Podcasts about GTM

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Best podcasts about GTM

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Latest podcast episodes about GTM

Topline
Citrini Needs to Chill (but SaaS DOES Need to Change)

Topline

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2026 57:55


Citrini Research claims AI agents will replace white-collar jobs by 2028, triggering a massive economic crash (and repricing of SaaS stocks). Sam Jacobs, AJ Bruno, and Asad Zaman analyze the validity of this thesis and the immediate impact on enterprise valuation multiples. The discussion moves to the practical realities of the innovator's dilemma, specifically how legacy software companies must cannibalize their own revenue to survive. They cover strategies for GTM transformation, the loss of pricing power in traditional SaaS, and why Gong's pivot to "Chief Revenue Architect" signals a deeper identity crisis in the market. Key Takeaways: * The hardest part of adapting to AI is destroying your current margins. Sam Jacobs argues that leaders get emotionally attached to ARR, noting that "the hardest part of the innovator's dilemma is price... the only way to get out of it is to... go towards a worse business" in the short term. * Pivoting sounds great on paper, but is far harder in practice. Asad Zaman highlights the operational difficulty of telling investors about the actual steps involved; e.g. "I'm going to do a reorg and I'm then going to change my strategy that's actually going to increase churn... That's a war at the board level." * Title changes don't fix structural issues. Asad Zaman and Sam Jacobs advise revenue leaders against accepting Gong's new "Chief Revenue Architect" title because "it's going to hurt your career moving forward... This sounds like you were demoted to rev ops to me." Your Hosts: Host: Sam Jacobs Host: AJ Bruno  Host: Asad Zaman Topline is more than a Podcast! Subscribe to Topline Newsletter: https://www.joinpavilion.com/topline-newsletter Watch on the YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TOPLINE-Media Join the free Topline Slack channel to connect with 600+ revenue leaders to keep the conversation going beyond the podcast: https://www.joinpavilion.com/topline-slack Chapters: 00:00 Intro 02:04 The Citrini Report Examined 07:05 Startups vs. Innovator's Dilemma 12:35 SaaS Valuation Repricing 15:29 Losing Pricing Leverage to AI 21:29 Is White Collar Work Dead? 25:10 Margin Compression Strategy 31:17 Restructuring Engineering Teams 35:09 Microsoft's Product Pivot 39:54 How AI Improves CEO Workflow 44:50 Gong's Chief Revenue Architect 51:17 Why the CRO Title Matters 55:14 AI Predictions Looking Ahead

Chain Reaction
What's Next for Delphi

Chain Reaction

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2026 37:52


Join the Delphi team for an inside look at their Montenegro retreat as Anil Lulla, José Maria Macedo, Yan Liberman, Tommy Shaughnessy, and Kevin Kelly discuss the evolution of Delphi's three main companies. From consulting and applied research to venture investments and AI acceleration, the team shares their strategic vision, recent wins, and how they're building competitive advantages across crypto and AI.

Retail War Games
AI, Revenue Strategy, and the Future of Go‑to‑Market | A Conversation with Amy Cook

Retail War Games

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2026 35:31


AI is reshaping every part of sales, marketing, and revenue operations—and few leaders understand that transformation better than Amy Cook, Co‑Founder and CMO of Fullcast. In this conversation, Amy breaks down how AI is redefining go‑to‑market strategy, why authenticity matters more than ever, and what modern revenue teams must do to stay competitive. From her journey as a single mom rebuilding her career, to leading multiple companies through acquisition, to now architecting AI‑powered GTM systems, Amy brings a rare blend of heart, experience, and strategic clarity. We dive into the future of commissions, territory planning, deal intelligence, lead quality, and the new rules of sales + marketing alignment.  

In Depth
Snowflake's first sales hire on scaling from $0 to $3.5B | Chris Degnan (Former CRO, Snowflake)

In Depth

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2026 59:57


Chris Degnan was the first sales hire at Snowflake and spent 11 years scaling the company from zero to $3.5 billion in revenue as its CRO, working alongside four different CEOs and learning from each one. In this episode, Chris breaks down what it actually takes to scale an enterprise sales organization, why MEDDIC is the methodology every founder should know, and what working under Frank Slootman taught him about firing fast, taking feedback and finding the fakers in your team. In today's episode, we discuss: What the CRO job looks like at $10M vs. $1B+ Why sales leaders must know how to sell the product themselves The MEDDIC methodology and why it's a founder's best insurance policy How to find the fakers, manage-uppers and passengers in your org What Frank Slootman got right — and wrong — about scaling Snowflake Why most AI companies will face a go-to-market reckoning References: Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/ Bob Muglia: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-muglia-714ba592/ Carl Eschenbach: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-eschenbach-980543/ Christian Kleinerman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-kleinerman-a973102/ Denise Persson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denisepersson/ Dell: https://www.dell.com/ Frank Slootman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankslootman/ John McMahon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcmahon1/ Michael Scarpelli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-scarpelli-1b289b9/ Microsoft: https://www.microsoft.com/ Oracle: https://www.oracle.com/ Salesforce: https://www.salesforce.com/ Snowflake: https://www.snowflake.com/ Sridhar Ramaswamy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sridhar-ramaswamy/ Stanford Graduate School of Business: https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/ Where to find Chris: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-degnan/ Where to find Brett: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-berson-9986094/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/brettberson Where to find First Round Capital: Website: https://firstround.com/ First Round Review: https://review.firstround.com/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/firstround YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstRoundCapital This podcast on all platforms: https://review.firstround.com/podcast Timestamps: 00:00 What is the job of a CRO? 01:12 What excellence looks like at different revenue stages 02:59 Sales leaders need to know how to sell the product 04:52 The hardest skill leaders have to learn 08:17 You need to stay open to feedback - at all levels 14:01 Sales, segmentation, and international expansion 16:17 Why MEDDIC is the foundation for every sales org 20:32 The metrics that actually matter 22:56 A week in the life of a CRO at scale 28:32 Navigating compensation at a GTM organization 31:45 What technical CEOs get wrong about GTM 36:01 The role of hunger in great sales leaders 40:35 What makes an exceptional IC sales rep 46:41 Dysfunctional vs. high-performing executive teams 48:01 Chris' most impactful decisions at Snowflake 49:53 "When there's doubt, there's no doubt" 54:49 Learning from world-class leaders

Category Visionaries
How hema.to uses clinical evidence as their core marketing strategy in healthcare AI | Karsten Miermans

Category Visionaries

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2026 18:56


hema.to is building AI-powered diagnostic infrastructure for cytometry—a specialized area of laboratory medicine analyzing immune system data to detect blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma. Unlike radiology or pathology where AI solutions are abundant, cytometry has remained largely untouched by the AI wave, creating both opportunity and isolation for the Munich-based company. In a recent episode of BUILDERS, we sat down with Karsten Miermans, CEO at hema.to GmbH, to discuss why they're deliberately keeping sales founder-led despite having paying customers, how South America became an unexpected beachhead market, and what it actually means to build infrastructure versus point solutions in healthcare. Topics Discussed:  From consulting project to venture-backed company: recognizing scalability in hindsight  The workflow integration problem killing healthcare AI implementations  Infrastructure versus technology: why healthcare AI isn't just about the algorithm  Learning ideal customer profile after 18 months of being "all over the place"  Why South America's governance structure enables faster adoption than the US  Resisting the urge to hire sales before achieving true repeatability  The 10-year vision: shifting from "watch and wait" to "predict and prevent" in immune disease GTM Lessons For B2B Founders: Pattern matching fails when you're an outsider—budget 18+ months to find your beachhead: Karsten assumed every application of their diagnostic method was the same and spent a year and a half "blue eyed" (naively optimistic) before identifying their true ICP. The outsider advantage lets you reimagine workflows insiders can't, but you'll incorrectly assume transferability across use cases. Don't expect repeatability in year one when entering regulated, workflow-dependent markets. Infrastructure requires multi-stakeholder orchestration—resource for enterprise complexity from day one: Karsten distinguishes technology (point solutions, single users) from infrastructure (shared resources requiring data exchange and workflow integration). In healthcare, this means integration into hospital systems, databases, and electronic health records across multiple stakeholders. "Every sale becomes enterprise sales" even for individual labs because of this infrastructure requirement. Founders building horizontal platforms should model sales cycles and resource requirements as enterprise from the start, regardless of deal size. Your ICP is cognitively overloaded—they won't understand your category innovation: Doctors are "under so much pressure that they just don't have any cognitive capacity left" to philosophically evaluate why AI might be difficult to implement or how infrastructure differs from technology. They need problems solved within their existing mental models. Skip the category education. Frame everything as workflow enhancement, not innovation. Let sophistication emerge through implementation, not pitch decks. Revenue doesn't equal repeatability—know when you're still in discovery mode: Despite having paying customers, Karsten explicitly states "we're not at product-market fit yet" because they're "discovering and learning things with every new laboratory hospital" around data privacy, integration, and AI deployment. The PMF signal isn't customer count or revenue—it's when the process becomes predictable, customers refer others, and you stop discovering new requirements. Hiring sales before this point scales complexity, not revenue. Regulatory friction determines market sequencing, not just market size: US governance complexity turns every deal into heavy enterprise sales with "many stakeholders," while South America proved "much more willing to move with fewer processes," making them "just much faster to adopt innovative technology." This wasn't strategy—Karsten's CTO speaks Spanish through a personal connection. But the lesson transfers: for infrastructure plays in regulated markets, test adoption velocity in lower-governance environments first to build proof points, even if TAM looks smaller on paper. In healthcare, marketing is clinical evidence—customer success creates your GTM flywheel: Karsten spends minimal time on marketing because beyond the first 5-10 users, doctors "want to see clinical evidence, they want to see papers, they want to see maybe that a friend of theirs is using it." Marketing in healthcare isn't content or demand gen—it's peer validation and published proof. Founders should structure early customer engagements to generate this evidence, not just revenue. The "marketing sales flywheel really does kick in much more once you have product market fit" because PMF enables the evidence generation required for credibility. // 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

Sales IQ Podcast
Winning Proposals: How to Structure Deals That Actually Close | Ep 323

Sales IQ Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2026 14:16


By the time you submit a proposal, you've already invested significant time and resources.So why do so many proposals still fail?In this episode of Revenue Leaders, we break down what makes a winning proposal — from clearly articulating the problem statement to mapping current state, future state, and enabling buyers to move forward confidently.You'll learn:Why proposals often stall at the final stageHow to structure a proposal that winsThe importance of personalizationHow to reduce friction in the buying processWhy buyer enablement increases win ratesIf you work in B2B sales, SaaS, professional services, or revenue leadership, this episode will help you close more deals with better proposals.⭐ Unlock free resources (templates, frameworks & prompts):⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://coachpilot.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the community & access 157+ templates, frameworks and mega AI prompts used by top revenue teams.Watch Full Episode on YouTube:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@revenueleaders⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/davidfastuca/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

What's Your And?
713: Marc Mandell is a Principal of Select Flooring Design & Car Enthusiast [podcast]

What's Your And?

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2026 39:53


Marc Mandell shares his lifelong passion for cars, tracing it back to a childhood experience seeing a classic Corvette for the first time, which sparked his journey into car restoration and customization. He discusses memorable projects, including working on a '63 Corvette split-window and building a GTM supercar from scratch, and emphasizes the satisfaction of rebuilding something from the ground up. Marc highlights how his appreciation for process and order with cars led him to a career in construction, where similar skills apply. He reflects on how people often see cars as just a mode of transportation, while he still finds each vehicle has its own personality and story. Marc also talks about the importance of embracing and sharing your personal passions, encouraging listeners to enjoy what makes them unique. He reminds us that "long days, short years" is a reality, so it's important to be true to what you love and let it show. Episode Highlights · Marc encourages people to enjoy what they're about and not to hide their passions, even if they don't directly relate to their job. He believes we should embrace our interests and bring them into our lives. · Whether it's working on cars or working in construction, Marc values the structured process of building and creating, from breaking things down to putting them back together. The sequence and satisfaction of the work is as important as the end result. · He talks about the importance of leading with empathy, meeting people where they're at, and holding space to understand others' perspectives. For Marc, these qualities help foster better communication and connection in both work and life. · Marc notes that many people put off their passions or hobbies until retirement, which can lead to regret. He urges listeners not to wait because life moves quickly, and it's important to spend time on what makes you happy now. · He makes the point that while family and work matter, they aren't the only defining elements of who you are. Everyone has many facets, including hobbies, passions, and interests, that make up their full identity.

Beyond Social
How ClickUp Went From Unknown Startup to $300M ARR

Beyond Social

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2026 21:01 Transcription Available


ClickUp scaled to $300M ARR in one of the most competitive SaaS categories in the world.In this episode, Reggie and Vitaly sit down with Chris Cunningham, Head of Social at ClickUp, to break down the SaaS growth strategy behind ClickUp's rise — from living in a startup house to becoming a category leader in the project management space.They unpack what it really takes to scale a B2B SaaS company in a saturated market: scrappy go-to-market tactics, early product-market fit lessons, unconventional hiring strategies, aggressive product development, and building content as a long-term competitive moat.You'll learn:• How ClickUp attacked a crowded SaaS market dominated by incumbents• The scrappy growth tactics that generated early enterprise deals• Startup scaling lessons from hiring, product launches, and GTM mistakes• Why modern B2B marketing strategy must include a dedicated content creator• How AI SaaS features (including ClickUp 4.0 and Super Agents) are reshaping productivity software• The balance between shipping fast and shipping polished in high-growth startupsThis conversation dives deep into SaaS startup scaling, founder-led growth, B2B content marketing, AI integration in SaaS products, and how to build a durable brand in a competitive industry.If you're a SaaS founder, B2B marketer, product leader, or growth operator trying to win in a crowded market, this episode is packed with practical lessons.Subscribe for more founder-led conversations on SaaS growth, AI in marketing, startup strategy, and building scalable marketing systems. Try Vista Social for FREE today Book a Demo Follow us on Instagram Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Youtube

Hunters and Unicorns
The F1 Strategy for Sales Productivity, with Doug May

Hunters and Unicorns

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2026 47:29


Today we sit down with Doug May, SVP of Productivity at Harness, to discuss one of the most critical yet overlooked aspects of a healthy organization: Sales Productivity. Doug has had an illustrious career at elite organizations including Datadog and Databricks, and he brings that expertise to Harness, where he has cut ramp time in half and increased per-rep contribution by 43%. We explore the "F1 engineering team" analogy of GTM support, why productivity metrics are the ultimate indicator of a company's health, and the specific questions every candidate should ask to de-risk their next career move.

State of Demand Gen
“If Attribution Worked, Nobody Would Fight About It” – with Matthew Sciannella

State of Demand Gen

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2026 68:38


In this episode of GTM Live, Carolyn sits down with Matthew Sciannella, VP of Innovation at Refine Labs, for a candid conversation about the flaws of B2B marketing measurement and why so many teams keep fighting the same losing battles.They dig into why attribution has made a generation of marketing leaders worse at their jobs, what great demand generation actually requires (hint: it starts way upstream with product marketing), and why slapping AI onto a broken system just makes the noise louder.Episode highlights:Why attribution doesn't tell you what's actually driving pipeline and how to move toward incrementality testing insteadThe real reason win rates are so low at most companies (and why more pipeline isn't the answer)Why great product marketing is the single biggest common denominator across every high-performing demand program Matt has seenHow AI is disrupting outbound and why scaling a broken motion with AI just makes it worse fasterWhy companies with messy data are the ones struggling most to make AI work for themThe case for measuring brand spend against contribution margin instead of source or attributionWhy fundamentals (e.g. in-person, intentional outreach, real buyer research) are making a comeback in the age of AI noiseIf your pipeline dashboards aren't giving you straight answers, this episode is a good gut check on where to look first.

Integrate & Ignite Podcast
B2B GTM Panic: Why More Demand Gen Won't Fix a Broken Brand Strategy, feat. Achim Klor

Integrate & Ignite Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2026 31:27


Why are buyers more skeptical, and what can marketers do to win them back? This episode of StrategyCast shares actionable ways to build trust, prove real value, and use AI wisely, so your brand shines even in the toughest markets! Rethink your Go-To-Market playbook and grow with confidence!And don't forget! You can crush your marketing strategy with just a few minutes a week by signing up for the StrategyCast Newsletter. You'll receive weekly bursts of marketing tips, clips, resources, and a whole lot more. Visit https://strategycast.com/ for more details.==Let's Break It Down==05:51 AI Evolution: GenAI to Autonomy07:32 "Trust Challenges in AI and GTM"12:04 "Invest Today to Scale Tomorrow"13:57 Integrated Approach for Market Succes18:10 Strategic Frameworks Drive Creativity21:13 "AI Writing: Pitfalls and Lessons"23:15 "AI as a Creative Tool"29:09 "Turn Up Marketing During Crises"31:31 "Strategy Over Budget Success"==Where You Can Find Us==Website: https://strategycast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strategy_cast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/strategycast==Leave a Review==Hey there, StrategyCast fans!If you've found our tips and tricks on marketing strategies helpful in growing your business, we'd be thrilled if you could take a moment to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback not only supports us but also helps others discover how they can elevate their business game!

Ground Up
179: From Instinct to Operating System: How Wistia Turned Strategy Into a Scalable Machine

Ground Up

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2026 57:31


Databox is an easy-to-use Analytics Platform for growing businesses. We make it easy to centralize and view your entire company's marketing, sales, revenue, and product data in one place, so you always know how you're performing. Learn More About DataboxSubscribe to our newsletter for episode summaries, benchmark data, and moreScaling a company doesn't break because of a lack of ideas, but because instinct doesn't scale.In this episode of Move the Needle, Chris Savage (CEO & Co-Founder of Wistia) walks through the evolution from founder-driven decision-making to building a real operating system for scale.From choosing a single ICP when growth was already strong…- To installing a tri-annual planning cadence- To distributing ownership across teams- To using AI to compress execution cyclesThis is a masterclass in turning momentum into predictable growth. If you're a SaaS founder or GTM leader trying to scale without chaos, this episode is for you.

Leveraging AI
270 | Build AI Teammates That Deliver Consistent Results And Transform The Way you Work, With No Technical Background with Liza Adams

Leveraging AI

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2026 64:04 Transcription Available


Building powerful AI workflows and teammates doesn't require a dev team or a PhD in prompt engineering — but it does require knowing where to start and how to connect the pieces.In this hands-on session, we'll show you how to go from a blank screen to a fully functional AI system using real tools, real prompts, and real business use cases. You'll get a demo of how to generate workflow and AI teammate ideas — and learn how to customize them to fit your team's exact needs.We'll also walk through how to create connected GPTs with smart prompt structures, use ⁠ @mentions ⁠ for chaining them, and show real examples.Joining us is Liza Adams, an enterprise strategy leader and former VP of Marketing with deep experience in GTM, AI transformation, and scaling AI initiatives inside global organizations. She'll share how business leaders can adopt these systems, spark innovation across teams, and lead with clarity in an AI-driven future.Resources Mentioned: AI Teammates Reference GuideHuman+AI Workflows Reference GuideThe End of Hand-offs: How AI Teammates Work TogetherInteractive Human+AI Workflow AppCase Study with Cross-functional Workflows & ResultsCase Study of Human+AI Org TransformationTemplate to create AI teammate instructionsAbout Leveraging AI The Ultimate AI Course for Business People: https://multiplai.ai/ai-course/ YouTube Full Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@Multiplai_AI/ Connect with Isar Meitis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isarmeitis/ Join our Live Sessions, AI Hangouts and newsletter: https://services.multiplai.ai/events If you've enjoyed or benefited from some of the insights of this episode, leave us a five-star review on your favorite podcast platform, and let us know what you learned, found helpful, or liked most about this show!

BREAK/FIX the Gran Touring Motorsports Podcast
Drive Thru News #65 - Season 6 Finale Episode

BREAK/FIX the Gran Touring Motorsports Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2026 81:39 Transcription Available


This Drive Thru News episode tears through a disappointing slate of Super Bowl car commercials before shifting into a broader roundup of automotive chaos - from Stellantis' $26B EV implosion and Tesla axing the Model S and X, to StopTech and Raybestos abruptly shutting down and Honda's new Prelude landing with a thud. The hosts riff on design misfires, EV fatigue, and shifting EPA rules while weaving in motorsports talk, including the dull Rolex 24, Bathurst's massive crash, and WRC scouting U.S. rally sites. They wrap with GTM project updates, track‑season safety reminders, and a grab‑bag of Florida‑man absurdity and parking‑lot disasters, all delivered with their usual humor and gearhead banter. ===== (Oo---x---oO) ===== 00:00:00 Drive-Through News #65 Kickoff 00:01:27 Olympics Banter: Speed Skating, Biathlon & Curling Controversy 00:02:47 Super Bowl Ads: Were There Any Car Commercials? 00:11:57 Best Super Bowl Car Ads of the Last 20 Years (Top 5 Countdown) 00:14:36 Stellantis' $26B EV Struggle: Charger EV, 4xe Hybrids & What Went Wrong 00:18:01 EPA Rule Swings: Stop-Start, Emissions, and the Return of Big Engines? 00:20:04 Aftermarket Shock: StopTech Stops Making Brakes (and what's next) 00:22:35 Cars on the Chopping Block: Honda Prelude Hate & Tesla S/X Discontinued 00:24:50 The Grand Tour ‘Returns': Throttle House Rumors & Why You Can't Replace the Trio 00:30:19 Legends Lost: Ed Iskenderian Tribute & Robert Duvall Remembered 00:32:35 Porsche ‘Not Dead Yet': EV Cayman/Boxster and the Toyota MR2 Clickbait 00:38:11 Thank God It's Dead: Audi's ‘Pickup Truck' Concept 00:40:50 Audi's ‘Concept C' Design Language: The Ugly EV That Won't Die 00:42:05 BMW's Electric M3 Rumors + The Infamous ‘Special Screw' Repair Nightmare 00:44:47 Season Wrap & Pop Culture Detour! 00:51:04 Ferrari's First EV ‘Luce': Toy-Like Interior, Not-Quite-Ferrari Looks 00:54:52 Are You Faster Than an Interceptor? 01:01:49 Behind the Pit Wall: IndyCar in DC, Daytona 500, and a Boring Rolex 24 01:05:54 Sim Racing Update (Assetto Corsa Evo 0.5) 01:12:00 Bathurst Crash, WRC America Rumors, and the GTM Trackside Lemons Project Update 01:14:52 Safety Gear PSA & Season Finale Thanks, Patreon, and Sponsor Shoutouts ==================== The Motoring Podcast Network : Years of racing, wrenching and Motorsports experience brings together a top notch collection of knowledge, stories and information. #everyonehasastory #gtmbreakfix - motoringpodcast.net More Information: Visit Our Website Become a VIP at: Patreon Online Magazine: Gran Touring Follow us on Social: Instagram

Kaya Cast
Lean SKUs, Big Wins: Building a Sustainable Cannabis Brand

Kaya Cast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2026 53:36


Join Kaya Cast host Tommy Truong for a deep dive with Ryan Hunter of Spherex Labs. From Colorado to multi-state expansion, Ryan shares the playbook behind a disciplined, retailer-focused cannabis brand. Learn how Spherex wins at the shelf through authentic budtender relationships, in-store merchandising, and a full-stack marketing program that travels with retailers across markets. Discover why they keep a lean SKU set, how they iterate products—from rosin cartridges to a sleep gummy—tied to a relentless focus on quality hardware and reliable manufacturing. See how field marketing cadence, retailer partnerships, and data-driven programs drive sell-through and reduce over-assortment risk in a cash-constrained industry. The conversation also covers leadership, overcoming imposter syndrome, meditation and personal development, and how their consulting work intersects with cannabis entrepreneurship. If you're a dispensary or brand looking to scale sustainably—without chasing every trend—this episode offers actionable GTM and partnership insights you can apply right away. Find out more about Spherex Labs at:https://www.wearespherex.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanhunter/linkedin.com/company/6614091/ 00:00 Net Promoter Score (NPS) Explained + Why It Matters00:51 Podcast Intro + Meet Ryan (Background & How He Entered Cannabis)03:02 What Drove Spherex's Growth: Team, Discipline, and Relationships04:27 Marketing Personas & The Budtender-First Strategy06:44 Retail Partnerships, Road Game, and Scaling to New Markets10:55 Customer Journey Thinking: Community, Experimentation, and Iteration12:39 Sales + Marketing Shaping Product: Tight SKU Strategy & Quality Control15:04 Why Launch a Rosin Sleep Gummy: Market Insight + Smart Rollout21:57 Budtender Education Playbook + Measuring Impact with NPS26:23 What Sets Spherex Apart in a Commoditized Vape Cartridge Market27:24 Flavor Formulation + Hardware Quality: The Product Fundamentals28:22 Winning Budtenders: The Real Decision-Makers in Dispensaries31:35 Staying Top-of-Mind: Store Visit Cadence & Relationship Building32:14 The Over-Assortment Problem: Sell-Through, Payment Terms & Industry AR33:36 A Costco-Style Dispensary Model? Curating Fewer Brands for Better Turns34:13 Anti-Gravity Consulting: From Go-To-Market Strategy to Coaching & Psychedelics36:28 Imposter Syndrome & Unworthiness: What Shows Up in Coaching38:24 Psychedelic Facilitation (Cannabis): Softening Ego & Reworking Identity40:12 Meditation as the Antidote: Losing Anxiety, Not Your Edge48:56 Attention in a Dopamine World: Mindfulness, ADHD, and Social Media Boundaries51:13 Savoring & Presence: Relearning Joy in Everyday Moments52:56 Where to Find Ryan + Podcast Wrap-Upcannabis retail strategy, cannabis brand expansion, multi-state cannabis brand, Colorado cannabis market, cannabis merchandising strategy, dispensary shelf strategy, cannabis sell-through optimization, cannabis retail partnerships, budtender relationships, budtender engagement strategy, dispensary product merchandising, cannabis go-to-market strategy, cannabis GTM playbook, cannabis SKU optimization, lean SKU strategy cannabis, cannabis product assortment planning, dispensary inventory strategy, cannabis manufacturing reliability, cannabis hardware quality, rosin vape cartridges, cannabis rosin carts, cannabis sleep gummies, infused sleep gummies cannabis, cannabis product innovation, cannabis brand scaling, cannabis retailer marketing programs, dispensary field marketing, cannabis field marketing cadence, cannabis brand consulting, cannabis entrepreneurship, cannabis leadership development, cannabis founder mindset, cannabis business growth strategy, cannabis retail expansion strategy, cannabis brand partnerships, dispensary sales enablement, cannabis retail analytics, cannabis data-driven retail, cannabis merchandising analytics, dispensary sell-through metrics, cannabis inventory turnover, cannabis retail operations strategy, cannabis retailer loyalty programs, cannabis brand positioning, cannabis product quality strategy, cannabis packaging strategy, cannabis compliance manufacturing, cannabis supply chain reliability, cannabis distribution strategy, dispensary category management, cannabis category optimization, cannabis retail marketing strategy, dispensary marketing partnerships, cannabis consulting services, cannabis operator insights, cannabis podcast insights, Kaya Cast podcast, cannabis industry leadership, cannabis personal development, cannabis founder meditation, cannabis imposter syndrome leadership #kayacast #cannabis #tips #dispensaries #business #podcast

Reserva de Maná
PUNTO DE LECTURA. Capítulo 38: La cultura japonesa de Kaibun 8 y la del videojuego de GTM 121 y 211, cómics y manga

Reserva de Maná

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2026 123:50


En este nuevo “Punto de lectura” os hablamos del número 8 de la revista Kaibun, del 121 y 122 de GTM, y reseñamos los siguientes cómics y mangas de Panini: Green Arrow: El cazador acecha, Magik: La colección completa, The Fade Out, Zatanna - Abajo la sala, Miracleman Ómnibus, Thunder3 #8, Maximum Berserk (Catalá) #15, Salary Man Z #3, Cyberpunk Edgerunners - Madness, Los caballeros oscuros de acero, All of Us Are Dead #1, Origin 1#, Sandman Mystery Theatre, Invisibles #1. Esperamos que os mole. Enlaces: https://linktr.ee/reservademana

Go To Market Grit
How Malwarebytes Is Protecting Millions In The Era Of AI Scams | Marcin Kleczynski

Go To Market Grit

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2026 63:09


What began as a 14 year old fixing infected computers became Malwarebytes, an 800 person cybersecurity company trusted by millions of customers.On Grit, Marcin Kleczynski joins Joubin Mirzadegan to explore AI driven cyber threats, strategic reinvention, and the discipline of evolving before the market forces you to.“We've exceeded. Now, what do we do to protect individuals against the next wave of threats, which are plentiful?”Guest: Marcin Kleczynski, CEO at MalwarebytesConnect with Marcin KleczynskiX: https://x.com/mkleczynskiLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcinkleczynski/Connect with JoubinX: https://x.com/JoubinmirLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joubin-mirzadegan-66186854/Email: grit@kleinerperkins.comFollow on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/kpgritFollow on X:https://x.com/KPGrit​Learn more about Kleiner Perkins: https://www.kleinerperkins.com/

Ops Cast
Leading With Heart in a Systems World: Accountability, Empathy, and the Human Side of Ops with Kimi Corrigan

Ops Cast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2026 59:03 Transcription Available


Text us your thoughts on the episode or the show!In this episode of Ops Cast, we explore a side of operations leadership that rarely appears in roadmaps or system diagrams but determines whether teams thrive or burn out.Kimi Corrigan, Vice President of Marketing Operations at Huntress, joins Michael Hartmann on our latest Ops Cast episode. Kimi shares her perspective on servant leadership, psychological safety, and the emotional intelligence required to lead effectively inside fast-growing, complex organizations.The conversation goes beyond tools and processes to focus on the human side of operations. Kimi discusses how to lead with empathy without lowering standards, how to navigate difficult conversations with honesty and accountability, and how to create sustainable team rhythms in environments that often default to constant firefighting.They also examine how ops leaders can enter new organizations thoughtfully, read culture before pushing change, and decide where to invest their energy early. Kimi shares where AI can genuinely support leadership development, not as a replacement for judgment, but as a tool for reflection, communication, and clarity.What you will learn: • How to balance servant leadership with high performance expectations • Why psychological safety is essential in ops teams • How to lead through growth and organizational transition • Ways to build sustainable team trust outside of crisis moments • The non-technical skills that prepare operators for leadership roles • Where AI can strengthen communication and self-awarenessIf you are leading a Marketing Ops team or aspiring to step into leadership, this episode highlights the interpersonal skills that often matter more than technical mastery.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

Topline
"SaaS is Dead!" - So What Do We Do Now?

Topline

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2026 65:18


Over the course of a few days, $300 billion in market cap was wiped out from public SaaS companies. Looking at the ten most notable US publicly traded SaaS companies over the last six months, they have lost upwards of $600 billion. The public markets are signaling that the classic VC-funded SaaS model is under massive pressure to show rapid AI integration and tangible revenue growth. This episode examines the fallout of the SaaS market correction and what it means for go-to-market operators. We discuss the shift away from legacy system of record platforms toward agile, AI-native solutions that eat labor budgets. The conversation covers how to adjust your GTM strategy if you are not growing at AI rates, why cash flow is now king over growth at all costs, and how to build a resilient enterprise pipeline generation engine. Finally, we share predictions on which SaaS stocks might bounce back from the dip. Key Takeaways Companies failing to match AI-driven growth expectations are facing severe valuation resets from public markets, as AJ Bruno explains that "The argument you're hearing is AI will replace SaaS... that's the lazy argument... What AI is doing is it's compressing the time value of money." Software businesses unable to achieve hypergrowth must pivot to strict operational efficiency, with Sam Jacobs noting, "If you're generating $50 million growing 25% and you're just breaking even, I need you to either grow faster or be more profitable." Go-to-market professionals at legacy software companies have a limited opportunity to pivot their careers toward emerging technology, as Asad Zaman advises, "Right now the window is open... That window will get smaller and smaller as time grows by. So if you are not confident in your company, this is the time to make a shift and enter the new world." Connect with the Hosts & Guests: Host: Sam Jacobs  Host: AJ Bruno Host: Asad Zaman Topline is more than a YouTube Channel: 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 Introduction to the SaaS Collapse 07:12 Billions Wiped From SaaS Market Caps 10:44 Compressing the Time Value of Money 14:27 Why Revenue Growth Trumps All 20:56 The Threat of AI Inference Costs 25:17 Shifting Careers to the AI World 28:21 Entering the Slow Growth Movement 35:27 Building Long Term Craft Businesses 38:29 Winning the Long Brand Game 42:03 Founder Burnout and Pivot Challenges 48:24 Managing Investor Board Expectations 52:02 Reengineering for a Platform Shift 60:57 Public SaaS Stock Rebound Picks  

The RevOps Review
How to Build Data-Led Outbound with Jordan Crawford, Founder of Blueprint

The RevOps Review

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2026 25:09


Jordan Crawford explains the Permissionless Value Prop, a way of combining internal and external data to create outreach that earns attention.- Why most AI SDR tools produce identical messages- The limits of firmographic ICPs- How to define a “paying qualified segment”- Vertical vs. horizontal GTM trade-offs- Where RevOps should start with AI

Irish Tech News Audio Articles
TATA Group and OpenAI forge foundational partnership to advance AI transformation

Irish Tech News Audio Articles

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2026 4:32


The Tata Group, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), and OpenAI have announced a multi-dimensional strategic partnership that will drive AI-powered innovation across enterprise, consumer, and social sectors. TCS, a leading global IT services, consulting, and business solutions company, operates a global delivery centre in Letterkenny. The announcement, which coincides with this week's India AI Impact Summit, shows a continued aspiration for TCS to become the world's largest AI-enabled tech services company. This partnership spans multiple high-impact areas, including powering AI-led innovation across Tata Group companies, joint efforts to drive AI transformation across industries globally, and setting up AI infrastructure. Key Partnership Highlights: Empowering Tata Group employees with Enterprise ChatGPT: Several thousand Tata Group employees will get access to Enterprise ChatGPT, accelerating innovation and productivity. In addition, TCS will leverage OpenAI's Codex to boost software engineering outcomes. Building industry-specific Agentic AI solutions: Under this partnership, OpenAI, with its leading Agentic AI solutions, and TCS, with its contextual knowledge of industries and deep AI skills, will come together to build impactful industry-specific solutions. Joint go-to-market (GTM) initiatives: TCS and OpenAI will jointly enable global enterprises to transform with AI-powered solutions specific to their organisational context. Through this collaboration, TCS will help its customers accelerate AI-led transformation by deploying, integrating, and scaling OpenAI's advanced AI platforms worldwide. Developing AI infrastructure: TCS's HyperVault unit and OpenAI have agreed to a multi-year partnership to develop AI infrastructure. In the initial phase, TCS will develop AI infrastructure with 100MW capacity, with an option to scale to 1 GW. This infrastructure will power next-generation AI workloads and position India as a global AI hub. Sam Altman, CEO, OpenAI, said, "India is already leading the way in AI adoption, and with its talent, ambition, and strong government support, it is well placed to help shape its future. Through OpenAI for India and our partnership with Tata Group, we're working together to build the infrastructure, skills, and local partnerships needed to build AI with India, for India, and in India, so that more people across the country can access and benefit from it." N Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Tata Sons, said, "This deep collaboration between OpenAI and Tata Group marks a major milestone in India's vision to become a global leader in AI. We are pleased to partner with OpenAI to create state-of-the-art AI infrastructure in India. This is a unique opportunity for OpenAI and TCS to transform industries. Together we will skill India's youth and empower them to succeed in the AI era." TCS established HyperVault in 2025 with a vision to deliver gigawatt-scale secure, reliable, large-scale AI-ready infrastructure for hyperscalers and AI-driven organisations. Powered by green energy, it will offer purpose-built, liquid-cooled data centres with high rack densities, and network connectivity across all key cloud regions. This partnership marks a pivotal moment in India's vision to become a global leader in AI and build an ecosystem that accelerates AI development and adoption. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Faceboo...

SaaS Backwards - Reverse Engineering SaaS Success
Ep. 188 - SaaS in the Age of AI: Augment, Bolt On, or Become Obsolete

SaaS Backwards - Reverse Engineering SaaS Success

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2026 28:20 Transcription Available


Send a textHow SaaS CEOs Should Navigate AI-Native, AI-Augmented, and Bolt-On AI Strategies to Protect Revenue and Reduce Churn Guest: Ken Lempit, President & Chief Strategist at Austin Lawrence Group  --  AI is not just another feature cycle — it's an inflection point for SaaS.In this episode of SaaS Backwards, Ken Lempit steps into the guest seat to break down what AI really means for SaaS companies, especially mid-market and enterprise software vendors trying to protect revenue while planning their next product evolution.Ken draws a powerful parallel between today's AI shift and the early 2000s transition from client-server to cloud — arguing that this AI cycle is moving faster and carries even greater competitive risk.He explains the critical differences between:AI-native SaaS productsAI-augmented platformsBolt-on AI featuresAnd why the wrong strategy could quietly increase churn, shrink pipeline, and erode relevance.You'll also hear:How to diagnose whether you have a GTM problem or a product relevance problemWhy “vibe coding” poses real risk to mid-market SaaS vendorsShort-term product and pricing moves to survive the next 12–18 monthsLessons from BackEngine's pivot from conversation mining to revenue enablementWhy your AI narrative may matter more than your marketing spendIf you're a SaaS CEO, founder, or go-to-market leader wondering how aggressive your AI roadmap needs to be, this episode is your strategic wake-up call.Get a free SaaS GTM Checkup: https://info.austinlawrence.com/saas-gtm-checkup ---Not Getting Enough Demos? Your messaging could be turning buyers away before you even get a chance to pitch.

In Depth
Why 90% of CROs will fall behind in the next 2 years | Stevie Case (CRO, Vanta)

In Depth

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2026 71:15


Stevie Case is the CRO of Vanta, the trust management platform serving everyone from founders to Fortune 100 CISOs. A former pro-video gamer who stumbled into sales through a mentor's bet, Stevie has built one of the most unconventional paths to the C-suite in tech. In this episode, she unpacks why early revenue hires fail, what separates a true CRO from a VP of Sales, and why she believes fewer than 10% of current CROs will thrive by 2028. In today's episode, we discuss: Why early revenue hires fail What a top 1% CRO actually does The scaling mistake Stevie made by copying Twilio's playbook at Vanta Why Vanta remains 100% sales-led at every segment AI vs. humans in go-to-market References: Cursor: https://cursor.sh/ Gong: https://www.gong.io/ Salesforce: https://www.salesforce.com/ Twilio: https://www.twilio.com/ Vanta: https://www.vanta.com/ Where to find Stevie: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steviecase/ Where to find Brett: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-berson-9986094/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/brettberson Where to find First Round Capital: Website: https://firstround.com/ First Round Review: https://review.firstround.com/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/firstround YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstRoundCapital This podcast on all platforms: https://review.firstround.com/podcast Timestamps: 00:00 Why early revenue hires fail 02:23 Who to hire at $5M in revenue 04:16 Coin-operated sellers vs. long-term builders 05:57 What excellence looks like in the CRO role 07:44 Metrics, confidence, and velocity 12:04 Should CROs lead sales? 14:39 From shy seller to revenue leader 16:36 Learning to scale at Twilio 17:44 "There is no CRO playbook" 19:58 Stevie's scaling mistake at Vanta 22:16 Why Vanta stays 100% sales-led 23:16 The value of planning 24-26 months ahead 29:54 When trusting intuition was the wrong call 30:49 Do humans still have a place in the future of GTM? 33:33 Stevie's leadership non-negotiables 36:36 The myth of hiring for industry expertise 40:00 What stays centralized in a 600-person company 47:09 The hidden leverage of a customer's first 30 days 53:42 Why the CRO role will face enormous changes by 2028 58:42 What leaders must do now to stay relevant 01:02:30 Unpacking the CEO-CRO dynamic

B2B Go-To-Market Leaders
Inside the Mind of a Chief Growth Officer: Building a Bowtie GTM Engine

B2B Go-To-Market Leaders

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2026 49:24


Send a textIn this episode of the B2B Go-To-Market Leaders Podcast, Vijay Damojipurapu sits down with AJ Gandhi, Chief Growth Officer and Go-To-Market Operating Partner, to unpack what it really takes to build a high-performing, holistic GTM engine.With a career spanning Bain, McKinsey, venture-backed startups, Salesforce, RingCentral, and private equity, AJ brings a rare 360-degree perspective on strategy, sales, marketing, partner ecosystems, and post-sales execution.AJ defines go-to-market as the entire lifecycle journey of a customer — not just sales — and explains why most companies underperform because they fail to integrate product, marketing, sales, partners, and customer success into a unified system.They dive into:Why GTM must be holistic across the full “bow tie,” from acquisition to expansion and advocacy.The diagnostic framework AJ uses to assess strategy, talent, execution, and performance in portfolio companies.How to identify waste in sales coverage, geography expansion, marketing spend, and organizational design.Why partner ecosystems follow the 80/20 rule — and how doubling down on top partners drives disproportionate returns.The importance of measuring value realization, not just selling ROI promises.How to elevate mid-level business problems to CFO-level strategic priorities through economic impact framing.Lessons from scaling enterprise and mid-market GTM motions — and the danger of straying from your ICP.Why pricing optimization and expansion within existing customers often deliver faster impact than new logo acquisition.The leadership discipline required in the first 100 days of a transformation.And AJ's advice to rising GTM professionals: master the fundamentals, focus on the 80/20, and develop influence without authority.This episode is a masterclass in combining strategic rigor with execution discipline — and a reminder that sustainable growth comes from fundamentals done exceptionally well.Connect with Vijay Damojipurapu on LinkedInBrought to you by: stratyve.com

Category Visionaries
Behind the Scenes: How This Healthcare Founder Prepared to Testify Before Congress | Brian Whorley

Category Visionaries

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2026 22:02


Brian Whorley, Founder and CEO of Paytient, is rebuilding healthcare's broken payment infrastructure. Paytient enables employers and insurers to front healthcare costs for members who repay over time, interest-free. The company now serves 6,000 employers and powers payment solutions for nearly half of America's 50 million Medicare seniors. In this episode of BUILDERS, Brian reveals his counterintuitive GTM pivot from employers to insurers, why he testified before Congress on healthcare affordability, and how to build in highly regulated markets without fighting the system. Topics Discussed: Why healthcare lacks functional buyer-seller dynamics and transparent pricing The World War II tax quirk that prevents employers from giving healthcare dollars directly to employees Cash market case studies: Why LASIK prices decreased in real terms since 1998 while maintaining quality improvements Paytient's unexpected discovery that insurers were better strategic partners than employers Congressional testimony before the House Committee of Oversight and Government Reform on December 10th The company's evolution from founder-led employer sales to insurance-first distribution strategy Launching self-serve for sub-200 employee companies while closing Fortune 100 accounts How Medicare regulations requiring prescription payment flexibility created a 50-million-person market GTM Lessons For B2B Founders: Test enterprise distribution earlier than your assumptions suggest: Brian assumed Paytient needed a million users before insurers would engage. Instead, one of the nation's largest insurers partnered early because they recognized out-of-pocket costs as a critical experience gap they couldn't solve internally. The insurer's product team understood the problem but lacked control over member finances. When building in complex ecosystems, large strategic partners may engage earlier than expected if you solve a problem outside their core capabilities. Prioritize partners with longer planning horizons: Brian discovered insurers planning 2027-2029 health plans in early 2025, while employers focused on last month's challenges. This planning horizon difference fundamentally changed Paytient's GTM strategy. Insurers became the majority of their business because they could "invest and reshape for the long term" as part of broader strategy. When choosing between customer segments, prioritize buyers who think strategically over those managing tactical, short-term needs—they'll invest in solutions before acute pain points emerge. Regulatory tailwinds can create massive distribution overnight: A law passed four years after Paytient launched required all Medicare insurers to offer exactly what Paytient provides—prescription cost flexibility with insurer-fronted payments. This regulation instantly created a 50-million-person addressable market. Brian now powers this for "almost half the country." When building in regulated industries, track pending legislation that could mandate your solution category, creating instant distribution through compliance requirements. Build different GTM engines for concentrated vs. fragmented markets: Healthcare is "a very concentrated industry" at the top 40 insurers, where Paytient focuses enterprise efforts. For the fragmented small business market (under 200 employees), they launched a self-serve platform at patient.com this month, immediately gaining traction with venture-backed employers seeking simple subscriptions. The dual-motion approach—high-touch for concentrated markets, self-serve for long-tail—maximizes coverage without burning capital on inefficient sales motions. In trust-based sales, delivery quality drives expansion velocity: When Paytient launches with a Fortune 100, "tens of thousands of people have access to patient now." The benefits stack is "sacred and sacrosanct"—a trust-based, relationship-driven sale. Brian emphasizes the product must work "exactly how you said, even better" because performance creates referrals through benefit brokers and consultants. In high-stakes enterprise deployments, your product quality directly determines sales velocity through partner and customer networks. Navigate regulatory constraints as creative boundaries, not barriers: Brian's core advice for healthcare founders: "You have to work with the system as it is." Many founders approach healthcare "as antagonist" with solutions "too foreign or too different" that threaten the status quo. Instead, innovate within existing regulatory and operational frameworks. There are "plenty of space" and "data requirements for how healthcare can work today" to build billion-dollar businesses while respecting industry structure. Fighting the system guarantees slow adoption; working within it enables scale. // 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

Category Visionaries
How Qualytics Knew it had found product-market fit | Gorkem Sevinc

Category Visionaries

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2026 24:45


Qualytics is redefining enterprise data quality by positioning it as a collaborative business function rather than an isolated data engineering problem. Founded at the start of the pandemic by Gorkem Sevinc - a former CTO and CDO who spent years managing reactive data quality firefights - Qualytics emerged from a clear practitioner pain point: writing endless custom rules to catch data issues after they'd already broken dashboards and KPIs. The company raised pre-seed and seed rounds while building with beta customers, then closed a Series A as repeatability patterns emerged in their POC process. Now, as enterprises scramble to operationalize AI initiatives, Qualytics is experiencing explosive inbound demand from organizations realizing their data foundations aren't ready for democratized data access. Topics Discussed The practitioner insight that sparked Qualytics: reactive rule-writing doesn't scale Leveraging existing CTO/CDO networks and PE portfolio connections for beta customers The evolution from free POCs to paid POCs as a mutual commitment mechanism Identifying repeatability through week-by-week POC conversion patterns Building practitioner credibility into the sales motion while hiring for enterprise sales grit The decision to hire sales and marketing leadership simultaneously post-Series A Tracking in-product engagement metrics (DQ operations frequency, anomaly detection, rule editing) as churn prevention Positioning data quality as vertical-specific business problems (premium leakage, regulatory compliance) The timing advantage: AI adoption forcing enterprises to treat data governance as mandatory infrastructure GTM Lessons For B2B Founders Talk to 100 prospects before writing code—even with deep domain expertise: After burning 18 months building a radiology second opinion product that patients didn't want (they didn't even know radiologists were doctors), Gorkem adopted a hard rule: validate with 100 conversations before building. His advantage as a former CTO who lived the data quality problem created false confidence. Practitioners often assume their pain is universal, but buyer awareness and willingness to pay are separate questions. Start with NSF I-Corps-style problem validation: show rough sketches, probe what happened when they hit the pain point, understand how it hurt them financially or operationally. Repeatability appears in micro-conversions during trials, not just closed-won rates: Gorkem didn't declare product-market fit when deals closed—he declared it when he could predict POC behavior by week. "Week two, I'm expecting this. Week three, I'm expecting this." That predictability enabled ROI calculators and internal champion enablement materials. For technical founders, this means instrumenting your trial or POC to track leading indicators: specific features activated, data volumes processed, number of team members engaged, frequency of logins. When those patterns stabilize across prospects, you have a repeatable motion. Use paid POCs as a procurement front-loading mechanism, not a revenue play: Qualytics charges nominal amounts for some POCs—not for the revenue, but to get the MSA signed and force both parties through legal/security review upfront. This eliminates the pattern where free POCs succeed technically but die in procurement. Large enterprises often refuse to pay for POCs, which Gorkem accepts—but only if they commit equivalent effort (executive time, cross-functional teams). The paid POC is a qualification tool: if they won't commit anything, they're not a real opportunity. Hire sales and marketing leadership in parallel and hold them to unified GTM metrics: Gorkem regrets hiring early sales reps before leadership and delaying marketing investment. Post-Series A, he hired both leaders simultaneously and holds them jointly accountable to pipeline generation and velocity—not siloed MQL counts or quota attainment. This structural decision forces collaboration on messaging, ICP definition, and campaign strategy from day one. For technical founders who "figured out" founder-led sales, resist the urge to replicate your motion with more SDRs. Bring in strategic leadership that can build a scalable system. Instrument product engagement as your earliest churn signal—then intervene immediately: Beyond quarterly NPS and executive QBRs, Gorkem tracks granular product usage: how many data quality operations users run, how many anomalies they discover, how actively they're editing rules. When engagement drops, he doesn't wait—he jumps into the customer's existing weekly meetings to diagnose and course-correct. For B2B founders building complex products with long time-to-value, passive health scores aren't enough. You need active usage telemetry and a low-latency intervention process. Translate technical capabilities into vertical-specific business outcomes: Gorkem doesn't pitch "data quality for data engineers." He talks about premium leakage with insurance companies and OCC/SEC data controls with banks. This reframing works because buyers recognize their problem, not a vendor category. The shift requires research: understand each vertical's regulatory environment, operational pain points, and the business metrics executives care about. When you walk in speaking their language about their P&L impact, you're not another vendor—you're someone who gets it. Time your market entry to when "nice-to-have" becomes "must-have": When Qualytics launched, some enterprises called data quality a "nice-to-have." AI adoption changed that calculus overnight. Organizations planning to let 20,000 employees interrogate data through AI interfaces suddenly realized they need robust data governance, quality controls, and cataloging first. Gorkem's timing wasn't luck—he built during the "nice-to-have" phase so he'd be ready when AI budgets made it mandatory. Technical founders should identify the external forcing function (regulation, technology shift, economic change) that will transform their solution from vitamin to painkiller. // 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

Kingscrowd Startup Investing Podcast
From 7 Years to 12 Weeks: Sunstone Health's AI for Epilepsy & Autism

Kingscrowd Startup Investing Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2026 29:21


Sunstone Health CEO Joshua Resnikoff joins Chris Lustrino to explain how Sunstone uses AI on healthcare claims data to proactively identify children with developmental delay—starting with epilepsy and autism—and help families reach the right specialists and diagnostics faster.They break down what claims data is, why the healthcare system is reactive by default, and how Sunstone's approach can compress what often takes years into roughly weeks by flagging high-need cases, coordinating advanced diagnostics, and delivering actionable next steps. Joshua also shares Sunstone's go-to-market strategy (positioned as an employer-paid benefit), why the pricing model is designed to reduce “point-solution bloat,” and how expansion could move across employers, TPAs, reinsurers, and large insurers. 00:00 Needle-in-a-haystack intro03:13 What Sunstone does (AI + claims data)05:32 Flagging patients vs. diagnosing07:21 Employer benefit + privacy model15:54 GTM + sales cycle reality17:57 Outcome-based pricing model20:16 Unit economics ($10k per case)22:11 Expansion paths + other diseases26:23 Fundraise use of proceeds28:03 Investor closing

Sales IQ Podcast
Turn Conversations Into Deals: Creating Qualified Opportunities | Revenue Leaders | Ep 322

Sales IQ Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2026 13:33


Most sales meetings don't turn into real opportunities.They stay surface-level.In this episode of Revenue Leaders, we break down how to turn conversations into deals by structuring discussions properly and creating qualified opportunities instead of casual meetings.You'll learn:Why most sales meetings go nowhereHow to create qualified opportunitiesHow to move from conversation to commitmentThe structure behind effective sales discussionsIf you're in B2B sales or revenue leadership and wan⭐ Unlock free resources (templates, frameworks & prompts):⁠⁠⁠https://coachpilot.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠⁠Join the community & access 157+ templates, frameworks and mega AI prompts used by top revenue teams.Watch Full Episode on YouTube:⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@revenueleaders⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us:⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/davidfastuca/⁠⁠⁠

Scaling Japan Podcast
Episode 96: Getting to 50 B2B Clients in Japan Through Partnerships with Shay Khosrowshahi

Scaling Japan Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2026 48:14


Most foreign SaaS companies struggle to land even a handful of enterprise clients in Japan.Shay Khosrowshahi helped scale Ulife to 50+ B2B customers in just 18 months, largely through strategic partnerships.In this episode of the Scaling Japan Podcast, we break down how he did it.Shay is the co-founder of NXL and former Managing Director of Ulife APAC. After a 100M investment, he was sent to Japan to launch and scale the business in one of the most credibility-driven markets in the world.We explore what partnerships really mean in Japan, how to align incentives with distribution partners, and why most founders underestimate the level of commitment required to succeed here.Shay shares tactical insights on discovery calls, partner qualification, internal champions, cultural misalignment, and how to create momentum that compounds over time.If you are a SaaS founder, CRO, or GTM leader entering Japan, this episode offers a practical partnership blueprint grounded in real execution.In This Episode, We Cover:What a partnership actually means in the Japanese marketDistribution partners vs strategic alliancesWhy hunger and ambition matter more than brand sizeThe 70/30 discovery framework for qualifying partnersHow to forecast revenue impact to align incentivesManaging harmony culture while still driving urgencyWhy early wins create long-term momentumWhen to double down or exit a partnershipWhy getting direct customers first gives you leverageGuest Appearance:

Heavybit Podcast Network: Master Feed
Ep. #52, Serendipity as a Service with Piyush Agarwal

Heavybit Podcast Network: Master Feed

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2026 20:56


On episode 52 of Generationship, Rachel Chalmers sits down with Piyush Agarwal to explore how developer behavior reveals far more about buying intent than traditional sales signals. They discuss why most dev tool GTM strategies fail, how to distinguish curiosity from real demand, and what it takes to engage developers at exactly the right moment.

Generationship
Ep. #52, Serendipity as a Service with Piyush Agarwal

Generationship

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2026 20:56


On episode 52 of Generationship, Rachel Chalmers sits down with Piyush Agarwal to explore how developer behavior reveals far more about buying intent than traditional sales signals. They discuss why most dev tool GTM strategies fail, how to distinguish curiosity from real demand, and what it takes to engage developers at exactly the right moment.

Becker Group C-Suite Reports Business of Private Equity
Building AI First Growth Strategies with Brett Jansen of brettjansen.ai 2-17-26

Becker Group C-Suite Reports Business of Private Equity

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2026 24:50


In this episode, Brett Jansen, GTM and AI Advisor at brettjansen.ai, shares how leaders can move beyond treating AI as a bolt on tool and instead embed it as core infrastructure across sales, marketing, and operations. Link to upcoming March Cohort Link to 1:1 AI coaching for executives

Becker Group Business Strategy 15 Minute Podcast
Building AI First Growth Strategies with Brett Jansen of brettjansen.ai 2-17-26

Becker Group Business Strategy 15 Minute Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2026 24:50


In this episode, Brett Jansen, GTM and AI Advisor at brettjansen.ai, shares how leaders can move beyond treating AI as a bolt on tool and instead embed it as core infrastructure across sales, marketing, and operations. Link to upcoming March Cohort Link to 1:1 AI coaching for executives

SaaS Sessions
S10E2 - From Harvard Law to SaaS CEO: Decoding the "Paperless" Future ft Shashank Bijapur, Spotdraft

SaaS Sessions

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2026 31:00


Shashank Bijapur, co-founder and CEO of Spotdraft, explores the transition from the archaic, manual world of legal practice to the high-velocity domain of B2B SaaS. In this episode, we strip away the jargon surrounding "LegalTech" to reveal how Spotdraft powers the invisible infrastructure of global commerce - from airport leases to ride-sharing agreements. Shashank provides a masterclass on finding product-market fit in the mid-market, the reality of AI's role in high-stakes legal workflows, and the strategic pivot from technical perfection to market-driven iteration.Key Takeaways1. The "Aha Moment": Identifying Stagnation in Essential Industries- Digital Lag: While photography (Adobe) and accounting (Intuit) underwent digital revolutions decades ago, legal innovation peaked in 1993 with Microsoft Word's "Track Changes."- The Opportunity Gap: Identifying ubiquitous, paper-heavy processes that remain manual despite technological advancements is the strongest signal for a SaaS disruption.- Democratic Software: The goal isn't just to replace a lawyer; it's to turn complex legal processes into software that is as accessible and intuitive as a consumer app.2. GTM Strategy: The Power of Mid-Market Focus- Avoid the "Gambler's Fallacy": Shashank emphasizes the importance of trashing unusable early products rather than doubling down on a failing idea.- Homogeneity Matters: The US is the primary target for Indian SaaS due to its massive, homogeneous market, which allows for a repeatable ecosystem and faster flywheels.- The Mid-Market Sweet Spot: Avoiding the high-churn "small business" trap and the "unobtainable enterprise" early on leads to a focused GTM where legal teams (the true buyer persona) have decision-making power.3. The Founder's Dilemma: Accuracy vs. Speed- Legal Training vs. Startup Reality: Lawyers are trained for 100% accuracy; founders must embrace "fail fast." Overcoming the urge to pursue a "perfect product" is essential to gathering user feedback.- Technical Maturity: In 2017, the promise of AI exceeded the technology's capability. Spotdraft pivoted to building robust workflows first, capturing the data needed to make today's LLM integrations effective.- The Talent Moat: When a founder lacks specific functional knowledge (like GTM or engineering), the solution is "talent density"—hiring highly motivated experts who believe in the mission.4. The Future of AI in High-Stakes Legal- The End of "Form Filling": UI is shifting from manual data entry to conversational interfaces where users describe an outcome, and the AI configures the workflow.- Context is King: General LLMs lack company-specific context. AI's value in SaaS comes from mapping global laws against a company's specific historical data and standards.- Humans in the Loop: AI will handle "grunt work" and pattern recognition, but $1M+ deals will still require a human handshake and strategic negotiation for at least the next decade.About Spotdraft:Spotdraft is an AI-driven, end-to-end contract automation platform designed to clear the "madness from quote to cash." It helps businesses of all sizes—from startups to giants like Uber and Airbnb—create, manage, and analyze contracts seamlessly.Chapters:00:10 - Introduction00:50 - Journey from Lawyer to SaaS CEO03:34 - The "Aha Moment" for LegalTech07:09 - Spotdraft's Hidden Role in Everyday Life11:34 - GTM Strategy: Building from India for the US18:24 - Balancing Legal Risk with Founder Speed22:56 - How LLMs are Changing Legal Workflows30:22 - Lightning Round: Lessons Learned & AI ToolsVisit our website - https://saassessions.com/Connect with me on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunilneurgaonkar/

Ops Cast
Cold Email, Spam, and the Trust Gap: What B2B Can Learn from B2C with Jacqueline Freedman

Ops Cast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2026 57:12 Transcription Available


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

Faces of Digital Health
What GTM Strategy Should Digital Health Startups Have in 2026? (Ruchi Dass)

Faces of Digital Health

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2026 51:51


Digital health is no longer in its honeymoon phase. The funding boom is over. AI hype is everywhere. Health systems are overwhelmed. And startups can no longer survive on compelling pitch decks alone. In this episode of Faces of Digital Health, Tjaša Zajc speaks with Ruchi Dass, a former dental surgeon turned public health leader, policy contributor, investor, and advisor to startups scaling across the US, UK, India, Africa, and the Middle East. Ruchi describes a fundamental change in go-to-market (GTM) strategy: Workflow integration is non-negotiable (standalone apps struggle). Reimbursement clarity is critical. Regulatory strategy is part of GTM, not an afterthought. Time stamps: 00:06 – Introduction: startups, global markets, and unconventional careers 01:18 – From dental surgery to global public health and digital health 03:05 – The GTM shift: from promise to proof 04:49 – Staying investable: the four pillars 08:22 – AI ROI: clinical vs operational value 12:17 – Enterprise scaling and “sell to the mindset” 15:05 – Responsible AI: transparency, bias, and lifecycle regulation 19:56 – Predictability vs black-box AI in medicine 22:44 – Global innovation differences: Europe, India, Middle East, Africa 26:21 – Pilotitis: why pilots fail to scale 28:40 – Designing pilots for commercialization 30:26 – Capital flows, geopolitics, and reverse innovation 34:25 – The $1 teleconsultation model in India 37:56 – Digital health and equity: design vs digitization 42:43 – How regulators can keep up with AI 46:03 – Advice for Gen Z and Gen Alpha in digital health 48:50 – Grassroots realities shaping policy Watch the full discussion: https://youtu.be/bmvPzz3Ffp4 www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/

The aSaaSins Podcast
AI Didn't Kill Premium Media. It Made It More Valuable. Elizabeth Herbst-Brady, CRO of Condé Nast

The aSaaSins Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2026 23:30


In this episode of the Thread Podcast, Justin Vandehey sits down with Elizabeth Herbst-Brady, Chief Revenue Officer of Condé Nast, to explore how one of the world's most iconic media companies is navigating transformation in the age of AI.Elizabeth shares lessons from her career spanning media, advertising, and technology, including leadership roles at Yahoo, Snap, and Viacom, and explains why trusted brands, human creativity, and editorial authority are becoming more valuable, not less, as AI accelerates content creation.The conversation covers how Condé Nast is using AI responsibly to enhance, not replace premium content, how revenue teams are being unified across advertising, commerce, subscriptions, and live events, and what it takes to lead teams through constant transformation with curiosity, accountability, and gratitude.This episode is a masterclass in modern GTM leadership at the intersection of creativity, technology, and trust.Chapters 00:00 – Welcome & Elizabeth's Career Journey From media and entertainment to technology and back to Condé Nast.04:40 – Why Condé Nast, Why Now The opportunity to lead revenue at an iconic, trust-driven brand.07:30 – AI and the Future of Premium Content Why AI can't replace human creativity, taste, and editorial authority.11:45 – Creation vs. Curation in an AI World How Condé Nast separates content creation from AI-powered enhancement.15:30 – Using AI to Improve Consumer Experience Real examples from Bon Appétit and The New Yorker.19:30 – Why LLMs Reward Credibility Over Volume How AI changes the economics of SEO, expertise, and originality.23:40 – Unifying Revenue Across Silos Bringing advertising, commerce, subscriptions, and events into one revenue org.27:50 – Leading Through Transformation Elizabeth's leadership framework: curiosity, accountability, and gratitude.32:30 – What's Next for Condé Nast & Premium Media Why trusted brands will accelerate over the next 12–24 months.Key Highlights & TakeawaysAI should enhance content, not replace human voice or judgment.Trust, credibility, and editorial authority are premium assets in an AI era.LLMs reward expertise and originality, not volume or SEO tricks.Revenue transformation requires visibility, shared data, and cohesion across teams.The best leaders embrace constant change with curiosity and accountability.Premium media's value proposition strengthens as information becomes noisier.

Web and Mobile App Development (Language Agnostic, and Based on Real-life experience!)
Enterprise AI Adoption Is Here—but the Real Divide Is How Teams Use It (feat. Sreedhar Peddineni)

Web and Mobile App Development (Language Agnostic, and Based on Real-life experience!)

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2026 46:09


Sreedhar brings deep experience building and scaling B2B technology companies and offers a grounded, operator's perspective on enterprise AI adoption. The discussion explores where AI is truly creating leverage inside organizations, why access to AI tools is no longer a competitive advantage, and how leaders, engineers, and GTM teams must rethink workflows, skills, and execution to stay ahead.

Let's Talk Loyalty
Scaling Loyalty with TenX (#745)

Let's Talk Loyalty

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2026 42:47


This episode is available in audio format on the Let's Talk Loyalty podcast and in video format on www.Loyalty.TV.In this episode we are delighted to interview Ben Stirling, an experienced commercial executive with a track record of scaling loyalty platforms, transforming sales organisation and delivering GTM strategies that drive acquisition and ARR growth. He has led commercial transformation at Expedia, Tenerity and Capillary, launched new solutions, expanded into international markets and delivered results across multiple sectors.He is currently a fractional CRO at TenX Strategy and supports PE-backed and enterprise firms in building predictable revenue systems and exit-ready growth. His impact includes scaling Tenerity's loyalty marketplace solution to acquisition in two years, providing loyalty solution to Santander, C&A, British Gas, TD Bank and Frontier, and growing commercial channels at Expedia that delivered $200M+ in new revenue.In this episode, Ben shares his proven insights on how to sell loyalty internally, from aligning feature sets to user needs, to securing C-suite backing with ROI models, and ultimately winning board-level buy-in by linking loyalty to long-term enterprise value. We'll also be learning about his favourite books and highlights and key learnings from the programmes he has worked on.Hosted by Charlie HillsShow Notes :1) Ben Stirling,2) TenX Strategy3) TenX Strategy - Budget Sign Off PDF4) Hooked- Book Recommendation5) The Road Less Stupid - Book Recommendation

Instant X-Pertise: Marketing
EP 115: Why 95% of AI Pilots Fail, and how AI Fluency fixes it.

Instant X-Pertise: Marketing

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2026 13:26


95% of #AI pilots fail to scale. Not because AI doesn't work, but because dabbling doesn't scale.In this episode of Instant Expertise: Marketing, Yvette Brown and Shari Nomady reveal:The 3 biggest killers of AI pilots (stress testing, weak business cases, and lack of fluency)How to anchor AI in GTM deliverables with a role planWhy a simple Pilot Charter changes the game for scalingWhat high-performing teams are doing differently

Sales IQ Podcast
Stop Leaving Money on the Table: Land & Expand in B2B | Ep 321

Sales IQ Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2026 13:08


Winning new customers is exciting.But real revenue growth often comes from expanding the accounts you already have.In this episode of Revenue Leaders, we break down how to stop leaving money on the table by using a land and expand strategy to grow revenue from existing customers.You'll learn:How to think about account expansionWhy retention and expansion outperform constant prospectingHow to build a simple account planWhat revenue leaders get wrong about growthIf you work in B2B sales, SaaS, account management, or revenue leadership, this episode is for you.⭐ Unlock free resources (templates, frameworks & prompts):https://coachpilot.beehiiv.com/Join the community & access 157+ templates, frameworks and mega AI prompts used by top revenue teams.Watch Full Episode on YouTube:⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@revenueleaders⁠⁠⁠Follow us:⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/davidfastuca/⁠⁠

B2B Better
Building a Community-Led Media Model in B2B | David Rowlands, Head of Product at B2B Marketing & Propolis

B2B Better

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2026 38:37


Level up your B2B marketing and build a brand that actually stands out: subscribe to the Pipe Dream podcast from B2B Better for narrative-driven B2B marketing strategy, media-led content ideas, and practical GTM frameworks from host Jason Bradwell. If "thinking like a media company" feels like empty advice, this episode shows you exactly what it means in practice. In this episode of Pipe Dream, host Jason Bradwell sits down with David Rowlands, Head of Product at B2B Marketing and Propolis, to unpack how a traditional magazine and events business transformed into a community-led subscription media model during the pandemic. David's core point is clear: in a world flooded with AI-generated content and collapsing trust, B2B marketers need to move beyond helpful content and start creating valuable, memorable work. The kind buyers remember weeks later because it's built on proprietary data, real CMO conversations, and peer learning you can't get anywhere else. When COVID-19 hit, B2B Marketing's events business went on indefinite hold overnight. At the same time, digital publishing barriers disappeared and trust collapsed. Anyone could write a blog or publish a report, creating massive noise. B2B marketers needed a place to get clear answers and learn from peers without sorting through the chaos. That's how Propolis was born. B2B Marketing formalised their Leaders Program into a subscription model around expert advisory, private community, and proprietary benchmarking. Instead of competing on helpful content anyone could replicate, they built something AI fundamentally can't: genuine community combined with anonymized member data that powers insights like the Propolis Community Index. David explains why this matters beyond B2B Marketing. The brands winning attention aren't publishing more content, they're creating distinctive IP that connects community, insights, training, and events into one ecosystem. And heading into 2026, measurement and attribution remain the core challenge, not because the tools don't exist, but because proving marketing's commercial impact still feels like an uphill battle. The conversation also covers what AI means for B2B marketing teams right now. While 91% of marketers are experimenting with AI, the real challenge isn't adoption, it's knowing where AI helps versus where it creates problems. The marketers struggling most are stuck in lead generation mode, unable to have strategic conversations about marketing's actual impact on revenue. If you want a blueprint for building a media-first B2B strategy without the "more content" trap, this is it. Chapter Markers 00:00 - Introduction: David Rowlands and the transformation of B2B Marketing  02:00 - From editorial assistant to Head of Product during COVID  03:00 - The pivot moment: Events disappear and trust collapses  05:00 - How Propolis was born from the Leaders Program  07:00 - What "thinking like a media company" actually means  11:00 - Building the Propolis Community Index with anonymized member data  16:00 - Helpful versus valuable content: Creating memorable work  21:00 - Why proprietary data and community can't be replicated by AI  26:00 - The AI content flood and how to differentiate 30:00 - Measurement and attribution challenges heading into 2026  33:00 - Skills marketers need: Communication and financial acumen  36:00 - Why junior marketers need these skills more than anyone  38:00 - Where to learn more about Propolis and B2B Marketing Useful Links Connect with Jason Bradwell on LinkedIn Connect with David Rowlands on LinkedIn Explore Propolis and the Propolis Community Index Visit B2B Marketing Listen to The B2B Marketing Podcast Explore B2B Better website and the Pipe Dream podcast

Category Visionaries
How AskElephant achieved 400% growth with zero marketing spend | Woody Klemetson

Category Visionaries

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2026 27:10


Woody Klemetson scaled sales from 100 people at Divi to 350 at Bill.com post-acquisition, then walked away to build something harder: infrastructure for hybrid AI-human revenue teams. At AskElephant, he's tackling the problem that every revenue leader faces but few can articulate—how to actually implement AI in revenue operations when your systems weren't built for it. With zero marketing spend, AskElephant hit 400% growth through pure referral motion and converts 85% of pilots to production (versus single digits industry-wide). Woody breaks down why most "AI-ready" companies aren't, how to structure pilots that actually ship, and what it takes to hire sellers who orchestrate agents instead of relying on armies of support staff. Topics Discussed: Post-acquisition culture collision: the cost of moving too fast versus too slow Why "AI readiness" is usually one person at a company, not the organization  The 27-agent CRM system that delivers 5% forecast accuracy without human input  Revenue outcome systems as category evolution: solving for predictability across disconnected tools  Pilot-first GTM that converts at 85% by starting with one-minute-per-day wins  Partner-led distribution through consultants evolving from slideware to implementation  Hiring ops-minded sellers who code: over half of non-engineers using Cursor daily  The PLG expansion coming in 2025 and why traditional demand gen is getting tested alongside door-to-door GTM Lessons For B2B Founders: Culture integration requires explicit deceleration early: Woody's team assumed Bill.com wanted their aggressive startup velocity immediately post-acquisition. They didn't slow down to map cultural differences, causing "whiplash" across 350 people. The specific mistake: not creating space to understand Bill's processes before challenging them. Even when acquired for your approach, the first 90 days should be listening and mapping, not executing. Only after understanding their system can you effectively challenge and merge cultures. This applies whether you're acquiring or being acquired—the cultural work is non-negotiable and front-loaded. Diagnose AI readiness by system documentation, not enthusiasm: Most companies think they're AI-ready because leadership wants AI. Reality check: if your teams haven't documented their systems and processes, AI has nothing to learn from. AskElephant starts some customers with basic dictation—not because it's revolutionary, but because it's the prerequisite to anything meaningful. The diagnostic question: "Walk us through your current customer journey." If the answer is "we have sales stages," you're not ready for automation. You need documented systems before AI can execute them. Start by having AI observe and document before it acts. Build agents incrementally to compound context: AskElephant runs 27 different CRM agents that collectively deliver 5% forecast accuracy. This wasn't built in one sprint—it took 40 hours of training and context-building. Each agent handles a specific job: contact creation, data enrichment, ICP scoring, churn monitoring, stage updates. The misconception founders have: AI should work perfectly from the first prompt. The reality: you build agents brick by brick, each one learning from the previous context layer. This is why their forecasting works—because 27 agents watching different signals together create accuracy that one "smart" agent can't. Pilot conversion at scale requires deliberately small scope: Single-digit pilot-to-production rates happen because teams scope too big. AskElephant's 85% conversion comes from "dream big, implement small." First pilot: automated CRM notes. Then: notes humans wish they'd written. Then: automated field updates. Each step saves minutes, builds trust, proves value. Woody's framework: if you're not saving one minute per person per day in your first pilot, you've scoped wrong. The goal isn't to wow with ambition—it's to ship something that works perfectly, then expand from proven trust. Their customers average 27 hours saved per week per person, but none started there. Revenue outcome systems emerge from tool sprawl failure: Every revenue leader uses 15-20 disconnected tools trying to make revenue predictable. The category insight isn't "operating systems"—it's that companies care about outcomes, not operations. AskElephant's positioning: we focus on the outcome (predictable revenue), not just the operating infrastructure. This distinction matters because it shifts the conversation from technical plumbing to business results. When creating categories, find the frame that makes the buyer's problem visceral and your solution inevitable, even if you're solving similar problems as others in the space. Partner-led GTM turns consultants into distribution: AskElephant's entire growth came through partners: Salesforce/HubSpot consultants becoming AI strategists, sales coaches extending from training to implementation. The unlock: these partners needed a way to deliver lasting value beyond slideware. Previously, a coach would train your team and leave. Now they implement AI systems that hold teams accountable to the training, creating longer engagements and better outcomes. For founders: identify services providers whose business model gets dramatically better by incorporating your product. They become your sales force because you make them more valuable to their clients. Hire for orchestration capability, not pure sales skill: Over half of AskElephant's non-engineering team uses Cursor daily. Woody hires "ops-minded" and "tech-minded" sellers who can manage AI agents alongside human work. The old model: silver-tongued seller + solutions engineer + 27 support people. The new model: one seller orchestrating 27 AI agents. These reps don't build lists, don't create SOWs, don't write product scopes, don't need SEs for demos. But they still need human connection skills—listening, curiosity, presence. The hiring filter: can this person think in systems and implement technical solutions while maintaining high-touch relationships? If they can't code enough to orchestrate agents, they can't scale in this environment. // 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

Hunters and Unicorns
The AI Reality Check: Why Most Startups Won't Survive the Hype with Paul Klein

Hunters and Unicorns

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2026 40:38


Today we tackle the noise surrounding the AI movement with Paul Klein, CEO and Founder of Browserbase. With a career spanning early-stage Twilio to raising $70 million in under two years for his own infrastructure startup, Paul brings much-needed critical thinking to the "AI bubble" debate. We explore the bridge between old-world sales principles and modern, developer-first GTM strategies. Paul breaks down why Product-Led Growth (PLG) should be viewed as a pipeline engine rather than just a revenue machine and explains the power of the "Logo Flywheel" in creating executive FOMO.

The Look Back with Host Keith Newman
Scaling With Intelligence, Not Headcount: The Autonomous Business Era with Amos Bar-Joseph

The Look Back with Host Keith Newman

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2026 25:33


In this episode of Liftoff, Keith sits down with Amos Bar-Joseph, Co-Founder and CEO of Swan AI, to explore a radical shift in how modern companies scale.Amos shares why the traditional belief that growth equals headcount is breaking down—and how AI is enabling a new model: the autonomous business. At Swan, scale is no longer about adding people—it's about increasing ARR per employee by embedding intelligence directly into workflows.They unpack:Why the old “cog culture” model is collapsing What collaborative autonomy really meansHow Swan's AI GTM Engineer turns ideas into live go-to-market workflowsWhy execution—not creativity—is what AI should automateAnd why go-to-market innovation is now more important than product innovationThis is a must-listen for founders, operators, and GTM leaders navigating the AI-native era.Connect with Amos Bar-Joseph: Website: https://getswan.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amos-bar-joseph/ Subscribe for more founder insights and hit the bell for notifications! Follow us on our channels for exclusive startup content and behind-the-scenes insights from interviews like this one. - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3cFpLXfYvcUsxvsT9MwyAD?si=f5a14e779777487dApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/liftoff-with-keith-newman/id1560219589Substack: https://keithnewman.substack.com/Newman Media Studios: https://newmanmediastudios.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/liftoffwithkeithTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@keithnewman74 For sponsorship inquiries, please contact: sponsorships@wherewithstudio.com#AutonomousBusiness #AIinBusiness #CollaborativeAutonomy #FutureOfWork #GTMInnovation #SaaSFounders #StartupScaling #AIWorkflows #AgenticAI

Scale Your Sales Podcast
#304 Orrin Thomas - Why Introverts Outshine Extroverts in Modern Sales

Scale Your Sales Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2026 33:08


In this weeks' Scale Your Sales Podcast episode, my guest is Orrin Thomas.   His career has spanned three separate pillars starting out as a political researched after graduating from university, He then worked in higher education and the EdTech space mainly being a recruiter for universities where he was responsible for attracting students to study in the UK, and most recently having had senior sales positions at Gartner for sales leaders helping countless companies make successful changes in their GTM models.   In today's episode of Scale Your Sales podcast, he shares why critical questioning, active listening, and process-driven discipline have become essential capabilities for today's top sales performers. He explores the shift toward introverted, insight-led sellers, the strong link between listening and deal success, and why diagnostic, candidate-led interviews are replacing traditional competency-based hiring. Orrin also offers practical guidance on mapping the customer buying journey, strengthening onboarding, and hiring for curiosity and continuous learning in an AI-driven sales environment.   Welcome to Scale Your Sales Podcast, Orrin Thomas.     Timestamps: 05:57 Listening Beats Talking in Sales 09:21 Rethinking Sales Interviews Strategy 12:40 Prioritizing Candidate Fit 14:15 Data-Driven Hiring Insights 18:36 Introverts Excel in Sales Success 21:51 Ineffective Hiring Methods Analysis 25:29 Sales Training and Sustainability Crisis 28:12 Tools, Learning, and Innovation 32:28 Scale Your Sales Insights   https://www.linkedin.com/in/orrin-thomas/     Janice B Gordon is the award-winning Customer Growth Expert and Scale Your Sales Framework founder. She is by LinkedIn Sales 15 Innovating Sales Influencers to Follow 2021, the Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Customer Experience Nov 2020 and 150 Women B2B Thought Leaders You Should Follow in 2021. Janice helps companies worldwide to reimagine revenue growth thought customer experience and sales.   Book Janice to speak virtually at your next event: https://janicebgordon.com   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/janice-b-gordon/   Twitter: https://twitter.com/JaniceBGordon   Scale Your Sales Podcast: https://scaleyoursales.co.uk/podcast   More on the blog: https://scaleyoursales.co.uk/blog   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janicebgordon   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ScaleYourSales   And more! Visit our podcast website https://scaleyoursales.co.uk/podcast/ to watch or listen.

Category Visionaries
How Collate turned 12,000 open source users into an inbound sales engine | Suresh Srinivas

Category Visionaries

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2026 24:43


Collate is building a semantic intelligence platform that unifies fragmented metadata tooling across the modern data stack. With 12,000+ community members, 3,000+ open source deployments, and 400+ code contributors, the company has proven that open source can be a systematic GTM engine, not just a distribution tactic. In this episode of BUILDERS, I sat down with Suresh Srinivas, Co-Founder & CEO of Collate, to explore his journey from the Hadoop core team at Yahoo, through founding Hortonworks, to architecting data systems processing 4 trillion events daily at Uber—and why that experience led him to rebuild metadata infrastructure from scratch. Topics Discussed: Why platform builders at Yahoo and Hortonworks struggled to drive business value despite powerful technology The metadata fragmentation problem: how siloed tools lack unified vocabularies and end-to-end context Collate's contrarian decision to build Open Metadata from zero rather than spinning out Uber's internal tooling Engineering an open core GTM model that generates nearly 100% inbound sales from technical practitioners Scaling community contribution: moving from feedback loops to 400+ code contributors Hiring a CMO to translate technical value into business-leader messaging without losing practitioner trust The convergence thesis: structured data, knowledge graphs, and semantic layers as the foundation for reliable AI GTM Lessons For B2B Founders: Architect your open source for GTM leverage, not just distribution: Suresh built Open Metadata as a unified platform consolidating data discovery, observability, and governance—previously fragmented across multiple tools. This architectural decision created natural upgrade paths to Collate's managed offering. The lesson: open source architecture should solve a complete job-to-be-done that reveals commercial value through usage, not just demonstrate technical capability. 100+ daily practitioner conversations beats any user research: Collate maintains ongoing dialogue with their community across Snowflake, Databricks, and other integrations. Suresh called this "a product manager's dream"—immediate feedback on what breaks, what's missing, and what workflow improvements matter. For infrastructure startups, this beat rate of validated learning is nearly impossible to replicate through traditional customer development. High-velocity releases build credibility faster than pedigree: Starting from scratch without Yahoo or Uber's brand meant proving commitment through shipping cadence. Collate's strategy: demonstrate you'll be around and responsive before asking for production deployments. This matters more in open source than closed-source where sales cycles force commitment conversations earlier. Separate technical-buyer and business-buyer GTM motions explicitly: Collate's founding team spoke fluently to data engineers and architects who lived the metadata problem daily. Their CMO hire (after establishing product-market fit) brought expertise in articulating business impact—ROI on data initiatives, compliance risk reduction, AI readiness—without the founders faking business-speak. The timing matters: hire for the motion you're entering, not the one you're in. Play the long game with builder-culture companies: At Uber, internal tools were 2-3 years ahead of vendor solutions but became technical debt as teams moved to new problems. Suresh's advice: "Keep in touch with these larger companies. Your technology will improve and you will have better conversation with larger technical companies." The wedge is timing—catch them when maintenance burden outweighs building pride, typically 24-36 months post-launch. Design for all company scales from day one: Unlike Uber's internal metadata platform built for massive scale with corresponding complexity, Open Metadata works for small teams through enterprises. This wasn't just good design—it was GTM expansion strategy. Building only for scale locks you into enterprise-only sales. Building only for simplicity caps your ACV. The middle path requires architectural discipline upfront. // 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

Go To Market Grit
The Truth Behind Automation Claims in Customer Support | Cresta CEO Ping Wu

Go To Market Grit

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2026 43:24


Can you scale customer support without burning out agents or frustrating customers?Ping Wu shares how Cresta combines AI and human intelligence into a single system that scales sustainably for companies like United Airlines and Porsche.In this episode, Ping also breaks down the three constraints that shape automation in the real world: conversation complexity, infrastructure debt, and customer demographics.Guest: Ping Wu, CEO of CrestaConnect with Ping WuX: https://x.com/ping_wuLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pingwu/Connect with JoubinX: https://x.com/JoubinmirLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joubin-mirzadegan-66186854/Email: grit@kleinerperkins.comFollow on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/kpgritFollow on X:https://x.com/KPGrit​Learn more about Kleiner Perkins: https://www.kleinerperkins.com/ 

The VentureFizz Podcast
Episode 414: Lou Shipley - CEO, Board Director, Lecturer, Investor, and Author

The VentureFizz Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2026 52:34


Episode 414 of The VentureFizz Podcast features Lou Shipley, CEO, board director, lecturer, investor, and now author. Every company has an entrepreneur behind it. It sounds obvious, but we often fall into the trap of thinking those founders are all 20-somethings building tech startups. The data says otherwise. Research from MIT Sloan found that the average age of a successful, high-growth founder is actually 45 years old. For most, it takes decades of “real-world” reps to build the grit and experience necessary to take that leap of faith. That's why Unlikely Entrepreneurs, the new book that Lou co-authored with Patricia Favreau is such an essential read. It includes local entrepreneurs like Bill Warner of Avid or the founders of Spoiler Alert, alongside truly unexpected success stories, ranging from a sustainable sausage brand and an online casket company to Katie Couric Media. In this episode, we cover: * What led Lou and Patricia down the path of writing Unlikely Entrepreneurs. * Lou's background story and what athletics taught him about being a CEO. * How a cold call to Bill Warner, the founder of Avid, changed his career trajectory. * His journey through various leadership roles at startups like WebLine, Reflectent, and Turbonomic. * How he helped build Black Duck Software into a market leader by repositioning the product and the company's culture. * The importance of teaching sales and his advice around building out your GTM function. * Why relationships are the ultimate form of currency for your success. * And so much more! Purchase Unlikely Entrepreneurs on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Unlikely-Entrepreneurs-Lou-Shipley/dp/1394345895/ref=sr_1_1 Podcast Sponsor: This podcast is brought to you by one of the strongest longtime supporters of the local startup ecosystem, Silicon Valley Bank, a division of First Citizens Bank. With more than 1,500 bankers and relationship advisors and $44B in loans as of Q4 2025 – SVB delivers expert guidance, specialized products and a team that knows the innovation economy inside and out. Learn more at SVB.com.

State of Demand Gen
Why Sales + Marketing Credit Wars Are a Scorecard Problem (Not a People Problem) — with Matt Green

State of Demand Gen

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2026 46:56