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Gene Marks describes a mixed economic picture, noting that a national "slowdown" isn't universally felt, with many small businesses thriving. He highlights challenges like rising healthcare costs, spurring interest in self-insurance and health reimbursement arrangements. Marks discusses AI's impact on the workforce, specifically reducing sales and tech roles in large companies like Salesforce, but predicts a surge in demand for skilled trades not easily replaced by AI. 1920 ROOSEVELT AND COX
CONTINUED Gene Marks describes a mixed economic picture, noting that a national "slowdown" isn't universally felt, with many small businesses thriving. He highlights challenges like rising healthcare costs, spurring interest in self-insurance and health reimbursement arrangements. Marks discusses AI's impact on the workforce, specifically reducing sales and tech roles in large companies like Salesforce, but predicts a surge in demand for skilled trades not easily replaced by AI. 1918
CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW SCHEDULE 9-12-25 GOOD EVENING. THE SHOW BEGINS IN GAZA WITH THE GOAL OF DEHAMASIFICATION.. FIRST HOUR 9-915 John Bolton criticizes the "two-state solution" as a dead idea post-October 7th, proposing a "three-state solution" where Gaza returns to Egypt or is divided, and the West Bank is managed by Israel and Jordan. He emphasizes "De-Hamasification" as crucial and humanitarian, arguing that Arab nations, particularly Egypt, resist taking Gazan refugees due to fears of importing Hamas/Muslim Brotherhood influence. Bolton believes this is necessary for a stable future in the region. 915-930 Lorenzo Fiori shares a traditional Milanese recipe for "rice with saffron" (risotto alla Milanese), often served at La Scalagala dinners, describing it as delicious and creamy with parmesan cheese. He recommends pairing it with Italian wines like Barolo or Barbaresco from Piedmont. Fiori also discusses Italy's economic concerns regarding political instability in France and Germany, and the ongoing international interest in NATO events. 930-945 Gene Marks describes a mixed economic picture, noting that a national "slowdown" isn't universally felt, with many small businesses thriving. He highlights challenges like rising healthcare costs, spurring interest in self-insurance and health reimbursement arrangements. Marks discusses AI's impact on the workforce, specifically reducing sales and tech roles in large companies like Salesforce, but predicts a surge in demand for skilled trades not easily replaced by AI. 945-1000 CONTINUED Gene Marks describes a mixed economic picture, noting that a national "slowdown" isn't universally felt, with many small businesses thriving. He highlights challenges like rising healthcare costs, spurring interest in self-insurance and health reimbursement arrangements. Marks discusses AI's impact on the workforce, specifically reducing sales and tech roles in large companies like Salesforce, but predicts a surge in demand for skilled trades not easily replaced by AI. SECOND HOUR 10-1015 Jim McTague reports from Lancaster County, PA, challenging the narrative of an economic slowdown. He shares examples of busy local businesses like "Phil the painter" who has never been busier. McTague observes a trend of housing price cuts, but notes vibrant local tourism and events. He highlights the significant economic boost from two new data centers, creating 600-1000 construction jobs and 150 permanent positions, bringing the county into the 21st century. 1015-1030 Max Meizlish, a senior research analyst, highlights how Chinese money laundering networks are fueling America's fentanyl epidemic by cleaning drug proceeds for Mexican cartels. These networks also enable wealthy Chinese nationals to bypass capital control 1030-1045 Richard Epstein discusses federal district court judges defying presidential orders, attributing it to a breakdown of trust and the president's "robust view of executive power" that disregards established procedures and precedents. He explains that judges may engage in "passive resistance" or "cheating in self-defense" when they perceive the president acting for political reasons or abusing power, such as in budget cuts or dismissals. Epstein also links this distrust to gerrymandering and increasing political polarization1045-1100 Richard Epstein discusses federal district court judges defying presidential orders, attributing it to a breakdown of trust and the president's "robust view of executive power" that disregards established procedures and precedents. He explains that judges may engage in "passive resistance" or "cheating in self-defense" when they perceive the president acting for political reasons or abusing power, such as in budget cuts or dismissals. Epstein also links this distrust to gerrymandering and increasing political polarization. THIRD HOUR 1100-1115 Henry Sokolski addresses the critical challenge of the US power grid meeting AI data center demands, which are projected to require gigawatt-scale facilities and vastly increased electricity by 2030. He questions who bears the risk and cost of this buildout, advocating for AI companies to fund their own power generation. Sokolski also discusses the debate around nuclear power as a solution and Iran's suspect nuclear weapons program, highlighting the complexities of snapback sanctions and accounting for uranium. 1115-1130 CONTINUED Henry Sokolski addresses the critical challenge of the US power grid meeting AI data center demands, which are projected to require gigawatt-scale facilities and vastly increased electricity by 2030. He questions who bears the risk and cost of this buildout, advocating for AI companies to fund their own power generation. Sokolski also discusses the debate around nuclear power as a solution and Iran's suspect nuclear weapons program, highlighting the complexities of snapback sanctions and accounting for uranium.1130-1145 Professor John Cochrane of the Hoover Institution attributes current inflation to the fiscal theory of the price level. He explains that massive government spending, such as the $5 trillion borrowed during COVID-19 with $3 trillion printed by the Fed, combined with no credible plan for repayment, directly causes inflation. Cochrane differentiates this from monetarism, noting that quantitative easing (printing money and taking back bonds) did not lead to inflation. He emphasizes that the 2022 inflation spike was a loss of confidence in the government's ability to pay its debts. Successful disinflations, he argues, require a combination of monetary, fiscal, and microeconomic reforms. 1145-1200 Professor John Cochrane of the Hoover Institution attributes current inflation to the fiscal theory of the price level. He explains that massive government spending, such as the $5 trillion borrowed during COVID-19 with $3 trillion printed by the Fed, combined with no credible plan for repayment, directly causes inflation. Cochrane differentiates this from monetarism, noting that quantitative easing (printing money and taking back bonds) did not lead to inflation. He emphasizes that the 2022 inflation spike was a loss of confidence in the government's ability to pay its debts. Successful disinflations, he argues, require a combination of monetary, fiscal, and microeconomic reforms.FOURTH HOUR 12-1215 Conrad Black offers an insider's view of the Trump White House, describing a very positive, informal, and busy atmosphere. He notes the president's decisiveness, courtesy to subordinates, and long workdays, with constant activity in the Oval Office. Black contrasts this informal style with Roosevelt and Nixon, suggesting it's a "three-ring circus" that nonetheless works due to Trump's methods. He also touches on Canadian perceptions, acknowledging Trump's work ethic despite political differences.EV1215-1230 Brandon Weichert highlights the immense power demands of AI and AGI data centers, requiring gigawatts of electricity and facing significant regulatory hurdles. He discusses the potential weaponization of AI, noting human nature's tendency to weaponize new technologies. Weichert shares personal experiences with AI tools like Grok, Gemini, and Claude, including instances of AI "diversion" rather than hallucination. He emphasizes the need to master this technology, as the substantial investment ensures its permanence.1230-1245 Bob Zimmerman details SpaceX's expanding Starlink reach, including a $17 billion deal to acquire Echostar's FCCspectrum licenses, ensuring Echostar's survival by partnering rather than competing. He also reports on Starship Super Heavy's 10th test flight, where metal thermal tiles failed but significant lessons were learned, with plans for an 11th flight and version three development. NASA's Dragonfly mission to Titan is vastly over budget and behind schedule, risking failure. China's technological exports, including drones and EVs, pose surveillance risks due to government control.1245-100 AM CONTINUED Bob Zimmerman details SpaceX's expanding Starlink reach, including a $17 billion deal to acquire Echostar's FCCspectrum licenses, ensuring Echostar's survival by partnering rather than competing. He also reports on Starship Super Heavy's 10th test flight, where metal thermal tiles failed but significant lessons were learned, with plans for an 11th flight and version three development. NASA's Dragonfly mission to Titan is vastly over budget and behind schedule, risking failure. China's technological exports, including drones and EVs, pose surveillance risks due to government control.
What if your workplace was a place people actually wanted to be? In this episode, I'm joined by Matt Tenney, entrepreneur, speaker, and author of Inspire Greatness: How to Motivate Employees with a Simple, Repeatable, Scalable Process. Matt's TED Talk has been viewed over a million times, and he has helped leaders at organizations such as Salesforce, Marriott, and United Airlines build engaged, high-performing teams. We talk about: Why traditional performance reviews fail employees and leaders alike How to shift from being a boss to being a coach The secret to building accountability and engagement Why love should be a leader's top priority Practical steps to create workplaces people actually love
The Twenty Minute VC: Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch
Amit Bendov is Co-Founder & CEO of Gong, the leading AI-sales platform. The company has raised about over $600 million from some of the best in the world including Sequoia, Thrive, Salesforce and more. Gong has surpassed US$400 million in ARR, serves thousands of customers (including multiple Fortune 10s), and is valued at over $7BN. AGENDA: 00:00 – Why CRM Was Always a Lie and Gong's Secret Insight 04:30 – Will AI Kill Salesforce? Mark Benioff's Nightmare 08:15 – Why 99% of VCs Said No to Gong's Seed Round 12:00 – The Shocking Trial Close That Changed Everything 18:00 – Can AI Make Every Seller Perform Like LeBron? 20:30 – Will Sales Software Shift from Software Budget to Human Labor Budget? 25:00 – Why AI SDRs Are “Stupid” and Bound to Fail 35:00 – Gong's Darkest Hour: Shrinking, Churn, and Losing Muscle 41:30 – The Re-Acceleration Playbook: How Gong Got Back to Hypergrowth 54:00 – Would Amit Ever Sell Gong—or Take It Public?
Jess here. My guest this week is Jeff Selingo, an author and speaker I've admired for a long time. His work on college, college admissions and the transition to work and life in emerging adulthood are essential reads for anyone looking to understand what want and need in higher education and life. His books, There is Life After College, Who Gets In and Why: A Year Inside College Admissions and his forthcoming book, Dream School: Finding the College That's Right for You are all essential reads for teens and emerging adults as well as parents of teens and emerging adults. I adore all three, but I wanted to talk with Jeff about a few aspects of his writing: how he created a speaking career, finds his topics, and how on earth he gets people to talk about topics that tend to be shrouded in secrecy behind very high walls (such as college admissions). Check out Jeff's newsletter, Next, and Podcast, Future UKJ here, as you probably know, to tell you that if you're not listening to the Writing the Book episodes Jenny Nash and I have been doing, you should be. Jenny's working on her latest nonfiction, and I'm working on my next novel, and we're both trying to do something bigger and better than anything we've done before.We sit down weekly and dish about everything—from Jenny's proposal and the process of getting an agent to my extremely circular method of creating a story. We are brutally honest and open—even beyond what we are here. Truly, we probably say way too much. And for that reason, Writing the Book is subscriber-only.So I'm here saying: subscribe. That's a whole 'nother episode a week, and always a juicy one—plus all the other good subscriber stuff: the First Pages: BookLab, Jess's From Author to Authority series, and whatever else we come up with. (It varies enough that it's hard to list it all.) Plus, of course, access whenever we run The Blueprint—which, I don't know, might be soon.That's all I've got. So head to amwritingpodcast.com, get yourself signed up, and come listen to Writing the Book. Then talk to us. Tell us—tell us about your book writing and what's going on. We really want to hear from y'all.Thanks a lot. And Subscribe!Transcript below!EPISODE 465 - TRANSCRIPTKJ Dell'AntoniaHowdy, listeners—KJ here, as you probably know—to tell you that if you're not listening to the Writing the Book episodes Jennie Nash and I have been doing, you should be. Jennie is working on her latest nonfiction, and I'm working on my next novel, and we're both trying to do something bigger and better than anything we've done before. We sit down weekly and dish about everything from Jennie's proposal and the process of getting an agent to my extremely circular method of creating a story. We are brutally honest and open—even beyond what we are here. Truly, we probably say way too much, and for that reason, Writing the Books is subscriber-only. So I'm here saying: subscribe. That's a whole other episode a week, and always a juicy one—plus there's all the other good subscriber stuff: the First Page Booklab, Jess' From Author to Authority series, and whatever else we come up with, which kind of varies enough that it's hard to list out. Plus, of course, access to whenever we run the Blueprint, which—I don't know—it's going to be soon. That's all I got. So head to AmWritingpodcast.com, get yourself signed up and come listen to Writing the Book, and then talk to us. Tell us—tell us about your book writing and what's going on. We really want to—we want to hear from y'all. Thanks a lot, and please subscribe.Multiple SpeakersIs it recording? Now it's recording. Yay! Go ahead. This is the part where I stare blankly at the microphone. Try to remember what I'm supposed to be doing. All right, let's start over. Awkward pause. I'm going to rustle some papers. Okay. Now, one, two, three.Jess LaheyHey, it's Jess Lahey, and welcome to the Hashtag AmWriting Podcast. This is a podcast about writing all the things—short things, long things, poetry, proposals, queries, nonfiction, fiction—all the stuff. In the end, this is the podcast about getting the work done. And in the beginning of this podcast, our goal was to flatten the learning curve for other writers. So I am super excited about who I have today. Oh—quick intro. I'm Jess Lahey. I'm the author of The Gift of Failure and The Addiction Inoculation, and you can find my work at The New York Times, The Atlantic and The Washington Post, as you can find the work of my guest there too. So my guest today is someone that I have looked up to for a long time, and someone I use as sort of a—to bounce things off of and to think about how I do my work and how to do my work better. Jeff Selingo, thank you so much for coming to on the show. Jeff is the author of a couple of books that I'm a huge—In fact, I can look over at my bookshelf right now and see all of his books on getting into college, why college is not the end point. He has a new book coming out that we're going to be talking about—really; it's coming out real as soon as this podcast comes out. And I'm just—I'm a huge fan, Jeff. Thank you so, so much for coming on the pod.Jeff SelingoJust the same here—and I'm a huge fan of this podcast as well. It's on my regular rotation, so...Jess LaheyOh yay.Jeff SelingoI am thrilled, as always, to be here.Jess LaheyIt's—it's changed over the years, and now that we have four different, you know, co-hosts, there's sort of different takes on it. We've got, like, Sarina—the business side, and Jess—the nonfiction geek side, and KJ—the fiction side, and Jennie—the nuts-and-bolts editor side. So it's been really fun for us to sort of split off. But what I wanted to talk to you about today are a couple of different things. Your book Who Gets In and Why is—um , on the podcast, we talk about dissecting other people's work as a way... In fact, I was talking to my daughter about this yesterday. She's writing a thesis—what she hopes will be one chapter in a book. And I was saying, you know, one of the things you can do is go dissect other books you think are really well constructed—books that are reaching the same, similar audience. And your book, Who Gets In and Why, I think, is essential reading for anyone who's writing interview based, and specifically nonfiction around attempting to get their arms around a process. And a process that—for you—what I'm really interested about in this book is a process that's usually, you know, guarded and kind of secret. And no one wants to let you in for real on all the moving parts and how the decisions are made, because the college admissions process is—it's an inexact recipe. It depends on where you are, it depends on the school, but everyone wants the secret. Like, Jeff, just get me the secrets of how to get in. So how do you approach people who are, in a sense, some ways, secret-keepers and guardians of the secret sauce—to mix metaphors? How do you get those people to agree to be a part of a book—not just to be interviewed, but to actually put themselves out there and to put the sausage-making out there in a book, which can be a huge leap of faith for any organization or human being?Jeff SelingoYeah, and I think it's definitely harder now than it was when I did Who Gets In and Why. I think it's harder than when, you know, other people have been inside the process—whether it's, you know, Fast Food Nation, with the, you know, the fast food industry, which is a book that I looked up to when I was writing, Who Gets In and Why. I think it's—people just don't trust writers and journalists as much as they used to. So I think that's—a lot of this is really trust. First of all, you have to approach organizations that trust their own process. When people ask me, “Why these three schools?” You know, I approached 24 schools when I wrote, Who Gets In and Why, and three said yes. Twenty-one said no. And when I describe the people who said yes and why they said yes, they trusted their own process. And they also trusted me. But the first thing they did was trust their own process.. And so when I heard later on from people who had said no to me—and I would, you know, talk to them, you know, off the record about why they said no—there was always something about their process, their admissions process, that they didn't trust. They were getting a new, like, software system, or they had new employees that they didn't really quite know, or they were doing things—it's not that they were doing things wrong, but that, you know, it was at the time when the Supreme Court was making a decision about affirmative action, and they didn't quite know how that would play, and so they didn't quite trust it—and then how that, obviously, would be used by me. So the first thing you have to do is think about organizations that really believe in themselves, because they're going to be the ones that are going to talk about themselves externally. And then you just have to build trust between them and you. And that just takes—unfortunately, it takes time. And as a book author or a reporter, you don't always have that on your side.Jess LaheySo when—were some of these cold? Like of the 24, were all of these cold? Were some of these colder? Did you have an in with some of these?Jeff SelingoI had an in with most of them, because I had been covering—I mean, that's the other thing. You know, trust is built over time, and I had been covering higher ed for almost 25 years now. So it was just that they knew me, they knew of me, they knew of my work. I had other people vouch for me. So, you know, I had worked with other people in other admissions offices on other stories, and they knew people in some of these offices, so they would vouch for me. But at the end—so, you know, it ended up being Emory, Davidson and the University of Washington. It was really only Davidson where I knew somebody. Emory and University of Washington—I kind of knew people there that were the initial door opener. But beyond that, it was just spending time with them and helping them understand why I wanted to tell the story, how I thought the story would put play out, and getting them to just trust the process.Jess LaheyThere's also something to be said for people who have some enthusiasm for the greater story to be told—especially people who have an agenda, whether that's opening up admissions to the, quote, “whole student” as opposed to just their test scores, or someone who feels like they really have something to add to the story. Both of the people who I featured in The Addiction Inoculation and who insisted on having their real names used said, you know, there's just—there's a value for me in putting this story out there and finding worth in it, even though for these two people, there was some risk and there was embarrassment, and there's, you know, this shame around substance use disorder. But these two people said, you know, I just think there's a bigger story to be told, and I'm really proud to be a part of that bigger story. So there is a selling aspect also to, you know, how you position what it is you're doing.Jeff SelingoAnd there's—so there's a little bit of that, and that was certainly true here. The admissions deans at these places were longtime leaders who not only trusted their own process but understood that the industry was getting battered. You know, people were not trusting of admissions. They felt like it was a game to be played. And there was definitely a larger story that they wanted to tell there. Now truth be told—and they've told this in conferences that I've been at and on panels that I've moderated with them—there was also a little bit of they wanted to get their own story out, meaning the institutional story, right? Emory is competing against Vanderbilt, and Davidson is a liberal arts college in the South, when most liberal arts colleges are in the Northeast. So there was a little bit of, hey, if we participate in this, people are going to get to know us in a different way, and that is going to help us at the end—meaning the institution.Jess LaheyDo you have to? Did you? Was there a hurdle of, we really have, you know, this is some PR for us, too. So did that affect—I mean, there's a little bit of a Heisenberg thing going on here. Did the fact that you were observing them change, you think, anything about what they did and what they showed you?Jeff SelingoIt's an interesting thing, Jess. It's a great question, because I often get that. Because I was—you know, originally, I wanted to do one office. I wanted to be inside one institution. And when all three of them kind of came back and said, yes, we'll do this—instead of just choosing one of them—I thought, oh, this is interesting. We have a small liberal arts college. We have a big, private urban research university. We have a big public university in the University of Washington. So I wanted to show—kind of compare and contrast—their processes. But that also meant I couldn't be in one place all the time. There's only one of me, and there's three of them, and they're in different parts of the country. So clearly I was not there every day during the process. And somebody would say to me, oh, well, how do you know they're not going to do X, Y, and Z when you're not there? And I quickly realized that they had so much work to do in such a short amount of time that they couldn't really—they couldn't really game the system for me. After a while, I just became like a painting on the wall. I just was there. And in many cases, they didn't even notice I was there—which, by the way, is where you want to be—because they would say things, do things, without realizing sometimes that a reporter was present. And there's the opening scene of the book, which is just a fantastic—in my opinion, one of my favorite scenes in the book—right where they're talking about these students and so forth, and in a way that is so raw and so natural about how they did their work. If they knew I was in the room at that point—which of course they did—but if they really perceived my being there, that would have been really hard to pull off.Jess LaheyDid they have, did you guys have an agreement about off the record moments or anything like that? Or was there and speaking of which, actually, was there any kind of contract going into this, or any kind of agreement going into this?Jeff SelingoI basically told them that there would be no surprises. So everything was essentially on the record unless they explicitly said that, and that was usually during interviews, like one-on-one interviews. But while I was in the room with them, there was really nothing off the record. There couldn't be because it was hard to kind of stop what they were doing to do that. The only thing I promised was that there would be no surprises at the end. So when the book was done, during the fact-checking process, I would do what The New Yorker would do during fact-checking. I wouldn't read the passages back to them, but I would tell them basically what's in there, in terms of it as I fact-checked it. And so they really kind of knew, for the most part—not word for word—but they kind of knew what was in the book before it came out.Jess LaheyI like that term—no surprises. It's a real nice blanket statement for, look, I'm not looking to get—there's no gotcha thing here.Jeff SelingoThere's no gotcha, exactly...Jess LaheyRight. Exactly.Jeff SelingoThis was not an investigative piece. But there were things that, you know, I'm sure that they would have preferred not to be in there. But for the most part, during the fact-checking process, you know, I learned things that were helpful. You know, sometimes they would say, oh, that's an interesting way of—you know, I would redirect quotes, and they would want to change them. And I said, well, I don't really want to change direct quotes, because that's what was said in that moment. And then they would provide context for things, which was sometimes helpful. I would add that to the piece, or I would add that to the book. So at the end of the day—again—it goes back to trust. And they realized what I was trying to do with this book. It's also a book rather than an article. Books tend to have permanence. And I knew that this book would have, you know, shelf life. And as a result, I wanted to make sure that it would stand the test of time.Jess LaheyYeah, I've been thinking a lot about your new book—your book that's just coming out as this is getting out into the world—called Dream School. And by the way, such a great title, because one person's dream school is not another's. But like, my daughter happens to be at, I think, the perfect school for her, and my son went to the perfect school for him—which, by the way, wasn't even his first choice. And in retrospect, he said, I'm just so glad I didn't get into that other place—my, you know, early decision place—because this other place really was the perfect match. And I think that's why I love that title so much, because I spend a lot of time trying to help parents understand that their dream may not necessarily be their child's dream. And what makes something a dream school may, you know—in fact, in terms of time—my daughter was applying to colleges just coming out of COVID. Like, she had never been to a school dance. She'd never—you know—all that kind of stuff. So for me, the dream looked very different than maybe it would have four years prior, thinking I was going to have a kid that had the opportunity to sort of socially, you know, integrate into the world in a very different way. So I love that. And is that something that—how did—how do your ideas emerge? Did it emerge in the form of that idea of what is a dream school for someone? Or—anyway, I'll let you get back to...Jeff SelingoYeah. So, like many follow-up books, this book emerged from discussing Who Gets In and Why. So I was out on the road talking about Who Gets In and Why. And I would have a number of parents—like, you know when you give talks, people come up to you afterwards—and they say, okay, we love this book, but—there's always a but. And people would come up to me about Who Gets In and Why, and they would be like, love the book, but it focused more on selective colleges and universities. What if we don't get into one of those places? What if we can't afford one of those places? What if we don't really want to play that game, and we want permission? And this—this idea of a permission structure came up very early on in the reporting for this book. We need to be able to tell our friends, our family, that it's okay, right? You know how it is, right? A lot of this is about parents wanting to say that their kid goes to Harvard. It's less about going to Harvard, but they could tell their friends that their kid goes to Harvard. So they wanted me to help them create this permission structure to be able to look more widely at schools.Jess LaheyI like that.Jeff SelingoSo that's how this came about, and then the idea of Dream School—and I'm fascinated by your reaction to that title. Because the reaction I've been getting from some people is—you know—because the idea, too many people, the idea of a dream school, is a single entity.Jess LaheyOf course.Jeff SelingoIt's a single school; it's a single type of school. And what—really, it's a play on that term that we talk about, a dream school. In many ways, the dream school is your dream, and what you want, and the best fit for you. And I want to give you the tools in this book to try to figure out what is the best match for you that fulfills your dreams. It's kind of a little play on that—a little tweak on how we think about the dream and dream school. And that's really what I'm hoping to do for this book—is that, in some ways, it's a follow-up. So you read Who Gets In and Why, you decide, okay, maybe I do want to try for those highly selected places. But as I tell the story early on in in Dream School. A. It's almost impossible to get into most of those places today—even more so than five or six years ago. And second, many of the students that I met—young adults that I met in reporting Dream School—ended up at, you know, fill-in-the-blank: most popular school, brand-name school, highly selective school, elite school—whatever you want to put in that blank—and it wasn't quite what they expected. And so that's another story that I want to tell families in this book—is that, hey, there's a wider world out there, and there is success to be had at many of these places.Jess LaheyThere's something I say occasionally, that I have to take the temperature of the room, just because I—you know, you and I speak at some fairly similar places, like, you know, the hoity-toity private schools that—you know, everyone's just go, go, go, do, do, do, achieve, achieve, achieve. And every once in a while, I like to insert—I like to, number one, tell them that my college was, I think, perfect for me. I went to my safety school. I went to the University of Massachusetts and had an extraordinary experience. But I'm a very certain kind of person, and maybe for another—like, for example, my daughter, when we were looking at schools, our state school was just too big for her. It just—she was going to get lost. It wasn't going to work very well. But the thing I like to say when I can, when I feel like the audience is ready to hear it is: What if it's a massive relief if you don't have an Ivy kid? If you have a kid who's not going to get into an Ivy school, isn't it a relief to say that's not what we're aiming for here, and we can actually find a place that's a great fit for my kid? And that sometimes goes over really well. For a few people, they'll come up and thank me for that sort of reframing afterwards. But for some people, that is just not at all what they want to hear.Jeff SelingoAnd it's—you know, it's really hard. And I think you go back to audience, and—you know—most people make money on books kind of after the fact, right? The speaking, as you mentioned, and things like that. And it's interesting—this book, as I talk to counselors about it, high school counselors—oh, they're like, this is perfect. This is the message I've been trying to get through to parents. Then I talk to the parents—like, I'm not quite sure this message will work in our community, because this community is very focused on getting into the Ivy League and the Ivy Plus schools?Jess LaheyYes, but that's why your title is so brilliant. Because if you're getting—and I talk a lot about this, I don't know if you've heard, I've talked about this on the podcast—that with the substance use prevention stuff, it's hard for me to get people to come in. So I use The Gift of Failure to do that, right? So you've got this title that can get the people in the seats, and then you, in your persuasive and charismatic way, can explain to them why this is a term that may—could—use some expanding. I think that's an incredible opportunity.Jeff SelingoAnd it's important, too—early on, my editor told me, “Jeff, don't forget, we're an aspirational society.” And I said—I told, I said, “Rick,” I said, “I'm not telling people not to apply in the Ivy League. I'm not saying they're terrible schools. I'm not saying don't look at those places.” All I'm saying is, we want to expand our field a little bit to look more broadly, more widely. So we're not saying don't do this—we're saying, do “do” this. And that's what I'm hoping that this book does.Jess LaheyWell, and the reality is, people listen to the title. They don't read the subtitle, because subtitles are long, and they have a great use—but not when you're actually talking about a book with someone. And so what they're going to hear is Dream School, and I think that's a fantastic way to position the book. But since you opened up the topic, I also—I am right now mentoring someone who is attempting to sell a book while also planning for a speaking career, which, as you know, is something that I did concurrently. How did you—did you know you wanted to do speaking when you were first writing your books? Or is this something that sort of came out of the books themselves?Jeff SelingoIt just came out of the books. You know, the first book, which was College (Un)bound, which was 2012, sold better than I expected, but it was aimed at a consumer audience. But who ended up reading that were college leaders, presidents and people work at colleges. So I had a very busy schedule speaking to people inside the industry. Then I turned my—you know, the second book, There Is Life After College— really turned it to this parenting audience, which was a very new audience to me, and that really led to me to, you know, Who Gets In and Why, and now this book. The difference—and I'm always curious to talk to parenting authors like you—is that college, you know, people—even the most aspirational people in life, I understand, you know, people in certain cities think about preschool, what preschool their kid's going to get into to get into the right college—but in reality, they're going to read a college book when their kids are in high school. And that is the more challenging piece around, you know, I—unlike most parenting authors who have a wider audience, because a lot of the issues that face parents face parents when they have toddlers, when they have pre-teens, when they have teens. Obviously, some parenting authors just focus on teens, I get that.But this book really has kind of a short life in terms of the audience. And so what we're trying to do—so think about it: Who Gets In and Why— it's still in hardcover. Has never been published in paperback, largely because there's a new audience for it every year, which is fantastic...Jess LaheyYeah, I was going to mention that. That is the massive upside. And for me, it's usually a four-year sort of turnover in terms of speaking anyway.Jeff SelingoYeah, you're right. And so the nice thing on the speaking front is that I have almost a new audience every year, so I could continue to go back to the same schools...Jess LaheyRight.Jeff Selingo...every year, which has been really helpful—with a slightly different message, because the industry is also changing, and admissions is changing as a result. So, no, I—the speaking came afterwards, and now I realize that that's really kind of how you make this thing work. I couldn't really have a writing career without the speaking piece.Jess LaheySince figuring that out—and I guess assuming that you enjoy doing it, as I hope you do—is that something that you're continuing to market on your own?Jeff SelingoYes. So that's what we're doing. You know, one of the big changes from the last book is that we have developed a—you know, we built a customer relationship management system under our newsletter. So we use HubSpot, which is, you know, like Salesforce. It's something like that And so we've now built a community that is much stronger than the one that I had five years ago. That's a community of parents, of counselors, of independent counselors. So we just know so much more about who we serve, who our readers are, and who will ask me to come speak to their groups and things like that. So that, to me, has been the biggest change since the last book compared to this book. And it has enabled us—and it's something that I would highly encourage authors to do. I don't think they have to go out and buy one of these big, robust systems, but the more you know about your readers and build that community, the more that they're going to respond to you. They really want to be with you in some way. They want to read your books. They want to come to your webinars. They want to listen to your podcasts. They want to see you speak. They want to invite you to speak. And building that community is incredibly important to having that career, you know, after the book comes out.Jess LaheyIt's also for marketing purposes. So Sarina Bowen—again, brilliant at this. he way she does that is, she slices and dices her mailing list into all kinds of, like, where the reader came from—is this someone who's, you know, more interested in this, did I—did I meet them at this conference, you know, how did I acquire this name for my list? And she does a lot of marketing very specifically to those specific lists, and that information is amazing. And I think so many of us tend to think just—and I have to admit that this is where I spend most of my time—is just getting more emails in your newsletter. Owning, you know, the right—because it's an honor of being able to reach out to those people and have them be interested in what you have to say. But that's your—I may have to have you come back to talk specifically about that, because it's increasingly—as we're doing more of the marketing for our books—I think that's the future for people who want to keep things going.Jeff SelingoAnd that's—you know, that is the reality today. That's why proposals sell. Because people—you know, publishers really want people with platforms. And if you're not a superstar, there are very few of those out there, you need to figure out another way to build that platform. And so marketing yourself is critically important, and I've learned that from book one. You know, people would say, “Well, you're always just selling your book.” And I said, “Well, if I don't sell it, no one else,” right? So at some point, the publisher—you know, there's only so much the publisher is going to do. And they don't really have the tools that you do. And more than that, Jess, like, you understand your audience. Sarina understands her audience, right? Like, we understand our audiences in ways that publishers, who are doing, you know, dozens and dozens of books a year, just don't get.Jess LaheyRight. No, absolutely.Jeff SelingoLike, no offense against them. I think they're doing really good work. But it's just—it's hard for them, I think, to really understand, well, who's going to really read this book?Jess LaheyAnd I love the idea of using the questions you get. As you know, I tend to take the questions that I get and turn them into videos or—and I do answer all the emails—but I keep a spreadsheet of what those questions are so that I can slice and dice it in various ways. And they're fascinating. And that shapes like, oh wow, I had no idea so many people—like, I had no idea that so many kids were actually interested in knowing whether or not the caffeine—amounts of caffeine that they're drinking—are healthy, or how to get better sleep. Because if you ask their parents, they're like, “Oh no, they don't care about sleep,” or, “They just drink so much coffee and they don't care.” And yet what you hear from the kids is such a different story. And the thing that I also love is the idea of, you know, what that dream school concept means to the actual kid applying. You've probably heard this before, but I needed some symbolic way to let my kids know that this was not, in the end, my decision, and how important this decision was for them in terms of becoming adults. And so I said, the one thing I will never do is put a sticker for a school on the back of my car. Because your choice of where to become a young, emerging adult is not—I don't—that's not my currency to brag on as a parent. It's too important for that. And so people go nuts over that. They're like, “But that's what I really want—is that sticker on the back of the car!” And so I have to be careful when I talk about it, but for my kids, that was my one symbolic act to say, this is about your growth and development, and not my bragging rights. And I think that's a hard message.Jeff SelingoI think that's really important—especially, I have two teens at home. And I think this is a whole topic for another conversation around, you know, most parenting authors are also parents at the same time that they're doing this—advice out to everybody else. And I—I'm very aware of that. I'm also very aware of the privacy that they deserve. And so that's an—it's a fine line. It's a hard line to walk, I will say, for authors, because people—they want to know about you. And they ask you a lot of questions—like, especially around college—like, “Well, where are your kids applying? Where are they going to go?” Like, “Oh, I bet you—especially this book, where I'm encouraging parents to think more broadly—well, you're probably giving that advice to everybody else, but you're not going to follow that, surely, right?” So it's—you just have to—it's hard when you're in this world that you're also part of every day.Jess LaheyIt's really tough. And things have gotten a lot more complicated—as listeners know, I have a trans kid, and that means that everything that I've ever written about that kid is out there. Some of it changeable, a lot of it—most of it—not. And would I do it again? I don't—I don't think so. And that—you know, that's been a journey. But it's also been—you know, we can't know what we don't know. I don't know—it's a tough one. But I really admire your—that's why I throw my safety school thing out there all the time. I'm like, “Look, you know, I went to the place that saved my parents a boatload of money and allowed me to do stuff like traveling that I never would have had the ability to do if I hadn't gone to my state school. And my priorities were big, and adventures, and lots of options.” And I'm very, very clear that standing up for myself was something that I wanted to learn how to do more. On the other hand, that's not been the priority for both of my kids, so... Can I just—I want to ask one quick college question, just because it's—in reading all of your books, this comes up for me over and over again. How do you help parents see the difference between their dream and their kid's dream—or their goals and their kid's goals? And how do you dance that line, which I think is a very easy place to lose readers, lose listeners, because they just shut down and they say, “That's not something I want to mess with. This is too important to me.”Jeff SelingoIt's a fine line. It's a difficult line to walk. At some point I have to realize who's the you that you're speaking to. And I even say this in the introduction of the new book—it's largely parents. They're the readers. I know that—I hope their kids will read it. Maybe—maybe they will, maybe they won't, and maybe they'll read it as a family. But I'm really speaking to the families, and I want them to understand that college especially is an emotional good. It's something many of us—you're talking about your undergraduate experience. I'm not going to ask you how long ago that was, but my undergraduate experience...Jess LaheyI'm 55. So it's been a long time ago.Jeff SelingoAnd I'm 52, right? So same here. But we have this—you know, most people, because of the audiences I tend to speak to, they're not first-generation students, right? They're mostly parents. You know, most of the parents in the audience went to college themselves, and for many of them it was a transformative experience, like it was for me.People met their—they met their lifelong friends, they met their partners, they decided what they wanted to do in life. It was— it was this experience we all think it is. And as a result, I think a lot of parents put that then on their kids. “Well, this was a transforming experience for me, so it definitely has to be a transformative experience for you. Oh, and by the way, these are all the mistakes I made in doing that. I want to make sure you don't make any of those.”Jess LaheyAnd, by the way, no pressure, but this is going to be—this is where you're going to meet your best friends, your spouse. It's the best years of your life, so don't sacrifice even a second of it.Jeff SelingoYeah. And then I...Jess LaheyNo pressure.Jeff SelingoNo pressure. And not only that, but it is—it is something we bought a very long time ago. I'm always amazed when—sometimes we go to the Jersey Shore on vacation, and I'll be out on a walk on the beach in the morning, and I'll see people wearing, you know, college shirts, sweatshirts. And, you know, some of these people are old—much older than I am. And I say, “Oh”—you know, we'll start to have a conversation, and I'll say, “Oh, so does your grandkid, you know, go to X school?” Terrible assumption on my part, I know. But they say, “No, that's where I went.” And it's amazing to me—these are people in their 70s and 80s—because I'm the only other person out that early walking—and they love this thing so much that they're still kind of advertising it. But it was so different back then. And that's the thing that I—going back to your question—that's the thing I try to explain to parents. You can guide this. You can put guardrails up. You might have to put guardrails up about money and location and all that other stuff. But college has changed so much that—don't try to make this your search. You had your chance. You did your search. It worked out. It didn't work out. You would have done things differently. I think that's all great advice to give to your kids. But this is their life. This is their staging ground. They have to learn. And again, it's also different. Like, part of what I hope my books do is to try to explain to people—who, you know, kind of dip in and dip out of higher ed just when their kids are applying—that it's very different than when they applied and went to college.Jess LaheyThe thing I like to mention a lot is that people in admissions read so many applications that they can tell when something is sincere and something is personal and smacks of a kid, as opposed to when something smacks of a parent. That is a very different application. It's a very different essay—which is the thing that I guess I have the most experience with. But—so I am just so incredibly grateful to you for this book. I'm so grateful that there's evidence that people will actually agree to be interviewed, even in thorny situations like college admissions, which—I don't know. I'm still in awe of the fact that you got anyone to say yes. But—and I heavily—I heartily, heartily recommend Dream School to anyone who's listening. I just—I don't even have anyone applying to college, and I think it's just a fascinating topic, because the idea of where we become who we're going to be, and how we prime lots of other stuff that's going to happen later on in our life—I think that's a fascinating topic. So thank you so much for writing about it. Thank you for writing about it with such empathy and such interest. That's the other thing—is you can tell when someone really is interested in a topic when you read their book. And thank you for providing a book that I recommend all the time as a blueprint—as a dissection book—for people writing nonfiction, heavily interviewed nonfiction. So thank you, so, so much. Where can people find you if they want you to come speak, if they want you—if they want to find your books—where can people find you?Jeff SelingoPretty simple. Jeffselingo.com is my website, and you can also follow me on most social—handle is @jeffselingo, as in Jeff. And I just love hearing from readers. As you know, books change lives, and I love hearing the stories when readers tell me they read something in a book and they acted on it. It's just the most beautiful thing.Jess LaheyYeah, it's the best. I get videos occasionally; too, of like little kids doing things their parents didn't think they could do. And—“Look! Look! They did this thing!” It's just—it's an amazing and place of privilege. You have a newsletter also…Jeff SelingoI do. Called Next. It comes out twice a month.Jess LaheyIt's Fantastic!Jeff SelingoOh, well, thank you. And I have a podcast also called Future U— that's more around the kind of the insider-y nature of higher ed and how it works. But a lot—I know a lot of families listen to it to try to understand this black box that is college. So that's called Future U as in U for university.Jess LaheyThe reason I love the podcast so much is, a lot of what parents get exposed to when they're doing the college admissions process are those graphs—scatter graphs of like, where do your numbers intersect with the expectations of this school—and it's a real human version of that. It's a human version of how that black box operates.Jeff SelingoAnd at the end of the day, as I always remind parents, it's a business. You might have this emotional tie to college, but if you don't—if you don't—and you know a mutual friend of ours, Ron Lieber, who writes for The New York Times around...Jess LaheyHe's the best! The best!Jeff SelingoCollege finances, right? He always reminds people of this too. I don't remind them as often as he does, and I probably should. It's this—you're buying a consumer product. And you have to act as a consumer. Yes, you can have an emotional tie and a love for this place, but this is a big purchase, and you have to approach it like that.Jess LaheyDid you see his most recent piece about, yeah, taking some time and seeing—seeing what kind of offers you can get? I loved it. I love Ron's approach to—he's just a great guy. And his books are fantastic. Thank you again, so much. I'm going to let you get on with your day, but I'm always grateful for you. And good luck with the launch of Dream School.I will be out applauding on pub day for you.Jeff SelingoAppreciate it. Thank you, Jess.Jess LaheyAll right, everyone—until next week, keep your butt in the chair and your head in the game.NarratorThe Hashtag AmWriting Podcast is produced by Andrew Perella. Our intro music, aptly titled Unemployed Monday, was written and played by Max Cohen. Andrew and Max were paid for their time and their creative output—because everyone deserves to be paid for their work. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amwriting.substack.com/subscribe
Bret Taylor is the CEO of Sierra and Chairman of the Board of OpenAI. He previously served as co-CEO of Salesforce. I sat down with Bret to explore how the AI revolution compares to previous platform shifts and what it means for both startups and incumbents navigating this transition. (00:00) Introduction and Recent Milestone (00:38) AI Market and Historical Comparisons (02:30) Competitive Landscape and Business Models (06:02) Outcome-Based Pricing and Value Creation (13:52) Technological Shifts and Business Transitions (26:32) Adoption Challenges and Forward Deployed Engineering (37:21) Early Investment in Snowflake and Cloud Strategy (38:02) Enterprise Software Market Dynamics (38:38) AI Agents and Implementation Costs (41:06) Democratization of Software Development (43:35) The Future of Software Companies and AI Agents (49:36) Consumer Behavior and AI Agents (58:56) The Role of AI in Customer Experience (01:01:25) Career Advice in the Age of AI Executive Producer: Rashad Assir Mixing and editing: Justin Hrabovsky Check out Unsupervised Learning, Redpoint's AI Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@UCUl-s_Vp-Kkk_XVyDylNwLA
This is Alex Heath. For my final episode as your Thursday episode guest host, I recently sat down with Bret Taylor, the CEO of AI startup Sierra and the chairman of OpenAI, for a live event in San Francisco hosted by Alix Partners. Bret has worked at Google, Facebook, and Salesforce in high-level, executive roles, and he led Twitter's board during Elon Musk's takeover, so very few people have seen the tech industry up close like Bret has. Now, he's all in on AI. We covered a lot of ground in this conversation, and I hope you find Bret's perspective as fascinating as I did. Links: Ex-Salesforce co-CEO Bret Taylor's Sierra is the latest $10 billion AI startup | CNBC I talked to Sam Altman about the GPT-5 launch fiasco | Verge Sam Altman says ‘yes,' AI is in a bubble | Verge MIT study on AI profits rattles tech investors | Axios GPT-5 Pro can prove new, interesting mathematics | Sebastien Bubeck AI chatbots are ready to talk to customers. Sort of. | WSJ How is AI different than other technology waves? | Acquired Podcast Credits: Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network. Our producers are Kate Cox and Nick Statt. Our editor is Ursa Wright. The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Chris and Hector break down the WhatsApp whistleblower lawsuit claiming 1,500 engineers had unchecked access to user data. They also cover hackers extorting Google after the Salesforce breach, OpenAI scanning ChatGPT conversations for police referrals, and a police bodycam app secretly sending data to China, and why 2.5 billion Gmail users need a password reset. Join our new Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at questions@hackerandthefed.com
Today on the Salesforce Admins Podcast, we talk to David Simpson, Salesforce Admin at the 1916 Company. Join us as we chat about his process for troubleshooting Flow errors and his unexpected path into the Salesforce ecosystem. You should subscribe for the full episode, but here are a few takeaways from our conversation with David […] The post Navigating Flow Errors as a New Salesforce Admin appeared first on Salesforce Admins.
In this episode, Michael and Jake catch up on life and code. They talk about fatigue, seasonal shifts, lawn adventures, and the return of hay fever.We dive into replacing a legacy Salesforce integration with Saloon, frustrations with mocks, and how Saloon fakes have improved testing workflows. Michael walks through his experiments with AI tools like Claude and opencode to prototype fake gateways - treating AI as a “junior dev” pair. The discussion covers gateway patterns, middleware, registry-based response handling, and strategies for testing Salesforce without polluting production environments.From weeds and soil temps to software fakes and AI-driven dev, this one's a mix of everyday life and practical engineering insights.Show linksLawnHub – Michael's lawn care supplierSaloon (by Sam Carré) – Laravel/HTTP client packageSalesforce – CRM platform discussed in the episodeMockery – PHP mocking frameworkopencode – terminal tool for AI coding (by SST's Dax and Adam, Terminal Coffee)Claude – AI model used for coding explorationGitHub Copilot – AI coding assistantStripe test cards – referenced in gateway fake analogy
In this episode of The Rainmaking Podcast, Scott Love interviews Sue Heilbronner, executive coach, speaker, and author of Never Ask for the Sale: Supercharge Your Business with the Power of Passionate Ambivalence. Sue explains why many professional services providers resist selling themselves and how to shift that mindset by embracing authenticity and confidence. She introduces the concept of passionate ambivalence—the ability to be genuinely excited about opportunities while remaining unattached to the outcome. This approach helps professionals appear more credible, command higher fees, and attract long-term clients. Sue also addresses common challenges such as imposter syndrome, over-eagerness, and desperation in sales. She emphasizes qualifying prospects, presenting yourself as the product, and building thought leadership through strong digital presence and meaningful contributions. With practical strategies for pricing, follow-up, and conference networking, Sue provides actionable insights for professionals looking to transform their approach to business development and rainmaking. Visit: https://therainmakingpodcast.com/ YouTube: https://youtu.be/va71ZBSew5s ---------------------------------------
According to research from Harvard Business Review, in 2022, the average employee experienced 10 planned enterprise changes, driving higher levels of change fatigue. So, how can you lead a change management strategy that helps reps navigate these shifts while maintaining GTM efficiency? Riley Rogers: Hi, and welcome to the Win-Win podcast. I’m your host, Riley Rogers. Join us as we dive into changing trends in the workplace and how to navigate them successfully. Here to discuss this topic is Megan Backus, director of MarComm and Sales Enablement at Culligan Quench. Thank you so much for joining us, Megan. We’re super excited to have you here today. As we’re getting started, I’d love if you could just kick us off by telling us a little bit about yourself, your background, and your role. Megan Backus: Yeah, so Megan Backus. I am based outside Philadelphia, so you might pick up a little bit of my Philly accent. I can’t help it. So I’ve been with Quench now Culligan Quench for about 12 years, the last two in this MarComm sales enablement role. Prior to that it was marketing and I like to joke that I’ve probably touched a little bit of every single aspect of marketing in that time. So always kind of. In the role of creating the content as part of our customer’s buying journey. Another way of looking at it is the content that our sales team needs to close deals. So currently the best way to describe it is it’s kind of this weird crossroads between marketing and sales enablement, where I think with a marketer’s hat on making sure our reps have. The tools, the collateral, and the talking points that they need to combat any sort of questions or objections that they might get in the field? You know, the easiest way of saying, and my wonderful team, and we are a very small but mighty team of five women, we create all the collateral that our sales team uses. So everything from items for prospects at the very top of the sales funnel, everything to lead ’em through the sales funnel, and then even some items for after the sale is closed. RR: Amazing. Well, I think one of my favorite things about talking to folks working at enablement is all of the different weird ways that you come to enablement as a function, and everybody always has a different slant on how the function works and how it operates in their organization. So super excited to get that kind of marketing slant on it today. Got kind of a big question to start us off. I saw on LinkedIn that you mentioned being driven by impossible problems. So what are some of those impossible problems and maybe some of the key initiatives? That you’re focused last year? MB: Yeah, so it’s actually a misnomer. It’s that marketing hat that I wear, but in my view, there is no impossible problems. It’s in a belief in life that I have, whether it’s at work or outside of work, nothing is really impossible. Everything is actually figureoutable and I will be trademarking that. But, so I don’t necessarily view ’em as impossible problems, but I guess the best way, you know, kind of think of it is those problems where you’re just like, I don’t know how I’m gonna tackle this. So this year’s quote unquote impossible problem is finding the time management and the time to accomplish everything that we want to accomplish this year. Quench calling and quench, if you will, we like to have lots of key initiatives happening at the exact same time. My poor customer success manager with Highspot, I feel I always give her like anxiety attacks when we meet. ’cause I’m like, all right. I know we talked about this two weeks ago. We’ve moved on and we’re doing something else. But so some of the things that we’re working on this year, so this past January, we kind of ripped off the bandaid, if you will, and moved our sales team from being very territorial focused in their selling to more, we call it domains, but more brand focused and brand selling. So a lot of this year has been evaluating our newly rebranded content to make sure. It aligns with that focus and realigning it where necessary to support that transition. And like I said, we like to do multiple things at the same time. So last year we did our US rebrand. This year we’re also focusing on finishing up that rebrand, supporting our friends to the North and Canada with their rebrand and our friends to the South and Puerto Rico with their rebrand. While ever supporting our ever-growing sales team, so a lot of things all at the same time. So being the impossible problem, if you will for this year has been being able to juggle all of those key initiatives while maintaining my team. I’m gonna call it sanity, but making sure no one gets burned out or frustrated or just getting to a point of like, no, I don’t wanna do this. Because, you know, with that, we, you know, kind of ask the team to walk through fire. So every once in a while you gotta make sure you’re, you’re not getting burned. RR: Yeah, absolutely. It seems like you guys are no strangers to being agile and being asked to being agile. That is a lot on your plate, so I love that you have that. There’s no impossible problem perspective. ’cause I think you can’t approach this work without it. Especially, and you touched on a little bit on this, knowing just the volume of work that’s been going into the rebrand process, both in the US and in Canada and Puerto Rico, as you mentioned, for one, congratulations. Just knowing how much change that a rebrand like that tends to bring to sales teams. I’d love to know what some of your best practices for helping those teams effectively navigate those transitions are. MB: Yeah, I think, I don’t know whether it’s taking it back to the basics or best practice, but I think the best way of thinking about these big changes in, in our case, these rebrands is. They’re not thinking of them as anxiety inducing events, but thinking of them reframing it in our minds, which helps us reframe it for our sales team of growing opportunities. They’re just opportunities to grow, to learn, to do more, to do more exciting things. And I think that’s kind of really, I guess if I had to put a best practice on something, is recognizing that big change. You know, whatever it is, is just an opportunity to grow and adapt. So with our sales team, we do have some, uh, I affectionately call them nervous Nellie, but those who their first reaction to is not to embrace change, to help those people and they can, you know, hurt your momentum and hurt the morale. But having them kind of come on board and recognize that it’s not as big as it looks. It’s not as daunting or scary as it looks. And we do that by reiterating what’s staying the same. What support they’ll continue to get. And we break down this, these big overarching changes into more bite size and manageable bites to kind of ease those anxieties of like, alright, we have over a thousand pieces of collateral. You know, we have 200 and some odd sales reps and we have to rebrand everything on, you know, new colors, new ev, let’s backtrack it. Let’s do our product sheets first. Sales reps, the products aren’t changing. You can still sell the products. We’re just gonna have different colors. So kind of just breaking it down for them to be like, oh, this isn’t really as big of a change as I thought it was. RR: I feel like I’m getting a philosophy lesson here from you. Nothing is impossible. Change is an opportunity, not a scary thing. I’d like to switch gears a little bit. So we’ve talked about the rebrand, but I also know that as a part of that rebrand and maybe as a. Result of that rebrand, you guys have also experienced like hyper growth over the past year sales team headcount has increased significantly, which again, never an easy problem to tackle, but also a great opportunity. So what challenges have you kind of noticed that came with this growth, and then how have you overcome them or maybe reframed those challenges into opportunities? MB: Yeah. So yeah, hypergrowth, I wouldn’t classify a hypergrowth happen with the rebrand, but it’s one of those things we’re like, we’re gonna do lots of things at the same time. But yeah, we hired 50 reps in a three month period. As with any sort of hiring process, especially, uh, at the hypergrowth. Level, it was the onboarding. How quickly can we get these new reps talking about our machines, understanding our sales process, understanding our customers, and we have a very incredible training team who took on a lot of that, those sort of challenges of how do we get them onboarded as quickly as possible. But I think having Highspot as our content management system. Was incredibly helpful in that regard because it new and tenured reps, so whether the new rep was still in the training class or whether they’re sitting next to Joe Schmo and Joe Schmo needed to help them find an answer, any question, they could go to Highspot. And you know, one of our favorite features at Collagen Quench is. Using the search bar to ask questions, adding that little question mark in that search bar, and it allows the rep, whether they’re new or tenured, to be more empowered to find the answers themselves. Because with onboarding, what we find is there’s a million questions and they can be as minute as, I don’t know what the to price this as, or as big and philosophical as I have no idea how to put in a sale into Salesforce. So by having everything in one spot and. Really honing in with our sales team, our tenured reps, that everything they need is in Highspot. They can help each other. And so for our small Mighty training team, our small mighty sales enablement team is not bogged down in, Hey, I don’t know how to do this. Hey, they can kind of work together. And you have peer leaders to really get them. Using Highspot, finding the answers themselves. And if they do have that, that issue of legitimate issue, then the training team and the sales and need movement team can really focus on the bigger issues, bigger questions that we’re getting from these onboarding teams. But it kinda helps with. Empowering the rep to find the answers, I think is the biggest challenge that we had is onboarding. It’s, it’s a million questions and we have a very wide product line, and having Highspot allows them to find the answers themselves, or at least find enough of the answers that last little bit, the last little 10 yards or whatever. They can come to us and we can help them in that regard. RR: So we’ve heard a little bit about you know how you’re enabling new sellers to deal with coming into the organization and doing so at scale. When you have a bunch of folks coming in new, I’d be curious to know then how the platform kind of helps you during these change heavy moments and how it helps you orchestrate the entire organization. So if you could talk to us a little bit about that, that would be great. MB: The way that we and if for every one of our meetings, reiterate all the time, Highspot is where you’re gonna find your answers. Highspot is where you’re gonna find your collateral. Highspot is going to be where you find your best practices, your recorded trainings. Highspot is where you need to go. So we have a weekly newsletter that goes out to our sales team and everything that we reference in there, we go to Highspot it. We kind of. Drill into them often that any sort of question that they have, any sort of concern that start at Highspot. If Highspot doesn’t have it, then come back to us. We’ll work on it and then get it into Highspot by having Highspot as our one source of truth, if you will. It really enables them to not have to worry about, you know, all the noise prior to having Highspot. There was a point where I was sitting and there was, I think it was like 20 emails all about one topic and sitting there and putting on, you know, well, if I’m a sales rep and I got 20 emails and it’s all in one topic, which email is the correct information? Because this one over here hits one thing this. So, and by having it in one spot and allowing our reps to really recognize that it’s their one source of truth, it forces us who create, you know, the content to make sure we’re all on the same page because we’re only gonna put it once in Highspot to really kinda help the reps steer them in the right direction. RR: I kind of wanna dig into that a little bit more, which is, I know, like you said, you and a small and mighty team of five women, it’s all on you with content. So I’d really like to know how you’re equipping using the platform reps with the content and the messaging that you’re creating all of it in there to help them effectively sell to commercial and workplace buyers. So what is your approach there? How are you making that happen in the platform? MB: So I think we’re making it happen within the platform by being incredibly organized, I think is the best way of putting it, and not being organized in the way that makes the most sense from a marketing perspective, but making it make the most sense from a sales perspective. So oftentimes, you know, with that marketing hat on, you run marketing campaigns and the point of the campaign is to, you know, talk about this feature or talk about that feature. But from a sales rep perspective, it’s not necessarily breaking it out by features. And you know, we do bottles water coolers. So we have seven machines that all feature, and I’m making up seven. We have more, but we have seven machines that all feature touchless dispensing. Well, from a rep’s perspective. It. Have a touchless dispensing spot, not have a spot for that machine, this machine and that machine, and then tell them, Hey, we have seven spots for seven different machines and they all have touchless. We kind of take a point of making sure. Everything that we put in Highspot, the spots make sense from a sales perspective and not necessarily from a marketing or a content subject matter. If I were a rep, where am I going to find this? If I’m a rep, how am I going to ask the question to find this, versus this is our Spring 2024 campaign on, you know, this machine. No, no, no, no, no. This is an ice machine. It’s going in the ice machine spot because from a rep’s perspective, I’m gonna find it in ice machines. It’s an ice machine. RR: I think that’s so key of your reps are your customers and you kind of need to serve them in the way that makes sense to them. Otherwise, you’re not gonna see the usage that you’re looking for, which is what you’re aiming to accomplish there from one marketer to another. I know that a big part of your day-to-day is probably that organization piece governing managing your content just to keep reps on brand accurate, up to date, all of that fun stuff. So could you walk me through your strategy for managing and governing content? So those reps are not only aligned, but also informed and up to date. MB: Yeah, so I don’t really have a very complicated answer to this. It’s actually quite simple of. First, we think all of our content that we create, we’re trying to create it from a perspective of what questions or what objections our sales reps are receiving. And then when we are creating from that perspective, then it allows us to make sure we’re creating the collateral that they want to use. And then, you know, back to, it’s a small but mighty team. We have the advantage of having very few people. Adding new content into Highspot, kind of limit that to I think six people. I think we have one person from the training team. We limit that in the way that to make sure, and we have very clear rules, I guess you could say, that we’ve imparted on what goes in what spot. How it’s tagged, how you upload it, what’s your file name process, so that there’s not too many cooks in the kitchen, if you will. There’s a lot of, you know, pros and cons of having a small team, but that I really think is one of our pros is we can keep it very limited as to who is uploading so that we can make sure the structure stays the way that we’ve decided that that’s the structure we want. We take a point of when we’re creating content to be as evergreen as possible. So when there are changes, we’re not constantly having to update everything. We also evaluate all of our content twice a year. So we put, I guess you could say an alarm in Highspot where after six months, Hey, take a look at this, make sure it’s still accurate, because to our earlier point of. Colligan Quench does a lot at the same time. So it’s important from my perspective to take, and if you’re doing it regularly, it doesn’t take that long, but take that moment to make sure the content that’s available is still answering the questions and the objections that you might get from your customers. And it is still being used by the sales team. If it’s not being used, there’s a reason and reevaluate the content on a regular basis, and I think that’s how we kind of keep our governance in check. We did just recently, I think we’re at like 44% or something, which seems low, but given that we have thousands of pieces of content, our content is being used, it’s accurate, and I think that’s really what we, we strive for. Make sure it’s, it’s being used and make sure it’s accurate. And then the rest will kind of just follow, RR: you know, you started your answer there by saying it’s not a complicated process. And you’re right, but also it’s those core foundationals that are gonna get you where you need to go. So I think you guys are doing all of the right things and you’re doing them on the right cadence. I think oftentimes as marketers we have that intention of like, I will govern my content, and then a month goes by and maybe another. So I love that you guys are sticking to that cadence, and I think this goes back to that LinkedIn deep dive that we started with, which is that you’ve mentioned that effective communication is one of your strengths. But beyond good content management and governance, do you have any best practices that you could share for marketing teams looking to improve how they communicate? Big changes like rebrands or smaller updates, like newly published content to reps? MB: Yeah, so I always frame everything on how it helps the reps. You have to take a moment. ’cause as a marketer you’re like, well, I’m doing this for this marketing reason. Well, if that marketing reason doesn’t resonate with the sales rep, as you express it in a marketing way, the sales rep isn’t necessarily going to use it. But if you can reframe that in a way that allows the rep to understand the benefit to themselves, they’re more than likely to use it. So it’s a very simple thing. As creators, we can kind of get wrapped up in. Well, this is a really cool piece of content because I finally learned how to insert a GIF into a PDF, making that up. But if that doesn’t really help the rep in the objection that you’re actually trying to write the content for, and they don’t put two and two together, it’s just gonna sit on a shelf and high spy and get dusty. It’s always about showing them the benefits of this piece, showing them the benefits of the rebrand and how it helps them specifically as a sales rep, not necessarily how it helps the brand or the marketing team or that product line, how it’s going to help them. RR: And then the rest kind of just follows. I think that’s great advice, and it’s obviously coming from somebody who’s, who’s doing the work, looking at the data, we’ve seen that you’ve achieved a really impressive 94% adoption rate in Highspot. So what are your tips and tricks for driving such like consistently high adoption? Because that is an impressive number. MB: Yeah, we want to be at 97 to reach it and sustain it. Again, I don’t think there’s really any big secret. We kind of base it on like three main tenets. So one, and I’ve mentioned it before, make sure your content is aligned with the needs of the customer. Which will allow you to align with the needs of the sales rep. The sales rep is the person who’s getting all those questions from the customer. So if you’re making sure your content aligns there and it’s accurate, then the sales rep is going to use it. And if you’re using Highspot as we do of your one source of truth, the only place that they’re gonna be able to get to that content so they can use it is with Highspot. And then, you know. Back to that framing, Highspot as the one source of truth. Everything that the rep needs, wants, or possibly wants is in Highspot. Getting them in that habit of using Highspot as that one source of truth is really what helps us get that adoption rate. And the way that we got there, I basically used, uh, sales reps competitive nature to my advantage. So we had early adoption when we launched Highspot because the day we launched it, we actually had a scavenger hunt. In Highspot where we came up with, you know, using our marketing brains, you know, the puns and the brain teasers. We came up with a four item brain teaser scavenger hunt that then had the reps find those pieces of content in Highspot, send a pitch, and this was before digital room. So send a pitch. To myself to A, make sure they have the right content. B sent the pitch correctly. C made sure that part of the scavenger hunt is setting up their profiles and all that. And then the top, the fastest five got prizes. Now the prizes weren’t anything. To write home about. It was very, you know, I think one of the prizes was amok. The prize wasn’t necessarily the goal, but using that competitive nature among reps, we had a crazy high adoption rate. I think our first week we had close to 70% of our sales team in the first week. Something crazy like that. And then we kind of just continue to use that competitive nature. To our advantage. We stack rank our reps daily in what we call our flash report, but it’s basically their percentage to quota as it relates to where we are in the month and the hype of hypergrowth. So we are hiring more people than we can count, basically in a very short amount of time to get to that same, you know, scavenger hunt mentality. What we did is we did another scavenger hunt, but before we launched that scavenger hunt. We actually showed a statistic that our top, and I don’t have the numbers with me, but our top quota beaters, people who are well and above their quota, were also our top super users in Highspot. So we kind of put, you know, as a new rep, I just got hired into this company, I’m getting my sea legs, and as with anyone coming into what is good, how do I get them to be the best if I’m a sales rep? Well, if someone’s telling me the best of the sales reps are also the people who are using this tool called Highspot, I probably should learn what that is. Let me learn what that is as quickly as I can. So I myself can be a top sales rep. So we kind of just take that competitive nature of our sales reps, which I think is easily replicated and use it to our advantage. We, we regularly give out prizes. We’ve done a couple other scavenger hunts and we’ve done a couple other items where, you know, adding a little bit of fun to it. And like I said, none of the prizes are anything super special, like there’s no monetary value to any of these prizes. But I think the sales reps enjoy that competitive nature. They enjoy. You know, the little bit of silliness with it and it gets ’em back in the tool and recognizing that, you know, it’s not hard. It’s not a hard tool to learn, it’s not a hard activity to send a pitch or a digital room, but if you’re. Not experienced. If they’ve never done it before, it can feel intimidating. But by adding a little bit of fun to it, it helps them recognize that, take that first step, do the first pitch, do the first digital room. It’s low stakes ’cause it’s just coming to me and I’m just gonna evaluate to make sure you have the right content in there. It takes away that intimidation factor and they’re like, oh, this took me all of 10 minutes and I got a cup out of it. I think taking that away from it, it really helps us keep that high adoption rate. We don’t do, you know, scavenger hunts for every single new hire class ’cause we’re constantly, you know, growing and hiring. But we do keep that your first pitch, your first digital room. It’s low stakes. It’s not going out to a customer, it’s going to our training team, it’s going to me, it’s going to our, our senior director of sales enablement to kind take out that intimidation factor. And put in a little bit of fun into it. And then that kind of helps them get to a point of like, oh, this is not hard. This isn’t a big change. I’m doing the same thing as I would if I’m writing an email and attaching PDFs. I’m just making it better next level. And I think that’s kind of how we, we keep that adoption rate. But like I said, we’re striving for that 97%. I would love to get to a hundred, but I, I think that might be an impossible goal, but. Who knows, maybe in a couple years we will be, but we’re aiming for 97% and we wanna sustain that. RR: I think it’s always funny chatting with folks about the things that, you know, we feel are successful and almost always the response is, that’s not good enough. We can do better. So we’ll have to check back and I hope in the next couple of months we’ll see that 97% from you. Thinking of other wins that you’ve had with the platform, I’d love to know, since implementing Highspot, what business results have you achieved? Or maybe in addition to that, what wins have you accomplished or goals that you’ve met that you and your team are really proud of? MB: Yeah, so I think the thing that we’re most proud of is we had a very quick adoption of this rebrand, Culligan Quench, and we did the. Rebrand about a year after merging with who was our oldest competitor. So within a year we had onboarded people who. Our tenured reps and I say are, and it’s giving me a trip up ’cause they’re all our reps now, but we’re onboarding people who we used to go head to head with in deals and then we’re in a year in and we’re like, Hey, guess what? We’re now Culligan Quench and everything looks different. We have a new logo. We’re gonna talk about ourselves a little bit differently, and we had a really quick adoption to that and we didn’t get too many objections from it. And I think, I don’t have hard numbers against it, but the attitude around it was very positive, and I think a lot of that stems from. High spas not going anywhere. The content’s all gonna be there on this day. All of your content that you’ve been using for years is all gonna be, it’s just gonna look different. So I think that is a crazy achievement and a win that I will. Keep talking about until the day I retire. But another one is ramping reps. So getting reps up and running quickly is something that we really pride ourselves on. We have a very big product line we have. A very wide customer base. It’s basically any workplace that needs water. Spoiler alert, it’s all of you. From a new hire perspective, it can be a little intimidating. We have over 50 products and you’re, what do you mean? I’m going after every single industry on the world in the United States, but having Highspot, it allows us to ramp our new hires pretty quickly. On average, new hires are, you know, within. Three months, they’ve had at least one of their own first deals. Within six months, we take them off of what we call ramping, where they’re owners of their commissions and their quotas. But given how wide of a customer base we have and how many products we have, it’s pretty impressive that you can go from a Joe Schmo and in six months you’re using this very awesome next level tool to pitch. To every industry over 54 machines. So that’s something that we, we hold pretty high in a win. And like I said, I don’t, and I’ve mentioned this before and I don’t have exact numbers, but the, you know, our top quota beaters, consistent quota beaters that we see month after month, year after year. There also are super users in Highspot. So not only we producing the right content for the team, but the team is adapting to using Highspot and really proving, you know what I thought when I proposed us switching to Highspot years ago, it’s gonna set us apart from our competitors. And it’s, I think that stack kind of proves it, not only do we have reps using the tool, which was a fear that senior leaders had of why are we gonna invest in this tool? And reps are gonna still send emails, they’re using the tool and they’re winning what using the tool. So I think it kind of just furthers that, you know, loop that I’ve mentioned of. Getting reps to use the tool and everything else will kind of fall in all into place. And then the biggest win that I can share and that what I kinda put my hat on is we’ve pitched, and I can’t name names, but we pitched to some. Big international organizations using digital rooms. You know, you have the PowerPoint presentation and we have, you know, links in the PowerPoint presentation to the digital room for more information and a couple of times. You know, we’re pitching to C level of these international organizations and they’re going, this is incredible, this digital room presentation, I’ve never seen something like it. This is, you know, really sets you apart and I think. Because we are one of the few in our industry who are using Highspot. I don’t, I might be the only one in our industry using it, so I don’t wanna calculate a gamble, I guess you could say, on doing something different has really worked out. I think that’s a, a big win that I like to, to hang my hat on and getting you. We had a couple of senior leaders who were very skeptical of the whole process and getting them to a point where they’re like, they get a question or someone asks, they go, I don’t know, go ask Highspot. I don’t think I could say how often people are like, I don’t know. It’s in Highspot right now. We only have our sales team on it, but we have other people in other departments going, Hey, can I get Highspot? And I have to be like, no, you’re not in sales. You wanna come over to sales? I can give you when you’re ever in sales. But I think that’s a major win of just getting everyone on board. Rowing the same direction. Through all this change, we’ve maintained that adoption rate through all this change, through all this hiring. Yeah, I think that’s the biggest win. RR: Well, I think the volume of these wins kind of speaks to that point earlier of things are always changing, there’s new priorities, but you guys are coming out successful on the other side. Time and again, so that’s incredible to hear. So thank you for sharing. Just one last question for you to close this out. If you could share one key lesson that you’ve learned from your experience as a marketer tasked with supporting teams through all of this change, what would it be? I know that’s a big question. MB: I don’t know whether it’s a lesson learned or a lesson reiterated, but it goes back to nothing is impossible. Everything is figureoutable. I guess best advice is take the time to really think it through so you can set yourself up for later success. You know, break it down into pieces and really think it through. And often when there’s a lot of change or you know, big deadlines, you immediately wanna just jump in and start running. And sometimes the fastest way to get started is to actually think it through. Take a moment, think it through, break it down into pieces, and then just keep going. Just putting one foot in front of the other through the big change through the crazy deadlines is my best advice is just break it down part by. Foot over foot, and then next thing you know, it’s 12 years later and you’re like, whoa, look at all this stuff that has changed in the past 12 years. But yeah, it, I think that’s what it is. It everything is figureoutable. You just gotta dedicate a little time to figure it out. RR: I think that’s great advice. It’s that slow down to go fast mentality. I think that’s a great approach to close us out on. So we’ll end there. Thank you so much for coming on and joining us today. I think we’ve learned a lot from you and we have some really great advice and some philosophical frameworks to take us forward. MB: I couldn’t help it. That philosophy just comes out every once in a while. RR: Well, it’s amazing. To our audience, thank you for listening to this episode of the Win-Win podcast. Be sure to tune in next time for more insights on how you can maximize enablement success at Highspot.
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Want to Start or Grow a Successful Business? Schedule a FREE 13-Point Assessment with Clay Clark Today At: www.ThrivetimeShow.com Join Clay Clark's Thrivetime Show Business Workshop!!! Learn Branding, Marketing, SEO, Sales, Workflow Design, Accounting & More. **Request Tickets & See Testimonials At: www.ThrivetimeShow.com **Request Tickets Via Text At (918) 851-0102 See the Thousands of Success Stories and Millionaires That Clay Clark Has Helped to Produce HERE: https://www.thrivetimeshow.com/testimonials/ Download A Millionaire's Guide to Become Sustainably Rich: A Step-by-Step Guide to Become a Successful Money-Generating and Time-Freedom Creating Business HERE: www.ThrivetimeShow.com/Millionaire See Thousands of Case Studies Today HERE: www.thrivetimeshow.com/does-it-work/
Fall is here, which means back to school, football season, crisp apples, and the world's biggest blend of tech conference and music festival: Dreamforce. Now in its 22nd year, Dreamforce 2025 returns to San Francisco on October 16–18, featuring headline speakers like the CEOs of Google and Starbucks, plus musical guests Metallica and Benson Boone.In this week's episode, Jim welcomes Ariel Kelman, President and Chief Marketing Officer of Salesforce, to talk about the power of Dreamforce, what it's like working under visionary founders like Marc Benioff and Jeff Bezos, and why rethinking organizational design with agentic AI at the core is critical for the future. With Salesforce leading the charge in cloud-based CRM and now AI innovation, Ariel shares his unique journey—from his early days at Salesforce, to Amazon Web Services, to Oracle, and back again—offering lessons in marketing leadership at scale.---This week's episode is brought to you by Deloitte.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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The next generation of analytics is here. In this episode of The Data Chief, ThoughtSpot CEO Ketan Karkhanis explains why AI is the new BI, and the future of analytics is autonomous. Karkhanis shares his vision for the autonomous enterprise, where AI agents act on insights and automate workflows. He also explains why a culture of trust and experimentation is crucial for unlocking AI's full potential. Don't miss this discussion on how to fundamentally rethink how organizations interact with data to drive better business outcomes and build an autonomous enterprise.Key Moments:AI is the New BI (08:35): Ketan explains that AI represents a “foundational rewiring” of the entire technology stack, a shift he calls Cloud 2.0. He predicts the BI market is on the verge of an “upgrade super cycle,” leaving legacy players behind.AI Becomes the Only UI (20:45): Ketan shares his vision that in the future, AI will become "the only UI you will need". He explains that ThoughtSpot's MCP host can bring together structured data, unstructured data, and world knowledge to provide better context for a user's question.Progress over Perfection (25:56): Leaders are reminded not to let “perfection be the enemy of progress.” For Ketan, a culture of trust and openness to experimentation is more important than having perfectly defined KPIs or flawless dashboards.Training Comes First (29:02): One of the biggest lessons learned was the importance of investing in people before chasing the promise of AI outcomes. After rolling out mandatory generative AI training, new use cases began emerging organically from across the business—proof that education fuels innovation.Outcomes Over Tech (38:47): Despite mountains of legacy technology, many organizations remain starved for actionable insights. Ketan points to EasyJet as an example of getting it right: rather than focusing on systems and infrastructure, they designed their AI initiative around a tangible outcome—avoiding flight cancellations.The Rise of the Autonomous Enterprise (42:56): The next frontier is the autonomous enterprise, where AI agents don't just surface insights but also act on them. Ketan envisions a future where humans are freed from mundane tasks to focus on higher-value work like relationships and judgment calls.Key Quotes:"AI becomes the only UI you will need." - Ketan Karkhanis"It's not about AI. It's about ROI." - Ketan Karkhanis"This is no longer just about BI. This is about agents that are driving workflows in your organizations." - Ketan KarkhanisMentions:Go Boundaryless Product SpotlightThoughtSpot Agentic MCP Server Lex Fridman PodcastTeam of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham LincolnThe Path Between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama CanalGuest Bio: Ketan Karkhanis is the CEO of ThoughtSpot. Prior to joining the company in September 2024, Ketan was the Executive Vice President and General Manager of Sales Cloud at Salesforce. He returned to Salesforce in March 2022 after his time as the COO of Turvo, an emerging supply-chain collaboration platform. Before that, Ketan spent nearly a decade at Salesforce, where he led product areas in Sales, Service Cloud, Lightning Platform, and finally Analytics, wherein as the Senior Vice President & GM of Einstein Analytics, he pioneered incredible innovation, customer success, and business acceleration from launch to over $300M and a 30,000 strong user community. Prior to Salesforce, Ketan was at Cisco Systems where he led various technology initiatives and initiatives spanning Customer Advocacy, Cisco Certifications & eLearning. Hear more from Cindi Howson here. Sponsored by ThoughtSpot.
In today's rapidly evolving sales landscape, the integration of product-led growth (PLG) and sales-led growth (SLG) strategies has become a crucial differentiator for successful companies. As the Chief Revenue Officer of Webflow, Adrian Rosenkranz shares invaluable insights on effectively blending these two approaches to create a unified go-to-market engine. This episode explores how Webflow has successfully combined PLG and SLG motions, leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance customer experiences, streamline sales processes, and drive revenue growth. Adrian provides a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities presented by this hybrid approach, offering practical strategies for sales and marketing professionals looking to optimize their go-to-market strategies. Key Takeaways Understanding the distinctions between product-led and sales-led growth motions Leveraging AI to enhance relevancy and personalization in customer interactions Implementing AI-driven content refreshes to improve discoverability and SEO performance Utilizing AI for sales enablement, including personalized onboarding and coaching Adapting metrics and KPIs to evaluate the effectiveness of blended PLG and SLG strategies As we navigate this AI-driven sales landscape, it's clear that the companies who can effectively blend PLG and SLG strategies while leveraging AI will have a significant competitive advantage. It's an exciting time to be in sales, and I'm eager to see how these strategies evolve. Innovative AI Applications in Sales and Marketing Creating AI-generated onboarding podcasts for new hires Developing custom GPTs for sales reps to streamline prospecting and communication Implementing AI-powered customer support to resolve cases faster in PLG motions Utilizing AI for content optimization and real-time conversion rate improvements The Future of AI in Sales As AI continues to reshape the sales landscape, Adrian emphasizes the importance of maintaining authenticity and personalization. He introduces the concept of a "Go-to-Market AI Engineer" role, dedicated to reimagining sales workflows and processes through AI integration. This episode provides a wealth of actionable insights for sales leaders, marketers, and revenue operations professionals looking to harness the power of AI and create a more effective, blended approach to growth. Don't miss this opportunity to stay ahead of the curve and drive your organization's success in the AI-powered sales era. Key Moments 00:00:00 - Blending Product-Led and Sales-Led Growth Webflow successfully combines product-led and sales-led growth strategies. Few companies effectively blend these approaches into a single go-to-market engine. The key is solving for customer experience rather than separate teams, using AI to meet customers' needs faster and provide more relevant interactions across both motions. 00:04:31 - AI's Impact on Marketing and Sales AI is automating relevancy in marketing and sales. Webflow uses AI to refresh content, optimize landing pages, and personalize outreach. They've built custom GPT models to assist SDRs and automate processes. AI enables faster, more personalized customer interactions across product-led and sales-led motions. 00:23:22 - Implementing AI in Go-to-Market Strategy Webflow hired a Go-to-Market AI Engineer to reimagine workflows. They use AI for sales enablement, coaching, and onboarding. The CRO created an AI-generated podcast to onboard the new CMO. AI helps scale knowledge sharing and provides faster feedback loops for sales reps. 00:39:15 - AI Impact on Metrics and Customer Experience Webflows CRO identifies the type of metrics they measure the sales team by and how they use AI to drive a better set of KPis that drive a better customer experience. About Adrian Rosenkranz Adrian Rosenkranz is Chief Revenue Officer at Webflow, where he leads Sales, Marketing, Customer Success, Partnerships and Revenue Operations. He is helping grow Webflow into the leading AI-powered visual development platform for ambitious brands. Before Webflow, Adrian was Chief Operating Officer of Tableau Americas at Salesforce, where he scaled a multi-billion dollar enterprise business. A firm believer in innovation with purpose, Adrian is helping Webflow harness AI to drive smarter growth and better customer experiences, from go-to-market systems that learn and adapt to tools that amplify what creative teams can build. His focus is on unlocking leverage, not just automation. Adrian also serves on the board of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation and previously advised Harvard Business School's Kraft Precision Medicine Accelerator. He earned his bachelor's degree from Stanford University, where he was a Division I football player. Follow Us On: · LinkedIn · Twitter · YouTube Channel · Instagram · Facebook Learn More About FlyMSG Features Like: · LinkedIn Auto Comment Generator · AI Social Media Post Generator · Auto Text Expander · AI Grammar Checker · AI Sales Roleplay and Coaching · Paragraph Rewrite with AI · Sales Prospecting Training for Individuals · FlyMSG Enterprise Sales Prospecting Training Program Install FlyMSG for Free: · As a Chrome Extension · As an Edge Extension
How is the landscape of B2B commerce transforming in the digital age? Becky Simmons from CONA Services and Becky Wright from CloudGaia discuss the significant changes in B2B commerce facilitated by Salesforce's platform. They explore the implementation of a seamless self-service platform that enables nearly 300,000 end customers to manage orders and inquiries efficiently. The conversation highlights the unique dynamics of B2B commerce, focusing on account-specific pricing and managing large order volumes while delivering a B2C-like experience. Emphasizing a collaborative 'one team' approach, the episode underscores the importance of partnerships in achieving customer-centric digital transformations and ensuring operational efficiency. Show Highlights: Creation of a seamless self-service digital account management platform for nearly 300,000 end customers Differences between B2B and B2C commerce, focusing on account-specific pricing and large order volumes Importance of a 'one team' approach in executing large-scale B2B projects successfully Role of Salesforce as a single source of truth, enhancing data security and customer satisfaction Cloud Gaia's strategic partnership with Salesforce and Kona Services to ensure project success Follow and Review: We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review,” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second, and it helps spread the word about the podcast. *** Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. Let them know I sent you.
AI isn't just transforming marketing — it's reshaping the entire customer experience.In this special crossover episode, Experts of Experience features a conversation from our sister podcast Marketing Trends, hosted by Stephanie Postles.Stephanie sits down with Amber Armstrong, CMO of Salesforce Applications, to explore how AI and LLMs are changing discoverability, customer journeys, and the future of CX. Amber shares how her team is rethinking SEO for generative search, converting 40% of LLM traffic into leads, and rolling out AI agents at scale through Salesforce's Agentforce.If you want to understand how AI is reshaping customer expectations and how leading CMOs are adapting, this episode offers a practical playbook for the generative era. Key Moments: 00:00 How AI and LLMs Are Reshaping the Marketing Funnel03:54 Amber Armstrong's Journey from IBM Intern to CMO at Salesforce06:35 The Expanding Role of AI in Modern Marketing Teams08:52 Inside Salesforce's Guild System: How Amber Aligns Teams Across Four Clouds17:31 Real AI Use Cases from Amber Armstrong's Marketing Team at Salesforce26:40 Amber Armstrong's Playbook for Future-Proofing SEO in the Age of LLMs30:55 How Salesforce's Website Converts 40% of LLM Traffic into Leads35:58 Building AI Agents at Scale: Lessons from Salesforce's Agent Force Rollout37:53 The Ongoing Role of Third-Party Validation in Buyer Decision-Making39:49 Amber Armstrong on Adapting Marketing Metrics for an AI-First Future40:40 How Salesforce Aligns Content Strategy Across Business Units44:56 Amber Armstrong's Advice for Getting Teams Comfortable with AI Tools51:24 Salesforce's Next Big Moves: Account-Based Marketing and Cross-Cloud Growth –Are your teams facing growing demands? Join CX leaders transforming their AI strategy with Agentforce. Start achieving your ambitious goals. Visit salesforce.com/agentforce Mission.org is a media studio producing content alongside world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org
In this episode, I sit down with Wendy Turner-Williams, a distinguished tech leader and executive with a deep history at companies like Microsoft and Salesforce. She's of the original minds behind what became Azure Data Factory, among other foundational tech. In this wide-ranging conversation, Wendy charts the trajectory from the early days of the Internet to the current AI-driven hype cycle and looming crisis. She explains how these tools of innovation are now being turned against the workforce and why this technological revolution is fundamentally more disruptive than anything that has come before. This episode is a candid, unfiltered discussion about the real-world impact of AI on jobs, the economy, and our collective future, and a call for leaders to act before it's too late.Timestamps:00:22 - Catching up: The tough job market and writing new books. 05:49 - Wendy's impressive career history at Microsoft, Salesforce, and Tableau. 06:17 - The origin story of Azure Data Factory and other foundational projects at Microsoft. 09:18 - A personal story about the challenges of being a woman in Big Tech in the early days. 13:02 - A look back at a favorite early-career project: Digitizing physical maps with nascent GPS technology in 2001. 18:11 - The state of the tech industry: "Tech is cannibalizing itself because of AI." 20:31 - The massive, impending shock to the job market and why AI is different from previous industrial revolutions.27:26 - Why the "human in the loop" is a temporary and misleading solution. 29:55 - Breaking down the numbers: The staggering quantity of white-collar jobs projected to be eliminated. 36:37 - Why leaders are failing to act and conversations are happening behind closed doors without solutions. 38:25 - Discussing potential solutions: Should companies have quotas for their human workforce? 45:21 - The need for "truth tellers" and leaders who are willing to question the current path and drive human-centric transformation. 53:15 - The grim reality for recent graduates with computer science degrees who can't find jobs. 56:22 - The risk of IP hoarding and engineers deliberately crippling systems to protect their jobs.01:00:20 - Final thoughts: Are we waiting for a "let them eat cake" moment before we see real change?
#33: Architects often ask the wrong question:“How do I attract clients who actually value design?”In this episode, I sit down with Evelyn Lee, Founder of Practice of Architecture, to unpack why that question is flawed and what architects should be asking instead. We dive into how clients really make decisions, why design alone isn't the deciding factor, and how to position your firm to win the work you want.Evelyn shares her unique perspective from both sides of the table: as a licensed architect and as a client at Slack and Salesforce, where she wrote RFPs and selected design teams. Together, we break down what firms get wrong in interviews, how to reframe conversations with potential clients, and why emotional connection matters just as much as design credentials.Learn more about Practice of Architecture: https://practiceofarchitecture.com/ Connect with Evelyn on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evelynlee/ Work with Tyler: Send the word “Grow” to hello@growthitect.com ⸻What You'll Learn:(01:10) Why “attracting clients who value design” is the wrong question(03:45) Evelyn's path from architect to client-side decision-maker(05:21) How clients really evaluate architects (and what they prioritize over design)(07:26) The hidden value architects deliver beyond aesthetics(09:43) Why design quality often takes a back seat to outcomes and efficiency(13:13) The common mistake architects make in interviews(15:11) How language reveals whether you're truly client-focused(18:11) The simple research step that changes everything in client meetings(20:31) Tools you can use to better understand potential clients (LinkedIn, Pinterest, social media)(24:11) Why interviews should feel like conversations—not sales pitches(26:20) How emotional connection drives B2B and residential client decisions(27:30) Why passing the “design filter” isn't enough(30:19) How to know if you're attracting the right clients(31:45) Aligning your outreach with the clients and projects you want most(34:34) Reframing the question: from “design value” to “client outcomes”(35:59) Where to learn more from Evelyn⸻AISC RESOURCES→ Learn about sustainable steel: http://aisc.org/sustainable → Get your Sustainability Toolkit: http://aisc.org/buildgreen GROWTHITECT RESOURCES→ Apply to join The Studio - https://growthitect.com/studio → Join thousands of architects on the free Growthitect newsletter - https://growthitect.com/join STAY CONNECTED→ Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylersuomala/ → Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/growthitect_com → Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@growthitect
Are you ready to finally break free from emotional debt and escape the patterns that are keeping you stuck? Josh Trent welcomes Jonny Miller, Nervous System Expert, to the Wellness + Wisdom Podcast, episode 769, to share why nervous system mastery is the missing key to true healing, how to rewire vagal tone capacity, how trauma gets stored in the body, why emotions travel across generations, and how breathwork and collective healing spaces help you reconnect with your true Self. Nervous System Mastery A 5-week live bootcamp to build calm, clarity, and resilience from the inside out. Most people think stress, burnout, and emotional patterns are “just the way life is.” But what if those patterns were actually shaping your biology and you had the tools to rewrite them? This training unpacks the science of how emotions, beliefs, and environment can switch genes on or off and shows you practical ways to reprogram them for peace, resilience, and lasting vitality. It's not about piling on more self-help. It's about learning how to create real inner safety, release stored trauma, and finally experience freedom in your body, mind, and spirit. Master Your Nervous System Today Enjoy $250 off the next cohort by using the link above or the code LIVEWELL In This Episode, Jonny Miller Uncovers: [01:15] Nervous System Mastery How the nervous system impacts our predictions. What made Jonny realize he was numb in his body. Why mastery takes at least 10,000 hours. How nervous system mastery means reducing reactivity. Why moments of crisis humble us and get us to start learning new ways of being. Resources: Jonny Miller Nervous System Mastery: $250 off using this link or with code LIVEWELL [06:20] Is Your Therapist Trauma-Informed? What it means when a practitioner is trauma-informed. How certain healing methods don't consider trauma. Why the wrong therapy can perpetuate trauma. How a good practitioner may take several years to become truly skilled at holding space. [07:55] Allow Yourself to Grieve What it was like for Jonny to grieve the loss of his partner. Why many people don't know how to grieve. How we resist the waves of grief. Why grief became the catalyst for Jonny's healing. Resources: [15:15] Do Emotions Get Stuck in The Body? The Body Keeps The Score by Bessel van der Kolk How anxiety is a defence strategy against feeling certain emotions. Anxiety: The Anxiety Cure for the Anxious Mind by Michael Johnson Vasocomputation Why the body constricts when it doesn't feel safe. How the body keeps the score. Resources: The Body Keeps The Score by Bessel van der Kolk Anxiety: The Anxiety Cure for the Anxious Mind by Michael Johnson Vasocomputation [18:45] How to Create Safety in The Body How the body makes prediction about the world. Why emotional releases create looseness and range of motion in the body. What it means to be safe in the body. Why nervous system mastery is about having a secure attachment with reality. [21:35] What's Blocking You from Joy How the one thing that all Blue Zones have in common is connection to a higher power. Why breathwork and plant medicine changed Jonny's view on life. How moving our beliefs out of the way allows us to experience pure joy. Why joy doesn't have to be earned. [26:30] Don't Let Fear Stop You from Healing How we can feel the emotions of our ancestors. What stops us from doing the deep healing work. Why protective mechanisms have a purpose in our lives. Resources: Parental olfactory experience influences behavior and neural structure in subsequent generations [30:20] Improving Your Vagal Tone Capacity Why the modes of reactivity are based on our vagal tone. How we can relax the hyperarousal state. Why vagal tone capacity allows us to stay grounded. How each of us has different capacity levels for each emotion. Why culture influences our capacity to feel and express our emotions. The difference between feeling and projecting emotions. [36:50] Is Your Relationship Toxic? Why people pleasing is a reflection of repressed anger. How relationships mirror how far we've come in the healing work. Why conflict has a purpose in a relationship. How intimate relationships are a fast track to nervous system mastery. When relationships become toxic. Resources: 738 How To Heal Generational Wounds Blocking Your Success + Self-Worth | John Wang 744 Debra Silverman | Your Pain Has a Pattern… and Astrology Reveals It All (This Isn't Random) 736 Silvy Khoucasian | Stop Confusing Chemistry for Trauma: Why You're Attracted to the Wrong People + How to Finally Break the Pattern [45:40] Outgrowing Your Partner What a relaxed nervous system feels like. Why we worship self-development. What happens when we outgrow our partner. [50:40] The Power of Breath Why most people breathe into the chest. How our breathing can cause a panic attack. Why we need to breathe into the lower diaphragm to feel more relaxed. How jaw tension is linked to lower body tension. Why we can change our state through our physiology. How we get out of tune as humans. Resources: Breath by James Nestor [56:55] How to Create a Space for Mastery How we can create an intentional space for mastery. Why we should avoid blue light in our space. Creativity is a blend of the ventral state and sympathetic state. How we can create a flow state. [01:00:25] Release Your Emotional Debt How Jonny helps his clients open their breathing. Why we need a dynamic range of breathing. How we can let emotions out through breathwork. Why emotional debt can kill us. How it becomes inefficient for the body to have many protective systems. Resources: 410 Mark Divine | Positive Neurodiversity: Kokoro Spirit, The 5 Mountains For Inner Peace, & How To Fulfill Your Potential [01:06:25] Collective Spaces for Healing How we're living in a sick culture that requires us to work towards health. Why we need collective spaces for emotional and ancestral healing. How men in Eastern Europe used to process their emotions in a sauna. [01:10:15] Your Money Starts with Your Body How tuning into our body helps us improve our relationship with our body. Why money is a mirror to our inner state. How we create stories around money. Why we can be scared to receive. [01:15:20] Are You Ready to Go on an Inner Adventure? How we're just understanding how our body work. Why the healing journey is an inner adventure. How we can achieve altered states through meditation. Why nervous system mastery is helping us remember and feel alive. Leave Wellness + Wisdom a Review on Apple Podcasts All Resources From This Episode Jonny Miller Nervous System Mastery: $250 off using this link or with code LIVEWELL The Body Keeps The Score by Bessel van der Kolk Anxiety: The Anxiety Cure for the Anxious Mind by Michael Johnson Vasocomputation Parental olfactory experience influences behavior and neural structure in subsequent generations 738 How To Heal Generational Wounds Blocking Your Success + Self-Worth | John Wang 744 Debra Silverman | Your Pain Has a Pattern… and Astrology Reveals It All (This Isn't Random) 736 Silvy Khoucasian | Stop Confusing Chemistry for Trauma: Why You're Attracted to the Wrong People + How to Finally Break the Pattern Breath by James Nestor 410 Mark Divine | Positive Neurodiversity: Kokoro Spirit, The 5 Mountains For Inner Peace, & How To Fulfill Your Potential Power Quotes From Jonny Miller "The nervous system is the lens through which we experience our life. The state of our nervous system impacts the predictions that we're making about the people and the world around us. And the work lies in identifying all of the ways in which we don't trust in ourselves or trust in life and then bring courageous curiosity towards those areas" — Jonny Miller "Any conflict is a potential edge to grow from. There's always going to be rupture in relationships. It's about how lovingly can you repair? How quickly can you go from conflict back to connection?" — Jonny Miller "We are in a world which worships self development. But there's a great distinction in self-development and self-unfoldment. When you're approaching inner work through the lens of self-developemnt, it often has this premise of part of me is broken and I need to fix it. Self-unfoldment, ot the other hand, starts with the premise of I am already whole and worthy of love." — Jonny Miller
Cloud software giant Salesforce is under a growing cloud of existential worry about the future of business software in the age of AI. As the poster-child for its category, can Salesforce prove to investors it has staying power? WSJ Heard on the Street Columnist Dan Gallagher joins us to discuss. Plus, there's a major gender gap when it comes to usage of AI. Belle Lin hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free Technology newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Three Buddy Problem - Episode 61: We cover a pair of software supply chain breaches (Salesforce Salesloft Drift and NPM/GitHub) that raises big questions about SaaS integrations and the ripple effects across major security vendors. Plus, Apple's new Memory Integrity Enforcement in iPhone 17 and discussion on commercial spyware infections and the value of Apple notifications; concerns around Chinese hardware and surveillance equipment in US infrastructure; Silicon Valley profiting from China's surveillance ecosystem; and controversy around a Huntress disclosure of an attacker's operations after an EDR agent was mistakenly installed. Cast: Juan Andres Guerrero-Saade (https://twitter.com/juanandres_gs), Ryan Naraine (https://twitter.com/ryanaraine) and Costin Raiu (https://twitter.com/craiu).
On this episode of Gov Tech Today, we welcome Adam Silver, chair of the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC). Adam explains the role of the FPPC as the state's political and ethics watchdog, overseeing campaign finance, lobbying rules, and conflicts of interest. We explore how the FPPC is pioneering the use of emerging technologies, from early adoption of Salesforce to current initiatives incorporating AI to promote transparency and efficiency. Adam also discusses the practicalities of filing requirements, the impact of making data public, and leveraging university partnerships and interstate collaborations for AI advancements. Plus, insights into ensuring human oversight in AI processes and maintaining meaningful transparency for the public.00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:52 Understanding the FPPC01:47 FPPC's Technological Innovations02:18 Form 700 and Public Officials05:30 Data Transparency and AI Integration08:26 AI in Enforcement and Efficiency11:26 Human Resources and Change Management17:07 Collaborations and Future Plans23:12 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Fraudology is presented by Sardine. Get your tickets to Sardine[Con] and end the scamedmicThis episode of Fraudology returns with a comprehensive fraud news roundup, as host Karisse Hendrick examines major cybersecurity incidents and emerging scam tactics. This episode offers an in-depth look at the Salesforce data breach that impacted hundreds of organizations, including credit bureau TransUnion. Carice breaks down how hackers exploited a third-party tool to steal sensitive data and credentials from Salesforce instances. She also unpacks the PayPal fraud detection failure that sent European banks into panic mode, freezing billions in transactions. The episode shines a light on the dark world of human trafficking and scam compounds in Southeast Asia, revealing new connections to sextortion schemes targeting minors. Carice shares eye-opening details about these criminal operations and their expanding reach. The rise of AI-powered fraud takes center stage as well, with Carice examining how deepfakes and other AI tools are being weaponized by scammers to impersonate executives and create convincing fake websites. She offers practical advice for protecting yourself and your business from these evolving threats. With expert insights and analysis of the latest fraud trends, this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to stay ahead of cybercriminals and scammers. Don't miss this essential update on the state of fraud, tune in now to arm yourself with knowledge.Fraudology is hosted by Karisse Hendrick, a fraud fighter with decades of experience advising hundreds of the biggest ecommerce companies in the world on fraud, chargebacks, and other forms of abuse impacting a company's bottom line. Connect with her on LinkedIn She brings her experience, expertise, and extensive network of experts to this podcast weekly, on Tuesdays.
In today's Cloud Wars Minute, I dive into the growing debate between SaaS and agentic AI, sparked by Satya Nadella's December 2024 remarks suggesting that AI agents could spell the end of SaaS.Highlights00:32 — We've all been hearing a lot about SaaS dying — the demise of SaaS — triggered by AI, an opinion expressed in December of 2024 by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, who said that the rise of AI and agents is going to lead to the collapse of SaaS, the hollowing out of it, to become little more than a third-tier support product.01:18 — Well, Marc Benioff said basically that this view, it's just so much nonsense. And Benioff even went biblical. He said, we've got to be able to separate the wheat from the chaff, and we need to be able to determine what's going on here with SaaS, what's going on with AI, and what's going on with agentic AI. How are they going to play together, along with Data Cloud and so on?02:26 — And he said, that's very much not the right question. He used some pretty tough language in explaining this. He said we've got thousands of customers who are very happily using Salesforce applications along with our Agentforce platform, to drive better business results. It's very beneficial to believe both in the future of SaaS and the future of agentic AI.04:02 — And on the earnings call, he went into detail about how many customers now are investing heavily in Agentforce. And the number of new business deals coming in — or repeat business — on agentic AI and Agentforce coming from existing customers. The Data Cloud that underpins this and Agentforce, he said, are now on a $1.2 billion run rate.04:32 — I wish that there would be a point at which Satya Nadella could say, with the experience of nine months now of feedback in the market and from people he's talked to: “Hey, I'm going to double down on what I said in December 2024.” Or he could say, “You know what, maybe I was a little too aggressive on that.” I'd love to hear that. Visit Cloud Wars for more.
How to Trade Stocks and Options Podcast by 10minutestocktrader.com
Are you looking to save time, make money, and start winning with less risk? Then head to https://www.ovtlyr.com.In this video, we're ranking the moats of some of the most popular stocks in the market. A moat is what gives a company its competitive edge — the defense that keeps profits flowing and competitors at bay. Some names are strongholds with walls that look unbreakable, while others are stuck in open fields with no protection at all.We walk through the charts, fundamentals, and OVTLYR signals to show where these companies stand right now. The big takeaway: fundamentals don't pay unless the price trend is on your side.Here's what we cover:➡️ Tech Titans: Nvidia, AMD, Microsoft, Google, and Meta — which ones are true strongholds, and which are slipping as competition heats up?➡️ Consumer Favorites: Duolingo, Lululemon, Nike, and Netflix — from rapid growth to brand power, see who still has a moat and who's losing ground fast.➡️ Healthcare & Staples: UnitedHealth and Hims — one a giant with entrenched networks, the other a volatile up-and-comer with big potential but big risks.➡️ Financial Powerhouses: MSCI, S&P Global, and Mastercard — tollbooth businesses that collect revenue every time the market moves.➡️ Big Movers: Tesla, Palantir, Salesforce, and Target — companies with explosive potential, but trends that show how fragile a moat can be.Throughout the breakdown, you'll see how OVTLYR's Nine signals, trend templates, and fear-and-greed data cut through the noise. By focusing on price action instead of headlines, you can spot when a stock is setting up for a bullish run or breaking down into a bearish trend.The lesson is simple: growth, revenue, and fundamentals don't guarantee profits. The only thing that pays is catching the right trend at the right time. Whether you're trading Tesla's volatility, watching Nvidia's dominance, or questioning Netflix's staying power, this video shows you how to evaluate the moat and the market together.If you're ready to save time, make smarter trades, and reduce risk, this ranking will give you clarity on which companies are worth your attention and which ones may not deserve the hype.Gain instant access to the AI-powered tools and behavioral insights top traders use to spot big moves before the crowd. Start trading smarter today
I am joined by Ben McCarthy, Founder of Salesforce Ben, Lab.club and advisor to a number of great companies in the ecosystem like AscendX, Tequity Advisors, and PipeLaunch. We talk about his journey from university to stumbling upon Salesforce and then after being called SalesforceBoy grew into Salesforce Ben. We talk about how to approach thought leadership, holding nothing back from the reader. Give back and give value and best practices without selling first. Obviously your offering will help more, but for basic use cases consider helping those salesforce users solve their problem without using your solution. There will be time to position your premium solution once trust is established.People in the ecosystem will know of Salesforce Ben and Ben himself, but some ISVs might not know that you can actually engage with SFB to help engage the Salesforce community with things like sponsored content, thought leadership, dreamforce activations and more. Their team has data and expertise to help guide ISVs on what works and what doesn't to drive conversions. We talk about the state of the ecosystem around things like events and how it's changed over the last decade. Experimenting with things like video and shorts vs. things like white papers. Speaking of exploration, Ben also gives his point of view on how and why they launched NowBen, a similar platform to Salesforce Ben but focused on the ServiceNow ecosystem. I think everyone can learn from his point of view on this topic.Make sure you follow Gearset and Elements.Cloud with Kevin Boyle and Ian Gotts, respectively. Here is the link to Salesforce Ben's parties and events guide for Dreamforce 2025 next month. https://www.salesforceben.com/official-dreamforce-parties-and-events-guide-2025/ This episode is brought to you by Tequity Advisors . Tequity Advisors is a global sell-side M&A advisory firm with core expertise in SaaS and ISVs, Salesforce, ServiceNow, SAP, Microsoft, all things Data and AI, and the hyper scaler MSP cloud ecosystems with a focus on the Salesforce ecosystem and beyond!
If your company isn't talking about an AI-forward strategy, it might be falling behind. In this episode, Paul Roetzer and Mike Kaput break down what Salesforce's Marc Benioff and other leaders are saying about AI-driven job cuts, OpenAI's bold new plan to certify 10 million Americans in AI skills, and how the U.S. government is teaming up with Big Tech to push AI education. Plus, in our rapid-fire section, stay tuned for insights into Google's antitrust case, plans for Apple's AI search engine, and more. Show Notes: Access the show notes and show links here Timestamps: 00:00:00 — Intro 00:07:00 — OpenAI Jobs Platform 00:18:45 — Salesforce AI Job Cuts 00:31:12 — US AI Education 00:41:08 — OpenAI Secondary Sale and Cash Burn 00:45:40 — OpenAI Executive Guide 00:48:00 — OAI Labs 00:52:33 — Google Antitrust Case 00:54:35 — AI Progress Update 00:59:13 — Research on Hallucinations 01:04:56 — Apple's AI Search Engine Plans for Siri 01:06:52 — Prompt Injection in Customer Service 01:11:38 — AI Product and Funding Updates This episode is brought to you by AI Academy by SmarterX. AI Academy is your gateway to personalized AI learning for professionals and teams. Discover our new on-demand courses, live classes, certifications, and a smarter way to master AI. You can get $100 off either an individual purchase or a membership by using code POD100 when you go to academy.smarterx.ai. This week's episode is brought to you by MAICON, our 6th annual Marketing AI Conference, happening in Cleveland, Oct. 14-16. The code POD100 saves $100 on all pass types. For more information on MAICON and to register for this year's conference, visit www.MAICON.ai. Visit our website Receive our weekly newsletter Join our community: Slack LinkedIn Twitter Instagram Facebook Looking for content and resources? Register for a free webinar Come to our next Marketing AI Conference Enroll in our AI Academy
¿Cómo puede un anunciante escoger la solución más adecuada para identificar a su audiencia en medios digitales? El Identity Use Case Builder de IAB Spain aspira a responder estas preguntas. Nos hemos sentado con sus artífices, José Ramón Mencías (Publicis) y Mónica Rodríguez (Utiq) para entender su motivación y algunos precedentes -como el estudio sobre el estado de la privacidad digital en España.Mónica Rodríguez Paz es Managing Director de Utiq para el Sur de Europa y cuenta con más de 15 años de experiencia en marketing digital, habiendo trabajado antes en Salesforce, Telefónica y Microsoft. Ha liderado la integración de soluciones de identidad y estrategias “cookieless” para grandes marcas y medios en España e Italia. Además, es presidenta de la Comisión de Data de IAB Spain.José Ramón Mencías es Data Solutions Lead en el Grupo Publicis, acumulando más de 15 años de experiencia en el sector que incluyen el desarrollo de un Trading Desk independiente y la implementación de infraestructuras de Big Data para grandes marcas, además de haber pasado por la analítica web y el ad serving. También colabora con varias escuelas de negocio y asociaciones del sector.Ambos son co-fundadores de la Data Clean Room Alliance.Referencias:* Mónica Rodríguez Paz en LinkedIn* José Ramón Mencías en LinkedIn* IAB Spain: Identity Use Case Builder* IAB Spain: Estudio sobre el Estado de la Privacidad Digital* Data Clean Room Alliance* Estudio: la agencia de seguridad nacional de Estados Unidos compra datos de navegación de usuarios a data brokers del mercado publicitario (CNN, 2024)* José Ramón Mencías: mitos y futuro del mundo cookieless, la audiencia empoderada, la medición y la publicidad (Masters of Privacy, 2023) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mastersofprivacy.com/subscribe
Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, as he dives into today's top stories shaping America and the world. In this Monday Headline Brief of The Wright Report, we cover immigration raids from Boston to Savannah, the latest jobs report and economic culprits, Venezuela's narco-terror fight, China's alignment with Russia, Zelenskyy's swipe at Trump, and a Pentagon name change with global implications. Quick hits to launch your week with the facts shaping America's future. Immigration Crackdowns: Operation Patriot 2.0 launched in Massachusetts targeting violent criminals shielded by sanctuary laws. Trump teased Chicago raids with an “Apocalypse Now” meme, while a Savannah raid at Hyundai's mega-factory nabbed 475 illegals — the largest single-site operation in DHS history. Jobs Report Disappoints: Only 22,000 jobs were added in August, with revisions showing losses in June. Native-born employment is rising as 820,000 foreign workers have left, but debate rages over whether the culprits are Jerome Powell's high rates, Trump's tariff wars, Silicon Valley's AI revolution, or Biden's weak foundation. Venezuela Narco-Terror Strike Debate: Trump sank a Tren de Aragua drug boat, killing 11. Democrats and Sen. Rand Paul demand Coast Guard arrests, while Trump's War Secretary Pete Hegseth insists, “A drug cartel is no different than al Qaeda.” China, Russia, and India Align: Trump blasted, “Looks like we've lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest China.” Reuters revealed Beijing firms sold $50 million in drone parts and military supplies to Moscow, tightening the Xi-Putin alliance. Zelenskyy Criticizes Trump Over Alaska Summit: The Ukrainian president told ABC it was “a pity” Trump gave Putin legitimacy. Yet he admitted, “President Trump is right about the Europeans,” as EU nations import record Russian gas despite sanctions. Department of Defense Renamed: The White House rebrands it the Department of War, reflecting a more aggressive posture from Venezuela to Ukraine and the Pacific. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32 Keywords: Operation Patriot 2.0 Massachusetts immigration raids, Trump Chicago Apocalypse Now meme, Savannah Hyundai raid 475 illegals, U.S. jobs report August 2025, Jerome Powell Fed rates, Trump tariffs exemptions metals, AI layoffs Salesforce, Biden weak jobs foundation, Trump Venezuela narco-terror strike, Pete Hegseth drug cartels al Qaeda, Xi Jinping Putin military alliance, China drone parts Russia, Zelenskyy Alaska summit criticism, EU Russian gas imports, Department of War rebrand Pentagon
Clint is home from summer tour! Brad Blazeck joins before a highly anticipated Nine Inch Nails show with Clint to catch up on the summer and talk Metallica and music. Topics include:- Clint's tour recap- the deaths of Ozzy Osbourne and Brent Hinds- Maximum Metallica on Sirius XM- the Stephen Talkhouse gig- the upcoming Salesforce gig in October- more Mustaine drama- OG Pantera- listener e-mails- Megadeth re-evaluation- the Tom Hanks movie “Here”- Clint's personal playlists- the death of Brian Wilson- writers block and tips for creative writing- the effects of drugs on creativity- the Oasis reunion- getting Paul Moak back on the show- Metallica openers If you think Metal Up Your Podcast has value, please consider taking a brief moment to leave a positive review and subscribe on iTunes here:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/metal-up-your-podcast-all-things-metallica/id1187775077You can further support the show by becoming a patron. All patrons of Metal Up Your Podcast at the $5 level receive volumes 1-4 of our Cover Our World Blackened EP's for free. Additionally, patrons are invited to come on the show to talk about any past Metallica show they've been to and are given access to ask our guests like Ray Burton, Halestorm, Michael Wagener, Jay Weinberg of Slipknot and members of Metallica's crew their very own questions. Be a part of what makes Metal Up Your Podcast special by becoming a PATRON here:http://www.patreon.com/metalupyourpodcastJoin the MUYP Discord Server:https://discord.gg/nBUSwR8tPurchase/Stream Lunar Satan:https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/lunarsatan/lunar-satanPurchase/Stream VAMPIRE:https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/clintwells/vampirePurchase/Stream our Cover Our World Blackened Volumes and Quarantine Covers:https://metalupyourpodcast.bandcamp.comFollow us on all social media platforms.Write in at:metalupyourpodcastshow@gmail.com
Can a no-code giant reinvent itself in the AI-native era?This week on Grit, Airtable CEO Howie Liu shares what it means to “refound” a company, how speed comes from tearing up old playbooks, and why conversational AI is reshaping his product—and his company.Guest: Howie Liu, Co-Founder & CEO of AirtableChapters:00:00 Intro01:04 First startup & YC04:06 Salesforce acqui-hire07:31 Life-changing exit at 2211:07 Scaling too fast, layoffs14:04 Sparks vs. coasting growth19:33 Two years to launch24:04 Could AI Build It Faster?27:06 Vibe coding & AI startups36:47 Everyone can build software41:08 Refounding Airtable with AI51:04 Sprint vs. marathon58:15 Cap tables & control01:03:29 Always be hiring01:05:00 What grit meansLinks:Connect with HowieXLinkedInConnect with AirtableWebsite: airtable.comXLinkedInConnect with JoubinXLinkedInEmail: grit@kleinerperkins.comLearn more about Kleiner Perkins
Why you should listenRachel Plowman shares her authentic 9-month journey transitioning from project manager to COO at radianHub, offering real-world insights for anyone considering or navigating a leadership promotion in their consulting business.Learn practical strategies for managing P&L responsibility, project profitability analysis, and time tracking systems that actually work without crushing team morale.Discover how to successfully delegate while maintaining quality standards, plus proven approaches for client relationship transitions during organizational changes.You might be wondering how to develop leadership within your team or whether your current team members can handle bigger responsibilities. In this episode, I talk with Rachel Plowman, COO of radianHub, who shares her transition from project manager to COO over 9 months. We dive into the real challenges of taking on P&L responsibility, managing project profitability, and building systems that support growth. Rachel provides concrete examples of how they improved margins, implemented effective time tracking, and navigated client relationship transitions during her promotion.About Rachel PlowmanRachel has been in information technology for much of her career, with 5 SFDC certifications. After beginning her career in financial services, she quickly transitioned into product ownership and project management with an emphasis on business analysis and software consulting. She has been in the Salesforce ecosystem as a consultative project manager and business analyst, while raising her family and enjoying life beyond software development.Resources and LinksRadianhub.comRachel's LinkedIn profile531 – Gearing Up for a Sale with Russell BadgettRight Click PromptPrevious episode: 633 - From 10% to 50% LinkedIn Acceptance Rates with Oleg SobolevCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resources
Para saber mais sobre como a Salesforce pode apoiar e mudar o seu negócio acesse: https://www.salesforce.com/br/?ir=1Neste episódio em parceria com a Salesforce, o Do Zero ao Topo conta a história de Luiz Felipe Gheller e Fabrício Milesi. Eles começaram com uma ideia simples, enfrentaram quebras logo nos primeiros meses e, mesmo assim, transformaram o Vakinha em referência nacional em crowdfunding. Neste episódio, você vai conhecer a história completa – desde a amizade no colégio, passando pelas dificuldades para empreender, até os desafios de escalar uma plataforma que hoje conecta milhões de pessoas. Prepare-se para insights sobre resiliência, criatividade e como transformar crises em oportunidades.Para saber mais sobre como a Salesforce pode apoiar e mudar o seu negócio acesse: https://www.salesforce.com/br/?ir=1
In today's Cloud Wars Minute, ServiceNow's push into CRM meets Salesforce's expansion into ITSM (IT Service Management), powered by agentic AI.Highlights00:14 — While I'm focusing here on Salesforce and ServiceNow, and some changes each is making to get into markets dominated by the other, the larger point here is about how agentic AI is triggering new competition and new approaches. Today, I'm going to share about five repercussions with you.01:15 — On Salesforce's Q2 earnings call, Marc Benioff said, “Hey, we're going to get into IT Service Management.” Salesforce is changing from being an apps company to a data company. It just so happens that ServiceNow and CEO Bill McDermott have been making it very plain that they intend to move aggressively into the CRM business, which has been Salesforce's prime area.02:34 — So, I'm going to mention big implications. One, these companies are looking for new hunting grounds — new areas to help customers do more and to allow these vendors to make more money. Agentic AI is also blasting out boundaries, because agentic AI, I think, optimally works on an end-to-end basis.03:36 — Benioff, on the earnings call, said Data Cloud and agentic AI — Agentforce — are "at the heart of our company strategy", not their applications. Which leads into this: I don't think, as Satya Nadella said, “apps are dying,” or “SaaS is dying,” but I do think that agentic AI is going to change profoundly what apps do, how they work, and how customers can extract value from them.04:44 — We are seeing agentic AI knock down a lot of boundaries. You're going to have more wide-ranging tools that let [customers] see all of their data, be able to develop end-to-end processes that are more effective, more successful, and give them better insights — and, mostly, better business outcomes. Visit Cloud Wars for more.
In this episode, we discuss a recent significant cyber attack where Palo Alto Networks experienced a data breach through their Salesforce environment due to a compromised SalesLoft drift integration. Throughout the discussion, we highlight why Salesforce, a crucial CRM platform for many businesses, is becoming a prime target for supply chain attackers. The hosts discuss […] The post Salesforce Under Fire: The Salesloft Drift Supply-Chain Breach appeared first on Shared Security Podcast.
On this episode of The Six Five Pod, hosts Patrick Moorhead and Daniel Newman discuss the tech news stories that made headlines this week. The handpicked topics for this week are: AI and Antitrust Developments: Analysis of the recent antitrust ruling regarding Google's search monopoly. Discussion on the impact of Generative AI on the competitive landscape. Examination of data sharing requirements and their implications. Economic Data and Market Trends: Discussion on recent unemployment data released in the latest jobs report. Pat & Dan share skepticism about the accuracy of economic indicators. Analysis of interest rates and their impact on the housing market. Tech Industry Dinner at Trump's: Mention of tech executives attending dinner with DJT. Brief discussion on the administration's commitment to AI leadership. Broadcom's Earnings and the AI Chip Market: A breakdown of Broadcom's strong financial performance. Exploration of Broadcom's position in the custom AI chip market. Predictions for Broadcom's future growth and market potential. Nvidia's Customer Concentration: A debate on the risks of Nvidia's revenue depending on a concentration of a few key customers. Analysis of the sustainability of Nvidia's growth in the AI chip market. Discussion on potential threats from custom chip development by major tech companies. Salesforce Earnings and AI Strategy: An overview of Salesforce's recent earnings report. Examination of Salesforce's AI initiatives and market reaction. Concerns about the future of SaaS in light of AI advancements. For a deeper dive into each topic, please click on the links above. Be sure to subscribe to The Six Five Pod so you never miss an episode.
This week on our Live Show we discussed France preparing for War, delivering Aid to Gaza, homes from Wind Turbines, MNRA Jab linked to 86 disorders, grow new teeth, Veterans to Farmers and more Donations https://www.awakeningpodcast.org/support/ #awakening #brainfitness #france About my Co-Host:Arnold Beekes Innovator, certified coach & trainer and generalist. First 20 years in technology and organizational leadership, then 20 years in psychology and personal leadership (all are crucial for innovation). What we Discussed: 00:15 What we will be discussing in this weeks Show 01:45 What the Picture on our Introduction Means03:20 France tells Hospitals to Prepare for War06:50 How you can help the show08:14 Workers over Billionaires11:32 The Trump Billionaire Meeting 12:30 Delivering Aid to GAZA16:16 Lots of Spanish fans waving Palestine Flags at Tour of Spain19:40 German Opposition Party has 7 Members Die Suddenly22:00 Maintain Your Brain Fitness23:20 Ai Weakens Critical Thinking26:20 The Dangers of the Future 6 G Technology28:10 The Lights contain 5G which harm us29:50 Salesforce to Cut 4,000 Workers for Ai Agents32:40 Better if Ai is Used for doing my Laundry and dishes36:00 Websites from $300 with VA.world37:00 Homes from Wind Turbines39:37 Student Sea Turtle Conservation in India41:30 3D Printing Glue Gun for bone fractures43:20 mRNA Vax linked to 86 Disorders46:50 Florida Banned Mandatory jabs47:35 Global Leaders Seek Immorality49:46 The release was intentionally put out50:39 Re-Grow Natural Teeth52:10 Stem Cell 3d Printing for Brain Tissue54:30 The Benefits of the Date fruit56:00 Be Creative58:55 Veterans to Farmers Substack Subscription https://substack.com/@podfatherroyHow to Contact Arnold Beekes: https://braingym.fitness/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/arnoldbeekes/ Donations https://www.awakeningpodcast.org/support/ https://www.podpage.com/speaking-podcast/support/ All about Roy / Brain Gym & Virtual Assistants athttps://roycoughlan.com/
Selling has always been at the heart of business growth—but how we sell, who sells, and what customers expect has changed dramatically. On this episode of On the Brink with Andi Simon, I spoke with Tsahala David, CEO of Great Revenue, a sales consulting firm that helps B2B software companies grow smarter and faster. With an extraordinary background—MIT MBA, tech founder, and sales leadership roles at IBM and Salesforce—Tsahala has seen sales from every angle. Her story and insights reveal not just how to grow revenue but how to thrive in a new era of sales transformation From Startup Founder to Sales Leader Tshala's journey began in Israel, where she completed military service and studied psychology before shifting into computer science. After founding her own tech company in her twenties, she confronted an early challenge many entrepreneurs face: defining her role. At first reluctant to call herself “CEO,” she quickly realized that imposter syndrome had to be shed—because if you're running the business, you are the CEO That early startup experience gave her first-hand knowledge of the uphill battle founders face in selling products, building teams, and convincing investors. Seeking more tools, she went to MIT for her MBA, then built a 20-year career in sales at global giants like IBM and Salesforce, closing multi-million-dollar deals with clients like Wells Fargo and Cisco. At Salesforce, she learned what she calls the “power of sparkle”—the way a company can attract talent, customers, and attention by combining strategy with personality and brand charisma. These lessons now fuel her work at Great Revenue, where she helps companies align their sales strategies with today's market realities. Common Mistakes in Startup Sales One of Tsahala's most valuable contributions is diagnosing the mistakes founders and sales leaders make at different growth stages. Early-stage startups often believe that signing a few reseller “partners” means they have a sales team. But, as Tshala warns, relying on partners who only earn commission when they sell means sales rarely happen. The real cost isn't money—it's lost time, and in startups, six months of delay can kill your competitive advantage Later-stage companies often get compensation plans wrong. She shared a case where salespeople were paid less for online orders than phone orders. Predictably, reps discouraged online buying and insisted clients call them—hurting profitability and wasting resources. The lesson? Follow the money. Salespeople respond to incentives, so design compensation plans with the outcomes you want Sales management is another weak spot. Too often, managers don't require reps to prepare for pipeline meetings. Tshala recommends using simple forms that force reps to answer key questions—deal size, decision makers, last contact, close date. This not only helps managers track progress but also helps sellers spot gaps in their deals The Role of AI in Sales Naturally, our conversation turned to AI in sales. Tsahala sees tools like ChatGPT as game-changers for research and preparation. Instead of spending hours digging through reports, salespeople can instantly access a company's strategy, leadership, and metrics. But there's a catch: weak sellers often use AI as a crutch, staying at a generic level. Strong sellers know to go deeper, asking sharper questions and tailoring insights to the customer's specific needs. AI, Tshala argues, empowers strong sellers but won't rescue weak ones The future belongs to those who combine technology with human curiosity, empathy, and problem-solving. Shifts in Buyer Behavior Another theme we explored was the dramatic shift in how buyers engage with sellers. Older generations may remember sitting across the table until a contract was signed. But today's buyers often don't work in offices, don't answer phones, and rely on digital channels to research solutions. Events are no longer centralized; instead, buyers connect through fragmented online communities—from LinkedIn groups to Discord servers. That means marketing now owns much of the top of the funnel, while sales must focus on converting leads and building trust. Sellers today must immerse themselves in buyers' digital worlds, positioning themselves not just as vendors but as collaborators in problem-solving Key Takeaways for Sales Leaders As we wrapped up our conversation, Tsahala emphasized that sales is a profession, not a side hustle. Everyone thinks they know how to sell—after all, we've all sold something, even if just a used car or lemonade stand. But true sales success requires expertise, structure, and strategy. Here are her top three lessons for sales leaders and entrepreneurs: Don't go it alone. Sales consulting isn't optional—it's an investment in avoiding costly mistakes. Design incentives wisely. Compensation plans drive behavior. Align them with your business goals. Embrace change. Buyer behavior, sales roles, and technology are evolving. Those who adapt will thrive Why This Matters Now We are living through a great transformation in sales. Marketing and sales are no longer siloed; collaboration is essential. AI accelerates preparation but cannot replace human insight. And customer expectations continue to evolve. For CEOs, founders, and sales leaders, Tsahala David's message is clear: if you want revenue growth, you must rethink your approach to sales. Invest in your people, design smart processes, and leverage technology thoughtfully. Sales isn't just about closing deals anymore—it's about creating value, building trust, and collaborating with buyers in ways that meet them where they are. Watch our interview on YouTube Listen + Subscribe: Available wherever you get your podcasts—Apple, Spotify, Stitcher, YouTube, and more. If you enjoyed this episode, leave a review and share with someone navigating their own leadership journey. Reach out and contact us if you want to see how a little anthropology can help your business grow. Let's Talk! From Observation to Innovation, Andi Simon, PhD CEO | Corporate Anthropologist | Author Simonassociates.net Info@simonassociates.net @simonandi LinkedIn
If you grew up far from the big-city career bubble or you are returning to work after a break, building a network can feel mysterious. In this conversation, Amy Blanthorn-Hazell shares how she went from an intern who knew almost no one in tech to a senior sales leader at Salesforce. Her story starts in a small village in the north of England and evolves into a career shaped by curiosity, initiative, and the right advocates. Amy explains the difference between short-term transactions and real relationships. She talks about giving value first, creating communities when none exist, and asking for advice in ways that make people want to say yes. You will hear how she used simple moves like thoughtful follow-ups, tailored compliments after talks, and one-to-one coffees to turn chance meetings into long-term sponsors. The episode leans into honest moments too. Amy shares what felt awkward early on, how she learned to balance I and we when talking about results, and why the best mentors sometimes start with a single session before committing to more. It is practical, kind, and refreshingly doable. Positioning Yourself For The Next Step Promotions are not made in the room. They are made in the conversations that happen when you are not there. Amy breaks down how to build advocates who will speak up for you when it counts, why timing matters, and how to prepare a clear, business-focused case that leaders can support. We get into the nuts and bolts of promotion readiness. Amy shows how to map your current skills against the next level, gather feedback from managers and peers, and use stretch projects to prove you can operate at a higher band without losing sight of your core results. She also calls out common red flags, like moving too fast before you have shown enough impact. There is guidance on interviews and panels too. From reaching out to interviewers ahead of time to sending an agenda and following up, Amy lays out the basics that so many people skip. The result is a calm, confident approach that helps decision makers see you in the role before the title changes. Practical Moves You Can Use This Week If you are new to networking, start with a clear goal. Amy shows how to target conversations based on what you want to learn, the teams you want to join, or the skills you want to grow. Then she models simple language that shares wins without bragging, invites collaboration, and highlights the people who helped you get there. If your workplace lacks community, create one. Amy describes how she launched a women's foundation group early in her career and why that decision still pays off years later. Small acts like hosting a learning session, sharing a playbook in Slack, or forwarding kind client feedback to your manager can quietly build your reputation. If you are planning to ask for a promotion, give yourself time. Build a short business case, link outcomes to company priorities, and gather examples that show consistent performance in your role plus stretch impact beyond it. Then book the meeting, share your thinking, and ask for clear guidance on what to demonstrate next.
Palo Alto Networks, Zscaler, Cloudflare, Navy Fed, AT&T, more Salesforce fallout and now these segments are officially open bar...
Register for FREE Infosec Webcasts, Anti-casts & Summits – https://poweredbybhis.com00:00 - PreShow Banter™ — It's 8ft skeleton season.02:18 - BHIS - Talkin' Bout [infosec] News 2025-09-0203:07 - Story # 1: Salesloft breached to steal OAuth tokens for Salesforce data-theft attacks07:35 - Story # 2: DSLRoot, Proxies, and the Threat of ‘Legal Botnets'13:46 - Story # 3: Attackers Abuse Velociraptor Forensic Tool to Deploy Visual Studio Code for C2 Tunneling17:44 - Story # 4: Ransomware crooks knock Swedish municipalities offline for measly sum of $168K19:39 - Story # 5: As crippling cyberattack against Nevada continues, Lombardo says ‘we're working through it.'20:56 - Story # 6: Citrix forgot to tell you CVE-2025–6543 has been used as a zero day since May 202522:43 - Story # 7: NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway Security Bulletin for CVE-2025-7775, CVE-2025-7776 and CVE-2025-842425:20 - Story # 8: First known AI-powered ransomware uncovered by ESET Research30:00 - Story # 9: In the rush to adopt hot new tech, security is often forgotten. AI is no exception32:06 - Story # 10: TransUnion suffers data breach impacting over 4.4 million people34:17 - Story # 11: ChickenSec FollowUp: Artificial Intelligence: The other AI35:20 - Story # 12: They weren't lovin' it - hacker cracks McDonald's security in quest for free nuggets, and it was apparently not too tricky39:29 - Identify the birds you see or hear with Merlin Bird ID40:04 - Story # 13: Detecting and countering misuse of AI: August 202551:31 - Story # 14: I'm a Stanford student. A Chinese agent tried to recruit me as a spy
Check the self-paced AI Business Transformation course - https://multiplai.ai/self-paced-online-course/ Are you ready for a future where AI decides who gets hired and who gets replaced?This week's news drop brought no major model releases… but that quiet was deceptive. OpenAI, Microsoft, and Salesforce unleashed a wave of updates that will reshape how companies train, hire, and operate with AI at the core.From OpenAI's pledge to certify 10 million Americans in AI fluency, to Walmart and Microsoft arming their workforces with AI education, to Salesforce quietly replacing thousands of workers with AI agents—this episode delivers the full picture, not just the PR.In this session, you'll discover:What OpenAI's new AI job platform means for future hiring and retentionWhy Walmart is going all-in on AI workforce training (and what that means for your org)The real story behind Salesforce cutting 44% of its support teamMicrosoft's bold AI education push and how it aligns with White House initiativesOpenAI's 5-part playbook for C-suite leaders to implement AI responsibly and effectivelyWhy AI literacy is quickly becoming a non-negotiable skill for hiring and promotionsA peek inside the Google antitrust ruling and how it doesn't actually change the gameThe ethics (and risks) of emotional AI and the lawsuits piling upThe rise of AI agents in business, customer support, and even salesNew hardware and AI-powered devices that are changing how we learn, listen, and live
¡Emprendeduros! En este episodio Rodrigo nos da una actualización de mercado donde habla del estatus del mercado, de la pausa a los aranceles y del mercado de empleos Nos da los reportes de ingresos de Campbell's Asana, Salesforce y American Eagle. Después habla de la victoria de Google, la separacion de los conglomerados y las Ofertas Iniciales en puerta. ¡Síguenos en Instagram! Alejandro: https://www.instagram.com/salomondrin Rodrigo: https://www.instagram.com/rodnavarro Emprendeduros: https://www.instagram.com/losemprendeduros
AI NEWS: Salesforce CEO Mark Benioff says AI helped cut 4000 jobs from their workforce. Is this the start of a bigger trend? FYI, Optimus 3 isn't *really* ready to take those jobs yet. Google's NanoBanana continues to amaze us and we show off some really fun new ways to use it. Google *also* has a new vibecoding platform, a cool AI video real-time video model & a ‘boring' but great open source AI image model. Then, at the end of the show, we go off the rails. WE ARE SORRY. YOU ARE GREAT. #ai #ainews #openai Come to our Discord to try our Secret Project: https://discord.gg/muD2TYgC8f Join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/AIForHumansShow AI For Humans Newsletter: https://aiforhumans.beehiiv.com/ Follow us for more on X @AIForHumansShow Join our TikTok @aiforhumansshow To book us for speaking, please visit our website: https://www.aiforhumans.show/ // Show Links // Salesforce Cuts 4000 Jobs Due To AI https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/salesforce-cuts-4000-jobs-due-ai-ceo-says Mark Benioff Interview https://youtu.be/0RkNkGihrvc?t=109 Figure 02 Taking Jobs At Home https://x.com/Figure_robot/status/1963266237426979300 Huge Oracle Layoffs As Well https://www.fastcompany.com/91397457/oracle-lays-off-thousands-or-more-globally-amid-rapid-ai-shifts Fed of St. Louis says job slowing may be because of AI https://www.stlouisfed.org/on-the-economy/2025/aug/is-ai-contributing-unemployment-evidence-occupational-variation OpenAI's New “Leadership” Guide On How To Champion AI At Work https://cdn.openai.com/pdf/ae250928-4029-4f26-9e23-afac1fcee14c/staying-ahead-in-the-age-of-ai.pdf Train to be a plumber? https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/ai-which-jobs-are-skilled-trades-protected-what-to-know-rcna223249 More NanoBanana Tips & Tricks: Draw on Images with colors for location based suggestions https://x.com/Prashant_1722/status/1963048062659838127 Use a greenscreen to better create a background https://x.com/martinleblanc/status/1962793455609946242 Comfy Try-On https://x.com/hellorob/status/1961861047859675172 Progressive sketch https://x.com/fofrAI/status/1963277460327543052 Techhalla's very good rundown on putting himself in arcade games https://x.com/techhalla/status/1963333488217919668 Fabian's GLIF hair demo (did we talk about this last week? I don't think so?) https://x.com/fabianstelzer/status/1961441746878939431 Google Vibecoding Suite https://aistudio.google.com/apps Mirage AI Real Time WebCam Transformation https://mirage.decart.ai/ Via Dan Shipper's Every show: https://youtu.be/E23cV48Iv9A?si=WPFS2 bTmF6ztaqgf Higgsfield Draw-to-Edit https://x.com/higgsfield_ai/status/1963035734232928586 The future (scary) of AI tool marketing (Gavin Rant) https://x.com/search?q=Draw-to-Edit&src=trend_click&vertical=trends Sam Altman DEAD INTERNET https://www.reddit.com/r/OpenAI/comments/1n85go8/its_bad_out_there/ Boring Reality LoRA https://x.com/multimodalart/status/1963506679787471238 https://x.com/hellorob/status/1963637026021855452 Visual Storytelling https://x.com/damienhci/status/1963246088674017478 Google Gemma Embedding model https://x.com/googleaidevs/status/1963634368901001473 Eleven Labs SFX Upgrade https://x.com/elevenlabsio/status/1962912811392131214