Podcasts about Go to market

In this episode of the B2B Go-To-Market Leaders Podcast, Vijay sits down with Maximilian Gartner, Head of Go-To-Market at Brightwave, to explore how GTM leaders can balance sustainable growth with predictable revenue, while staying rooted in authentic, founder-led perspectives.Max shares his journey from inside sales “boiler rooms” to leading GTM teams at high-growth companies, and how lessons from cold-calling, enterprise deal cycles, and sales leadership shaped his philosophy on customer-first GTM.They dive deep into:Why founder-led POVs are powerful in early stage, and how they must evolve as companies scale.The critical difference between predictable and sustainable revenue, and why ignoring sustainability leads to churn.Lessons from inside sales: why clarity and credibility in the first 10 seconds of a call are everything.A Brightwave GTM pivot that front-loaded product experience, shortened feedback loops, and tripled adoption.Why “knowing your customer” (KYC) at every level: user, manager, executive, is the ultimate GTM advantage.How doubt and imposter syndrome can be reframed as signals of growth.If you're leading sales, marketing, CS, or product, or simply curious about how GTM leaders scale customer-first strategies, this episode is packed with tactical insights and leadership lessons.Connect with Max Gartner on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/maximiliangartner/Connect with Vijay Damojipurapu on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/vijdam/Brought to you by: stratyve.com

How do you win when your competitors are the biggest companies in the world?This week on Grit, Dropbox co-founder and CEO Drew Houston retraces the path from a bus-stop prototype to competing head-on with Google, Apple, and Microsoft.He explains why grit is “learning to run toward discomfort,” and the moments he realized founders keep going “for the love of the game.”Guest: Drew Houston, Co-Founder & CEO of DropboxChapters:00:00 Trailer00:52 Introduction01:35 Towards full autonomy16:20 Coming back to school21:45 Golden ticket to California25:23 No one's born a CEO28:15 Y Combinator and a co-founder37:53 The craft of being a great CEO53:41 Metabolizing the stress1:10:14 Tactical advices and frameworks1:27:48 Who Dropbox is hiring1:29:35 What “grit” means to Drew1:32:10 OutroLinks:Connect with DrewXLinkedInConnect with JoubinXLinkedInEmail: grit@kleinerperkins.comLearn more about Kleiner Perkins

In this episode of The Marketing Rapport, host Tim Finnigan sits down with Nola Solomon, Founder and Tech Executive at Sage Quill. They explore how clear storytelling and strong value propositions drive better marketing outcomes, especially in B2B environments. Nola shares why companies must move beyond features and instead focus on the real problems they solve for customers. As the conversation unfolds, Nola explains how trust and internal alignment become the backbone of any successful go-to-market strategy. She stresses that building customer trust starts with deeply understanding their needs and speaking their language. The discussion covers the challenges of breaking down silos, keeping messaging consistent across teams, and making sure every role plays a part in delivering value. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are those of the speaker and do not necessarily represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of Verisk Marketing Solutions or Verisk Analytics. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. This podcast is not intended to replace legal or other professional advice. The Lead Intelligence, Inc. (dba Verisk Marketing Solutions) and Verisk Analytics LLC names and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service. VERISK MARKETING SOLUTIONS DISCLAIMS ALL LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF ANY INDIVIDUAL'S USE OF, REFERENCE TO, RELIANCE ON, OR INABILITY TO USE THIS PODCAST OR THE INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS PODCAST.

Typedef is building an inference-first data engine designed for the new era of AI agents and machine-to-machine interactions. With $5.5 million in funding, the company is reimagining data infrastructure for a world where both humans and AI systems need seamless access to data processing capabilities. In this episode of Category Visionaries, I sat down with Kostas Pardalis, Co-Founder & CEO of Typedef, to explore how the company is addressing the fundamental shift from traditional business intelligence platforms to AI-native data infrastructure that treats inference as a first-class citizen alongside traditional compute resources. Topics Discussed: Typedef's vision for inference-first data infrastructure in the AI era The transition from human-only to machine-to-machine data interactions Why infrastructure companies take longer to reach revenue but build deeper moats The evolution from pre-AI data platforms to AI-native solutions Design partner strategies for infrastructure companies Go-to-market approaches that combine bottom-up (engineers) and top-down (decision makers) strategies Category creation challenges in rapidly evolving AI markets The importance of open source and education in developer-focused go-to-market GTM Lessons For B2B Founders: Start go-to-market activities during the design partner phase: Kostas emphasized that go-to-market isn't something you switch on after product development. "It's okay to go out there and talk about something that it's not very well defined or it might change, but actually it doesn't matter... go to market like just like everything else, it's an interactive process." B2B founders should begin building awareness, creating content, and engaging with potential customers even while their product is still evolving. Design partners must have real pain, not just time: The biggest insight about design partnerships is treating them like real customer relationships. "A design partner is still someone who has a problem that needs to be solved... no one is just donating their time out there... There still has to be value there." Don't approach design partnerships as charity work - ensure there's genuine mutual value exchange where your solution addresses real business pain. Product-market fit requires both product AND market innovation: Kostas challenged the common engineering mindset about product-market fit: "Many times, especially engineers, think that when we say product, market fit is that we have market, which is a static thing and we just need to iterate over the product until we find the right thing that matches exactly the market. No, that's not right." B2B founders must innovate on both the product and go-to-market sides simultaneously, including defining their target vertical and building appropriate sales motions. Infrastructure sales require dual-persona strategies: When selling to developers and technical infrastructure, you need both bottom-up and top-down approaches. "Even if you go to the manager and they love what you are saying, you still have to convince the engineers to use this thing... And they have a lot of leverage and vice versa." The bottom-up motion involves open source adoption and education, while the top-down involves traditional outbound sales to decision makers. Category creation doesn't guarantee category dominance: Having witnessed category creation firsthand, Kostas shared that defining a category doesn't ensure winning it. "It doesn't necessarily mean that because you define the categories that you are going to win at the end... Vercel was not actually the company that invented the category there." Focus on solving real problems and building sustainable competitive advantages rather than just being first to market with category messaging.   //   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 

Even with AI, sales still comes down to human connection. This week on Grit, Dan Lee shares how Nooks automates busywork like research and dialing for thousands of sales teams, letting reps focus on the conversations that close deals.He also shares his “do more with less” approach, why cold calls still convert, and how to maximize human impact alongside AI.Guests: Dan Lee, CEO and Co-founder of Nooks and Leigh Marie Braswell, Partner at Kleiner PerkinsConnect with Dan Lee: XLinkedInConnect with Leigh Marie BraswellXLinkedInConnect with JoubinXLinkedInEmail: grit@kleinerperkins.comLearn more about Kleiner Perkins

On this episode of The Goats of Growth, I sat down with Tanveer Bhangoo — former Go-To-Market leader, author of Pro Business Mindset, and the upcoming Bet on People. From being a first-generation athlete in Canada to leading in the tech industry, Tanveer's story is a blueprint for resilience, adaptability, and leadership done right. He breaks down why off-season preparation is just as important in business as it is in sports, how to build trust quickly in a new role, and why betting on people is the single most powerful move a leader can make. Tanveer also shares the daily habits that drive his performance, the role of humility in growth, and how he navigates scrutiny while pushing teams to win. What you'll learn:

From Dreamdata: "Things have changed over the last five years… and these are the core pillars you need to think about if you want to be successful as a company.Amidst intense budget scrutiny, disruptive AI, and failing lead-generation tactics, B2B marketers must overhaul their strategies to survive and grow by shifting focus from capturing existing demand to strategically creating it for the future.Speaking on a recent Attributed Podcast, Megan Bowen, CEO of Refine Labs, broke down the strategy that she believes is now essential for survival and growth.She argues that the "growth at all costs" era is definitively over, and in its place is a more sustainable, holistic go-to-market motion she calls the 'Brand. Demand. Expand.' framework. She explains the specifics of each pillar, including the key metric that makes brand performance measurable, a proven formula for reallocating ad spend, and strategies for turning existing customers into your best growth lever."

What if your tools shared context like your team does?This week on Grit, Shishir Mehrotra shares how the Coda and Grammarly collaboration unlocks context as a “superpower,” reflects on his early days at Google and YouTube, and hints at a future where tools anticipate intent and amplify how we work.He also shares how this paves the way for agent-based workflows and AI-native communication, beginning with Superhuman's email experience.Guest: Shishir Mehrotra, co-founder of Coda and CEO of GrammarlyConnect with ShishirXLinkedInChapters: 00:00 Trailer01:24 Introduction02:09 Zoo vs safari12:02 A TV ahead of its time21:25 Product decisions31:25 The data behind the algorithm37:26 The AI native productivity suite48:06 Agents are digital humans57:55 Pressure trade-off1:12:50 Insulated from judgment1:25:19 Who Grammarly is hiring1:25:51 What “grit” means to Shishir1:29:30 OutroMentioned in this episode: YouTube, Ray William Johnson, Spotify, Twitch, MTV, Chris Cox, Facebook, TikTok, Google TV, Centrata, Google Chrome, Android, Gmail, Microsoft, Super Bowl, Mosaic, Panasonic, Sony, Susan Wojcicki, Rishi Chandra, Apple TV, Amazon Firestick, Comcast, LoudCloud (Opsware), Quest Communications, AT&T Southwestern Bell, Salar Kamangar, Patrick Pichette, Eric Schmidt, OpenAI ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Mark Zuckerberg, Meta Platforms, Sundar Pichai, Larry Page, Sergey Brin, Hamilton, Reid Hoffman, Sam Altman, Tesla, Waymo, Airtable, Notion, Max Lytvyn, Alex Shevchenko, Superhuman, Duolingo, Luis von Ahn, Khan Academy, MrBeast, Facebook Messenger, Snap (Snapchat), WhatsApp, Google+, Meta LLaMa, Satya Nadella, Tim Cook, Daniel GrossConnect with JoubinXLinkedInEmail: grit@kleinerperkins.comLearn more about Kleiner Perkins

 Fr Toby asks what would you give in exchange for your soul or that of another?WORD FOR TODAY is broadcast live on Radio Maria on weekdays at 1:15pm and is rebroadcast at 12:15am and 5:45am the following day. In it our Priest Director Fr Toby offers a reflection, usually drawing from the Mass readings of the day. If you enjoyed this programme, please consider supporting us with a one-off or monthly donation. Visit RadioMariaEngland.uk/donations/ to find out more. It is only through the generosity of our listeners that we are able to be a Christian voice by your side.

Ivan Zhao joins Joubin Mirzadegan on Grit to break down how the company's minimalist design became a strategic edge in a world overwhelmed by bloated software. He shares why the AI agent still hasn't arrived, and how Notion's modular approach might be the closest thing to making it real.Guest: Ivan Zhao, co-founder and CEO of NotionMentioned in this episode: Fuzzy Khosrowshahi, Airbnb, Sequoia Capital, Linear, Figma, Apple, Things, Microsoft, BMW, Lumiere, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Rippling, Matt MacInnis, Inkling, Steve Jobs, Douglas Engelbart, Alan Kay, Bill Gates, OpenAI ChatGPT, Y Combinator, Andrej Karpathy, Toby Schachman, Simon Last, Spotify, SlackConnect with Ivan ZhaoXLinkedInConnect with JoubinXLinkedInEmail: grit@kleinerperkins.comLearn more about Kleiner Perkins

In this episode of TECHtonic, host Thomas Lah is joined by Wendy Wooley, VP of Customer Experience and Strategic Programs at ScienceLogic, to explore how AI is not just transforming products, but fundamentally reshaping how tech companies go to market. Wendy reflects on her 10-year journey at ScienceLogic, the development of the Skyler AI Suite, and how the Agentic AI Autonomic IT Maturity Model is helping customers unlock value faster. Together, they explore what it means to align AI innovation with customer-centric value realization—and why that alignment is no longer optional.Listeners will gain insights into:The evolving expectations of enterprise buyers in the AI eraWhy “first time to value” is now a non-negotiable benchmarkHow to shift from selling features to selling outcomesWhy modern GTM strategies must speak to both the CIO and the CEOIf you're in tech and still leading with features instead of business outcomes, this episode is your wake-up call. Modern buyers demand more—and AI is raising the bar.

פרק עם היזם הסדרתי ואיש הסייבר איתי בוגנר, אנחנו צוללים לשיחה חשופה ונדירה על הקשר בין טרגדיה אישית לחוסן יזמי. פתחנו בשאלה הקשה מכל, ומשם המשכנו למסע של תובנות על ניהול, יזמות והחיים עצמם. דיברנו על "תיאום ציפיות" ככלי החשוב ביותר בארסנל של יזם, על הלקחים מהסכסוך המתוקשר עם צ'קפוינט, ועל האבולוציה שעבר כמנהל וכאדם. נגענו גם בתופעת היעדר לקיחת האחריות בחברה הישראלית, ניתחנו את מרוץ החימוש הפיננסי שקובע מי מנצח בתחום הסייבר, וניסינו לענות על השאלה - האם צריך להיות "לא נחמד" כדי להצליח בגדול. פרק חובה לכל יזם, משקיע ומנהל שרוצה להבין את החוקים הלא כתובים של המשחק.(00:00:00) פתיחה ישירה: התמודדות עם אובדן ו"הדחקה מלאה"(00:02:18) הקשר בין אחריות הורית לאחריות של יזם(00:03:16) היפוך היחסים: כשהמשקיעים הופכים תלויים בך(00:09:52) איך הסכסוך עם צ'קפוינט הפך את איתי ל"סטרייט שוטר"(00:12:37) "תיאום ציפיות": מילת המפתח להצלחה בחיים ובעסקים(00:15:22) למה משקיעים לא תמיד אומרים ליזמים את כל האמת(00:18:36) משא ומתן כדרך חיים: "זה לא טקטיקה, זה מה שאני מאמין בו"(00:20:30) על תרבות של התקרבנות והיעדר לקיחת אחריות(00:25:05) האם יזם בודד יכול להצליח? מבנה השותפות האידיאלי של איתי(00:27:17) "סטארט-אפ זה דיקטטורה" - ולמה זה עובד(00:30:52) Go-To-Market בסייבר: מרוץ החימוש הפיננסי שמכתיר את המנצחים(00:38:36) "הניצוץ המשוגע": מה באמת נדרש כדי להיות יזם?(00:39:47) האם צריך להיות "לא נחמד" כדי להצליח?(00:44:46) למה להישאר בסייבר? על התשוקה לבנות מוצר שלקוחות באמת אוהבים

Paul Yacoubian, founder and CEO at Copy.ai, is on a mission to cut down go-to-market bloat. One big way that AI can help marketers, especially at larger organizations, is in creating standardized content creation processes - and integrating those outputs into existing companies at the organization. It can mean efficiency and scale that saves thousands of employees time, and can increase the satisfaction of thousands of customers. Paul chats with Greg and Rex about how Copy.ai generates marketing and sales content, the importance of workflow-based solutions over isolated AI tools, and how to enhance customer experience. For Further Reading:Learn more about Copy.ai: https://www.copy.ai/Learn more about Paul: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulyacoubian/NotebookLM: https://notebooklm.google.com/AI productivity study: https://fortune.com/2025/07/20/ai-hampers-productivity-software-developers-productivity-study/ Listen on your favorite podcast app: https://pod.link/1715735755

How did Tripadvisor become every traveler's starting point?Steve Kaufer joins Joubin Mirzadegan on Grit to break down how Tripadvisor became the internet's trusted travel companion, built on over a billion reviews and decades of trust. He also shares why early personalization fell short and how AI is finally doing what travel agents once did by understanding the traveler, but faster, smarter, and at scale.Guest: Steve Kaufer, co-founder of TripAdvisorChapters:(00:00) Trailer(00:45) Introduction(01:32) Early days of Tripadvisor(08:14) Catching the startup bug(18:42) Luck and timing(26:54) $200M: a combo of money and risk(37:37) I love creating stuff(40:45) Hardest part of being a public CEO(46:21) Never let a good crisis go to waste(51:54) An average traveler(55:49) Social proof vs artificial intelligence(1:02:59) Back in the saddle(1:09:54) Not for the faint of heart(1:12:16) What “grit” means to Steve(1:12:31) OutroMentioned in this episode: Google, Expedia Group, Barry Diller, Interactive Corporation (IAC), Uber, Dara Khosrowshahi, OpenAI ChatGPT, IMDb, CJ Affiliate (Commission Junction), Amazon, Google Chrome, Give Freely, Honey, Rakuten, Macy's, American Cancer Society, Google GeminiLinks:Connect with SteveXLinkedInConnect with JoubinXLinkedInEmail: grit@kleinerperkins.comLearn more about Kleiner Perkins

In this week's throwback episode of The 20% Podcast, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Dom Odoguardi, a GTM leader at Trellus who has been sharpening his entrepreneurial skills long before stepping into the startup world. From running social media and managing 94 interns in college to leading Sales, Marketing, and Community at an early stage company, Dom shares the lessons he's learned from both structured and chaotic environments.Key topics include:Growing up as a first-generation Italian American and the influence of early experiencesThe transition from selling pizza (no pineapple allowed) to managing large teamsHow real world experience shaped his perspective on Sales, Marketing, and EntrepreneurshipThe importance of demand generation and social sellingWhy cross-functional collaboration is the secret to early stage GTM successHis hot take: Social selling is actually marketingThis conversation is packed with advice for anyone navigating the world of startups, sales, and content driven demand generation.Please enjoy this week's episode with Dom Odoguardi.I am now in the early stages of writing my first book! It will cover my journey into sales, the lessons learned, and include stories and advice from top sales professionals around the world. I'm excited to share these interviews and bring you along on this journey!Like the show? Subscribe to the email: Subscribe Here

Join our champion program: mark@themomentumcompany.com Attend a Thriving Leader event: https://www.themomentumcompany.com/thrivingleader2025 Instagram: @the.momentum.company LinkedIn: /momentum-companyIn this powerful episode, Mark Jewell sits down with Lacey Seibert, Head of Go To Market at Bushel, to explore the future of leadership in agriculture. With over 16 years of experience in grain, logistics, and ag tech, Lacey shares hard-earned wisdom about integrating faith, purpose, and innovation into the workplace. From redefining leadership beyond hierarchy to bridging the gap between technology and boots-on-the-ground needs, this conversation is a must-listen for agribusiness leaders looking to lead with clarity, courage, and real-world solutions.Key Takeaways:Lead with Purpose, Not PressureLacey shares how surrendering her career ambitions to her faith brought unexpected peace and opened new paths for leadership—both at home and in the industry.From Customer to Vision-Caster at BushelLacey explains her transition from grain origination to a key strategic role in ag tech, and why creating solutions that actually work for farmers begins with deep industry empathy.Support + Autonomy = MagicAg organizations struggle to find the sweet spot between micromanaging and empowering. Lacey outlines how leaders can create environments where people take ownership and feel supported.Why the North Star Matters More Than EverThe old “feed the world” mantra is being replaced. Lacey and Mark challenge listeners to define their company's new mission—and lead teams with clarity around why the work matters now.Innovation Requires Courage and CuriosityFrom AI-powered efficiencies to mentoring programs, Lacey shares how leaders can challenge the status quo and keep learning—even in traditional ag environments.Notable Quotes:“Being intentional means having clarity about the purpose I'm living for—and checking that purpose daily.” – Lacey Seibert “You don't need a formal title to lead. You can lead up, lead across, and create trust by showing up differently.” – Lacey Seibert “If your company doesn't have a clear North Star, your people will struggle to stay passionate. Clarity drives culture.” – Lacey Seibert “We've got to stop solving survival problems and start solving abundance problems.” – Mark Jewell “If it's not on a page, we're not on the same page.” – Mark JewellAction Steps:Reflect on your personal and organizational North Star. Is it clear, compelling, and shared across your team?Re-evaluate one process in your company: could it be simplified or automated to create more space for deep work?Schedule a conversation with someone outside your organization to gain fresh leadership perspective.Encourage your team to experiment with one new approach this quarter—then evaluate what worked.Listen If You Are:A grain or ag tech leader looking to bridge the gap between innovation and farmer realityA cooperative CEO or manager navigating team dynamics and employee retentionA high-performing leader ready to lead from purpose instead of pressureA young professional seeking clarity on how to grow in influence without a formal title

230 | Produkt ist fertig - wie finde ich jetzt Kunden? Alex bespricht mit Simon Walter, Chief Strategy Officer von Project A, über die 4 Arten der Go-To-Market Strategie.Finde die perfekte Geschäftsidee für dich in unserem 1-minütigen Quiz: digitaleoptimisten.de/quiz.Mehr von Simon hier in seinem Newsletter: https://drsimonwalter.substack.com/Kapitel:(00:00) Intro(06:25) Warum Go-to-Market oft scheitert – unterschätzte Aufgabe, Differenzierung als Schlüssel(09:36) Product-Led Growth verstehen – Hotmail, Zoom, Dropbox & die Monetarisierungs-Hürde(22:35) Sales-Led vs. Marketing-Led – Funnel-KPIs, hohe CACs, Performance-Plateau (ca. 20:00)(44:54) Brand-Led als Turbo – Zalando, Oatly & der Medienbruch-Effekt (ca: 39:40)(53:10) Größte Fehler (ca. 52:00)(61:00) Simons Geschäftsidee: OnlyFans für Thought LeaderMehr Kontext:In dieser Episode diskutieren Simon und Alex die Bedeutung und Herausforderungen von Go-to-Market-Strategien für Gründer. Sie beleuchten verschiedene Ansätze wie Product-Led, Sales-Led und Marketing-Led Strategien und geben Einblicke in deren Vor- und Nachteile. Anhand von Beispielen aus der Praxis wird verdeutlicht, wie wichtig eine durchdachte Go-to-Market-Strategie für den Erfolg eines Startups ist. In diesem Gespräch diskutieren Alex Mrozek und Simon verschiedene Go-to-Market-Strategien, insbesondere die Unterschiede zwischen Marketing-led und Brand-led Ansätzen. Sie beleuchten die Herausforderungen, die Startups im Performance Marketing begegnen, und die Fehler, die Gründer häufig machen. Zudem wird die Bedeutung von hypothesenbasiertem Arbeiten im Mittelstand hervorgehoben und eine innovative Idee für eine Plattform vorgestellt, die Thought Leaders monetarisiert.Keywords:Go-to-Market-Strategie, Gründer, Produktentwicklung, Marketing, Sales, Product-Led Growth, Sales-Led, Marketing-Led, Startups, Unternehmensstrategie, Marketing, Go-to-Market, Performance Marketing, Brand Marketing, Startups, Hypothesenbasiertes Arbeiten, Direct-to-Consumer, Fehler von Gründern, OnlyFans für Thought Leaders

Send us a textIn episode 265 of Beyond The Story, Sebastian Rusk interviews “Merch Queen” Amanda Hofman, CEO and Co-Founder of Go To Market, a woman-owned branded merchandise company revolutionizing swag. Amanda shares her journey from founding NYC's Urban Girl Squad to building a brand that makes meaningful merch fun and accessible. She also talks about entrepreneurship, pivoting during the pandemic, and life in NYC with her family, rescue dog, and love for running and cycling.Tune in for valuable lessons on entrepreneurship and the importance of establishing a strong brand identity.TIMESTAMPS[00:02:47] Print on Demand technology.[00:06:13] Innovative brand merchandise strategies.[00:08:06] Exciting design process for brands.[00:12:39] AI as an enhancer.[00:15:25] Branded merchandise strategy importance.[00:18:46] Gifting platforms over storefronts.[00:21:44] Merch as business support.QUOTES "We connect to the values of a company. We don't connect to the logo of a company. We connect to how it makes us feel, how it relates to our identity." - Amanda Hofman"Your branded merchandise should look, feel, and taste as good as that. And if it doesn't, don't do it." -Amanda Hofman“ AI is going to be there to make a life just that much easier on, on, on what we're doing.” -Sebastian Rusk==========================Need help launching your podcast?Schedule a Free Podcast Strategy Call TODAY!PodcastLaunchLabNow.com==========================SOCIAL MEDIA LINKSSebastian RuskInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/podcastlaunchlab/Facebook: Facebook.com/sruskLinkedIn: LinkedIn.com/in/sebastianrusk/YouTube: Youtube.com/@PodcastLaunchLabAmanda HofmanInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/gotomarketstudio/?hl=en LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandagoldfinehofman/ ==========================Take the quiz now! https://podcastquiz.online/==========================Need Money For Your Business? Our Friends at Closer Capital can help! Click here for more info: PodcastsSUCK.com/money==========================PAYING RENT? Earn airlines when you do with the Bilt Rewards MastercardAPPLY HERE: https://bilt.page/r/2H93-5474

Dan Hobbs, CEO & Co-Founder of Protex AI, joins SaaStock's Alex Theuma to break down how his startup is transforming factory safety using AI and how they scaled to triple-digit growth with an enterprise-first GTM motion. In this episode, you'll learn: - How Protex AI went from YC to 300% YoY growth - Why they moved fast into the U.S. (and why you should too) - The AI tools Dan actually uses to drive team efficiency - How to close enterprise clients - Dan's biggest founder lessons and what he'd do differently - Top tier advice from Pitbull aka Mr. Worldwide…. Yes, really. Guest links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-hobbs-258998ab/ Website: https://www.protex.ai/      Check out the other ways SaaStock is helping SaaS founders move their business forward: 

Kamini Belday's deep passion for technology led to her success at IBM Cloud as the Global Head of Payments! She is leading the development and execution of core banking & payment strategies, Go-To Market execution & revenue acceleration, ensuring secure payment solutions for a diverse range of clients with enhanced customer experience.On The Menu:1. Embedded Payments Revolution - Seamless transactions in IoT and EVs.2. Cross-Border Real-Time Payments - Pushing limits of traditional SWIFT methods.3. AI-Powered Fraud Prevention - Predictive security replacing reactive approaches.4. Stablecoin and CBDC Innovation - Digital currencies taking center stage.5. Hybrid Cloud Banking Benefits - Microservices architecture over monolithic systems.6. The Four R's Strategy - Retire, replatform, re-architect, rebuild, modernize.Click here for a free trial: https://bit.ly/495qC9UFollow us on social media to hear from us more -Facebook- https://bit.ly/3ZYLiewInstagram- https://bit.ly/3UsdrtfLinkedin- https://bit.ly/43pdmdUTwitter- https://bit.ly/43qPvKXPinterest- https://bit.ly/3KOOa9uHappy creating!#KaminiBelday #IBM #Outgrow #Banking #FinanceMarketing #CloudComputing #MarketerOfTheMonth #Podcastoftheday #Marketingpodcast

Guests: Garrett Lord, co-founder and CEO of Handshake; and Mamoon Hamid, partner at Kleiner Perkins.Handshake set out to democratize career opportunity. In the process, it unlocked something more: a high-trust expert network built on verified talent and earned trust.This week on Grit, Garrett Lord shares how what began as a platform for student job seekers is now partnering with leading labs, enabling experts to train real-world AI systems. He explains how owning verified domain talent has become their core strategic edge, bypassing middlemen and turning a decade of trust into lasting advantage.Connect with Garrett LordXLinkedInConnect with JoubinXLinkedInEmailConnect with MamoonXLinkedInLearn more about Kleiner Perkins

האם יכול להיות שקיימות שתי תעשיות הייטק נפרדות בישראל, שאחת מהן כמעט ולא מקבלת מימון? בפרק שיפתח לכם את הראש, אני מארח את רן ריבנזפט, יזם סדרתי והמייסד-שותף של Epsagon (שנמכרה לCisco) והחברה החדשה שלו, Harmony. רן משרטט תמונה נדירה של שתי המציאויות האלה: עולם ה"בלינג בלינג" של יוצאי היחידות הטכנולוגיות, ומנגד, עולם היזמים המוכשרים שמתקשים לפרוץ קדימה. דיברנו על השינוי הגדול ביותר בתעשייה: הטכנולוגיה הפכה לסחורה (Commodity). רן מספר איך AI מאפשר לו ולצוות שלו לבנות מוצרים במהירות שיא, וכיצד חברות חדשות שיאמצו "AI Culture" יקבלו יתרון בלתי הוגן על פני השאר. בנוסף, רן חושף לראשונה את תהליך האיידיאיישן מאחורי החברה החדשה שלו, איך מאות שיחות עם מנהלי IT הובילו אותם לשוק של מיליארדים שנמצא מתחת לרדאר, ומהי המוכנות הנפשית והמשפחתית הנדרשת כדי לצאת שוב למסע המפרך של הקמת סטארטאפ.(00:00:00) שתי מציאויות אורתוגונליות בהייטק הישראלי(00:00:42) ההבדל בין יזמי "בלינג בלינג" ליזמים ש"תקועים בסייקל"(02:03:00) למה צוותים "חמים" מגייסים הון תועפות על רעיון? (אפקט הנועה קירל)(06:50:00) איך האקזיט של Wiz פתח את התיאבון לקרנות ומחפשים חברות של 100 מיליארד דולר(08:18:00) הסיפור על המשקיע שפספס וקיבל תשובה: "Sweet for me, bitter for you"(12:44:00) החיסרון הגדול של יוצאי 8200: Go-To-Market מאוד חלש(18:21:00) התזה המרכזית: "הטכנולוגיה זה כבר לא הסיפור"(20:45:00) איך AI מאפשר לבנות מוצר עובד בשעה אחת(24:56:00) שימוש ב-AI לבניית מכונת Go-To-Market אוטומטית(26:35:00) למה לחברות גדולות קשה לאמץ תרבות AI אמיתית(30:58:00) איך מגיעים למפתחים הראשונים עם מוצר כמעט מוכן בזכות AI(32:52:00) תהליך ה-Ideation: איך מצאנו את הרעיון לחברה החדשה "Harmony"(37:33:00) האסטרטגיה: לא לתקוף את ServiceNow חזיתית, אלא לכבוש את המיד-מרקט(45:02:00) איך צוות של 10 אנשים עם AI יספק תפוקה של צוות של 100(50:01:00) המניע האישי: "מוכן להקרבה" ולבנות משהו גדול למען המדינה

In this episode, we're joined by Chris Tottman from Notion Capital. Before becoming a VC, Chris co-founded MessageLabs and helped grow it into a $700 million exit, so he's seen the startup journey from both sides of the table.We talk about what really happens when your product-market fit starts to slip—and why it quietly wrecks your entire go-to-market strategy. Sales start missing targets. Marketing can't get traction. Churn creeps up. But most teams keep pushing forward without realizing the core problem is the product just doesn't fit anymore.(00:00) - Introduction (09:55) - Common mistakes in Go-To-Market strategies (19:54) - Identifying a VC case (30:05) - Importance of Product Market Fit (39:38) - Transitioning from VC to PE (50:07) - Next week: pricing changes

Zach Perret saw a fintech explosion coming—and built the rails before it arrived.On this week's Grit, the Plaid co-founder and CEO retraces his path from building tools for developers to linking the world's largest banks, and how a failed $5.3B acquisition by Visa became a launchpad.He unpacks the pressure of operating in a tightly regulated industry, why rebuilding trust after the deal collapse was harder than expected, and how Plaid is navigating the shift from startup to staple—while staying obsessed with the end user.Links:Connect with ZachXLinkedInConnect with JoubinXLinkedInEmail: grit@kleinerperkins.comLearn more about Kleiner Perkins

Pour l'épisode de cette semaine, je reçois Alexandre Barroux, CEO et cofondateur de Bonx.Bonx, c'est un ERP industriel nouvelle génération, pensé pour les PME, qui se déploie en 5 à 6 semaines seulement, et qui permet une personnalisation en profondeur des processus industriels grâce à une approche no-code et des fonctionnalités avancées d'IA.Avec Alexandre, on revient sur son parcours : ses débuts chez OSS Ventures où il travaillait sur le product et le go-to-market de startups industrielles, jusqu'à la création de Bonx avec son associé Rémi. Il nous explique comment ils ont identifié une opportunité sur le marché des ERP, historiquement dominé par des mastodontes comme SAP ou Dynamics, peu adaptés aux PME modernes.On a parlé produit : de leur positionnement volontairement focalisé sur l'opérationnel (production, supply chain, stock) sans gérer la compta ni le CRM, de leur approche “opinionated” et modulaire, de leur V2 lancée récemment, mais aussi de leur vision IA pour automatiser des tâches comme l'ordonnancement de production ou la lecture automatique de commandes.On a aussi beaucoup parlé Go-To-Market : comment ils ciblent des PME industrielles ambitieuses, pourquoi ils ont choisi une stratégie commerciale directe, comment ils gèrent l'expansion géographique (France, Italie, Espagne) et leur ambition d'ouvrir les US en 2026. On a aussi parlé de leur levée de fonds récente auprès du fonds anglo-américain 9900.Vous pouvez suivre Alexandre sur LinkedIn.Bonne écoute !Mentionnés pendant l'épisode :OSS VenturesCognixPennyLaneHubSpotPodcast Revenue BuildersStart to Scale de Thibault Renouf (mentionné indirectement)Pour soutenir SaaS Connection en 1 minute⏱ (et 2 secondes) :Abonnez-vous à SaaS Connection sur votre plateforme préférée pour ne rater aucun épisode

Guest: Sammy Greenwall, Founder of Henry.aiWhat if your go-to-market motion could skip past theory and build from real-world pain?That's exactly how Sammy Greenwall, founder of Henry.ai, approaches commercial real estate—and why his vertical AI startup is scaling without traditional sales or marketing. Sammy's background as a CRE professional-turned-founder gave him not only insight, but language, trust, and distribution advantages. In this episode, he shares how founder-market fit drives everything from product strategy to GTM efficiency—and how it's paying off in a space historically allergic to software.Sammy also pulls back the curtain on:How PLG became a byproduct of customer obsession—not the planBuilding a waitlist-worthy brand (with no ad budget)Creating real enterprise value in a low-trust, high-volume industryThree Key Takeaways for B2B GTM Leaders:1. Founder-Market Fit > Generic Product-Market FitSammy's deep domain experience gave him a faster path to traction: he didn't just “identify” pain—he lived it. That meant smarter onboarding flows, tighter feature prioritization, and messaging that clicked with buyers the first time. CEOs and founders with industry-specific experience should lean hard into that unfair advantage.2. PLG Isn't a Tactic—It's the Outcome of Product ObsessionHenry.ai didn't set out to be a PLG company. Instead, they tracked usage down to individual clicks, met with every early user, and iterated daily. That intensity created a product people wanted to talk about, which fueled organic adoption, referrals, and even early enterprise wins.3. AI Doesn't Just Accelerate Work—It Replaces ItIn CRE, Sammy's platform cut multi-week deal deck creation down to hours. That kind of workflow disruption isn't about “boosting productivity”—it's about letting revenue-generating staff focus on high-value activities like deals and relationships. This shift reframes AI adoption for skeptical buyers and opens the door to premium pricing.---Not Getting Enough Demos? Your messaging could be turning buyers away before you even get a chance to pitch.

Send us a textIn this episode of The AI Advantage series on The Matt Brown Show, Matt sits down with Ebony Langston, Vice President of Go-To-Market for Healthcare at TTEC, to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence, healthcare, and human connection.Ebony shares how AI is being used to streamline high-volume healthcare tasks—like appointment scheduling and prescription refills—while preserving the human touch where it matters most. The conversation dives into AI's role in reducing friction for patients, improving accessibility for underserved communities, and empowering healthcare agents with smarter tools.They also tackle the ethical minefields of data privacy, transparency, and the future of leadership in an AI-powered economy. From rethinking patient engagement to redefining team skills and operational models, Ebony makes the case that AI isn't replacing people—it's helping them become better.Support the show

"We're in an industry that loves ROI calculators... but the industry has built some sort of skepticism to these ROI calculators."This reality check from David Horesh hit different.In today's episode of Bricks and Bytes, we had David Horesh and we got to learn about why construction marketing is still a blue ocean, how to avoid the handshake trap, and why memes might be your secret weapon... and many more!Tune in to find out about:✅ Why understanding construction jargon is make-or-break for tech marketers✅ The leaky bucket problem killing your sales funnel✅ How AI agents can replace entire marketing teams✅ Why construction professionals want memes with their morning coffeeDavid spent 7 years helping construction tech companies go from zero to serious ARR. His insights on digital marketing in a traditional industry will change how you think about go-to-market.Listen now on Spotify and discover what most construction tech founders get wrong about marketing.----------Chapters00:00 Intro01:52 Introduction to David Horesh and His Journey04:50 Understanding Go-To-Market Strategies07:52 The Importance of Knowing Your Customer10:52 Defining Go-To-Market Team Structures13:50 Navigating Change in the Construction Industry16:54 Building Relationships and Network Effects19:43 The Role of ROI in Marketing Strategies22:54 Marketing Channels in Construction26:00 Leveraging Digital Marketing in Construction28:42 Creating Engaging Content for the Industry38:22 Building Relationships in Marketing40:37 From Traffic to Sales: The Conversion Process43:27 The Importance of Awareness and Trust48:52 Understanding the Marketing Funnel55:58 Recruiting the Right Marketing Talent01:01:51 Leveraging AI in Marketing01:04:51 Measuring Marketing Success

Six leaders from across tech — from SaaS and semis to law and logistics — come together for our 250th episode milestone in this very special AI recap, where we unpack how new advances are transforming the way industries function, and how work gets done.Featuring:• Bret Taylor (Sierra Co-founder)• Winston Weinberg (Harvey Co-founder and CEO)• Matt Murphy (Marvell Technology Chairman and CEO)• Yamini Rangan (HubSpot CEO)• Chris Urmson (Aurora CEO)• Varun Mohan (Windsurf Co-founder and CEO)Connect with Joubin:- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joubin-mirzadegan-66186854/ - X:  https://x.com/Joubinmir Email: grit@kleinerperkins.comLearn more about Kleiner Perkins: https://www.kleinerperkins.com

Josh Wagner is a sales, marketing and channel leader who has spent 20 years selling to and through strategic partners and has helped start-ups scale from zero to twenty million in revenue. Josh is Co-Founder and Partner at In Revenue Capital, where he provides Go-to-Market operator expertise to support growth stage founders. Josh believes that ecosystem led growth is the “cheat code” to revenue, enabling leaders to tap into one to many partner relationships to create more scale with fewer resources.  Josh also serves as an advisory board member at CRE OneSource, hosts the Love Selling Hate Sales Podcast and Co-Host of the Go-to-Market Cheat Code Podcast.  Here's a summary of the key points from the conversation with Josh Wagner: Relationships are crucial in business, especially in dentistry. Always follow through on commitments and provide value to partners. Build meaningful partnerships by: Identifying common customer bases Solving problems together Providing unique insights and value Potential ecosystem partnerships include: Healthcare professionals (cardiologists, obstetricians) Hair salons Fitness centers Local businesses (car dealerships, real estate agents) Strategies for building partnerships: Share valuable data and insights Offer complimentary services Host joint events Create mission-driven collaborations Pure Logic is an AI solution that helps dental practices: Capture more revenue through phone interactions Improve front office efficiency Identify missed opportunities Enhance staff performance The core philosophy is "give to get" - provide value first, build trust, and relationships will naturally develop. The overarching message is that building strategic, value-driven relationships can significantly grow a dental practice's reach and success.

What if the biggest risk in your business isn't building the product but realizing no one wants it? In this Unlearn episode, I'm joined by Alistair Croll, technologist, entrepreneur, and bestselling author of Lean Analytics, for a candid and clever conversation on rethinking product development, marketing, and demand generation.Alistair's work focuses on data-driven innovation and human behavior. He co-authored Just Evil Enough: The Subversive Marketing Handbook, a playbook for bending the rules to win in the attention economy. He has chaired global tech conferences like O'Reilly's Strata and currently leads Startupfest, where he helps founders turn clever ideas into competitive advantage.Known for blending insight with humor, Alistair unpacks why subversive creativity, not perfection, often wins. From the “fluency equation” to Burger King's clever customer acquisition tactics, he reveals how unconventional strategies generate meaningful traction. This episode explores the science of subversive marketing, reframes how we think about product launch risk, and dives into the mindset shifts leaders need to stay relevant in the AI era.Key TakeawaysStart with Attention, Not Execution: The first job is proving demand, not building features.The Fluency Equation: Adoption is driven by desire, but also requires lowering inexperience, complexity, and perceived consequence.Redefine Product-Market Fit: Medium fit — how people find, try, and pay — is just as important as what you offer.Reverse Your GTM Strategy: Work backward from demand instead of forward from the product.Additional InsightsTest Before You Build: Demand validation should come before development or scaling.Have a Disagreement with the World: Bold startups are born from challenging norms, not just meeting expectations.Use Familiar Behaviors to Drive Adoption: Anchoring new tools to existing habits lowers friction and boosts engagement.Practice Ethical Persuasion: Subversive tactics work best when they respect users and build long-term trust.Episode Highlights:00:00 – Episode RecapAlistair reframes startup risk with a clever hand-raising test: building isn't the danger, indifference is.03:16 – The Beach-Read Business BookWhy Just Evil Enough was built to entertain and educate, and how surprise fuels learning.07:30 – The Real Startup RiskMost teams focus on building because it feels safe. But the real risk is customer indifference.08:41 – Subversive Marketing in ActionThe Whopper Detour: How Burger King used playful tactics to achieve strategic goals.13:20 – The Fluency Equation ExplainedA new way to understand user hesitation and remove behavioral friction.19:14 – AI, Fluency, and Leadership GapsWhy executives aren't using AI, even when they know they should.26:00 – Decision-Making Matrix for InnovationA two-by-two framework to help teams run smarter experiments with lower risk.31:01 – The Fourth MiscapitalizationWhy companies are still over-investing in engineering in an AI-native...

It's time to talk about customer and market segmentation - no math needed. For now, at least. What exactly is the MAP framework? Tamara breaks it down. It stands for measure volume, analyze performance, and prioritize potential, so you can determine who your highest-potential customers are. It helps you focus your marketing tactics and shape your roadmaps.  But what does measuring volume even mean? Daniel reveals that a lot of Marketers have an idea of what their ideal customer is, but the customers who are sharing the best signals may be completely different.  Plus, Tamara gives a real-life example about an AI-powered project and how she and her team determined whether their customers were valuable in the long run.  If you're a Marketer who wants to know more about MAP and segmentation, this is the episode for you…And it's only 13 minutes long. ⌛ Follow Tamara: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamaragrominsky/ Follow Daniel: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@themarketingmillennials/featured Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/Dmurr68 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-murray-marketing Sign up for The Marketing Millennials newsletter: www.workweek.com/brand/the-marketing-millennials Daniel is a Workweek friend, working to produce amazing podcasts. To find out more, visit: www.workweek.com

Go-to-Market is a term often used to describe the strategy, processes, and organizations that B2B companies employ to acquire, retain, and expand their customer base.In this episode, Dave "CAC" Kellogg and Ray "Growth" Rike discuss the recently published ICONIQ report on the State of GTM 2025...and yes, it includes a lot about how AI-native and AI utilization are impacting all things GTM. Topics include:Funnel Conversion Rate TrendsAI-Native Funnel Performance Advantages Cost per OpportunityCustomer Renewal TimingGo-to-Market Headcount allocation (AI-Native vs Legacy SaaS)AI's impact on Sales ProductivityAI Spend TrendsIf you are a GTM leader, are responsible for the financial performance of your B2B SaaS company, or are interested in how AI is impacting all things customer acquisition, retention, and expansion, this episode has something for you!!!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Daragh Murphy is giving brands their own credit-card platform—no legacy bank required.On this week's Grit, the Imprint co-founder and CEO traces the leap from being a junior lawyer to closing nine-figure card deals.He breaks down the hidden economics of credit-card loyalty, the discipline of treating capital “like the last dollar,” and how AI will slash risk-and-support costs.Guest: Daragh Murphy, CEO & Co-Founder of ImprintChapters:00:00 Trailer00:48 Introduction01:30 Actualizing the dream08:37 Imprint11:37 Partnerships are massive16:48 Understand the market18:42 “Get more, spend more” tradeoffs23:57 Fishing in the wrong ponds31:32 Can't skip work32:43 Exciting and scary34:56 Pride and ownership46:50 The way you spend your day50:20 New technologies54:51 Who Imprint is hiring54:59 What “grit” means to Daragh55:34 OutroMentioned in this episode: Figma, Rippling, H-E-B Grocery Company, LP, Barclays US, IBM, Coinbase, Charlie Munger, Instagram, Hamptons, Google, Nick Huber, Ribbit, Ireland, WeWork, Adam Kim, Amazon, Shopify, Tobias Lütke, Duolingo, Parker ConradLinks:Connect with DaraghLinkedInConnect with JoubinXLinkedInEmail: grit@kleinerperkins.comLearn more about Kleiner Perkins

Today, as Go-to-Market Operating Partner at Sixth Street, Paul brings both commercial operator chops and deep empathy to help CEOs, CROs, and deal teams turn strategy into sustainable results.He doesn't do playbooks. He does pattern recognition. His approach is high-trust, high-discipline, and highly customized. Whether he's transforming revenue orgs or coaching commercial leaders, Paul shows up like an athlete: focused, gritty, and committed to continuous improvement.

In this episode of FP&A Tomorrow, host Paul Barnhurst welcomes Rohit Divate, to discuss the intersection of finance, operations, and the high-growth startup world. They explore how finance leaders can partner with teams to drive growth while maintaining sustainability, the role of AI in finance, and the importance of communication and trust in leadership. The conversation dives deep into the challenges and opportunities faced by finance professionals in high-growth environments and provides actionable insights for those navigating this fast-paced industry.Rohit is a seasoned finance leader with expertise in high-growth SaaS companies. Having raised over $500 million and driven revenue growth from $20 million to over $500 million, Rohit has a deep passion for improving finance team effectiveness and is especially active in the AI space. He currently serves as the head of operations and finance at Sprig, an all-in-one product experience platform.Expect to Learn:How finance can act as a strategic partner to drive company growth, especially in the early stages.The importance of balancing growth with sustainability in high-growth SaaS companies.Key metrics and strategies for scaling operations and go-to-market efforts in early-stage startups.Insights into how AI is changing the landscape of finance and operations.Tips on building trust and accountability within teams to ensure collaborative success.Here are a few quotes from the episode:"You need to build trust with your teams before you can build accountability. It's not about numbers, it's about relationships." - Rohit Divate"AI is going to be a game changer. Right now, we're still figuring out how to use it in finance, but I'm excited for the day it makes me 10x more productive." - Rohit Divate"In early-stage companies, you don't really know what your metrics are yet, but you can always measure improvement." - Rohit DivateRohit shares valuable insights, real stories, and practical advice for anyone in finance, particularly those working in high-growth startups. If you're looking to understand the dynamics of scaling a business, driving sustainable growth, and partnering effectively with teams, this episode is for you. Rohit talks about what's worked for him, the challenges he's faced, and the key lessons he's learned throughout his career, offering actionable takeaways for aspiring finance leaders.Corporate Finance Institute: You know the numbers. Now it's time to own the story.The new FP&A Professional (FPAP) Certification from CFI is built for finance professionals who want to lead with insight-not just report the data. Enroll by July 1st and get 40% of this new Certification. Learn more at: https://corporatefinancialinstitute.pxf.io/c/6003589/3067930/23723Follow FP&A Tomorrow:Newsletter - Subscribe on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=6957679529595162624 Follow Rohit:LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/divate/Twitter - https://x.com/rohitdv8 Follow Paul: Website - https://www.theFP&Aguy.com...

Price is a form of psychology all on its own…but how do you determine how much your product should cost? You know how some brands will base product price off of what their competitors are doing? Or how some just throw a price out there? Tamara has a hot take: neither of these are good strategies. So, Daniel brings up some points: validation and pressure testing.  Plus, Tamara shares the  Van Westendorp Pricing Test, a framework she insists is perfect for Marketers. Basically, it takes customer acceptance and perception into account. How much is their willingness to pay when researching your product? What type of value does your product offer them?  ActiveCampaign⁠ turns your ambition into impact by orchestrating your marketing through Active Intelligence and AI agents - powering your imagination with billions of data points, activating fully-realized campaigns and strategies from your ideas, and validating what works - so you can drive real results. Follow Tamara: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamaragrominsky/ Follow Daniel: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@themarketingmillennials/featured Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/Dmurr68 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-murray-marketing Sign up for The Marketing Millennials newsletter: www.workweek.com/brand/the-marketing-millennials Daniel is a Workweek friend, working to produce amazing podcasts. To find out more, visit: www.workweek.com

Bill Staples has spent 30 years redefining how the world writes, ships, and secures code.On this week's Grit, the GitLab CEO shares what it takes to lead a public, all-remote DevSecOps company trusted by more than half of the Fortune 100. He breaks down the discipline of managing energy instead of hours, why weekly operating cadences beat quarterly plans, and how AI will 10× software engineers by auto-debugging code and closing security gaps.Guest: Bill Staples, CEO of GitLabChapters:00:00 Trailer00:42 Introduction02:34 True joy in life08:16 Winning teams13:53 When the energy isn't there18:00 Super ambitious21:01 It's not just technology29:27 Elevating quality and standard41:36 Lifelong collaborator51:22 Competent intelligence54:22 Structuring goals and time1:03:59 Who GitLab is hiring1:04:17 What “grit” means to Bill1:04:54 OutroLinks:Connect with BillLinkedInConnect with JoubinXLinkedInEmail: grit@kleinerperkins.comLearn more about Kleiner Perkins

Send us a textUnlocking the Secrets of Go-to-Market Success: The Top 10 KPIs You Need to TrackIn this episode, we dive deep into the essential metrics every business leader and marketer should monitor to ensure their go-to-market (GTM) strategy is on track. Whether you're launching a new product, entering a new market, or refining your sales process, understanding the right key performance indicators (KPIs) can make all the difference between success and stagnation.Join us as we break down the top 10 KPIs that provide actionable insights into your GTM effectiveness:Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC): Discover how much it really costs to win a new customer and why optimizing this metric is crucial for profitability.Customer Lifetime Value (CLV): Learn how to calculate and maximize the total revenue a customer brings over their relationship with your brand.Monthly and Annual Recurring Revenue (MRR & ARR): Track your revenue growth and forecast future performance with these foundational metrics.Net Promoter Score (NPS): Gauge customer satisfaction and loyalty to identify advocates and areas for improvement.Return on Ad Spend (ROAS): Ensure your marketing investments are delivering measurable returns.Support Tickets: Monitor customer issues and feedback to enhance your product and customer experience.شف أسرار نجاح استراتيجية الدخول إلى السوق: أهم 10 مؤشرات أداء يجب تتبعهافي هذه الحلقة، نغوص في أعماق أهم المؤشرات التي يجب على كل قائد أعمال ومسوق مراقبتها للتأكد من أن استراتيجية الدخول إلى السوق (GTM) تسير في الاتجاه الصحيح. سواء كنت تطلق منتجًا جديدًا، أو تدخل سوقًا جديدًا، أو تعمل على تحسين عملية المبيعات، فإن فهم مؤشرات الأداء الرئيسية الصحيحة يمكن أن يصنع الفارق بين النجاح والتراجع.انضم إلينا بينما نستعرض أهم 10 مؤشرات أداء توفر رؤى عملية حول فعالية استراتيجيتك:تكلفة اكتساب العميل (CAC): تعرف على التكلفة الحقيقية لجذب عميل جديد ولماذا يعد تحسين هذا المؤشر أمرًا حاسمًا للربحية.قيمة عمر العميل (CLV): تعلم كيفية حساب وتعظيم إجمالي الإيرادات التي يجلبها العميل طوال علاقته مع علامتك التجارية.الإيرادات الشهرية والسنوية المتكررة (MRR & ARR): تابع نمو إيراداتك وتوقع الأداء المستقبلي من خلال هذه المؤشرات الأساسية.مؤشر صافي المروجين (NPS): قِس رضا العملاء وولاءهم لتحديد الداعمين ومجالات التحسين.العائد على الإنفاق الإعلاني (ROAS): تأكد من أن استثماراتك التسويقية تحقق عوائد ملموسة.تذاكر الدعم: راقب مشاكل العملاء وملاحظاتهم لتحسين منتجك وتجربة العملاء.معدل تحويل المبيعات: اكتشف مدى فعالية تحويل الفرص إلى عملاء فعليين.معدل فقدان العملاء (Churn Rate): راقب معدل مغادرة العملاء لتقليل الخسائر وتعزيز النمو.مدة تهيئة العميل الجديد: قِس الوقت الذي يستغرقه العميل الجديد ليبدأ في تحقيق القيمة من منتجك.حجوزات العروض التوضيحية: تابع عدد العملاء المحتملين الذين يطلبون تجربة المنتج.استمع الآن لتتعرف على كيفية استخدام هذه المؤشرات في تحسين استراتيجيتك وتحقيق أهدافك التجارية! Support the showSupport the Podcast on:https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/okuwatly?locale.x=en_UShttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/MaBa3refSubscribe to Maba3ref Newsletter:https://maba3refbranching.beehiiv.com/Connect with Maba3ref Podcast:https://www.instagram.com/maba3refbyomarConnect on TIKTOK:https://www.tiktok.com/@okuwatly

Fill in the blank: the best marketers aren't just creative, they're ________. If you said “behavioral scientists,” you'd be correct. Daniel and Tamara talk about the three psychology-based plays you can implement today. It all depends on where your words are put, your social proof, and loss aversion.  Daniel mentions why FOMO is millennials'  biggest fear…and how you can play the FOMO card to drive urgency. Plus, Tamara gives an example of why Mailchimp is the best example of the Foot-in-the-Door technique.  If you're looking to get more actionable tips you can start incorporating into your efforts TODAY, this is the episode for YOU…and it's short and sweet. ⌛ Sked Social is the no-BS social media management platform built for teams who want to move fast, collaborate easily, and actually prove impact. No per-seat shakedowns, no absurd price hikes, no surprise add-ons—just powerful tools that save time and cut through the chaos. Learn more at ⁠Skedsocial.com Follow Tamara: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamaragrominsky/ Follow Daniel: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@themarketingmillennials/featured Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/Dmurr68 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-murray-marketing Sign up for The Marketing Millennials newsletter: www.workweek.com/brand/the-marketing-millennials Daniel is a Workweek friend, working to produce amazing podcasts. To find out more, visit: www.workweek.com

Episode Info After a series of conferences where I saw some sales tactics that were having the opposite effect from what the person employing them would have wanted, I thought I'd use an episode to share some of the advice I give to companies I've advised over the years. It's informed by my direct experience having been an executive at insurance companies who got sold to, and running the sales function for a B2B SaaS insurtech solution provider. Hopefully this is valuable to anyone trying to sell into the insurance industry (and to those of us on the receiving end of those sales efforts!). Episode Summary This episode provides insights into effective sales and networking strategies for those selling to insurance companies. It challenges conventional sales tactics and emphasizes the importance of personalized and informed approaches. Key Points: Personalized Outreach: Avoid blanket approaches like mass emails or messages. Instead, invest time in understanding if the recipient is a genuine prospect. Tailor your messages to address specific needs and demonstrate genuine interest. Challenges with Conventional Tactics: Many sales playbooks advocate for reaching out to everyone, but this often leads to brand damage and wasted efforts. The video argues that the insurance industry requires a different approach due to its unique nature. Effective Networking: Utilize platforms like LinkedIn for meaningful connections rather than relying solely on event apps, which are often underutilized. Be mindful of social etiquette, such as not interrupting ongoing conversations or meetings. Building Relationships: Focus on being informed and culturally aware to foster genuine relationships. The goal is to reach a point where the prospect feels understood and sees you as a potential solution to their challenges. Practical Advice: Spend a few moments researching potential clients to ensure they are the right fit. Be upfront about your intentions to avoid wasting time on both sides. This episode is brought to you by The Future of Insurance book series (future-of-insurance.com) from Bryan Falchuk. Follow the podcast at future-of-insurance.com/podcast for more details and other episodes. Music courtesy of Hyperbeat Music, available to stream or download on Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music and more.

What does it take to build the logistics backbone for the next generation of commerce?Sean Henry, founder and CEO of Stord, joins Kleiner Perkins partner Ilya Fushman and Grit host Joubin Mirzadegan to talk about scaling a national fulfillment network that now moves 50 million packages a year and reaches 15% of U.S. households.They explore how Stored is using AI to connect warehouses, middle-mile routes, and delivery promises into one smart system. The goal: to give every brand an Amazon Prime-like advantage.Guest: Sean Henry, Co-Founder & CEO of StordLinks:Connect with Sean HenryXLinkedInConnect with JoubinXLinkedInEmail: grit@kleinerperkins.comLearn more about Kleiner Perkins

Minoa is pioneering the value intelligence category, helping B2B companies transform how they sell by connecting product capabilities to customer outcomes. With $2.7 million in funding, the platform enables go-to-market teams to build personalized business cases at scale and move beyond feature-selling to value-based selling. In this episode of Category Visionaries, I sat down with Max Elster, CEO and Founder of Minoa, to explore his journey from product manager at CSP Co to building a platform that bridges the disconnect between product development and go-to-market execution. Topics Discussed: Minoa's evolution from solving internal product-to-GTM communication challenges The emergence of value engineers as a new role in B2B organizations Building and co-creating the "value-based selling tools" category on G2 Leveraging customer advisory boards for evangelism and network growth The shift toward AI-powered personalization in B2B sales processes Mid-funnel optimization strategies for reducing deal drop-off rates GTM Lessons For B2B Founders: Co-create categories with platforms early: Max successfully worked with G2 to establish the "value-based selling tools" category within six months by building genuine relationships with researchers and sharing market insights consistently. He explains, "I connected with different researchers... and just shared my thoughts. I didn't have actually any idea that they could be launching this category in the near future." B2B founders should proactively engage with category-defining platforms like G2 and Gartner by sharing authentic market observations rather than pushing for category creation. Optimize for AI-powered buyer research: Max discovered that prospects increasingly use ChatGPT and Perplexity to build vendor shortlists, and these tools reference G2 as a primary source. He notes, "If you are not there, if you're not existing in your category, it's going to be hard for ChatGPT to shortlist you." B2B founders should ensure their presence in authoritative databases and directories that AI tools commonly reference, as this represents a new channel for buyer discovery. Build strategic advisory networks with equity + recognition: Max created a "Star Path Collective" of advisors incentivized with equity shares and bottles of wine for successful referrals. His approach is refreshingly simple: "Just say, hey, we're trying to build this market... are you interested?" This generates warm introductions and ongoing strategic guidance. B2B founders should systematically identify potential advisors who are already bought into their vision and offer meaningful but not overcomplicated incentive structures. Focus on mid-funnel conversion, not just top-funnel generation: Max emphasizes that many companies obsess over lead generation while ignoring massive drop-offs in the middle stages. He explains, "You can solve everything around pipeline, but if you don't get your mid funnel right... you're also going to lose." B2B founders should analyze their CRM data to identify specific drop-off points and create targeted collateral and processes to address these conversion bottlenecks rather than simply generating more leads. Leverage customers as category evangelists: Max's most successful content and growth strategies center on customer stories and insights. He advises, "The customers are the best people to tell a story about what they have achieved with your product." Rather than creating generic thought leadership, B2B founders should systematically capture and amplify customer transformation stories, which serve dual purposes of social proof and category education. Maintain founder-led sales longer with AI augmentation: Max continues doing founder-led sales while building scalable processes, noting that AI tools enable small teams to maintain high personalization at scale. He believes this approach is more sustainable than rushing to hire sales teams. B2B founders should consider extending their founder-led sales phase by leveraging AI and automation tools rather than defaulting to rapid sales team expansion.     //   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   

That “middle” option on a pricing page? It's not there by accident. It's there to mess with your brain…in the best way possible. This episode's guest, Tamara Grominsky, is back to break down one of the sneakiest (and most effective) psychological tools in marketing: price anchoring. From B2B SaaS to steakhouse menus, she shows how marketers use decoy pricing to nudge people toward the offer they actually want you to buy. And, we dig into the difference between setting a price and positioning it, because pricing is more than just a revenue lever. It's a storytelling tool. Plus, we explore ways you can apply this today by adding decoy tiers, using visual hierarchy, and writing copy that reframes value without touching the numbers. If you're a marketer who wants to sell more without changing your product, just how it's perceived, this one's a masterclass. ActiveCampaign turns your ambition into impact by orchestrating your marketing through Active Intelligence and AI agents - powering your imagination with billions of data points, activating fully-realized campaigns and strategies from your ideas, and validating what works - so you can drive real results. Follow Tamara: LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamaragrominsky/⁠ Follow Daniel: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@themarketingmillennials/featured Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/Dmurr68 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-murray-marketing Sign up for The Marketing Millennials newsletter: www.workweek.com/brand/the-marketing-millennials Daniel is a Workweek friend, working to produce amazing podcasts. To find out more, visit: www.workweek.com

Eric Yuan turned a simple belief into Zoom, the platform that kept the world moving through a once-in-a-century shutdown and redefined modern work. On this episode of Grit, the Zoom CEO shares why velocity beats size, how a family-first ethos powered his leadership during COVID, and why the coming wave of AI dwarfs the original internet boom. He details how he's refreshing Zoom's culture for 7,500 people, opting for virtual deal calls over in person meetings, settling into life as an empty-nester, and keeping Zoom nimble enough to outpace Big Tech and the next wave of AI startups.Guest: Eric S. Yuan, Founder & CEO of ZoomChapters: 00:00 Trailer00:44 Introduction01:47 Walking with swagger03:48 Extremely exciting moment10:05 Classic innovators' dilemma12:59 Laser-focused bandwidth17:56 Family first: lead by example22:09 Everybody was doing their road shows25:34 The entire world was dependent28:04 Community care31:57 Valuation and a co-founder35:17 A lot of unhappy days39:25 Building Zoom for consumers46:57 Holograms?52:01 Home53:23 Huge competition, high velocity1:00:33 Where companies get wrong1:04:52 Giving back1:13:12 Who Zoom is hiring1:13:24 What “grit” means to Eric1:14:24 OutroMentioned in this episode: Webex by Cisco, Glean, Apple, HP, Netscape, Yahoo, Brian Armstrong, Emilie Choi, Coinbase, New Limit, Elon Musk, Windy Hill, Magic Leap, Rony Abovitz, Jony Ive, OpenAI ChatGPT, Bill McDermott, ServiceNow, Carl EschenbachLinks:Connect with EricXLinkedInConnect with JoubinXLinkedInEmail: grit@kleinerperkins.comLearn more about Kleiner Perkins

Sales Enablement in staffing is no longer a tactical side function, it's the engine of your entire go-to-market strategy. In this eye-opening episode, Avner Baruch (Author of Project Moneyball) shares how top staffing and recruiting firms are transforming enablement from “content dumping” into measurable impact through coaching, role practice, and feedback loops. This video will inspire you to re-evaluate your GTM systems and explore enablement through the lens of performance coaching and strategic execution. In This Episode: What Sales Enablement in Staffing really means today How to build a go-to-market strategy aligned with sales motion The hidden cost of relying solely on content (and what to do instead) Why role practice and feedback loops are critical for sales acceleration How elite teams reinforce skills—without blowing their budget The enablement tech stack that makes it all possible Avner's Project Moneyball methodology for enabling outcomes across the customer lifecycle Whether you're launching a new GTM motion or trying to reverse stagnant revenue, the insights here are built to drive impact across your customer lifecycle. Timestamps: 00:43 - What is sales enablement? A Moneyball analogy 02:57 - Sales enablement in startups vs. enterprises 03:45 - Why the best companies go beyond content 04:55 - The economic pressure fueling enablement evolution 06:43 - Common pitfalls: Content without context 08:51 - Why content is only half the battle 10:53 - The power of role practice and daily sales routines 12:55 - Real-world staffing challenges and playbook creation 16:29 - Why leaders avoid role practice—and how to fix it 20:52 - Leveraging AI for sales coaching 22:30 - Shifting outdated staffing habits 25:12 - Consistency beats intensity in sales enablement 27:26 - Misalignment of seller skills and roles 31:59 - Coachability and cultural fit in hiring 34:17 - The ideal sales enablement hire 37:01 - Content graveyards vs. actionable insights 41:36 - Meet Avner Baruch and Project Moneyball 44:26 - Moneyball methodology for enablement ROI 46:30 - Avner's favorite book: Crossing the Chasm   About the Speakers: Brad Bialy is host of Take the Stage and InSights, two of the leading podcast for the staffing industry, presented by Haley Marketing. He has a deep passion for helping staffing and recruiting firms achieve their business objectives through strategic digital marketing. For over a decade, Brad has developed a proven track record of motivating and educating staffing industry professionals at over 100 industry-specific conferences and webinars. As a visionary leader, Brad has helped guide the comprehensive marketing strategy of more than 300 staffing and recruiting firms. His keen eye for strategy and delivery has resulted in multiple industry award-winning social media campaigns, making him a sought-after expert and speaker in the industry. As an executive GTM and Enablement leader, Avner Baruch has built and led GTM, Sales Enablement and RevOps functions from the ground up for leading Startups such as Walkme, Imperva-Incapsula, Rapyd and more notable SaaS businesses. As a consultant, member of Advisory Boards and Design Partners, he has helped entrepreneurs and scaling startups implement and reinforce their sales methodologies, fine-tune their Product-Market Fit, design, build and scale their selling motion. In 2020 he founded Project Moneyball (a GTM consulting firm) to help early-stage startups and scaling businesses overcome growth challenges. He is a certified sales trainer holding a B.Eng with Honors in Electrical Engineering & Physics from Coventry University (UK) and the Max Planck Institute (France).   Offers Heard in this Episode: 30 minutes of strategic marketing consultation with Brad Bialy: https://bit.ly/Bialy30 Special Offers! Our Best Savings of 2025: https://bit.ly/bialyoffer What if your back office fueled your growth instead of holding it back? TRICOM makes it happen! From payroll and billing to accounting and asset based lending, they clear the roadblocks and power your path forward. Your team gets paid, your cash flow stays steady and your business scales like never before. TRICOM doesn't just support you, they set you up to soar. Visit https://www.TRICOM.com to learn more. 

We're back. In the first episode of Season 2 of the FutureCraft Podcast, Ken Roden and Erin Mills dig into how AI is shifting the entire go-to-market motion. Not just content, but sales enablement, market strategy, and execution. They share how they're using tools like ChatGPT, Gamma, and structured research to build battle cards that actually move deals. They also break down what's working—and what's not—when it comes to driving adoption on lean teams. This episode covers practical ways AI can support speed and clarity without adding complexity. It closes with personal updates and an open call for listener ideas as the show evolves.   Unpacking the AI Toolbox Digital Focus Groups and AI-Assisted Research: Our hosts take us through an intricate process of leveraging AI-driven focus groups and deep research tools to gain valuable insights about customer behavior and preferences. The Power of Synthesis and Presentation Tools: With the help of platforms like Gamma, they illustrate how to transform comprehensive research into polished, actionable battle cards for sales teams, effectively bridging the gap from data gathering to strategic execution. 00:00 Introduction and Disclaimer 00:22 Welcome to Season Two 01:28 Hosts' Personal and Professional Updates 03:58 AI's Rapid Advancements 06:30 Deep Dive into AI Tools and Techniques 09:06 Building a Digital Focus Group 17:34 Leveraging Deep Research for Competitive Intelligence 25:31 Leveraging AI for Content Strategy 26:02 Impact of AI-Driven Traffic on User Engagement 27:20 Credibility and Organic Traffic in AI Models 28:21 Deep Research and Customization in AI 32:50 Creating Consumable Content with AI 34:16 Optimizing Competitive Analysis with AI Tools 40:00 Enhancing Presentation and Design with Gamma 47:49 Integrating AI Tools for Efficient Workflows 51:09 Season 2 Overview and Future Directions

Over the past two decades, Bret Taylor has quietly helped shape the arc of Silicon Valley.From co-creating Google Maps to steering Facebook, Salesforce, and OpenAI, he's been behind some of the most consequential products in tech. Now, with his new company Sierra, he's starting from zero—again.In this conversation, Bret opens up about how founders navigate identity, why the best ideas often come from everyday friction, and how staying relentlessly focused can unlock real momentum in AI.Guest: Bret Taylor, Co-Founder of SierraChapters:00:00 Trailer00:49 Introduction01:57 Saving OpenAI09:15 Overwhelming yet capable of a lot13:36 Father and founder16:49 History is written by the victors22:13 How you price matters35:58 Stickiest piece of software49:48 The first realtime social network55:34 Facebook CTO who rewrote Google Maps1:02:10 Least known, most impressive1:11:39 The best way to predict the future1:16:22 Most personally passionate1:21:22 Currency of reputation1:27:17 Away from work1:28:35 Who Sierra is hiring1:28:58 What “grit” means to Bret1:29:18 OutroMentioned in this episode: Google Maps, Salesforce, OpenAI ChatGPT, Meta Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Sam Altman, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Google, Marissa Mayer, Excite, MSN, AltaVista, Amazon, Harvey, Airbnb, Coinbase, Apple, John Doerr, Cursor, Codeium Windsurf, Perplexity, xAI, Kleenex, Amazon Web Services (AWS), FriendFeed, Tumblr, Kevin Gibbs, Google Maps, Yelp, Trulia, iOS App Store, Blackberry, Facebook Messenger, Marvel Avengers, Slack, Quip, Leonardo da Vinci, Clay Bavor, Microsoft, Eric Schmidt, Alan Kay, Brian Armstrong, Brian Chesky, Shopify, SiriusXM, Patrick CollisonLinks:Connect with Bret TaylorXLinkedInConnect with JoubinXLinkedInEmail: grit@kleinerperkins.comLearn more about Kleiner Perkins

Chris Urmson has spent the last 20 years pushing the limits of autonomous driving—first at Carnegie Mellon's DARPA Grand Challenge team, then as co-founder of Google's self-driving car project, now Waymo.On this week's episode, the Aurora CEO retraces that journey—from building robot cars in the desert to leading a public company pioneering driverless trucking.He shares why autonomy was always a matter of when, not if, how he handled a high-profile departure from Waymo, and what it takes to build at the intersection of deep tech, safety, and infrastructure.Now eight years into Aurora, Urmson says the future he's been chasing is finally within reach.Guest: Chris Urmson, Co-Founder & CEO of AuroraChapters: 00:00 Trailer00:43 Introduction01:59 FSD: are we there? 14:31 The competition, a million dollar check from LA to LV22:50 Dream like an amateur, execute like a pro32:30 Operate with integrity42:49 The future is here, unevenly distributed49:36 Underestimated decisions, minimizing regrets1:03:55 Retaining value1:16:45 Integrating self-driving1:28:20 Lifer1:29:25 Who Aurora is hiring1:29:53 What “grit” means to Chris1:30:15 OutroMentioned in this episode: Waymo, Google, Rivian, Dmitri Dolgov, Uber, Tesla, The DARPA Grand Challenge, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, United States Department of Defense, Carnegie Mellon University, Stanford University, FedEx, Werner Enterprises, Hirschbach, Schneider Electric, Larry Page, Sergey Brin, Sebastian Thrun, Batman, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Anthony Levandowski, Donald Trump, Apple iPhone, Airbnb, Blackmore, Stripe, Titan, Ford, Volkswagen, RJ Scaringe, Peterbilt Motors Company, The Volvo Group, Continental AG, Dara KhosrowshahiLinks:Connect with Chris UrmsonXLinkedInConnect with JoubinXLinkedInEmail: grit@kleinerperkins.com Learn more about Kleiner Perkins

Customer expectations have skyrocketed—people now demand instant, personalized, and seamless interactions across every touchpoint. But are companies truly meeting these expectations, or are they still stuck in reactive customer service models? What if AI could completely transform the customer experience into something proactive, predictive, and even empathetic? Joining me today is Vinod Muthukrishnan, VP & COO of Webex Customer Experience at Cisco. Vinod is a leader in the future of customer experience (CX), helping organizations use AI to anticipate customer needs, deliver seamless automation, and create personalized interactions at scale. Vinod Muthukrishnan is the VP & COO for the Webex Customer Experience Business Unit, overseeing Go To Market, Customer, and Business Operations. In this role he collaborates with Cisco field teams, partners, and customers to deliver innovative solutions. His passion lies in creating products that solve real customer pain points and providing a seamless customer experience. He also values building strong communities, teams, culture, and operating rhythms.Previously, Vinod spent three years in Enterprise AI at Uniphore, a Cisco Investments Portfolio Company, where he developed a product enabling Citizen Developers to create AI and automation solutions. He managed Uniphore's customer functions, including Delivery, Technical Support, Customer Success, and AI consulting, helping enterprises align their business goals with AI roadmaps.Vinod was also VP & COO at the Webex Contact Center Business Unit during a period of significant growth and innovation. During his tenure at the BU, the IMI CPaaS business was acquired, and Webex Contact Center was launched. These two initiatives now serve as the foundations of the Webex Customer Experience Business Unit. Vinod oversaw all GTM functions.He joined Cisco when his startup, CloudCherry, was acquired in 2019. As Co-Founder and CEO of CloudCherry, he and his team developed a Customer Experience Platform that became Webex Experience Management. They also built the foundations of the Customer Journey Data Service, essential to the Webex Portfolio today.Coming from a military family, Vinod began his career in the Merchant Marine at 18, becoming a certified First Officer with Maersk Line and sailing to over 60 countries. He later joined the founding team at MarketSimplified, which introduced mobile trading to major brokerages like TD Ameritrade and OptionsExpress. RESOURCESCisco: https://www.cisco.com Catch the future of e-commerce at eTail Boston, August 11-14, 2025. Register now: https://bit.ly/etailboston and use code PARTNER20 for 20% off for retailers and brandsOnline Scrum Master Summit is happening June 17-19. This 3-day virtual event is open for registration. Visit www.osms25.com and get a 25% discount off Premium All-Access Passes with the code osms25agilebrandDon't Miss MAICON 2025, October 14-16 in Cleveland - the event bringing together the brights minds and leading voices in AI. Use Code AGILE150 for $150 off registration. Go here to register: https://bit.ly/agile150Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstromDon't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.showCheck out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnowThe Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company