanded options for non-wine drinkers. A second brand line for broader appeal: To avoid being pigeonholed and to meet different market needs, Sheila shares how Verovino expanded into a separate line for more "recognizable" wines, including Prosecco and kegs—ideal for events and high-volume restaurant service. Advice for new producers: Sheila emphasizes the need to stand out in a crowded market—especially as the wine industry faces headwinds—and to clearly differentiate your product and message. Memorable Moments JJ connects her own journey as a winemaker (High Vibrational Wines) and discusses why she values small-batch, purpose-driven production over mass distribution. A fun community collaboration emerges: JJ invites Sheila to co-create a March event in Ojai with "Women Behind the Business: Real Conversations," potentially adding a wine tasting experience—and they discover their birthdays are both in March. Connect with Sheila / Verovino Website: Verovino.com YouTube: Vero Vino Instagram & Facebook: VeroVinoGusto Closing: JJ encourages listeners to explore Verovino for personal discovery, gifting, and creating meaningful food-and-wine experiences that bring "a taste of Italy" home.

Vender en el mundo B2B no es cuestión de cerrar operaciones rápidas, sino de construir relaciones que pueden durar años. Para Hernán Cid, fundador de Lay Us Agencia, el gran error de muchas empresas es intentar aplicar lógicas del B2C a procesos que son, por naturaleza, más largos, más complejos y con tickets significativamente más altos: "No son ventas que se cierran de una sola vez, sino que tienes que tener un sistema o proceso que te haga llegar al objetivo, que es la venta", sostiene nuestro invitado. Antes de diseñar cualquier estrategia comercial, Cid plantea que es fundamental entender en qué tipo de modelo se está jugando: "Hay dos grupos dentro del B2B. Uno es el industrial, que venden mucho volumen con menos margen. Y luego está el de servicios, donde sí hay altos márgenes. Cierran 5 contratos al año y con eso cumplen con las expectativas de ganancias". Esta diferencia cambia completamente la dinámica comercial: mientras algunos necesitan volumen constante, otros pueden sostener su rentabilidad con pocos contratos bien trabajados. A diferencia del mercado masivo, el B2B permite un conocimiento mucho más profundo del cliente. "En B2B manejamos menos clientes… pueden llegar quizás a ser 30 y tenemos la posibilidad de conocerlos mejor, entender su ciclo de ventas, sus problemas, etc. Y eso es bueno para poder adaptarte a la realidad del cliente al que le quieres vender", declara nuestro experto. Esa cercanía abre la puerta a relaciones más estratégicas, donde el vendedor deja de ser un proveedor ocasional para convertirse en un socio que comprende los desafíos del negocio. El eje central de su propuesta es ordenar la cartera y dejar de vender de manera improvisada. Para lograrlo, trabaja con cuatro cuadrantes que obligan a mirar todo el mapa comercial y no solo la prospección. "Los de arriba son A y B que representan a los clientes actuales; y los de abajo son C y D, que son los 'no clientes'", describe Cid. En el grupo A están los clientes actuales a los que ya no se les puede vender más, por lo que requieren un plan de fidelización. En el B están los clientes actuales con potencial de crecimiento, donde se diseña un plan de fidelización y escala. En el C aparecen los clientes perdidos, que necesitan un plan de recuperación. Y en el D están los que aún no conocen la empresa, para quienes se desarrolla un plan de conquista. "Poner el foco solo en un grupo, es un error", advierte. En la etapa de prospección, la estrategia también debe ser integral. "Uno puede hacer un contacto con el cliente más básico, como llamar por teléfono o mandar mails, o ser más estratégico, usando herramientas de IA y usar distintos canales, como LinkedIn, que es súper importante actualmente para B2B. Si estoy prospectando no recomiendo ir por un solo canal", recomienda nuestro invitado. La combinación de tecnología, distintos puntos de contacto y seguimiento sistemático es lo que permite generar oportunidades de manera constante. Cuando se trata de crecer, muchas veces la respuesta está dentro de la propia cartera: "Cuando llegamos al plan de crecimiento, en general vamos a encontrar dinero más rápido porque son clientes actuales. Si vamos con las técnicas adecuadas, es bastante probable que podamos subir las ventas en un corto plazo". Trabajar con quienes ya confían en la empresa reduce fricciones y acelera resultados, siempre que exista una estrategia clara. Sin embargo, Cid remarca que el vínculo no debería limitarse al momento de la transacción. "A veces nos vinculamos con los clientes solamente en el momento de la transacción, pero es mejor verlo desde un lado diferente y tener interacción desde otro lugar, para conocer el proyecto del cliente, sus desafíos… Es algo que no se suele hacer, pero es algo positivo para el desarrollo comercial", afirma nuestro experto. Esa visión relacional fortalece la confianza y abre nuevas oportunidades a mediano plazo. Incluso los clientes que se fueron representan una oportunidad desaprovechada: "Cuando no recuperamos clientes es porque ni siquiera lo intentamos. Ahora, cuando hacemos un plan de recuperación podemos recuperar al menos el 20% de los clientes". En lugar de enfocarse únicamente en captar nuevos prospectos, revisar la base histórica puede generar ingresos más rápido de lo que muchos imaginan. Para Hernán, la clave no está en vender más por impulso, sino en vender mejor a través de un sistema. "Cuando definimos cuadrantes, vendemos un plan de prospección y luego vamos a un plan de crecimiento. Vamos a cambiar nuestra realidad en ventas en sólo 2 o 3 meses", subraya Cid. El orden, la segmentación y la estrategia transforman un proceso incierto en un mecanismo predecible, capaz de sostener el crecimiento en el largo plazo. LinkedIn: @hernan-cid Instagram: @hernancidb2b

#330 | Dave is joined by Ryan Narod, VP of Marketing at Rippling, to break down how Rippling has built one of the stand outbrands in B2B right now. Ryan walks through real examples of campaigns they've run over the last year, from scrappy iPhone videos and webinar promos to high-production customer stories and their 2026 Super Bowl commercial. They talk about how Rippling shifted from being great at growth marketing to building a brand people actually recognize, how they inject more personality and “human” into everything they ship, and how they measure brand marketing without losing pipeline accountability. To see Ryan's real campaign examples, head over to youtube.com/@heydavegerhardt.Timestamps(00:00) - - Why Rippling is going all-in on brand (02:51) - - Ryan's background and why he joined Rippling (04:14) - - What Rippling does and how they position the platform (08:14) - - What “brand marketing” means at Rippling (10:34) - - Building a story that makes HR the hero (19:47) - - Ryan shares Rippling marketing examples (ads, videos, webinars) (27:17) - - High-production customer storytelling (Berries) (32:39) - - The “HR Deserves Better” campaign (35:37) - - How Rippling measures brand and pipeline impact (43:14) - - The Super Bowl commercial and what it takes to pull it off (45:17) - - Final takeaways and wrap-up Join 50,0000 people who get Dave's Newsletter here: https://www.exitfive.com/newsletterLearn more about Exit Five's private marketing community: https://www.exitfive.com/***Brought to you by:Knak - A no-code, campaign creation platform that lets you go from idea to on-brand email and landing pages in minutes, using AI where it actually matters. Learn more at knak.com/exitfive.Optimizely - An AI platform where autonomous agents execute marketing work across webpages, email, SEO, and campaigns. Get a free, personalized 45-minute AI workshop to help you identify the best AI use cases for your marketing team and map out where agents can save you time at optimizely.com/exitfive (PS - you'll get a FREE pair of Meta Ray Bans if you do). Customer.io - An AI powered customer engagement platform that help marketers turn first-party data into engaging customer experiences across email, SMS, and push. Learn more at customer.io/exitfive.  ***Thanks to my friends at hatch.fm for producing this episode and handling all of the Exit Five podcast production.They give you unlimited podcast editing and strategy for your B2B podcast.Get unlimited podcast editing and on-demand strategy for one low monthly cost. Just upload your episode, and they take care of the rest.Visit hatch.fm to learn more

JJ welcomes Sheila Donohue for a conversation that blends entrepreneurship, lifestyle, and the art of curated Italian wines and foods. Sheila shares how her company, Verovino, sources small-batch, farm-made wines, olive oils, and specialty foods—many not readily available in the U.S.—and delivers them to both consumers and businesses across America. In This Episode Meet Sheila in Bologna: Sheila shares her life in Bologna, Italy, where she's lived since 2001, and how Italy shaped her expertise and relationships with producers. What Verovino does: Verovino curates and imports authentic, sustainably made, small-batch products—primarily from Italy, plus select producers from other countries and California—selling B2B and direct-to-consumer. From fintech to food & wine: Sheila explains her background in financial technology (fintech), her sommelier training in Italy, and how her personal immersion in artisan food culture inspired the company. Starting from a "clean slate": In 2017, after major life changes, Sheila began building Verovino—funded through savings—and took early action by importing product and going door-to-door to find customers. How the business grows: Sheila emphasizes the importance of continuity (repeat business), building scale, and covering operating expenses. She explains how an omni-channel strategy helps stabilize the business: Distributors nationwide Wine stores & restaurants (especially in California) Direct-to-consumer shipping across the U.S. Corporate gifting & events Marketing & education that compounds: Verovino invests in education and storytelling through digital marketing—especially their blog and YouTube channel—to build long-term brand trust and demand. Product philosophy: As a sommelier-led team, Sheila curates for variety and distinction: reds, whites, rosés, orange wines, sparkling (dry and sweet), plus standout olive oils—including single-varietal olive oils with specific pairing profiles. Events as a growth engine: Sheila shares how tastings, fundraisers, private events, and collaborations introduce people to the products—because tasting creates appreciation and connection. Specialty foods: The conversation highlights a Piedmont hazelnut producer offering toasted hazelnuts, caramelized hazelnuts, hazelnut creams, pasta, and pestos—plus JJ's enthusiasm for pistachio cream and clean ingredients. Wine club & gifting: Sheila describes Verovino's monthly or quarterly wine club, curated shipments with insider notes and stories, and a growing trend of gifting memberships (including personalized letters). Gift sets: Verovino offers curated gift sets—popular in December—and a standout option that pairs wine + olive oil, plus expanded options for non-wine drinkers. A second brand line for broader appeal: To avoid being pigeonholed and to meet different market needs, Sheila shares how Verovino expanded into a separate line for more "recognizable" wines, including Prosecco and kegs—ideal for events and high-volume restaurant service. Advice for new producers: Sheila emphasizes the need to stand out in a crowded market—especially as the wine industry faces headwinds—and to clearly differentiate your product and message. Memorable Moments JJ connects her own journey as a winemaker (High Vibrational Wines) and discusses why she values small-batch, purpose-driven production over mass distribution. A fun community collaboration emerges: JJ invites Sheila to co-create a March event in Ojai with "Women Behind the Business: Real Conversations," potentially adding a wine tasting experience—and they discover their birthdays are both in March. Connect with Sheila / Verovino Website: Verovino.com YouTube: Vero Vino Instagram & Facebook: VeroVinoGusto Closing: JJ encourages listeners to explore Verovino for personal discovery, gifting, and creating meaningful food-and-wine experiences that bring "a taste of Italy" home.

This episode is brought to you by B2B Better. Stop sending "just checking in" emails. We build owned media systems that give your sales team actual reasons to reach out, turning podcasts into sales enablement assets that move deals forward. If your sales reps send "just checking in" emails to prospects who've gone quiet, this episode explains why those fail and what to do instead. Host Jason Bradwell breaks down how to create milestone moments, legitimate, value-led reasons to reach out through long sales cycles without sounding desperate. Jason's core point is clear: most B2B sales cycles are brutally long, but sales teams don't know how to stay present without being annoying. The traditional approach fails. Discovery call, proposal sent, then "just checking in" emails with no response. Twelve months later, the prospect went with a competitor because "you didn't understand our business." After month two, you had nothing valuable to say. 95% of B2B Better's clients have sales cycles over six months. And 95% of your customers are out of market at any given time. Your job is to stay present so when they flip to being in market, they think of you first. Most owned media falls apart here. Marketing creates beautiful content. Sales sees it but has no idea how to use it in actual sales motion. Marketing measures downloads. Sales measures meetings. Different languages, different outcomes. Milestone moments fix this. Month one: send proposal plus a podcast clip addressing their exact challenge. Month three: benchmark report. Month four: webinar invite. Month five: customer story. Month six: check in with context. Months seven to twelve: new episodes create new reasons to reach out. Month eighteen: deal closes because you felt like a partner. B2B Better's sales enablement kits deliver three clips with email copy, key graphics, follow-up sequences, and tags showing which funnel stage each piece serves. One innovation: sales stitch videos where reps record 30-second reactions to clips. Personal brands beat company brands these generate thousands of views when originals get hundreds. This works with three things: marketing-sales alignment through quarterly planning, infrastructure for sales to contribute to production, and attribution through CRM tracking plus conversations about where content surfaces in deals. Chapter Markers 00:00 - The "just checking in" problem that kills deals 01:00 - Context on long sales cycles and 95% out-of-market buyers 02:00 - Why owned media strategies fall apart at sales activation 03:00 - Traditional approach: proposal to dead deal in 12 months 04:00 - Milestone moments approach: 18-month cycle done right 06:00 - What qualifies as a milestone moment 07:00 - Timing and sequencing content to the buyer journey 08:00 - Sales enablement kit components 09:00 - Tags and metadata for searchable, attributable content 10:00 - Sales stitch videos: personalising content at scale 11:00 - Why personal brands beat company brands in B2B 12:00 - Three requirements: alignment between teams 13:00 - Infrastructure for sales to contribute to production 14:00 - Attribution: quantitative and qualitative tracking 15:00 - The challenge: audit your last five gone-quiet emails Useful Links Connect with Jason Bradwell on LinkedIn Read the Ehrenberg-Bass 95-5 rule research Explore HubSpot CRM for tracking content touches Check out Salesforce CRM Explore B2B Better website and the Pipe Dream podcast 

Brent Peterson sat down with Jorrit Steinz, founder and CEO of ChannelEngine, to discuss one of the most transformative shifts in ecommerce today: agentic commerce. The conversation covered how brands and retailers must rethink their multi-channel strategies now that AI-powered agents, from ChatGPT to Microsoft Copilot, are becoming transactional shopping platforms. With marketplaces multiplying, social commerce expanding, and LLMs entering the buying funnel, the episode delivered a forward-looking perspective on what merchants need to do right now to stay competitive.TakeawaysThe ultimate vision of agentic is consumer empowerment.Consumers will deploy agents to find products online.Agents will scrape the internet for purchasing options.In B2B, agents will facilitate shopping across platforms.Automation will enhance the shopping experience.The future of shopping involves digital agents.Agents will present curated options to consumers.B2B transactions will become more efficient with agents.The role of agents is expanding in digital commerce.Consumer agents will revolutionize how we buy. Chapters00:00 Introduction to Channel Engine and E-commerce Passion00:23 The Role of APIs and Data Feeds in E-commerce

In this episode of the B2B Marketing Excellence & AI Podcast, Donna Peterson discusses a growing leadership issue inside companies using AI.Many teams are increasing speed. Fewer are defining direction.AI accelerates output, but without documented guardrails, it can quietly amplify misalignment across departments. When messaging, tone, and strategy drift, trust weakens, especially in long sales cycle B2B environments.Using a practical analogy from Olympic Super-G skiing, Donna explains why leaders must define the boundaries that keep teams aligned and moving efficiently toward the same goal.In This Episode:Why AI increases both speed and riskHow unclear direction creates internal driftThe leadership cost of repeating yourselfWhat true AI guardrails includeWhy monthly AI alignment meetings are essentialThe risk of layering new tools without structureHow shared templates improve consistencyThe connection between alignment and trustKey Leadership Insight:If you are repeating tone, mission, or positioning guidance across departments, it may not be a personnel issue. It may be a documentation issue.AI amplifies whatever structure exists.Without guardrails, inconsistency scales faster.With guardrails, trust compounds.Practical Action Steps. After listening, consider:Writing your company's WHY in one clear paragraph.Defining your tone in five specific words.Reviewing whether current AI outputs reflect that tone.Evaluating whether your team is aligned around shared templates.Scheduling a monthly AI alignment discussion if one does not exist.If this conversation resonates, the full episode provides detailed examples and implementation guidance you can apply immediately. Listen to the complete episode to understand how to build AI guardrails that protect your mission and strengthen long-term growth.If your organization is ready to bring structure and clarity to your AI implementation, we would welcome the opportunity to work with your leadership team. *** Reach out to dpeterson@worldinnovators.comif you'd like help building a marketing strategy that builds relationships and/or AI training for individuals or full teams.*** Visit www.worldinnovators.comfor more resources on building stronger marketing and leadership strategies.*** Subscribe to the B2B Marketing Excellence & AI Podcast for weekly insights into marketing, leadership, and the future of AI.

AI is evolving fast—and so are the risks that come with it. In this episode of Leader Generation, Tessa Burg talks with Mod Op's EVP of PR, Chris Harihar, to unpack a growing issue most brands aren't fully prepared for: AI-driven brand misrepresentation. From deepfakes to manipulated logos and inappropriate brand placements, the conversation explores how generative AI tools are creating new reputational threats in ways that feel chaotic, fast-moving and hard to control. Chris introduces Mod Op's new AI Risk Intelligence capability, designed to help brands proactively identify and address harmful AI-generated content before it spirals. They dig into real examples—including manipulated executive deepfakes and brand misuse across platforms like Sora and Grok—and explain why this isn't just a cybersecurity issue, but a reputational one that belongs squarely in the PR and communications world. If you're a CMO, brand leader, or marketer wondering how exposed your company might be—or how to get ahead of risks that didn't exist a year ago—this episode offers clarity, practical thinking, and a smart path forward. It's a timely conversation about protecting your brand while still embracing the power of AI. Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.    About Chris Harihar: Chris Harihar is the EVP of Public Relations at Mod Op. With deep expertise in business and tech media relations, Chris counsels clients at a high level while maintaining hands-on involvement in media relations and content strategy. He has developed and run highly successful programs for leading B2B and tech brands, from Verizon Media/Yahoo and DoubleVerify to Signal AI, IDG (now Foundry) and WeTransfer. Chris can be reached on LinkedIn or at Chris.Harihar@ModOp.com.   About Tessa Burg: Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.

Listening is the most underrated sales skill because it's the one that actually tells you what the buyer is thinking, not what you wish they were thinking.  Most salespeople believe they listen well, but in real conversations—especially under pressure—we drift into habits that feel like listening while we're actually rehearsing our next line. In Japan, in the US, in Europe—whether you're selling to an SME, a startup, or a multinational—buyers can feel when you're not fully present. Are you really listening to the buyer—or just waiting to talk? Most salespeople aren't listening; they're mentally queuing up their next point, and the buyer can hear the delay. This shows up in every market: a SaaS rep in San Francisco, a relationship banker in London, or an account manager in Tokyo can look attentive while their mind is sprinting ahead. The trigger is usually one "important" phrase—budget, competitor, timing—then your attention snaps away from the buyer and into your internal monologue. You're still hearing, but you're not taking in. That gap matters because buyers don't only communicate in words. In executive-level meetings at firms like Toyota or Rakuten, meaning often sits inside tone, pace, hesitations, and what goes unsaid. Post-pandemic, with more hybrid calls on Zoom or Teams, these cues are easier to miss—unless you deliberately train for them. Do now: Treat every buyer conversation like a live intelligence feed: if you're writing your reply in your head, you've stopped listening. What are the five levels of listening in sales? There are five levels—Ignore, Pretend, Selective, Attentive, and Empathetic—and most sales calls hover around levels 2 or 3.  Ignore doesn't mean staring at your phone; it can mean being hijacked by your own thoughts the moment the buyer says something provocative. Pretend looks like nodding, eye contact, "mm-hmm"—but your brain is busy building the pitch. Selective listening is the killer in modern B2B: you filter for "yes/no" buying signals, but you miss the conditions attached to them (timeline, stakeholders, risk concerns). Attentive listening is full-focus: no interruptions, no filtering, paraphrasing to confirm. Empathetic listening goes further—eyes and ears—reading what's behind the words and "meeting the buyer in the conversation going on in their mind." That's as relevant in procurement-heavy Japan as it is in fast-moving US sales teams. Do now: Identify which level you default to under pressure—and train upward, not sideways. What does "ignoring the client" look like if you're still in the room? You can "ignore" a buyer while looking directly at them—by following your own thoughts instead of their words. This is common when the client says something that sparks urgency: "We're also talking to your competitor," "Budget is tight," "We need this by Q2." The moment you latch onto that, the rest of what they say fades into the mist because you're fixated on the counterpoint you must deliver. In enterprise sales, this is where deals quietly die: you respond to the wrong problem, at the wrong depth, to the wrong stakeholder. In Japan, where meaning can be indirect and consensus-based, this is riskier—what's not said can be the real message. In Australia, where communication is often more direct, you can still miss the nuance in tone—especially in remote calls where you're juggling slides, notes, and chat. Do now: When you feel triggered, pause and mentally label it: "That's my ego talking—back to the buyer." Why do salespeople "pretend" to listen—and how can you spot it? Pretend listening happens when your body language says "I'm with you" but your mind is already pitching, defending, or debating.  You nod. You lean in. You look professional. But internally you're preparing the product dump, building the objection-handling case, or rehearsing the "killer story." It's the classic "lights are on, but you're not home" dynamic—common across industries like consulting, insurance, tech, and professional services. The modern version is worse: you're also glancing at CRM notes, Slack messages, or the next meeting timer. Buyers notice because your responses don't quite match what they said. You answer a question they didn't ask, or you jump too early. In negotiation-heavy environments (Japan, Germany, regulated sectors), this reads as disrespect. In faster markets (US startups), it reads as shallow. Do now: After the buyer speaks, summarise in one sentence before you respond with anything else. Is "selective listening" efficient—or does it sabotage sales outcomes? Selective listening is efficient for hearing buying signals, but it often sabotages effectiveness by skipping the context that makes the "yes" or "no" meaningful.  Salespeople are trained to hunt for signals: interest, hesitation, resistance. But if you only listen for yes/no, you miss the conditions attached—like internal politics, compliance concerns, implementation capacity, or fear of change. You also jump the gun: you hear the "no" early and start crafting your rebuttal while the buyer is still explaining why. The Japan example is instructive: because the verb often arrives at the end of the sentence, you're forced to hear the whole thought before reacting. In English, you can start manufacturing your reply mid-sentence, which feels fast but can be sloppy. Across APAC, where indirectness can be a politeness strategy, selective listening becomes a deal-killer because the meaning sits in the qualifiers. Do now: Don't respond to the first "yes/no." Wait for the full sentence—then ask one clarifying question. What's the difference between attentive listening and empathetic listening—and which closes deals? Attentive listening makes you accurate; empathetic listening makes you influential because it reveals what the buyer is really protecting.  Attentive listening is full presence: you don't interrupt, you don't filter, you paraphrase to confirm understanding. This alone differentiates you in any market—Japan, the US, Europe—because most professionals are distracted. Empathetic listening is the next level: you listen with your eyes and ears, tracking tone, body language, and what isn't being said. You sense anxiety behind a budget objection, or politics behind a "we'll think about it." You aim to "meet the buyer in the conversation going on in their mind," which is exactly what executive-level selling requires. In leadership cultures where saving face matters (Japan, parts of Asia), empathy helps you surface concerns safely. In direct cultures (Australia, US), empathy helps you avoid brute-force pitching and instead guide the decision. Do now: Paraphrase the facts, then reflect the feeling: "It sounds like timing isn't the only concern here." Conclusion If you want to sell more, stop trying to be more persuasive and start trying to be more present. The five levels of listening are a diagnostic tool: most salespeople drift between Pretend and Selective because their brain is busy performing. Attentive listening earns trust. Empathetic listening uncovers truth. And the fastest way to improve your buyer conversations is to practise listening where it's hardest—at home, with people who don't have to pay you to stay polite. Author credentials Dr. Greg Story, Ph.D. in Japanese Decision-Making, is President of Dale Carnegie Tokyo Training and Adjunct Professor at Griffith University. He is a two-time winner of the Dale Carnegie "One Carnegie Award" (2018, 2021) and recipient of the Griffith University Business School Outstanding Alumnus Award (2012). As a Dale Carnegie Master Trainer, Greg is certified to deliver globally across all leadership, communication, sales, and presentation programs, including Leadership Training for Results.  He has written several books, including three best-sellers — Japan Business Mastery, Japan Sales Mastery, and Japan Presentations Mastery — along with Japan Leadership Mastery and How to Stop Wasting Money on Training. His works have been translated into Japanese, including Za Eigyō (ザ営業), Purezen no Tatsujin (プレゼンの達人), Torēningu de Okane o Muda ni Suru no wa Yamemashō (トレーニングでお金を無駄にするのはやめましょう), and Gendaiban "Hito o Ugokasu" Rīdā (現代版「人を動かす」リーダー).  Greg also publishes daily business insights on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter, and hosts six weekly podcasts. On YouTube, he produces The Cutting Edge Japan Business Show, Japan Business Mastery, and Japan's Top Business Interviews, which are widely followed by executives seeking success strategies in Japan. 

WORKSHOP "Volle Leads-Pipeline durch virtuelle KI-Marketing-Mitarbeiter in ChatGPT & LinkedIn" ➔ Hier ansehen: https://xhauer.com/workshop-pod Gratis AI LEAD MAGNET GENERATOR ➔ Lead Magnet erstellen in 20 Min, der verkauft: https://xhauer.com/ai-generator-pod In dieser Folge teile ich meine Erfahrungen und Strategien zum Aufbau eines effektiven Money Models für Agenturen und Beratungen, das sich auf wiederkehrende Umsätze und maximalen Cashflow konzentriert. Ich erkläre, wie wir unser Produktportfolio strukturiert haben, um Skalierbarkeit und hohe Bruttomargen zu erreichen, und wie wir durch ein automatisiertes Webinar neue Kunden gewinnen. Ich lade euch ein, über eure eigenen Geschäftsmodelle nachzudenken und zu überlegen, wie ihr ähnliche Mechaniken implementieren könnt.Wenn du neu auf meinem Kanal bist:Mein Name ist Michael Asshauer. Ich bin Gründer und Geschäftsführer von XHAUER. Mein Team und ich helfen jeden Tag Anbietern im komplexen und technischen B2B, ihre Pipeline mit guten Verkaufsgelegenheiten zu füllen. Durch eine systematische Kombination aus Performance- und Content-Marketing. Ganz ohne Bunte-Bildchen-Marketing, sondern datengetrieben nach dem Grundsatz “Do more of what works”.Ein paar Fakten für dich, wie ich hierher gekommen bin und welche Reise ich auf diesem Kanal dokumentiere:25 Jahre: Gründung meines ersten Technologie-Unternehmens Familonet25 Jahre: Abschluss meiner Studiengänge Volkswirtschaftslehre, Betriebswirtschaftslehre und International Business (Hamburg & Melbourne)28 Jahre: Ausgründung unserer B2B-Software-Entwicklungsagentur onbyrd 30 Jahre: Übernahme unserer Unternehmen durch den Daimler-Konzern (heute Mercedes-Benz Group AG)31 Jahre: Gründung meiner Business-Content-Plattform “Machen!”32 Jahre: Gründung meines Performance-Recruiting-Unternehmens Talentmagnet (und anschließender Verkauf)34 Jahre: Gründung unserer B2B-Marketing-Agentur & Beratung XHAUER, gemeinsam mit Paula.Heute: Paula, unser Team und ich sind auf dem Weg, eine der besten B2B-Agenturen & Beratungen weltweit aufzubauen.Auf diesem Kanal teile ich alle Erkenntnisse, Learnings und Best Practices aus Tausenden Kampagnen offen mit dir, sodass du sie für euer Marketing anwenden kannst.Für B2B-Marketing, das die Pipeline füllt.Dein Michael Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Partnerships Unraveled, we sit down with Dave Allen, Vice President of Geo Sales and Partner Sales at Akamai, to explore the strategy and innovation behind Akamai's newly revamped Partner Connect Program. With decades of channel experience, Dave shares the methodology behind designing a partner program from the ground up one that reflects today's evolving channel landscape and Akamai's partner-first mindset across security, compute, and edge infrastructure.Channel leaders tuning in will gain tactical insights on how Akamai is leveraging incentivized behaviors to drive new customer acquisition, expanding partner tiering to better reflect regional performance, and embracing distribution as a key scale lever. We also dive into how the company has embedded partner value into field compensation models and enablement structures—proving Akamai's shift from a direct-first legacy to a truly partner-centric approach.Whether you're rethinking your own partner tiers, struggling with program scalability, or seeking fresh ideas around high-growth services like microsegmentation, this episode delivers actionable frameworks and strategic clarity. Don't miss this look inside one of the most partner-focused evolutions in B2B tech._________________________Learn more about Channext

B2B sa mení rýchlejšie, než si mnohé firmy chcú priznať. Dopyty miznú, PPC už nestačí a čakanie na leady je luxus, ktorý si nemôžete dovoliť. Naozaj chcete byť rybár, ktorý sedí pri vode, alebo lovec, ktorý si vyberá konkrétne firmy a ide po nich systematicky? Hovoríme o account based marketingu, o tom, prečo lajky nič neznamenajú, ak medzi nimi nie je váš „medveď“, aj o tom, prečo jeden drahý marketér bez rozpočtu firmu nespasí. Ak máte pocit, že robíte marketing, ale biznis nerastie, toto vás môže nepríjemne prebrať. A možno vám to otvorí oči viac, než čakáte. Viac informácií nám poskytol Zdeno Konečný, CEO Krejta

Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. In high-stakes B2B marketing, the real challenge is not visibility but turning complex, technical solutions into revenue-driving narratives that build trust and pipeline.In this episode, Beverly Crandon, Director of Marketing at Liferaft, shares how lean teams can build powerful brand engines, simplify sophisticated products, align tightly with sales, and leverage AI to reshape modern threat intelligence.Key HighlightsThe Lean Team Engine: How small marketing teams build demand and brand without enterprise budgets. Clarity Drives Conversion: Turning complex technical platforms into simple, compelling sales narratives. Marketing–Sales Alignment: Building a predictable pipeline through shared goals and operational discipline. Owning the Brand Refresh: Lessons learned from executing an in-house rebrand. AI in Threat Intelligence: How platforms like Liferaft iQ are transforming proactive security operations.Special Thanks to Our Partners:UPS: https://solutions.ups.com/ca-beunstoppable.html?WT.mc_id=BUSMEWAGoogle: https://www.google.ca/A1 Global College: https://a1globalcollege.ca/ADP Canada: https://www.adp.ca/en.aspxFor more expert insights, visit www.canadiansme.ca and subscribe to the CanadianSME Small Business Magazine. Stay innovative, stay informed, and thrive in the digital age!Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as direct financial or business advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.

Astrid Lefèvre, met 20 jaar ervaring in wholesale & B2B, vertelt wat er vandaag écht toe doet in de Benelux-markt. Hoe bouw je relaties met winkels op? Wanneer is het te vroeg voor een agent? En hoe blijf je trouw aan je merk terwijl je wél verkoopt?Van Chloé tot Collectors Club: Astrid heeft het allemaal gedaan. Ze deelt niet alleen strategische inzichten, maar ook rake observaties over waarom veel merken zichzelf klein houden uit angst of gebrek aan opvolging.Deze aflevering wordt mede mogelijk gemaakt door Landing Partners: Experts in performance marketing voor mode- en lifestylemerken. Laat jouw merk digitaal groeien met hun strategieën. Contacteer ⁠Anthony⁠ of ⁠David⁠ voor meer info of ga naar ⁠www.landing.partners⁠ 

Helping your team sell better is more a matter of refining the structure than acquiring the right people.  Here  are four critical aspects of a sales structure that are often contributing to mediocre performance. *********************************************************************        Dave Kahle is a B2B sales expert and a Christian Business thought leader.  He has authored 13 books, presented in 47 states and 11 countries and worked with over 500 sales organizations.  In these ten-minute podcasts, his unique blend of out-of-the-box thinking and practical insights will challenge and enable you to sell better, lead better and live better.        Subscribe to these ten-minute helpings of out-of-the-box inspiration, education and motivation. WWW,DaveKahle.com The Kahle Way B2B Selling System The Sales Leader's Excellence & Influence Course   

Jason Wong started his entrepreneurial journey at 16, when he managed to generated $250,000 in a single week by selling viral products like the "Holy Meme Bible." But after years of chasing trends in the volatile world of Dropshipping and Ecommerce, he decided to pivot away from the hype. Today, Jason is the founder of Packing Duck, a vertically integrated packaging company that is disrupting the Lean manufacturing industry by making "unsexy" infrastructure sexy again.In this episode, Jason reveals how he used his background in Digital marketing to build a B2B empire that generates eight figures without spending a single dollar on ads. He breaks down his "content-first" strategy for Customer retention, explains why he texts clients instead of emailing them, and shares how to hire "A-Players" who think like owners. You will learn the secrets to Business scaling through vertical integration and why boring businesses often make the most money.In this episode, you'll learn about:The Content Arbitrage: How Jason uses high-end, fashion-style aesthetics to make cardboard boxes go viral and drive millions in organic revenue.The "Blue Bubble" Sales Hack: Why switching from email to iMessage (blue texts) drastically increased his conversion rates and customer trust.Vertical Integration 101: How owning the factory allowed him to cut out the middleman, lower prices for clients, and increase his own margins.A-Player Psychology: Jason's specific definition of an "A-Player" employee (hint: it's about "loops" of logic) and how to spot them in an interview.The Consistency Equation: Why posting 5 times a week beats perfect quality every time, and how to adapt when platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter change their algorithmsResources:Grow your business today:  https://links.upflip.com/the-business-startup-and-growth-blueprint-podcast Connect with Jason: https://www.linkedin.com/in/imjasonwong

Watch the full episode on our YouTube channel: youtube.com/@mreapodcastWhat does it really take to build a big, profitable real estate team that doesn't fall apart without you?We sat down with Matt Miale, a team leader who has rebuilt his business more than once and emerged with a model that produces more than 500 transactions and over $160 million in volume year after year across three states.Matt walks us through the simple equation behind sustainable growth. Not flashy systems. Not complex tech stacks. Just clarity, standards, and five core competencies every agent and team leader must master.We dig into why customer experience comes before lead generation, how to create a production model agents actually follow, and why simplicity is the secret weapon in low-margin markets. Matt also shares his Four Agreements production model, his agent selection framework, and how he retains top producers without blowing up the team economy.If you're stuck in the messy middle, overcomplicating your business, or trying to scale without losing control, this conversation will give you a clear path forward.Resources:Follow Matt Miale on InstagramSubscribe to Matt Miale on YouTubeVisit the Miale Team's WebsiteAgent Production Academy WebsiteOrder the Millionaire Real Estate Agent Playbook | Volume 3Connect with Jason:LinkedinProduced by NOVAThis podcast is for general informational purposes only. The views, thoughts, and opinions of the guest represent those of the guest and not  Keller Williams Realty, LLC and its affiliates, and should not be construed as financial, economic, legal, tax, or other advice. This podcast is provided without any warranty, or guarantee of its accuracy, completeness, timeliness, or results from using the information.WARNING! You must comply with the TCPA and any other federal, state or local laws, including for B2B calls and texts. Never call or text a number on any Do Not Call list, and do not use an autodialer or artificial voice or prerecorded messages without proper consent. Contact your attorney to ensure your compliance.

Human-Centric Merchant Services: Optimizing Payment Systems with Jimmy EstradaIn this episode ofThe Thoughtful Entrepreneur Podcast, host Josh Elledge sits down with Jimmy Estrada, the Founder and Owner ofJELA Payments Systems, to demystify the complex world of merchant services. Jimmy shares how his firm bridges the gap between massive, faceless payment processors and the independent business owners who often find themselves stranded when technical glitches or funding holds arise. This conversation offers a strategic look at how a high-touch, consultative approach to payment systems can help B2B firms and retailers reclaim their profit margins, mitigate risk, and ensure that their financial "plumbing" remains reliable and transparent in an increasingly automated marketplace.The Power of Personal Partnership in Payment ProcessingThe modern payment landscape is dominated by automated "plug-and-play" solutions, yet many business owners discover the limitations of these platforms only when a crisis occurs. Jimmy explains that the primary value of a merchant services partner lies in providing a direct human advocate who understands the specific risk profile of a client's industry. When funds are unexpectedly held or a technical integration fails, having a dedicated account manager often means the difference between a 24-hour resolution and weeks of lost revenue. By moving beyond a "set it and forget it" mentality, businesses can proactively address industry-specific risk factors—such as those found in medical or legal services—before they escalate into costly holds or compliance headaches.Transparency in pricing remains one of the greatest challenges for entrepreneurs, as merchant statements are notoriously difficult to decipher. Jimmy advocates for a "clear-water" approach to fee structures, emphasizing that business owners should have a granular understanding of non-negotiable interchange fees versus provider markups. Whether a business utilizes an interchange-plus model, compliant surcharging, or dual pricing, the key to long-term profitability is consistent monitoring and "junk fee" audits. These regular reviews ensure that businesses aren't paying for redundant services or hidden charges that frequently creep into statements over time, allowing leaders to reinvest those savings back into their core operations.Optimization is not just about chasing the lowest possible rate; it is about ensuring that a payment system is fully integrated with a company's existing software and customer journey. Jimmy discusses how his firm works with various hardware and software vendors to create seamless APIs that simplify the checkout experience for both in-person and card-not-present transactions. For businesses lacking in-house technical expertise, a trusted payment partner acts as an outsourced department that manages the technical burden of PCI compliance and security updates. Ultimately, a true partnership is built on integrity—where the provider prioritizes the client's long-term stability over a quick sale, even if that means advising a client to stay with their current provider if the rates are already fair.About Jimmy EstradaJimmy Estrada is the Founder and Owner of JELA Payments Systems, where he leverages over a decade of experience in the merchant services industry. Known for his "integrity-first" approach, Jimmy specializes in helping high-volume and B2B merchants navigate the technical and financial complexities of credit card processing with a focus on education and personalized support.About JELA Payments SystemsJELA Payments Systems is a merchant services provider that offers customized payment solutions ranging from mobile processing to enterprise-level integrations. The company prioritizes human-to-human interaction, providing dedicated account management...

Faith Driven Investor Podcast - Episode 216Join hosts Richard Cunningham and Luke Roush as they sit down with Steve Cook, Executive Managing Director of LFM Capital, for a deep dive into the state of US manufacturing and the reshoring revolution transforming American industry. From the deck of an aircraft carrier to the shop floor to private equity boardrooms, Steve brings a unique perspective on what it takes to build manufacturing companies that strengthen both portfolios and national security.Key Investment Topics:The economics of reshoring: Why major manufacturers are bringing supply chains back to the USLFM Capital's operator-led approach to buyout private equity in manufacturingHow tariffs, supply chain disruptions, and geopolitical tensions are reshaping investment opportunitiesWhy aerospace, defense, and B2B manufacturing offer compelling risk-adjusted returnsThe role of leadership and operational excellence in driving EBITDA margins and enterprise valueInterest rates, deal flow, and the creative structuring required in today's PE marketPowerful Quotes:"We won World War One and Two predominantly because we had a strong industrial base that could step up and pivot when the country needed it. We're woefully unprepared for World War Three." - Steve Cook"It costs more to hire an English-speaking manager in China than it does in the US today. Labor cost equilibrium is happening faster than anyone expected." - Steve Cook"The absolute worst form of ownership I've ever seen is 50/50. Someone has to make the final decision - that's true in a company and true in a marriage." - Steve CookEpisode Description:What does it take to rebuild American manufacturing in an era of global uncertainty? Steve Cook knows firsthand. As a former Navy fighter pilot who flew combat missions during Desert Shield, then an operations leader at Dell managing 2,200 manufacturing employees, Steve brings unparalleled shop floor DNA to private equity investing. Now leading LFM Capital - a buyout firm exclusively focused on US manufacturing - he's witnessing the early stages of a reshoring revolution that could reshape both the American economy and investment portfolios.This episode cuts through the headlines to reveal what's really happening on the ground with US manufacturing. Steve explains why companies are finally bringing production back home, which industries offer the most compelling opportunities, and how LFM's operator-first approach generates returns by elevating leadership and operational excellence rather than financial engineering. From the impact of Liberation Day tariffs to the quiet convergence of global labor costs, from AI's limited role on today's shop floor to the creative deal structures emerging in a higher interest rate environment, this conversation delivers actionable insights for investors seeking exposure to the manufacturing renaissance.Steve also vulnerably shares lessons from Genesis on leadership, partnership, and the biblical principles that shape both his marriage and LFM's investment philosophy - including why 50/50 ownership structures consistently fail and what that reveals about decision-making authority in both business and family.Guest Background:Steve Cook is Executive Managing Director of LFM Capital, a Nashville-based private equity firm investing exclusively in US manufacturing companies. A graduate of the US Naval Academy and MIT's Leaders for Manufacturing program, Steve flew F/A-18s off aircraft carriers for seven years before transitioning to operations leadership roles at Dell and venture-backed technology companies. At LFM, he leads a team of operators and engineers who partner with manufacturing CEOs to build enterprise value through operational excellence, not financial engineering. Steve and his wife Shannon live in Nashville and are active members of Long Hollow Church.

Most B2B companies struggle to turn marketing into measurable pipeline. At B2B Better, we build owned media systems that sales teams actually use to close deals, shortening cycles, improving reply rates, and directly influencing revenue. If you're tired of content that looks good on paper but doesn't move the business forward, visit the links in the show notes to learn how we do it differently. If your best clients won't sign case studies because legal says no, this episode shows you exactly how to flip that dynamic. Host Jason Bradwell shares how he cracked this problem working in broadcast media tech, where sports properties refused to give free logo rights to vendors they were already paying. Jason's core point: legal teams don't fear telling the story, they fear losing control over how it's told. Traditional case studies feel like monumental approval chains with multiple drafts and stakeholder reviews. It's easier to just say no. Jason worked for a tech company serving major sports media properties. The opportunity seemed obvious: tell stories about household name clients. But sports rights holders get paid millions for sponsorship rights. Why would they give a tech vendor free permission to use their name for marketing? Most teams try tactics that don't work: anonymous case studies nobody believes, paying for logo rights, using old logos without permission, or giving up entirely and competing on price. Here's what changed. When Jason's team sat down with legal teams, they learned it wasn't fear of the story—it was fear of losing control and bandwidth nightmares. So they launched a podcast with a different value exchange. Instead of "come talk about how great we are," the pitch was "come talk about your work and how you see the industry evolving." Questions submitted in advance. Full approval. Nothing goes live without sign-off. A VP of digital from a major sports league who'd said no to every promotional request for years agreed almost immediately. When Jason asked why, the answer was clear: "For years you've been asking me to do things for you. But this time you asked me to do something for me." The unlock is simple. Traditional case studies ask for public endorsement with high risk and zero personal upside. Editorial podcasts offer a platform to showcase expertise, professionally produced content they can use, and full control. The acceptance rate jumps from 5% for case studies to 70% for editorial podcasts. Sales can share clips without requiring testimonials, and the credibility is more authentic because it doesn't feel like marketing. Chapter Markers 00:00 - The legal blocker problem across every sector 01:00 - Working with sports media properties that wouldn't give logo rights 02:00 - Why GDPR and compliance make traditional case studies nearly impossible 03:00 - Four failed attempts most teams try 04:00 - What legal and compliance teams actually fear 05:00 - How podcasts flip the value exchange 06:00 - The breakthrough moment with the VP of digital 07:00 - Why "look how great they are" beats "look how great we are" 08:00 - Traditional case study vs editorial podcast value exchange 09:00 - The counterintuitive power of implied association 10:00 - The seven-step execution process 11:00 - Using content strategically in sales without testimonials 12:00 - Acceptance rates and ROI timeline 13:00 - Why this works even for clients who'd sign case studies 14:00 - The challenge: Email your top 10 blocked clients Useful Links Connect with Jason Bradwell on LinkedIn Check out The Tim Ferriss Show and The Twenty Minute VC Explore B2B Better website and the Pipe Dream podcast 

The “Publish and Pray” era is over. Welcome to the era of Distribution. Lars Lofgren, former Director of Growth at KISSmetrics and I Will Teach You To Be Rich, has a brutal reality check for B2B marketers: The “HubSpot Playbook” (write generic SEO posts gate with an ebook nurture via email) is dead. Why? Because…

Text us your thoughts on the episode or the show!In this episode of Ops Cast, Michael Hartmann sits down with Jacqueline Freedman, CEO and Founder of Monarch Advisory Partners and Global Head of Advisory at The Martech Weekly, to discuss where modern marketing outreach has crossed the line from helpful to harmful.Jacqueline brings experience across B2B and B2C environments and challenges one of the most uncomfortable truths in marketing today: much of what we call cold outreach is still spam, just better branded. The conversation explores how incentive structures drive volume at the expense of trust, why deliverability issues are often symptoms of deeper misalignment, and what leaders need to rethink about how they show up in buyers' inboxes.They also discuss the difference between compliance and consent, how fragmented sending erodes inbox credibility, and why marketers cannot subject-line their way out of systemic problems. Along the way, Jacqueline shares what B2B can learn from B2C about respecting attention, and what B2C can learn from B2B about discipline, governance, and durability.What you will learn: • Why cold email fatigue is an incentive problem, not just a messaging problem • The behaviors that quietly damage deliverability over time • How to know when it is time to bring in specialized deliverability expertise • Why serious tone does not equal credibility in B2B • How to distinguish real thought leadership from polished noise • What responsibility operators have when narrative drifts from realityIf you care about sustainable growth, brand trust, and long-term deliverability, this episode will challenge how you think about outreach and accountability.Be sure to subscribe, rate, and review Ops Cast, and join the conversation at MarketingOps.com.Episode Brought to You By MO Pros The #1 Community for Marketing Operations Professionals We're an official media partner of B2BMX 2026 — the B2B Marketing Exchange — happening March 9-11 at the Omni La Costa Resort in Carlsbad, CA. It's practitioner-focused with 50+ breakout sessions, keynotes, and hands-on workshops covering AI in B2B, GTM strategy, and advanced ABM. Real networking, real takeaways. And because we're a media partner, you get 20% off an All-Access Pass with code B2BMAOP at checkout. Head to b2bmarketing.exchange to grab your spot. MarketingOps.com is curating the GTM Ops Track at Demand & Expand (May 19-20, San Francisco) - the premier B2B marketing event featuring 600+ practitioners sharing real solutions to real problems. Use code MOPS20 for 20% off tickets, or get 35-50% off as a MarketingOps.com member. Learn more at demandandexpand.com.Support the show

Autonomize AI is transforming healthcare infrastructure by eliminating administrative waste and reimagining how health enterprises operate. Covering 150 million of the 330 million lives in the United States and powering three of the five largest health enterprises, Autonomize AI has found traction by solving healthcare's hardest problems first. In this episode of BUILDERS, we sat down with Ganesh Padmanabhan, Founder & CEO of Autonomize AI, to explore how he built an AI platform from the ground up for healthcare—not by retrofitting existing technology, but by immersing himself in the industry's unique challenges and building solutions that address the fundamental inefficiencies plaguing the system. Topics Discussed: The origin story of launching during COVID with conviction around unstructured data Landing the first enterprise customer with a PowerPoint and prototype before writing production code The evolution from clinical trial patient matching to powering major health enterprises Why solving the hardest problems first created faster traction than targeting easy wins Building credibility as an outsider by leveraging past successes and being honest about failures The distinction between building AI for healthcare versus building AI from within healthcare Scaling from a $10,000 pilot to multi-million dollar ARR with deep customer immersion Why healthcare is fundamentally a trust equation, not a technology problem The future vision of an AI-native health enterprise operating system GTM Lessons For B2B Founders: Don't write code until you have a signed deal: Ganesh didn't write production code until securing his first enterprise customer. He used a compelling pitch deck and an expensive prototype stitched together from cloud solutions to demonstrate feasibility. Once the deal was signed at $150,000 annually, they built the sustainable version while delivering value with the prototype. This approach validated real demand before significant investment. Solve the hardest problem, not the easiest one: Counterintuitively, Autonomize AI found faster traction by tackling the most difficult challenges in healthcare. Ganesh explains, "The simplest way to actually get traction, solve the hardest problem that's out there. If you do that and you can actually solve it...if the problem is big enough for them to move, they will." Hard problems often have fewer competitors and more desperate buyers. Wait for pattern recognition before scaling: Ganesh knew he had a business when the second and third customers requested exactly what the first customer bought. He waited for this repeatable pattern before raising a seed round, ensuring he wasn't just solving one customer's unique problem but addressing a genuine market need. Immerse deeply in one customer before broad expansion: Autonomize AI spent 12 months becoming better experts on their first major enterprise customer's systems than the customer's own internal teams. This deep penetration transformed a $10,000 pilot into millions in ARR and provided invaluable learning that shaped their entire platform approach. The investment in one relationship paid exponential dividends. Build from the industry, not for the industry: Ganesh's advice is clear: "Don't build AI and bring it into healthcare. Come into healthcare and build the AI." Most companies fail by retrofitting technology into healthcare's nuanced environment. Success comes from immersing yourself in the specific industry, understanding its unique constraints and trust requirements, then building solutions from that foundation. Leverage past credibility through specific storytelling: As an industry outsider, Ganesh built trust by sharing concrete past successes: growing Dell's convergent infrastructure business from zero to $1.3 billion in five years, working with major healthcare clients in previous roles. He also shared failures openly, creating authentic credibility. He notes, "People learn more from their successes than from their failures...you learn what to do then what not to do." // Sponsors: Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership. www.FrontLines.io The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe. www.GlobalTalent.co // Don't Miss: New Podcast Series — How I Hire Senior GTM leaders share the tactical hiring frameworks they use to build winning revenue teams. Hosted by Andy Mowat, who scaled 4 unicorns from $10M to $100M+ ARR and launched Whispered to help executives find their next role. Subscribe here: https://open.spotify.com/show/53yCHlPfLSMFimtv0riPyM

When companies use realistic job simulations, they can finally see beyond CVs and surface true talent, regardless of background. Removing bias from recruitment isn't theoretical; it's achievable. Grounding hiring decisions in real-world, data-driven simulations gives every candidate a fair shot and helps teams identify who will actually succeed in the role. Smart hiring isn't about who interviews best. It's about who performs best. Stephane Rivard, CEO and co-founder of HiringBranch, a Montreal-based company using AI and job simulations to transform high-volume recruitment, shares the evolution of Hiring Branch, why traditional interviews fall short, and how data-driven, skill-based hiring can result in fairer, and more consistent outcomes. Other topics we covered in our conversation: Evolution from language and soft-skills training to data-driven, skills-based assessments. Why success in customer-facing roles goes beyond empathy to skills like rapport, grit, and critical thinking. The difficulty of replacing traditional interviews and reducing bias in hiring. How HiringBranch adapts its platform across industries using deep, role-specific data. Go-to-market insights: experimentation, conferences, networking, and customer outcomes. Advice for HR tech firms on partnerships, focus, and differentiation. And much more! If you're interested in fair and effective hiring practices, data-driven HR, or the future of skills assessment, this conversation offers a grounded, experience-based look at what works and what's changing in the world of recruitment. Website: www.hiringbranch.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/stephane-rivard-entrepreneur Check out this B2B podcast launch service. About The A Better HR Business Podcast The A Better HR Business shares strategies, tactics, success stories, and more about marketing for HR consultancies and marketing for HR tech companies, and how to get more clients. Follow the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you don't miss future episodes. For show notes and to see details of our previous guests, check out the podcast page here: www.GetMoreHRClients.com/Podcast HR BUSINESS GROWTH RESOURCES Get the new book - Grow A Successful HR Business Your Way Launch your own business podcast: B2B Podcast Agency VISIT GET MORE HR CLIENTS Want more clients for your HR-related consultancy or HR Tech business? Visit the Get More HR Clients website for articles, newsletters, podcasts, videos, resources, and more at www.getmorehrclients.com.

Dileep sold his first company for over $100M. For his second act, he didn't just want another win; he wanted to solve a problem that banks refused to touch: global business banking.In this episode, Dileep breaks down how Jeeves scaled to $7M ARR in just over a year by doing things that "don't scale"—like physically mailing credit cards to Argentina. He reveals the counterintuitive strategy of raising from dozens of small investors, how to pivot a fintech when interest rates skyrocket, and why being an outsider was his biggest advantage in building a global banking infrastructure from scratch.Why You Should ListenHow to get to $7M ARR in one year through unscalable acts.Why a "messy" cap table with 50+ investors is actually a secret weapon.The "Beat Down" Framework: A brutal stress test for vetting your idea.The offline marketing stunt that actually worked.Keywordsstartup podcast, startup podcast for founders, product market fit, fintech startup, global expansion, second time founder, Y Combinator, fundraising strategy, B2B banking, finding pmf00:00:00 Intro00:02:04 Selling His First Company for $100M00:08:19 The "Beat Down" Framework for New Ideas00:19:38 The One Metric That Matters for PMF00:24:44 Why Join YC as a Second-Time Founder?00:29:15 Shipping Cards to Argentina by Hand00:39:13 The Pivot to Jeeves Pay When Cards Got Shut Down00:43:25 The "Messy Cap Table" Fundraising Strategy00:49:27 The Moment of True Product Market FitSend me a message to let me know what you think!

I introduce my daily podcast for operators and founders who need sharper thinking around decisions that don't come with playbooks. As an investor, operator, and founder of MSP Sales Partners and Repeatable Revenue Ventures, I explain why this show focuses on how to think before deciding what to do. I challenge the common pattern of jumping straight to tactics without examining the underlying assumptions that shape every business decision. This episode establishes the show's core premise: that getting the frame right makes the decision easier, and that real-world business requires context, not just guru advice. I outline what listeners can expect from the daily format and who will benefit most from this approach to thinking through sales, strategy, hiring, leadership, and the moments when you're the only one willing to acknowledge something isn't working.//Welcome to The Ray J. Green Show, your destination for tips on sales, strategy, and self-mastery from an operator, not a guru.About Ray:→ Former Managing Director of National Small & Midsize Business at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, where he doubled revenue per sale in fundraising, led the first increase in SMB membership, co-built a national Mid-Market sales channel, and more.→ Former CEO operator for several investor groups where he led turnarounds of recently acquired small businesses.→ Current founder of MSP Sales Partners, where we currently help IT companies scale sales: www.MSPSalesPartners.com→ Current Sales & Sales Management Expert in Residence at the world's largest IT business mastermind.→ Current Managing Partner of Repeatable Revenue Ventures, where we scale B2B companies we have equity in: www.RayJGreen.com//Follow Ray on:YouTube | LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

On this episode of Good Morning Hospitality, A Skift Podcast, Wil Slickers⁠, ⁠Jamie Lane⁠, Brandreth Canaley⁠, and ⁠Michael Goldin dive into the latest shifts across short-term rentals and online travel. They start with Brian Chesky dismissing rivals' chatbots and arguing that Airbnb's AI advantage is rooted in its marketplace and community data, then unpack Airbnb's new report positioning STRs as a critical pressure valve for lodging demand during peak travel periods. The conversation then turns to Expedia Group's Q4 2025 earnings, where stronger B2B results helped offset softer consumer trends, before closing on leadership tension at Casago as franchisees react to shifting power dynamics. The episode wraps with a broader look at AI strategy, consolidation, and who really controls distribution in today's STR ecosystem. Connect with Skift LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ WhatsApp: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/skiftnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/skift⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@SkiftNews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Neste episódio do Vamos de Vendas, Gustavo Pagotto conversa com David Marinho, gerente de Sucesso do Cliente no Reclame Aqui, sobre gestão de crise e reputação em vendas B2B; e como a reputação se tornou um dos ativos mais estratégicos para crescimento sustentável.Gravado durante o evento Suporte 360º by Zoho Desk, o papo explora como a transformação digital e a transparência da internet mudaram o jogo: hoje, a reputação precede o vendedor. Com 25 a 30 milhões de acessos mensais e mais de 750 mil empresas cadastradas, o Reclame Aqui deixou de ser apenas uma plataforma de reclamações para se tornar um verdadeiro mecanismo de pesquisa e validação de marcas.

The Deal You Never Knew Existed. Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://theultimatepartner.com/ebook-subscribe/ Check Out UPX: https://theultimatepartner.com/experience/ In this deep dive, Jay McBain reveals the harsh reality of the “28 Moments” in a modern B2B buying journey, using a multi-million dollar SAP deal at AstraZeneca as a wake-up call for vendors. He explains how traditional marketing leads are failing in the “decade of the ecosystem,” where trusted partners like NTT and SoftwareOne are winning deals in “light blue” partnership moments months before a customer ever downloads an ebook. If you aren’t visible in the seven-layer stack or collaborating with the partners who hold the customer’s trust, you aren’t just losing the deal—you're losing the entire market. https://youtu.be/NO-P6X2dTAo?si=8e_sVesqvwaC0M-E Key Takeaways Most vendors lose major deals without ever knowing a transaction was even taking place. The average considered purchase involves 28 distinct moments of research and influence before a sale. Trusted partners often close the deal in the “middle moments” months before the money is actually spent. Traditional marketing leads (MQLs) are often too “flimsy” compared to deep partner-led relationships. Winning in the ecosystem requires being part of a “seven-layer stack” of integrated technology and services. Data-sharing platforms like Crossbeam and Workspan are now essential to seeing the “invisible” pipeline. If you're ready to lead through change, elevate your business, and achieve extraordinary outcomes through the power of partnership—this is your community. At Ultimate Partner® we want leaders like you to join us in the Ultimate Partner Experience – where transformation begins. Key Tags: 28 Moments, Jay McBain, Ecosystem Strategy, AstraZeneca SAP Deal, Seven Layer Stack, B2B Buying Journey, Partner Ecosystem, NTT, SoftwareOne, Channel Strategy, Buyer Intent, Informa TechTarget, Collaborative Selling, Crossbeam, Partner Tap, Workspan, Marketplace Tracking, Co-selling, Tech Integration, Revenue Architecture, Pipeline Growth, Trusted Advisor, Digital Transformation, SAP Optimization, Microsoft AWS Competition. Transcript: [00:00:00] Jay McBain: So if you’re a vendor trying to get into that seven layer stack and you don’t have that relationship, or you don’t have the knowledge that NTT or software one is going in, this will have been a deal that would’ve never hit your pipeline and you’ll have no knowledge. So you will have lost this deal without knowing there was a deal. [00:00:19] Vince Menzione: We’ve been talking 28 moments, but you have a slide. I thought we’d spend some time here because, you know, every conversation with you is about 28 moments, but you finally took the time to analyze one of your deals or one of the deals that was going on with one of your clients and come up with the 28 moments. [00:00:36] Vince Menzione: I thought we’d spend a little time here because this journey slide is a wake up call. Uh, it’s, it’s, it’s all around. Why, why we need to think about all of those. Points we need to think about communities and analysts and marketplaces and proof of concepts and architecture and everything else. I thought maybe you’d take us through this a little bit. [00:00:53] Vince Menzione: ’cause this was for a client, AstraZeneca, by the way. This was, uh, if you don’t know this, ICI Americas was the precursor of mm-hmm. AstraZeneca. It was the first SAP customer in North America. [00:01:03] Jay McBain: Nice. I did [00:01:04] Vince Menzione: not know that. That’s why Microsoft and SAP both headquartered. In that area, near nearby, that client. [00:01:10] Vince Menzione: That’s, uh, news, new news. [00:01:11] Jay McBain: And by the way, this is an SAP deal we’re looking at. Yeah. Uh, so two things here. One is that, um, while I was declaring the decade of the ecosystem, you know, spending time with you and Boca, in between that time we got acquired. Canals, which was Latin for channel, got acquired by oia, part of Informa TechTarget, part of this bigger informa company, which is a Fortune 100 company outta the uk. [00:01:32] Jay McBain: Fantastic. You know, we’re part of this massive organization that is really around buyer intent. How, you know, a tech target and, uh, running hundreds of magazines like Information Week and Computer Week that customers and partners read running hundreds of events, the biggest events on the planet. [00:01:49] Vince Menzione: Crazy [00:01:49] Jay McBain: in B2B, like Black Hat and all these things are run by [00:01:52] Vince Menzione: Yeah, [00:01:53] Jay McBain: informa. [00:01:53] Jay McBain: So it’s got this massive mountain of data. About the 28 moments. So when you start to think if you’re a CMO and you start to think about the early moments, you, you think about somebody reading an ebook or, um, going to a, a webinar or going onto a LinkedIn live just like this one. Yeah, going to a major event and getting a pair of socks from you. [00:02:13] Jay McBain: Um, but anything early in the journey. These are the m qls. These are the things that I need enough of them to be credible before I hand them over to my sales team. ’cause I don’t wanna be laughed out of the room. Hey, they read an ebook. They must, AstraZeneca must be buying millions of dollars of stuff. [00:02:27] Vince Menzione: Traditional marketing lead. [00:02:29] Jay McBain: Traditional marketing lead. So they’re a bit nervous about sharing that. And then later on, the sales motions, the demos and all the progression of the sales. This was the two decades before us, the decade of sales, decade of marketing. But the 28 moments, just to take a step back, if you haven’t heard, it is just a considered purchase. [00:02:46] Jay McBain: It’s about psychology, human psychology. When you go and buy a car, second most expensive thing that you will purchase you on average will go through 28 moments getting ready for that purchase. Some people go through two moments and they just drive to the Cadillac dealership to see Larry, who’s been selling Cadillacs to the family for 80 years. [00:03:04] Jay McBain: Yep. Some people spend 58 moments. That’s probably me. [00:03:07] Vince Menzione: That’s you, a, [00:03:08] Jay McBain: you know, going through all the depreciation, watching every YouTube video, you know, going to the end of the earth. But the average is 28. So you start to think about this, this is the same buying a car considered purchase, that you would buy a million dollars in software. [00:03:21] Jay McBain: From Microsoft or SAP. So when you look at these moments, you start to think, you know, how is you before you buy that car, downloading the invoice price, downloading this month’s backend rebates. Should I buy it in January? Should I buy it in February? All these decisions you make before you get to that dealership, you’re smarter than the salesperson, smarter than the sales manager. [00:03:39] Jay McBain: You know what 5,000 people bought the car for within 50 miles of you? I mean, you’re just so smart. You actually don’t need the dealership anymore. Just Carvana to me, hand me the keys. Exactly. But now in buying technology, hardware, software services, customers are getting this smart. And here’s all the moments they take to get this smart. [00:03:57] Jay McBain: But the thing we always had in mind in this decade of the ecosystem was the 96% there are trusted people. Yeah. Spending decades building that trust that come in in critical moments. They’re not marketing moments, they’re not sales moments. They are fully partnership moments. Yeah. And they’re on this slide in light blue. [00:04:15] Jay McBain: So if you were to look at this deal and, and somebody in marketing is finding these eBooks and webinars and they think there might be something, AWS got a direct hit on their website. So there’s something brewing at AstraZeneca. It, it might be in, it’s a big pharmaceutical company, so you’re probably spending millions of dollars if something’s brewing. [00:04:31] Jay McBain: Yep. But guess what? At the same time, in December on this six month journey. Partners come in with five different paid projects, consulting, advisory design projects, and in this case it was NTT software one, Yash and uh, ISV was there. Yep. But NTT won three different. Deals right at that critical stage. It wasn’t Accenture, it wasn’t Deloitte, NTT at this particular department of AstraZeneca had spent the decades building those relationships. [00:04:58] Jay McBain: So they were the one, and they won critical part of this. And so that’s when the deal is won. And it’s not at April when the money’s being spent. Yeah, it’s, it’s not in March when a couple more ISVs joined the mix, that seven layer stack that solves this particular problem, it was right there. So if you’re a vendor trying to get into that seven layer stack and you don’t have that relationship, or you don’t have the knowledge that NTT or software one is going in, this will have been a deal that would’ve never hit your pipeline and you’ll have no knowledge. [00:05:30] Jay McBain: So you will have lost this deal without knowing there was a deal, which makes up again, the majority of your tam. [00:05:34] Vince Menzione: Yeah. [00:05:35] Jay McBain: But what if I did have this agentic ability to see this deal coming, and I’m a cybersecurity company, I’m just competing for layer five of the deal, but I know that it’s all happening in December. [00:05:46] Jay McBain: So the two things that jump out on this particular slide is one, they don’t just show up in December. [00:05:51] Vince Menzione: Yeah, [00:05:51] Jay McBain: this went closed one in their Salesforce CRM in August, September, well, before the customer ever read an ebook. So now you’re not dealing with a flimsy MQL. You’re dealing with a couple of great, you know, top partner 1000 sized firms. [00:06:09] Jay McBain: One of them is a partner, 30 firm. [00:06:11] Vince Menzione: Exactly. [00:06:12] Jay McBain: That is absolutely going into and earning hundreds of thousands of dollars in services to guide the customer to a millions of dollars in purchase. And, and you can imagine in that boardroom. With A CMO saying, Hey, I got this stuff here. And the head of channels or partnerships saying, no, no, this is real. [00:06:32] Jay McBain: Here’s the names, faces, and places. Yeah. And here’s how it’s happening. And this is exactly, this is the Gantt chart, this is the show up, this is the project, this is the outcome. This is exactly how it’s playing out. Now if I could go back and the board and the C-suite should be asking us, well, how many more deals like this can you see? [00:06:50] Vince Menzione: Yeah. [00:06:51] Jay McBain: If our TAM is, you know, how many billions of dollars? Could you double our pipeline by seeing more of these middle moments? And if we got a couple of months to spend with these partners before they get in front of the customer, could they build more of our portfolio into the deal so we’re not just layer five, maybe we’re layer three and layer five. [00:07:10] Vince Menzione: This slide screams at me. Integr Tech integration Cha. A partner channel integration of tech, uh, whether it’s Crossbeam, whether it’s Partner Tap, whether it’s work span, or any of these other technologies, tackle any of these technologies that are tracking marketplace, that are tracking partner to partner, co-selling. [00:07:30] Vince Menzione: Getting the integration points. The only way to really understand the situation here, because this is a multinational company. Yeah. It’s being touched at all PO points around the globe. And to understand who’s calling who, who’s influencing who, and getting a real view, you know, a uber view of what that looks like is super important. [00:07:47] Jay McBain: It is. And you know, if I’m trying to sell like a cross beam or partner tab or work span or something into my executive team, I’m just showing them this slide. [00:07:54] Vince Menzione: Exactly. [00:07:54] Jay McBain: Would you like to know about this deal? Like you see, October is the start of the timeline here. Would you like to know about this deal in August, September? [00:08:00] Vince Menzione: Yep. [00:08:01] Jay McBain: Would you like to know about it automatically? Again, we’re not waiting for somebody, a human in a cubicle to go fill out a form. We’re not waiting for them to call somebody at our in, in a cubicle at our company. Yeah. We’re literally age genically sharing platforms, and so when this triggers that AstraZeneca and now triggers in our CRM system as well, our team on AstraZeneca gets notified and it gets notified in September before the 28 moments even starts. [00:08:27] Jay McBain: This, the power of this, of doubling, tripling your pipeline and then winning a bigger yield, a bigger percentage of that pipeline. This is the holy grail of our industry, and no one’s gonna get to a hundred percent. You’re not gonna have a hundred percent of your tam covered by your pipeline. No one’s gonna win a hundred percent of that. [00:08:43] Jay McBain: But again, we only have to be 10 or 20% better than our competitors and we need to start moving on this now. [00:08:50] Vince Menzione: So your imperative for the partners here, well everyone watching here today, I mean, this screams to me build your ecosystem strategy in such a strong and succinct way. What else would you say to them? [00:09:00] Jay McBain: I mean, the second thing that jumps out, you see two AWS direct touches here. This is something that this would be inbound. This AWS would see this deal in their pipeline. [00:09:09] Vince Menzione: Yeah. [00:09:10] Jay McBain: Because the customer came to them. AWS lost this deal. Crazy. So Microsoft won this deal. I, I mentioned Microsoft outgrowing AWS Yeah. [00:09:19] Jay McBain: ’cause in this particular case, NTT and Software One and Yash came in with Microsoft. Yeah. To solve an SAP optimization, Microsoft, and, you know, seven layer deal. So whether you’re in AWS, whether you’re in Microsoft, whether you’re anywhere else in this industry, you’re thinking like, you’re not gonna probably overtake what happens in December. [00:09:39] Jay McBain: These are the most trusted, smartest people in the room. And whatever happens in those projects is the seven layer stack the customer’s gonna buy in March, April. So I, I start to think about this and go, I need to win. ’cause NTT has a wonderful relationship with AWS. [00:09:55] Vince Menzione: They do, [00:09:56] Jay McBain: I mean, partner of the year level. [00:09:57] Jay McBain: I mean, they’ve got 10,000 people certified. I mean, there’s just a, you know, there’s no one at AWS that, um, you know, would take a, a loss here because it’s a wonderful relationship. And Software One, they [00:10:09] Vince Menzione: go back to Microsoft actually 30, 40 years though they do. They were Dimension data before that. Yeah. [00:10:14] Vince Menzione: And they have the long hit Legacy And Software One. Software one as well. You, [00:10:19] Jay McBain: you know, well Software one is Microsoft’s biggest reseller, uh, in Europe. And now with Crayon, you know, one of the biggest in the world. So I would be nervous if I was looking at this and saw Software one coming in with NTT and watching these things take place if I were able to see this back in September, October and work with these companies. [00:10:38] Jay McBain: That’s where kind of Microsoft came into the picture. And this never hit Microsoft’s pipeline. No Microsoft salesperson ever worked on it, but millions of dollars came to Microsoft. Yeah. Uh, out of this deal. So there are examples of where Microsoft gets touched and AWS wins the deal. So this isn’t meant to say that it happens in every case, but it’s meant to say data rules the future, and agent ai, the ability to plumb in these boxes. [00:11:00] Jay McBain: Working with Informa tech, target people that can plumb in the boxes for you with third party data, helping you with the light blue boxes. We gotta be obsessed over these light blue boxes. [00:11:11] Vince Menzione: It’s incredible. The Ultimate Partner Winter Retreat is gonna be here in the Boca Studio. This is the third year that we’re gonna be here in Boca. [00:11:21] Vince Menzione: This is always a favorite of our community members, our executive members, our sponsors and speakers. We’ll all be here in the studio, which is a really intimate setting. We can see upwards of 40, 50 people. Uh, we’ll be hosting an incredible dinner at the Boca Resort overlooking the golf course. That’s an incredible property and, uh, we’d love to have you join us. [00:11:45] Vince Menzione: Thank you for being part of the ultimate Partner community, and I hope to see you this year at one of our events. Thank you.

Most people think building a consulting business is about learning the right strategies. But Debra Boulanger sees it differently - she believes entrepreneurship isn't just what you do, it's a spiritual journey that changes who you are. In this conversation, we talk about the identity shift from corporate to business owner, what it really takes to succeed beyond the tactics everyone talks about, and why the inner transformation matters just as much as the outer work.   ---   When you're ready to break through to the next revenue level in your consulting business, here are three ways I can help you.   1. Connect with me on LinkedIn for weekly insights on landing better clients and charging for the value you deliver.   2. Get your copy of my Referrals on Repeat guide, and learn five strategies you can implement straight away to take control of the referral process and attract more of the right inquiries – no more sitting around hoping they'll happen. Get your free copy at smartgetspaid.com/referrals   3. Build a repeatable sales and marketing system that gets you better clients, better rates, and less stress in your consulting business. If you're ready to stop leaving your success to chance, learn the proven system women consultants are using to attract ideal clients consistently and get paid for their value. Plus, you'll get help from me and my team every step of the way. If you've been in business for at least two years, you're making at least $120k, and you want to implement a system that's designed specifically for B2B consulting businesses, email team@smartgetspaid.com with "BREAKTHROUGH" in the subject line and I'll get you the details.  

AJ Meyer, CEO of Pickle Robot, isn't betting on general-purpose humanoid robots. Instead, he's a believer in robots and Physical AI which solve specific, high-volume problems. AJ joins Sam and Asad to reveal how he recently secured a nine-figure enterprise contract and why "boring" logistics tasks are the gateway to mass adoption of robots. But with mass adoption's opportunities, so too are there new risks. AJ shares that while physical safety is an important consideration, the cybersecurity risk of a networked robot workforce is what needs the most attention right now. This and a ton more in this week's episode of Topline with Sam Jacobs (CEO @ Pavilion) and Asad Zaman (CEO @ Sales Talent Agency). Thanks for tuning in! Catch new episodes every Sunday Subscribe to Topline Newsletter. Tune into Topline Podcast, the #1 podcast for founders, operators, and investors in B2B tech. Join the free Topline Slack channel to connect with 600+ revenue leaders to keep the conversation going beyond the podcast! Chapters: 00:00 Teaser and Introduction to AJ Meyer 02:53 The Convergence of Physical and Digital AI 05:50 Safety Constraints and the "Acrobat" Robot Disaster 09:19 Mobile Manipulation vs. General Purpose Humanoids 12:47 Cybersecurity Risks in Connected Robot Networks 18:52 AI Surveillance and Authoritarian Risks 28:01 Debunking the Myth of Unskilled Labor 34:54 The Moving Goalposts of AGI 38:19 Solving the Open World Generalization Problem 42:09 Why Foundation Models Need Systems Engineering 48:23 Designing Business Models for Enterprise and Mid-Market 53:20 The Nine-Figure "ChatGPT Moment" for Robotics 58:14 Transferring SaaS Go-To-Market Skills to Hardware 01:03:45 Taste and Judgment as Career Differentiators 01:07:50 Hiring Needs and Closing Thoughts

Revenue leaders don't trust their pipeline anymore.In this episode, we sit down with Phil Cleary – 20+ year Salesforce veteran and co-lead of the Revenue Enablement Society – to unpack what's really happening inside revenue teams right now.We break down why forecasts are slipping, why pipeline feels fabricated, and why traditional sales training isn't fixing behaviour.This is a deep dive into revenue enablement strategy at the leadership level.We cover:+ Why buyers are frozen (FOBO from FOMO)+ The 2x2 coaching model every sales leader should use+ Why “software with a service” is the future of SaaS+ How behaviour, identity, and mindset drive real adoption+ Why you are your calendarIf you lead sales, marketing, or revenue teams – this conversation will challenge how you think about enablement.Tune in and learn:+ How to fix forecast uncertainty+ How to build behaviour-led performance+ How to align revenue teams around real commercial oversightIf you care about predictable revenue, commercial common sense, and long-term alignment – this one's essential.-----------------------------------------------------

Future-Proofing B2B Marketing: AI, Omnichannel Strategies, and Decades of Wisdom with Melih OztalayIn this episode of The Thoughtful Entrepreneur Podcast, host Josh Elledge sits down with Melih Oztalay, the CEO of SmartFinds Marketing, to explore the seismic shifts currently reshaping the B2B landscape. With a marketing career spanning back to 1987, Melih offers a rare perspective on how to bridge the gap between traditional advertising principles and the hyper-accelerated world of AI-driven engagement. This conversation serves as a strategic roadmap for leaders looking to move beyond single-channel tactics and embrace a holistic, 360-degree approach that leverages cutting-edge technology to drive measurable business growth and long-term client loyalty.Navigating the Convergence of AI and Human-Centric MarketingThe transition from being a traditional agency to an AI-powered marketing powerhouse requires a fundamental shift in how business leaders view their digital presence. Melih explains that the current era of B2B marketing is defined by the rise of "AI Agents"—sophisticated chatbots that act as 24/7 sales representatives, capable of nurturing leads through complex buying cycles before a human ever enters the conversation. By integrating these tools, companies can transform their websites from static brochures into dynamic engagement hubs that qualify prospects based on real-time behavior. This shift doesn't just improve efficiency; it meets the modern buyer's expectation for immediate, accurate information, which can increase conversion rates from a standard 10% to upwards of 30%.To truly thrive, however, these technological tools must be housed within a robust omnichannel strategy that ensures a brand is visible wherever a prospect chooses to engage. Melih emphasizes that "cherry-picking" channels or focusing solely on lead generation without sales alignment is a recipe for stagnation. A successful strategy integrates PR, social media, email, and intent-based platforms into a unified message that builds trust over time. When marketing and sales teams are perfectly aligned, the data gathered from digital touchpoints informs every step of the outreach, ensuring that no lead is wasted and every interaction is personalized to the buyer's specific stage in their journey.Building these systems requires a commitment to long-term investment rather than short-term "quick fixes," a lesson Melih has distilled over nearly four decades in the industry. For SMBs and large enterprises alike, the goal is to create a marketing ecosystem that is both resilient and adaptable. This means automating mundane, repetitive tasks through AI to free up human talent for high-value strategic work. By auditing current channels and focusing on technical integrations that connect CRM data to front-end engagement, organizations can build a sustainable competitive advantage that outlasts the latest marketing fads.About Melih OztalayMelih Oztalay is the CEO and founder of SmartFinds Marketing, a Detroit-based agency with a legacy of innovation dating back to 1987. A pioneer in the digital space, Melih has spent his career helping B2B organizations navigate the evolution of the internet, specialized in omnichannel strategies and the practical implementation of AI in marketing.About SmartFinds MarketingSmartFinds Marketing is a full-service B2B omnichannel agency that specializes in delivering 360-degree marketing solutions. The agency focuses on integrating AI technology, lead optimization, and strategic content to help both Fortune 500 companies and growing SMBs maximize their digital reach and ROI.Links Mentioned in This Episode

This week, Cathy McKnight is back in the studio to discuss changes content marketers need to make in 2026, and as Robert Rose couldn't make it to our virtual bar this week, our host Ian Truscott shares his 3 D's of product content marketing.    Ian and Cathy discuss: Marketing teams are often organized around outdated models The pandemic accelerated the need for digital transformation Organizations must focus on outcomes, not just outputs Silos in organizations are inevitable, but should be permeable AI should enhance human creativity, not replace it Organizations waste money on unused technology Ian shares that B2B tech marketers need to create three types of content to move away from our focus on features and functions, and steps through his 3 D's of Product Content Marketing:  Default Distinct Direction If you have any comments or thoughts on this topic, we would love to hear them! Enjoy! — The Links The people: Ian Truscott on LinkedIn  Cathy McKnight on LinkedIn Mentioned this week: Cathy's weekly blog - Bear Essentials Cathy's firm - Seventh Bear Beyond features: the three Ds of product marketing | Startups Magazine Ian's firm - Velocity B Rockstar CMO: The Beat Newsletter that we send every Monday Rockstar CMO on the web and LinkedIn Previous episodes and all the show notes: Rockstar CMO FM. Track List: We'll be right back by Stienski & Mass Media on YouTube Piano Music is by Johnny Easton, shared under a Creative Commons license You can listen to this on all good podcast platforms, like Apple, Amazon, and Spotify. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the Franchise Fit Podcast! In this episode, I'm joined by Brian & Michael Appell—the guys behind a national pavement striping, maintenance, and seal coating business trusted by major brands like Costco, McDonald's, Starbucks, CVS, Verizon, Walgreens, T-Mobile and more.We talk about building a “need, not a want” B2B business, what it really costs to start, the biggest mistakes new owners make, how they use AI + tech to win jobs faster, and what they look for in franchisees.

How do you build a $30 million ARR business with just three people and a fleet of AI agents doing the heavy lifting? In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I connected with Amos Joseph, CEO of Swan AI. From the moment we joked about AI notetakers silently observing our conversation, it was clear this discussion would go beyond surface-level automation talk. Amos is attempting something bold. He is building what he calls an autonomous business, one designed to scale with intelligence rather than headcount. Amos has already built and exited two B2B startups using the traditional growth-at-all-costs model. Raise early, hire fast, expand the vision, chase valuation. This time, he is rewriting that script entirely. Swan AI is built around ARR per employee, human-AI collaboration, and what he describes as scaling employees rather than scaling the org chart. With more than 200 customers and only three founders, Swan is already testing whether AI agents can run real go-to-market operations autonomously. We explored why over 90 percent of AI implementations fail and why grassroots experimentation consistently outperforms executive mandates. Amos argues that companies looking outward for AI solutions before understanding their internal bottlenecks are simply scaling chaos. The organizations that succeed start with process clarity, define what humans should do versus what should be automated, and then allow AI to execute within that structure. It is a powerful reminder that becoming AI-native has less to do with tools and more to do with operational self-awareness. We also unpacked the difference between automation and agentic AI. Traditional automation follows deterministic steps coded in advance. Agentic AI shifts decision-making power to the model itself. The AI decides what to do next, introducing statistical reasoning rather than predefined logic. That shift in agency changes everything about how workflows operate and how leaders think about control. Perhaps most fascinating is how Swan generates pipeline entirely through LinkedIn. No paid ads. No outbound. Amos has built an AI-driven engine that creates content, monitors engagement, qualifies prospects, and nurtures relationships at scale. It is an experiment in trust-based distribution powered by agents, not marketing budgets. This conversation reframes what growth can look like in an AI-native world. If scaling no longer equals hiring, and if every employee becomes a manager of AI agents, what does leadership look like next? How do founders build organizations that amplify human zones of genius rather than bury them under coordination overhead? If you are questioning long-held assumptions about team size, growth, and AI adoption, this episode will give you plenty to think about.

From Stanford and the RAND Corporation to leading revenue teams in the commercial world, Brent Keltner, PhD, has spent his career decoding how complex B2B deals are actually closed. As founder and president of Winalytics, Brent helps mid-market and enterprise teams move beyond product pitching to true account-based growth. He's the author of “The Revenue Acceleration Playbook” and the forthcoming “Journey First Marketing,” a book that challenges one of B2B's biggest bad habits: obsessing over individual personas when companies actually buy in committees. In this episode, Brent reveals why traditional contact-focused marketing leaves so much revenue on the table and how to flip your entire go-to-market motion around a simple idea: accounts buy, personas don't. You'll hear how to design websites that speak to every member of the buying committee, why customer stories should be your #1 content asset (not #5), and how to connect product value, business value, and corporate value so that users, budget owners, and risk-averse stakeholders all see themselves in your message. https://youtu.be/2dCBKj9vf88 Brent also breaks down a practical roadmap for teams stuck in contact scoring and lead chaos. He explains how to use tools like ChatGPT on top of your CRM to spot real buying committees (not just random clickers or competitors snooping), how to build three aligned content streams for your core buyer types, and how to reuse a single customer story across your entire funnel, website, social, sales decks, and beyond. Whether you're a CMO, CRO, founder, or product marketer, you'll come away with a clearer picture of what true account-based enablement looks like in the real world and how a few smart changes can unlock faster, more predictable growth. Quotes: "Accounts buy. Personas don't, and every part of your marketing should reflect that reality.” “If your customers aren't saying it consistently, it isn't true, no matter how often your CEO repeats it.” “Customer stories are the only asset that turn ‘me selling to you' into ‘we solving a problem together.'” Resources: Winalytics LLC Brent Keltner on LinkedIn The Revenue Acceleration Playbook: Creating an Authentic Buyer Journey Across Sales, Marketing, and Customer Success on Amazon