Podcast appearances and mentions of mark roberge

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Best podcasts about mark roberge

Latest podcast episodes about mark roberge

SharkPreneur
Episode 1288: The Science Behind Scaling Revenue with Mark Roberge

SharkPreneur

Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2026 19:16


Scaling is not just about selling more. It is about knowing when the business is truly ready to grow. In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene interviews Mark Roberge, Co-Founder & Managing Director at Stage 2 Capital, who shares lessons from helping HubSpot scale from its earliest days to IPO, including why founders often mistake early sales traction for true readiness to scale. He also discusses the role of product value, go-to-market strategy, venture capital, AI, fast-follower opportunities, and his decision to donate the book's proceeds to support mental health. Key Takeaways:→ Product value should take precedence over aggressive revenue growth.→ The startup ecosystem needs greater discipline in revenue growth. → AI is creating major opportunities and societal challenges.→ Fast followers often outperform first movers in the long run.→ Founders need frameworks for scaling, not just ambition. Mark Roberge is a Co-Founder at Stage 2 Capital, the first venture fund supported by over 1,000 top sales and marketing executives. Stage 2 has invested in more than 100 startups, helping founders with proven revenue growth strategies and experienced go-to-market leaders to accelerate their growth. He has also been a member of the teaching faculty at Harvard Business School for over a decade, designing and leading courses on sales, marketing, and entrepreneurship, mentoring thousands of student entrepreneurs, and engaging deeply with the challenges of early-stage growth. Before these roles, Mark was the fourth employee and founding CRO at HubSpot, where he built and scaled the go-to-market organization from zero revenue to a successful IPO, pioneering a data-driven, buyer-centric sales model that has since influenced go-to-market teams worldwide. Connect With Mark:Website: https://www.stage2.capital/X: https://x.com/markrobergeLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markroberge/

Business of Story
#569: From Hubspot to Harvard: What Mark Roberge Learned About Scaling That Business School Don't Teach (Until Now)

Business of Story

Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2026 54:21


Mark Roberge scaled HubSpot from $0 to $100M in revenue as its Chief Revenue Officer — and now teaches founders and operators at Harvard Business School why most growth strategies fail. The answer isn't effort. It's sequence. In this episode, Mark shares his Science of Scaling framework: the four-stage methodology that sequences product-market fit, repeatable sales motion, customer success, and revenue scaling in the right order. He introduces the PMF Threshold — the leading indicator that tells you whether you've actually earned the right to scale — and explains why half of the founders he works with are scaling too early, the other half too late, and almost none know which half they're in. You'll also hear why the best salespeople talk less than 50% of the time, how to build a sales hiring profile from your best customers' patterns instead of resume credentials, and why scaling your sales team before customer success is working destroys retention every time. Mark is the author of The Sales Acceleration Formula and The Science of Scaling, and managing director of Stage 2 Capital. This conversation is essential listening for founders, agency principals, and revenue leaders navigating growth decisions without a clear diagnostic framework. Hosted by Park Howell, creator of the Story Cycle System™ and co-creator of the StoryCycle Genie®.

CRO Spotlight
CRO Hiring Potholes & The Shift to RevOps with Mark Roberge

CRO Spotlight

Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2026 56:51


In this episode of the CRO Spotlight podcast, Warren Zenna sits down with Mark Roberge of Stage Two Capital to dissect the inflection points of scaling a go-to-market team. They explore common pitfalls founders face when hiring a revenue leader. Mark emphasizes aligning a candidate's background with the company's maturity stage rather than focusing strictly on brand-name resumes or simple industry experience to ensure a highly effective hire.The conversation shifts to defining the responsibilities of a Chief Revenue Officer. Warren and Mark distinguish between someone managing a traditional sales function and an executive capable of architecting a comprehensive revenue engine. They discuss why forcing a standard sales leader into a transformational role fails. True growth requires a leader who breaks down silos across marketing, sales, customer success, and revenue operations.Mark outlines his predictions regarding the impact of artificial intelligence on the broader go-to-market landscape. He describes a phased evolution where AI initially optimizes selling time and coaching, eventually transitioning to autonomous agents handling the buying and selling processes. This technological shift will force companies to rethink standard organizational boundaries to maximize system efficiency and maintain a competitive advantage.The episode concludes with a discussion regarding mental health in the executive space. Mark explains his decision to dedicate his recent book's proceeds to mental health initiatives, addressing the lingering stigma in professional environments. By discussing his experiences, he highlights the absolute necessity of humanizing leadership. Both agree that addressing these challenges directly creates stronger, more resilient corporate cultures.

Duct Tape Marketing
How to Know When Your Business Is Ready to Scale

Duct Tape Marketing

Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2026 22:58


Most businesses do not fail because they scale too slowly. They fail because they grow before they are actually ready. Mark Roberge, former CRO of HubSpot and author of The Science of Scaling, explains how founders can stop relying on gut instinct and start using evidence to know when growth makes sense. From product-market fit and customer retention to hiring, revenue strategy, and scaling without chaos, this conversation offers a practical framework for building a business that can actually sustain growth. 00:00 Introduction 01:46 Why Startups Scale Too Fast 03:49 Earn the Right to Scale 06:42 What Scaling Really Means 09:40 The Risk of Scaling Wrong 11:01 Evidence Beats Founder Instinct 14:56 The Founder Trap That Kills Growth 19:44 Scaling, Mental Health, and AI Rate, Review, & Follow If you liked this episode, please rate and review the show. Let us know what you loved most about the episode. Struggling with strategy? Unlock your free AI-powered prompts now and start building a winning strategy today!

Win Make Give with Ben Kinney
Strategic Scaling in Business: Navigating Growth with Precision with Mark Roberge

Win Make Give with Ben Kinney

Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2026 40:39


Join Chad Hyams and Bob Stewart as they sit down with Mark Roberge, former sales leader at HubSpot and author of "The Science of Scaling." Delve into the nuances of effective selling, understanding customer value, and the art of scaling businesses using data-driven strategies. Roberge shares insights on the importance of customer retention metrics, social selling, and the evolving landscape of tech startups. Perfect for entrepreneurs eager to refine their approach and maximize growth while maintaining meaningful customer relations. Discover actionable strategies in sales and scaling, blended with personal insights on mental health. ---------- Connect with the hosts: •    Ben Kinney: https://www.BenKinney.com/ •    Bob Stewart: https://www.linkedin.com/in/activebob •    Chad Hyams: https://ChadHyams.com/ •    Book one of our co-hosts for your next event: https://WinMakeGive.com/speakers/   More ways to connect: •    Join our Facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/winmakegive •     Sign up for our weekly newsletter: https://WinMakeGive.com/sign-up •     Explore the Win Make Give Podcast Network: https://WinMakeGive.com/   Part of the Win Make Give Podcast Network 00:00 Navigating Work Events, Disneyland, and Guest Introductions 04:28 Teaching Sales and Entrepreneurship at Harvard Business School 09:21 The Evolution and Strategy of Effective Social Selling 14:01 Identifying Retention Indicators for Business Growth 20:15 Scaling Businesses Through Strategic Growth and Profitability 23:51 Discovering Unique Value Through Customer Interaction and Feedback 30:51 Mental Health Advocacy Through Book Proceeds and Tech Evolution 34:48 Avoiding Common Pitfalls When Scaling a Business

The Startup Podcast
The Science of Scaling: Using data to scale your startup perfectly w/ Mark Roberge

The Startup Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2026 65:03


Most founders treat 'scale' like a switch you flip after raising a round: hire 14 reps, 10x the ad spend, and pray. About half scale too early and burn the runway, while the other half scale too late and get caught by a more aggressive competitor. Almost nobody can tell you, in measurable terms, when they're actually ready.In this episode, Yaniv Bernstein is joined by Mark Roberge - founding CRO at HubSpot (where he scaled the company from $0 to $100M ARR), senior lecturer at Harvard Business School, cofounder of Stage 2 Capital, and author of the new book 'The Science of Scaling'. Mark walks Yaniv through his impressive data-driven framework for scaling that he's spent a decade refining, covering how to objectively define product-market fit, why customer retention is the only honest measure of PMF, and how to instrument a Leading Indicator of Retention you can act on in week one.In this episode, you will:Learn why retention is the only honest measure of product-market fit, and why most founders are flying blind without itDiscover Mark's framework for building a Leading Indicator of Retention (LIR) you can measure in week one, using Slack, HubSpot, and Facebook as worked examplesHear Mark coach Yaniv through Vera's LIR in real time, and pick up a repeatable method for designing one for your own businessLearn the 'Stay/Go/Slow' model for pacing hires and spend post-raise, and why startups should reassess monthly or quarterly rather than locking in an annual planGet Mark's take on why 'paranoid optimism' is the trait that correlates most strongly with founder success, and the link between that trait and founder mental healthTimestamps00:00 Coming Up00:26 On Today's Show: The Science of Scaling01:47 Guest Intro: Mark Roberge02:31 Why Scaling Needs Data04:20 Eric Ries and Product Market Fit06:56 Retention as a North Star10:15 What Makes a Good Leading Indicator?15:00 Case Study: Vera (Yaniv's Startup)17:41 Choosing Frequency and Event23:55 Instrumenting and Unique Value31:12 Blitzscaling and Defining PET34:41 ICP Denominator Rules37:28 Segmenting By Product40:40 Go To Market Fit45:25 Dealing with Revenue-Focused Investor Pressure50:33 The Pace of Scaling56:07 About the Book, The Science of Scaling57:45 Founder Mental Health01:02:28 Closing ThoughtsResources in this episode:Mark Roberge on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markroberge/‘The Science of Scaling: Using Data to Decide When — and How Fast — to Scale Revenue' by Mark Roberge: https://www.amazon.com/Science-Scaling-Revenue-Mark-Roberge/dp/1394319428Stage 2 Capital (Mark's B2B SaaS-focused venture firm): https://www.stage2.capital/Vera (Yaniv's startup): https://vera.guide/The PactHonor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appFollow us on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@startup-podcastGive us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksThis episode of the Startup Podcast is sponsored by .tech domains. Forget weird prefixes and creative misspellings; the availability for .tech domains is simply way better than .com. For a clean and memorable name, go to https://⁠get.tech/tspThis episode of the Startup Podcast is sponsored by Vanta. Vanta helps businesses get and stay compliant by automating up to 90% of the work for the most in demand compliance frameworks. With over 200 integrations, you can easily monitor and secure the tools your business relies on. For a limited time offer of US$1,000 off, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://⁠www.vanta.com/tsp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurAssistant Producer: Steph Hefferan https://www.linkedin.com/in/steph-heff/Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/

Successful Musicians
From Sold-Out Shows to Starting Over: Mark Roberge of Prospect Hill | SMP 83

Successful Musicians

Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2026 34:29


He built a band from scratch, sold out shows, landed radio play, and still watched everything fall apart overnight.Mark Roberge has lived on both sides of the music industry. The highs of momentum and the crash that follows when things go wrong. What makes this conversation different is that he didn't stop there. He stepped back, studied what actually works, and built systems to help artists succeed long-term.This episode is not about theory. It is about what happens when you take control of your career and treat music like a real business.To read the complete transcript and watch the podcast video, visit the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠episode blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠What You'll Learn- Why great music alone is not enough to succeed- How Mark built a regional band into a major force using strategy- What actually went wrong when signing a record deal- Why no one will care about your project as much as you do- How to think about music as a system, not just creativity- Why owning your fan data is critical for long-term success- How to turn listeners into real fans instead of losing them on platforms- The importance of consistency in releases and marketing- Why most artists struggle with marketing and how to fix it- How to build a team without losing control of your visionTopics Covered in This Episode- Starting a band from scratch and building a local following- Using MySpace strategically to grow an audience early on- Selling out shows and building momentum independently- Landing radio play, licensing deals, and national exposure- The reality of signing a record deal and losing control- How one failed deal derailed momentum- Transitioning into producing and helping other artists- The three pillars: product, branding, and marketing- Why most artists ignore fan capture and lose their audience- Building systems to grow fans consistently- Lessons from years in both artist and business rolesWho This Episode Is For- Independent artists trying to grow their audience- Musicians frustrated with lack of traction- Artists who want to understand the business side of music- Creators struggling with marketing and consistency- Musicians considering signing a record deal- Artists who want to build a long-term career, not just short-term successConnect with Mark RobergeCommunity WebsiteTech PlatformBand websiteLinkedInInstagramYouTubeSpotifyApple MusicConnect with Jason TonioliWebsite FacebookYouTube InstagramSpotifyPandoraAmazon MusicApple Music

Millionaire University
Why Most $1M+ Businesses Fail When They Try to Scale

Millionaire University

Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2026 44:50


#903 Most founders think revenue equals readiness — but scaling too early is one of the fastest ways to kill a business. In this episode, host Brien Gearin sits down with Mark Roberge — fourth employee at HubSpot, Harvard Business School professor, and investor in 200+ companies — to break down exactly when and how to scale revenue. Mark explains why product-market fit has nothing to do with sales numbers and everything to do with retention, how to identify your business's "leading indicator of retention" so you're not waiting a year to learn if customers are sticking around, and why go-to-market fit must come before you hire a single salesperson. He also unpacks the concept of "blitzscale pressure" and how it should shape the pace of your growth, plus shares his take on the four phases of how AI will reshape sales teams entirely! What we discuss with Mark: + Revenue ≠ product-market fit + Retention is the real proof of value + Leading indicators of retention (P, E, T framework) + Product-market fit before go-to-market fit + Don't scale before you can serve profitably + Hire reps gradually, not all at once + Listen to business signals as you scale + Assess your category's "blitzscale pressure" + AI will take selling time from 25% to 75% + Build an advisory board early Thank you, Mark! Purchase a copy of The Science of Scaling. Follow Mark on LinkedIn. To get access to our FREE Business Training course go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MillionaireUniversity.com/training⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To get exclusive offers mentioned in this episode and to support the show, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠millionaireuniversity.com/sponsors⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Branding with Becks
How to Build a Loyal Fanbase | Mark Roberge on Adaptability, Storytelling & Strategy

Branding with Becks

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2026 19:41


What does it really take to build a sustainable music career in today's rapidly evolving industry?In this episode, I sit down with Mark Roberge - independent artist, producer, and co-founder of Prospect Hill. From charting on Billboard to touring nationwide, Mark has had a backstage pass to the realities of the music industry - the highs, the pressure, and the long game. Mark shares his journey through the ever-changing music industry, from shifting consumption habits to the rise of social media, and explains why owning your audience is more important than ever for emerging artists.We dive into:-How the music industry has evolved in the digital age-Why adaptability is essential for long-term success-The importance of collaboration and teamwork in music production-How artists can authentically tell their stories-Practical strategies for building meaningful audience connections-Leveraging technology and social media to strengthen fan relationshipsWhether you're an independent artist, music producer, or creative entrepreneur, this conversation is packed with actionable insights on audience growth, fan engagement strategies, and building a brand that lasts.If you're serious about growing in the music industry, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

Dave Wakeman's The Business of Fun Podcast
Mark Roberge wants artists to think about building an audience before they launch their music...

Dave Wakeman's The Business of Fun Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2026 41:43


My guest today is Mark Roberge!  He's from Red 13 Creative. www.Red13Creative.com  Great talk about audience development.  Mark is a touring musician and he brings that point of view to his work with artists.  In today's episode, we get into a bunch of helpful topics such as: The myth of the algorithm: "I got my song on Spotify." Word of mouth marketing and finding the first fans...then turning them into superfans. Building an audience. How to launch a band, product, or album. "Overnight success" Streams of revenue ...and a lot more.  Visit my website at www.DaveWakeman.com  Get the 'Talking Tickets' newsletter at https://talkingtickets.substack.com Join our Slack Channel!

A Phil Svitek Podcast - A Series From Your 360 Creative Coach
How Fan Flowy Helps Artists Turn Followers Into Real Fans

A Phil Svitek Podcast - A Series From Your 360 Creative Coach

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2026 3:47


Mark Roberge breaks down the thinking behind Fan Flowy and how artists can stop letting new followers go cold. We talk about automated DMs, email capture, text messaging, fan funnels, and why direct engagement matters so much for independent artists trying to build real support.

Make It Happen Mondays - B2B Sales Talk with John Barrows
HubSpot's First CRO on Scaling Smarter, Not Faster with Mark Roberge

Make It Happen Mondays - B2B Sales Talk with John Barrows

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2026 64:04


Most startups obsess over growth. Very few actually understand when scaling makes sense—and when it doesn't.In this episode, John talks with Mark Roberge about the real science behind building and scaling a company. They unpack the myths around product-market fit, the ethical decision point every salesperson faces, and why revenue alone can be a dangerously misleading signal for founders.If you're building, selling, or leading a team, this conversation will challenge how you think about growth, customer value, and the future of sales in an AI-driven world.Ready to sharpen your sales skills and stay relevant in a rapidly changing market? Head over to www.jbarrows.com and keep learning how to Make It Happen.What You'll LearnWhy revenue isn't product-market fitThe ethical decision point in salesWhy retention beats new revenueThe role of a customer success matrixHow AI may reshape sales careersMark Roberge is the founding CRO of HubSpot, where he scaled revenue from zero to over $100M and helped take the company public. After leaving HubSpot, he joined the faculty at Harvard Business School and co-founded Stage 2 Capital, the first VC firm run and backed by go-to-market leaders. He's also the author of The Science of Scaling, which introduces a data-driven framework to help founders decide when to scale, how fast to grow, and whether scaling makes sense at all.Connect with Mark Roberge:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markrobergeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/roberge_markX: https://x.com/markrobergeMark's Bestselling Books Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B00NSKE4WYJohn Barrows is a sales trainer, speaker, and founder of JB Sales with over 25 years of experience in the industry. He has made hundreds of cold calls a week, led startups to acquisition, and trained high-performing teams at companies like Salesforce, LinkedIn, Amazon, and Okta. Through JB Sales, John focuses on practical sales execution—helping reps fill pipeline, close deals, and build trust with buyers in today's AI-driven sales environment.Connect with John Barrows:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarrows/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnmbarrows/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@johnmbarrowsCheck out John's Membership: https://go.jbarrows.com/Join John's Newsletter: https://www.jbarrows.com/newsletter

A Phil Svitek Podcast - A Series From Your 360 Creative Coach
Vanity Metrics Are Killing Artist Growth

A Phil Svitek Podcast - A Series From Your 360 Creative Coach

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2026 3:09


Mark Roberge shares why fake growth, inflated streams, and empty views can actually hurt an artist more than help them. We talk about the difference between optics and real engagement, how algorithms interpret weak audience behavior, and why a smaller audience that truly cares is far more valuable than inflated numbers.This is a must-watch for any artist trying to grow online without getting fooled by numbers that look impressive but lead nowhere.

A Phil Svitek Podcast - A Series From Your 360 Creative Coach
Artists Are Startups: The Mindset Shift Most Creators Need

A Phil Svitek Podcast - A Series From Your 360 Creative Coach

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2026 2:24


Mark Roberge breaks down one of the most important mindset shifts for independent artists: your creative project is also a business. We discuss why talent alone is not enough, how artists need to think like founders, and what happens when creators reject the entrepreneurial side of their career.If you've ever struggled with the business side of being an artist, this conversation will help reframe it in a practical and empowering way.

A Phil Svitek Podcast - A Series From Your 360 Creative Coach
Why Indie Artists Need to Build Local Before Going Global

A Phil Svitek Podcast - A Series From Your 360 Creative Coach

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2026 1:38


Mark Roberge explains why so many artists make the mistake of trying to go global too fast. Instead of chasing attention everywhere, he argues that artists should first build a real foundation in their own backyard. In this clip, we talk about local support, predictable income, early adopters, and how hometown momentum can eventually snowball into something much bigger.This is a valuable conversation for musicians and creators who want to grow sustainably rather than just look big online.

A Phil Svitek Podcast - A Series From Your 360 Creative Coach
The Real Blueprint for Indie Artist Success w/ Mark Roberge (Prospect Hill Band & Fan Flowy Founder)

A Phil Svitek Podcast - A Series From Your 360 Creative Coach

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2026 45:47


Mark Roberge joins me to talk about what it really takes to build a sustainable career as an independent artist. As the founder of the band Prospect Hill, co-creator of Fan Flowy, and co-author of The Indie Artist's Compass, Mark brings two decades of firsthand experience from touring, label deals, setbacks, rebuilding, and now helping other musicians grow smarter.We discuss how Prospect Hill went from a local Massachusetts band to a worldwide touring act, why artists need to think like entrepreneurs, how building a loyal backyard fanbase can create real momentum, and why so many musicians get distracted by vanity metrics instead of meaningful growth. Mark also breaks down the philosophy behind Fan Flowy, the importance of direct fan relationships, and how artists can stop patching together broken systems and start building something sustainable.Whether you're a musician, filmmaker, or any kind of independent creator, this conversation is full of practical insight on audience-building, strategy, and staying adaptable in a constantly changing industry.

Sales Secrets From The Top 1%
The Science of Scaling Without Breaking Your Business | #1364

Sales Secrets From The Top 1%

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2026 72:50


In this episode, guest speaker Mark Roberge unpacks a smarter framework for scaling... one built on data, not guesswork. He explains why most companies misread product-market fit by tying it to revenue instead of retention, and why the best founders identify a leading indicator of retention early using a simple behavioral framework: what percentage of customers complete what action in what period of time. That gives you an early-warning system for whether the product is actually delivering on its promise. From there, Mark breaks down why your ideal customer profile should be defined by lifetime value and long-term retention — not just who closes fastest — and why hiring big sales teams based on annual plans is one of the most dangerous mistakes founders make. Instead of betting the year on a January hiring spree, he shares the idea of setting a sustainable pace and using real operating signals to decide when to speed up, slow down, or stop. He also explores how to align sales compensation with customer success, why early-stage companies should lean on networks before trying to build “scalable” demand channels, and how to approach new segments without burning resources on unproven bets. If you're a founder, sales leader, or operator trying to grow without breaking the business, this episode is a practical reminder that the best companies don't scale faster because they're bolder... they scale better because they instrument the truth early.

The Nice Guys on Business
Mark Roberge: The Science of Scaling

The Nice Guys on Business

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2026 28:59


Mark Roberge is a Co-Founder at Stage 2 Capital, the first venture fund supported by over 1,000 top sales and marketing executives. Stage 2 has invested in more than 100 startups, helping founders with proven revenue growth strategies and experienced go-to-market leaders to accelerate their growth. He has also been a member of the teaching faculty at Harvard Business School for over a decade, designing and leading courses on sales, marketing, and entrepreneurship, mentoring thousands of student entrepreneurs, and engaging deeply with the challenges of early-stage growth. Before these roles, Mark was the fourth employee and founding CRO at HubSpot, where he built and scaled the go-to-market organization from zero revenue to a successful IPO, pioneering a data-driven, buyer-centric sales model that has since influenced go-to-market teams worldwide. Mark holds an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management and an undergraduate engineering degree from Lehigh University. He is the author of the bestselling books The Sales Acceleration Formula and The Science of Scaling, which distill decades of experience into a practical, data-driven roadmap for founders, executives, and investors striving to achieve sustainable, scalable growth. Mark has been featured in popular publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Forbes Magazine, Inc. Magazine, Boston Globe, TechCrunch, and Harvard Business Review, delivered keynotes at major conferences including South by Southwest, SaaStr, Inbound, and the World Business Forum, and guest lectured at leading institutions such as MIT, Stanford, and Harvard. Connect with Mark Roberge:Website: http://scienceofscaling.io/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markroberge/ Twitter: https://x.com/markroberge Instagram: www.instagram.com/roberge_markYouTube: www.youtube.com/hashtag/markroberge TurnKey Podcast Productions Important Links:Guest to Gold Video Series: www.TurnkeyPodcast.com/gold The Ultimate Podcast Launch Formula- www.TurnkeyPodcast.com/UPLFplusFREE workshop on how to "Be A Great Guest."Free E-Book 5 Ways to Make Money Podcasting at www.Turnkeypodcast.com/gift Ready to earn 6-figures with your podcast? See if you've got what it takes at TurnkeyPodcast.com/quizSales Training for Podcasters: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sales-training-for-podcasters/id1540644376Nice Guys on Business: http://www.niceguysonbusiness.com/subscribe/The Turnkey Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/turnkey-podcast/id1485077152

Startup Hustle
Matt & Mark Roberge

Startup Hustle

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2026 37:46


In this episode of Startup Hustle, Matt Watson interviews Mark Roberge, a former HubSpot executive and current venture capitalist, about his journey from engineering to sales and the importance of scaling startups. Mark discusses the genesis of HubSpot, the significance of sales in startups, and the concept of product-market fit. He emphasizes the need for customer research, avoiding false positives in feedback, and identifying the ideal customer profile. Mark also shares insights on scaling strategies, key metrics for success, and the science behind scaling businesses effectively.⏱️ Episode Breakdown00:00 The Genesis of HubSpot02:56 Transitioning from Engineering to Sales06:06 The Science of Scaling08:53 The Importance of Selling Early12:12 Understanding Customer Needs14:58 Avoiding False Positives in Feedback15:39 Design Partner Dilemma18:21 Target Audience Insights19:56 Ideal Customer Profile Framework23:00 The Science of Scaling25:05 Understanding Growth Investment30:55 Navigating Growth Challenges35:25 Final Thoughts on Scaling SuccessTAKEAWAYSSales is crucial for startup success.Understanding product-market fit is essential before scaling.Customer research should start at the ideation stage.Avoid false positives by validating customer interest.Identify your ideal customer profile to focus efforts.Scaling should be approached methodically and strategically.Establish leading indicators of customer retention.Sales methodologies must evolve as the company grows.Demand generation must align with growth aspirations.The science of scaling involves data-driven decision making.Links & ResourcesConnect with Mark Roberge on LinkedInWhat Smart CTOs Are Doing Differently With Offshore Teams in 2025Subscribe to the Global Talent SprintFull Scale – Build your dev team quickly and affordablyIf you're trying to get your team out of the basement and into real product ownership, this episode is your playbook. Stop being a ticket factory. Build teams that think, create, and lead.Follow the show, rate it, and send this to someone who's still trying to do “real Scrum.” They need it more than you do.

Hustle And Flowchart - Tactical Marketing Podcast
What If Musicians Treated Their Career Like a Startup? - Mark Roberge

Hustle And Flowchart - Tactical Marketing Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2026 43:09 Transcription Available


Grab your copy of The Indie Artist's Compass: book.makeourmusic.comIn this episode, host Joe Fier sits down with seasoned musician, producer, and entrepreneur Mark Roberge. Together, they explore the intersection of creativity and business in the modern music industry, sharing actionable insights for artists, creators, and entrepreneurs alike. Mark delves into his journey from breaking ground with bands like Prospect Hill to pioneering fan engagement strategies, leveraging technology, and building collaborative communities. The conversation highlights the importance of authentic storytelling, data-driven marketing, and adapting to industry shifts—especially with the rise of AI and changing consumption habits.Topics DiscussedThe power of authentic storytelling in music and why AI can't replicate human experienceMark's evolution: from high school band success to launching Red 13 Studios and beyondTreating music projects like startup businesses — using systems, strategy, and dataBuilding and nurturing fan bases: why you must own your audience, not rely solely on platformsThe "1,000 True Fans" concept and multi-channel fan capture strategiesFrameworks from Mark's book, "The Indie Artist's Compass," including the FAME frameworkLeveraging ad automation and tech tools (FanFlowy, Make Our Music) for audience growthRelease strategy: why singles beat albums for growing audiences and maximizing Spotify algorithmsCollaboration and “piggybacking” with other artists to expand reachThe resurgence of live music, human connection, and why it matters more than everAI in music: Opportunities, tools (like Suno), and the real value of human creativityCommunity building and platforms for collaboration, performance, and supportResources MentionedThe Indie Artist's Compass: book.makeourmusic.comMake Our Music Community: makeourmusic.comProspect Hill Band: prospecthillband.comLansdowne Band: lansdownemusic.comConnect with Us

Topline
Mark Roberge (Ex-HubSpot CRO): "AI Startups Will See the Highest Failure Rate in History"

Topline

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2026 73:53


Mark Roberge is calling it now: we are about to witness the highest failure rate for a single cohort of startups in the history of tech. As author of Science of Scaling, and co-founder of Stage 2 Capital, Mark joins the pod to dismantle the "growth at all costs" mindset that still plagues founders. He explains why the assembly-line sales model is dead and how AI will force a return to the full-cycle "rainmaker" rep. **Key moments:** The AI Bubble: Why the index fund of the last two years of AI investments is likely doomed. Fixing Your ICP: And how optimizing for CAC or inbound volume without ICP fundamentals in place is a recipe for disaster The 80% Rule: How AI moves reps from 25% selling time to 80%, and what that means for the future of SDR, AE, and CS functions LIR - What it is and Why It Matters: Why every board deck needs a a LIR slide to predict product-market fit before revenue numbers hit **Note:** Mark is donating 100% of the proceeds from his new book to mental health causes. Grab a copy of *The Science of Scaling* on Amazon!   Subscribe to Topline Newsletter. Tune into Topline Podcast, the #1 podcast for founders, operators, and investors in B2B tech. Join the free Topline Slack channel to connect with 600+ revenue leaders to keep the conversation going beyond the podcast!   Chapters: 00:00 Introduction: Mark Roberge and The Science of Scaling 03:44 Founder Turnover and Loyalty in the AI Era 06:18 Navigating Founder Burnout and Strategic Pivots 16:30 Predicting High Failure Rates for AI-Native Startups 18:57 The Origin Story Behind The Science of Scaling 24:51 Why Most Companies Define Their ICP Wrong 28:34 The Leading Indicator of Retention (LIR) Framework 32:30 Real-World Example: Shifting ICP Based on Retention 37:22 Who Should Own Product-Market Fit? 43:23 Transitioning GTM Strategies from SaaS to AI 47:29 The End of Specialization: Collapsing GTM Roles 51:12 Solving GTM Inefficiency by Increasing Selling Time 56:50 How to Pilot the Consolidated "Ninja AE" Role 01:04:29 Designing Organizations for Rainmakers vs. Average Reps 01:08:01 Mental Health, Gratitude, and Closing Thoughts  

Revenue Builders
Stop Selling to the Wrong Customers | The Science of Scaling Your ICP with Mark Roberge

Revenue Builders

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2026 12:42


In this episode, Mark Roberge, author of the upcoming book The Science of Scaling, breaks down why so many companies fail to evolve their Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) despite changing market conditions—and reveals the surprising truth: it's emotional decision-making, not data, holding them back. Discover the game-changing "green, yellow, red" framework that separates truly ideal customers (those with high lifetime value) from those draining your resources, and learn how to strategically reallocate your team's efforts to maximize retention and expansion. Plus, explore how getting your ICP right doesn't just boost sales—it aligns your entire organization, from marketing and product development to customer success, creating a powerful go-to-market engine that drives real scaling.Mark Roberge is the founding Chief Revenue Officer of HubSpot, a senior lecturer at Harvard Business School, co-founder of Stage 2 Capital, and the author of The Science of Scaling and The Sales Acceleration Formula. He is widely known for helping companies design go-to-market systems that scale sustainably. Connect with Mark: Stage 2 CapitalResources mentioned:The Science of Scaling by Mark RobergeThe Sales Acceleration Formula by Mark RobergeForce Management resources on scaling predictably:The Predictable Revenue Framework: Guide for Leaders Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results. This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale. Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

Revenue Builders
Designing Systems That Scale with Mark Roberge, Founding CRO of HubSpot

Revenue Builders

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2026 61:11


Scaling often looks like momentum on the surface: more pipeline, more headcount, more pressure from boards and capital. But underneath? Many leaders feel the strain of decisions moving faster than their systems can support. In this conversation, Mark Roberge sits down to unpack why scaling is not a milestone, but a system that must be intentionally designed and continuously recalibrated. Drawing on his experience as HubSpot's founding CRO, a Harvard Business School lecturer, and the author of The Science of Scaling, Mark offers a clear, data-driven perspective on how leaders can move beyond reactive growth and build systems that scale with intention.Mark Roberge is the founding Chief Revenue Officer of HubSpot, a senior lecturer at Harvard Business School, co-founder of Stage 2 Capital, and the author of The Science of Scaling and The Sales Acceleration Formula. He is widely known for helping companies design go-to-market systems that scale sustainably. Connect with Mark: Stage 2 CapitalResources mentioned:The Science of Scaling by Mark RobergeThe Sales Acceleration Formula by Mark RobergeForce Management resources on scaling predictably:The Predictable Revenue Framework: Guide for LeadersKey takeaways from this episode:04:45 Why scaling too early, often triggered by capital of board pressure, creates more downstream problems than it solves09:20 Why your ideal customer profile is defined by who your sellers actually close, not what's written in your pitch deck12:43 Why revenue is a misleading indicator of product-market fit (and what leaders should pay attention to instead)13:58 The critical difference between product-market fit and go-to-market fit, and why skipping the latter derails scale19:36 How using leading indicators of retention removes guesswork from growth decisions40:02 Why top-down revenue targets fail, and how bottoms-up capacity planning creates sustainable scale53:55 Why Mark chose to donate all book proceeds to mental health, and why leadership conversations must make room for humanity Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results. This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale. Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

Unchurned
Why Your Ideal Customer Profile Is Broken and How AI Can Fix It ft. Mark Roberge (Co-Founder of Stage 2 Capital)

Unchurned

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2025 47:32


The Biggest GTM Mistake (Spoiler Alert: Stop Chasing CAC!!!)Mark Roberge shares how AI is transforming sales, customer success, and go-to-market strategy. The former HubSpot CRO, now co-founder of Stage 2 Capital and senior lecturer at Harvard Business School, Mark Roberge breaks down the 4 phases of AI evolution that will redefine how companies sell, serve, and scale. From agentic AI to LTV-driven growth, this is a masterclass on what the next era of go-to-market looks like.Mark Roberge helped take HubSpot from $0 to $100M and literally wrote The Sales Acceleration Formula. Now, he's turning his attention to the AI transformation sweeping every GTM function. In this episode, Mark explains why it's time to stop obsessing over CAC and start optimizing for LTV—the customers who actually succeed—and how AI can make that possible at scale.He also shares bold predictions about the future of work, the death of departments, and why capitalism itself may need to evolve for the AI era.Timestamps0:00 – Preview & Introduction1:19 – Meet Mark Roberge: Co-Founder, Stage 2 Capital2:45 – The Early Days of AI in GTM6:33 – What's Slowing Down AI Adoption8:00 – Why Most AI Startups Are Still Too Iterative12:00 – The "Agentic" Shift: From Co-Pilots to Autonomous Agents14:15 – The 4 Phases of AI Go-to-Market Evolution20:35 – Managing Your Agents: The New CRO Skillset26:00 – Deciding the ICP: It's Not CAC29:35 – How AI Breaks Down Department Silos35:40 – Can Capitalism Survive the AI Era?46:00 – The Science of Scaling: Mark's Next Big Book---What You'll Learn* Why CAC is the wrong north star metric for GTM leaders* How to use AI to identify and retain high-LTV customers* The 4 phases of AI transformation in go-to-market* How agentic AI will redefine the roles of CROs, CSMs, and RevOps* Why AI will blur departmental boundaries and change the structure of business* How capitalism and work culture must evolve in the AI era---Check out the Key Takeaways & Transcripts: ⁠https://www.gainsight.com/presents/series/unchurned/⁠---Where to Find Mark:LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/markroberge/Where to Find Josh: LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jschachter/⁠---Resources mentioned:* Stage 2 Capital Blog – Go-to-Market AI Case Studies: https://www.stage2.capital * The Sales Acceleration Formula by Mark Roberge

Studio Secrets A to Z
Studio Secrets A to Z - Mark Roberge

Studio Secrets A to Z

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2025 46:24


Studio Secrets A to Z - Mark Roberge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The {Closed} Session
How AI is rewriting startup growth playbooks

The {Closed} Session

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2025 41:09


Most AI pilots fail because founders are retrofitting old playbooks instead of rebuilding revenue architecture. Mark Roberge, founding CRO at HubSpot who scaled from $0 to $100M revenue, breaks down how AI compresses traditional sales cycles and transforms go-to-market execution. He reveals why selling time will jump from 25% to 75% of a rep's week, how AI enables real-time ICP refinement and account targeting, and why sustainable moats now depend on owning the point of work rather than systems of record.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coach2Scale: How Modern Leaders Build A Coaching Culture
From Hamster Wheel to High Performance with Mark Roberge (Replay)

Coach2Scale: How Modern Leaders Build A Coaching Culture

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 22, 2025 25:55


Matt Benelli sat down with Mark Roberge last year, former CRO at HubSpot, Harvard Business School professor, and co-founder of Stage 2 Capital, to challenge some of the most persistent myths in sales leadership. From debunking the idea that top reps make the best managers to exposing why shadowing high performers can actually backfire, this conversation delivers a candid look at why most coaching programs fail to scale and what to do instead.Mark lays out a structured, repeatable approach to frontline coaching that not only boosts individual rep performance but transforms how entire sales organizations operate. He shares why focusing on team attainment is less useful than tracking the percentage of reps hitting quota, how managers can move from reactive fire drills to proactive coaching cycles, and why self-diagnosis is the new sales superpower. If you're a sales leader still stuck on the hamster wheel, this episode offers a way off.Key Takeaways1. Top reps don't make the best managersThe traits that drive individual quota success, such as assertiveness or autonomy, often conflict with the empathy and patience required to coach others effectively.2. Shadowing high performers is not an onboarding strategyNew reps pick up bad habits and unteachable skills when learning only by imitation; structured onboarding with a defined process is more effective.3. Coaching can (and must) scale.A consistent, top-down cadence of rep-by-rep skill diagnosis, action planning, and metric tracking creates scalable coaching across large sales orgs.4. Reps rarely know why they're underperformingWithout data, reps and managers often misdiagnose performance gaps; combining call data and funnel metrics helps uncover the true root causes.5. Managers must move from reactive to proactiveTime-blocked 1:1s tied to skill development, not just deal triage shift coaching from “fire drills” to intentional growth plans.6. Quota attainment by rep is the real health metric.Overall team attainment hides unhealthy reliance on a few stars; the percentage of reps hitting quota shows true team performance and scalability.

Paying Attention
Prospect Hill's New& New Sound - Edgar and Mark Talk Join Tom

Paying Attention

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2025 67:52


Mark Roberge and Edgar Troncoso from the band Prospect Hill joined Tom today to talk about their rise to fame, changes in the band, their new sound, new releases and helping local artists!

SaaS Metrics School
Can the Large Software Incumbents Survive the Agentic AI Competitive Threat?

SaaS Metrics School

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2025 4:34


In episode #274, I'm sharing some insight from a Mark Roberge talk in Tempe, AZ at PHX FWD. The software business is undergoing another major shift. In the 80/90's it started with on-premise software, then ASP, then SaaS, and now AI. - Business model changes - What if agentic AI entered your space? - Siebel Systems - from top player to SaaS laggard Be in the know! Join our SaaS community. https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout Subscribe to Ben's SaaS newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page

SaaS Metrics School
Don't Believe the $5M ARR per Employee Hype

SaaS Metrics School

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2025 4:48


In episode #273, I'm sharing some insight from a Mark Roberge talk in Tempe, AZ at PHX FWD. Should we believe the ARR per FTE hype? - Is my SaaS being left behind? - Should we believe the hype? - Current benchmarks for ARR per FTE Be in the know! Join our SaaS community. https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout

ZoomInfo Labs Podcast
Stage 2 Capital Co-Founder Mark Roberge

ZoomInfo Labs Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2025 35:20


This week on the ZoomInfo Labs Podcast, we sit down with Mark Roberge, co-founder of Stage 2 Capital, former CRO at HubSpot, and a professor at Harvard Business School to explore the future of AI in sales and how GTM leaders can drive sustainable growth.In this episode, you'll learn:Why AI is creating a new "Innovator's Dilemma" for sales teamsHow to know when (and how fast) to scale your sales teamWhy cross-functional alignment is critical for GTM successThe future of demand generation and why community-led growth (CLG) is gaining tractionMark shares practical advice from his experience scaling HubSpot, investing in over 50 companies, and teaching the next generation of sales leaders at HBS. If you're a GTM leader looking to future-proof your strategy, you don't want to miss this one.For more from ZI Labs, visit ⁠www.zoominfo.com/labs⁠Ben on LinkedIn - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/bensalzman⁠Millie on LinkedIn - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/milliebeetham

The SaaS Revolution Show
Sales Acceleration Formula 2.0 with Mark Roberge, Co-Founder at Stage 2 Capital

The SaaS Revolution Show

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2025 50:10


One of our most listened to episodes, we're bringing back Mark Roberge, Co-Founder at Stage 2 Capital, who shares his sales acceleration formula 2.0 with our SaaStock Founder Members. Mark dives deep into the Sales Acceleration formula followed by his previous company Hubspot. He also answers the questions posted by our SaaStock Founder Membership community. Interested in becoming a member? Apply to SaaStock Founder Membership to supercharge your growth: https://www.saastock.com/founder-membership/Check out the other ways SaaStock is serving SaaS founders

Coach2Scale: How Modern Leaders Build A Coaching Culture
From Hamster Wheel to High Performance - Mark Roberge - Coach2Scale - Episode # 65

Coach2Scale: How Modern Leaders Build A Coaching Culture

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2024 25:55


In this episode of Coach2Scale, Matt Benelli sits down with Mark Roberge, the founding CRO of HubSpot and the Co-Founder of Stage2 Capital. They discuss innovative approaches to sales coaching, including the importance of focusing on the percentage of reps hitting quota and why new reps should not shadow top performers. Mark shares insights on proactive coaching methods and the significance of data in diagnosing sales issues. They also talk about Stage 2 Capital, a fund that leverages the expertise of top sales and marketing leaders to guide startups. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone involved in sales leadership, exploring effective coaching techniques and the science of scaling revenue. Takeaways:Prioritize the percentage of reps hitting quota over overall team attainment to get a true sense of team health and sustainability.Avoid having new reps shadow top performers due to potential bad habits and lack of universal applicability in their methods. Instead, create a standardized sales process that codifies best practices.Develop a systematic approach to coaching by holding regular one-on-one sessions where managers diagnose and address specific performance issues with each rep, using data to guide the coaching process.Use metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of coaching, such as tracking improvements in specific areas like opportunity funnel conversion rates.Design processes that force managers to be proactive, such as monthly or quarterly reviews that focus on qualitative and quantitative performance assessments.Select potential managers based not just on their sales performance but on their leadership abilities and coaching potential. Consider the different skill sets required for managing and selling.Develop training programs that help reps learn to self-diagnose their performance issues, fostering independence and continuous improvement.Quote of the Show: “A great rep doesn't have to wait till the monthly or the quarterly review or the next chat with the managers. They can reflect and they almost can self-diagnose mid-meeting.” - Mark RobergeLinks:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markroberge/ Website: https://www.stage2.capital/ Book: https://www.amazon.com/Sales-Acceleration-Formula-Technology-Inbound/dp/1119047072/ref=sr_1_1?adgrpid=1343603773753404&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.HRz6Z9-h6Fs_mYwBMgiU0-foFhPZk7lV1Y_-t8l-nzMDqpScpOw4nmQ_rYxPA1wcnpX3TBFyb8yNpSzjlVTs59n_PTI8-NNIEgP19eSWNT1KTmXw4bM-Ik1ON3bbLvRpNl5MzAe1p06iMnrZbZx8kDWOUuQgr-pQuENmlU-h-Q6xc4J6ediHpdD_5Lsji4ppITe9CHQf52MHPix2VP3jV2_TAuJrp94U-1HkqjU0-jA.pWGGm1VSdrsIGa-hXJX--Sl-r0tIg3TZy93Ed_nAf98&dib_tag=se&hvadid=83975476617453&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=104857&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvtargid=kwd-83975581283309%3Aloc-190&hydadcr=21931_13325420&keywords=the+sales+acceleration+formula&qid=1731013960&sr=8-1 Ways to Tune In:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0Yb1wPzUxyrfR0Dx35ym1A Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/coach2scale-how-modern-leaders-build-a-coaching-culture/id1699901434 Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy50cmFuc2lzdG9yLmZtL2NvYWNoMnNjYWxlLWhvdy1tb2Rlcm4tbGVhZGVycy1idWlsZC1hLWNvYWNoaW5nLWN1bHR1cmU Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/fd188af6-7c17-4b2e-a0b2-196ecd6fdf77 Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/coach2scale-how-modern-leaders-5419703 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Coach2Scale CoachEm™ is the first Coaching Execution Platform that integrates deep learning technology to proactively analyze patterns, highlight the "why" behind the data with root causes, and identify the actions that will ultimately improve business results going forward.  These practical coaching recommendations for managers will help their teams drive more deals, bigger deals, faster deals and loyal customers. Built with decades of go-to-market experience, world-renowned data scientists and advanced causal AI/ML technology, CoachEm™ leverages your existing tech stack to increase rep productivity, increase retention, and replicate best practices across your team.Learn more at coachem.io

Revenue Builders
AI Disruption: Thinking Outside-In

Revenue Builders

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2024 6:35


In this short segment of the Revenue Builders Podcast, Mark Roberge shares some thoughts on AI and how to think about using it to innovate business, rather than automating isolated tasks. It's part of a larger episode with John Kaplan and John McMahon. KEY TAKEAWAYS[00:00:25] How AI Disrupts Legacy Thinking: Relying on established systems and resources will lead to failure; companies must rethink from scratch.[00:01:41] Big Companies Resist Disruption: Internal power dynamics often prevent large companies from embracing necessary innovation.[00:03:13] AI's Shortcomings in Sales: Many companies focus on automating tasks rather than considering the full customer experience.[00:05:09] AI Co-pilot Concept: Current AI tools are overly iterative, with most companies simply aiming to boost productivity, not revolutionize.[00:05:57] Future of Work with AI: The potential for billion-dollar companies with minimal employees raises questions about capitalism and job creation.HIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:00:46] Mark Roberge on Innovation: "The minute you say, ‘How can we leverage what we already have?'—game over."[00:01:41] John McMahon on Company Resistance: "The people in power won't give in easily to disruptions that challenge their status."[00:03:57] Mark Roberge on AI's Shortcomings: "Co-pilot is the pets.com of this era. It's iterative. It's not revolutionary."[00:05:57] Mark Roberge on Future Jobs: "AI will lead to the first billion-dollar company with two employees."Listen to Mark's Full Episode Here: https://revenue-builders.simplecast.com/episodes/innovation-growth-and-failureEnjoying the podcast? Sign up to receive new episodes straight to your inbox: https://hubs.li/Q02R10xN0Check out John McMahon's book here:Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/1K7DDC4Check out Force Management's Ascender platform here: https://my.ascender.co/Ascender/Read Force Management's eBook: https://www.forcemanagement.com/roi-of-sales-messaging

Topline
Mark Roberge on Redefining Sales Leadership in the AI Era

Topline

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2024 59:20


If you like what you heard from Kyle today, make sure to follow The Revenue Leadership Podcast for new episodes every Wednesday. Want more content from the Topline media family? Listen to Topline Podcast with Sam Jacobs, AJ Bruno, and Asad Zaman. Join the Topline Slack channel to engage with hosts, guests, and other listeners. Subscribe to Topline Newsletter written by Asad Zaman.

The Sales Evangelist
Three Case Study Helping Sellers Get Over 120% of Quota | Mark Roberge and Donald Kelly - 1837

The Sales Evangelist

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2024 34:03


In sales, you can't rely solely on the product to close deals; you need the right strategies and mindset to get prospects to say yes to your offers. Some companies excel at this, while others need a bit of help. Join me and my guest, Mark Roberge, in this episode as we share three case studies of businesses that turned their sales success around. Meet Mark Roberge Mark Roberge is a renowned expert in sales and venture capital, known for his data-driven strategies that transform businesses.  As the fourth employee at HubSpot, he developed a scalable sales model that fueled the company's growth.  In addition to mentoring startups, he shares his sales expertise through podcasting and speaking at major events like the Inbound conference. Understanding the Reticular Activating System (RAS) Your brain filters information all the time, and often in ways that may keep you from succeeding in sales.   We explore the Reticular Activating System (RAS) and how the brain prioritizes information it deems important.  Your mindset and perception influence your belief in the effectiveness of your sales strategies.   For instance, if you believe cold calling is ineffective, your RAS will filter information that supports this belief, often leading to self-fulfilling outcomes. Sales & Psychology: The Connection   Whether you believe it or not, psychology plays a major role in sales.  We also believe that therapists can make some of the best sales representatives because they understand the human mind so well.  Salespeople who focus on diagnosing customer issues and truly understanding their needs are able to build rapport and trust. The Journey to Sales Mastery If you want to improve your sales skills, try role-playing for practice.  We share a case study of how an individual increased their quota performance from 70% to 120% within three months through better engagement and refined practices. "With a new product and a revolutionized product, no one is going to know how to buy it. You have to teach them how to buy that particular product.” - Mark Roberge.  Resources Check out Mark Roberge's podcast, “The Science of Scale,” for in-depth interviews with founders discussing scaling strategies. Learn more about The Sales Evangelist Sales Mastermind Program. Cold Call Openers Sponsorship Offers This episode is brought to you in part by Hubspot. With HubSpot sales hubs, your data tools and teams join a single platform to close deals and turn prospects into pipelines. Try it for yourself at hubspot.com/sales. 2.            This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn. Are you tired of prospective clients not responding to your emails? Sign up for a free 60-day trial of LinkedIn Sales Navigator at linkedin.com/tse. 3.            This episode is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Foundation. Improve your connection on LinkedIn and land three or five appointments with our LinkedIn prospecting course. Go to the salesevangelist.com/linkedin. Credits As one of our podcast listeners, we value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We'd love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify. Audio provided by Free SFX, Soundstripe, and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are as follows: The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.

HBR On Leadership
Why Founders Need to Focus More on Sales and Marketing

HBR On Leadership

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2024 21:09


Harvard Business School senior lecturer Mark Roberge argues that every aspect of being an early-stage founder involves sales. But many founders lack an understanding of how to incorporates sales into their ventures. Which sales candidate is a startup's ideal first hire? What marketing channels are worth investing in? How aggressively should you align sales with customer success? In this episode, you'll learn how to hire for early sales roles, design compensation, and lay a strong foundation for a growing sales team. Key episode topics include: leadership, entrepreneurship, sales, marketing, startups, entrepreneurial business strategy, pricing strategy, talent management. HBR On Leadership curates the best case studies and conversations with the world's top business and management experts, to help you unlock the best in those around you. New episodes every week. · Listen to the original Cold Call episode: What Founders Get Wrong about Sales and Marketing (2023)· Find more episodes of Cold Call· Discover 100 years of Harvard Business Review articles, case studies, podcasts, and more at HBR.org]]>

Revenue Builders
Innovation, Growth and Failure

Revenue Builders

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2024 56:57


In this episode, John Kaplan and John McMahon are joined by Mark Roberge, former CRO of HubSpot and co-founder of Stage 2 Capital. They dive deep into Clayton Christensen's book, 'The Innovator's Dilemma,' exploring why well-managed companies fail despite their best efforts to innovate. The discussion covers historical and present examples of disruptive vs. sustaining technologies, with a focus on how companies can adapt in the rapidly changing tech landscape, especially with the emergence of AI. Insightful anecdotes from their careers and practical advice for business leaders make this a must-listen for anyone navigating the world of B2B sales and technology.Tune in and learn more on this episode of The Revenue Builders Podcast.ADDITIONAL RESOURCESConnect and learn more about Mark Roberge: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markroberge/HERE ARE SOME KEY SECTIONS TO CHECK OUT[00:01:26] Discussing The Innovator's Dilemma[00:04:24] Relevance of The Innovator's Dilemma Today[00:05:51] Sustaining vs. Disruptive Innovation[00:07:12] Historical Examples of Disruptive Innovation[00:08:53] Challenges of Adapting to Disruptive Technologies[00:17:47] The Role of AI in Future Disruptions[00:30:19] The Evolution of Job Markets[00:30:36] AI's Impact on Insurance Companies[00:31:43] Disrupting Established Companies[00:32:48] Challenges of Acquisitions[00:33:45] Strategies for Cloud Transition[00:44:11] The Role of SMBs in Innovation[00:48:29] HubSpot's Unique ApproachHIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:04:08] "I just think therapists are like the best analog for just great salesmanship because if you walk into a therapy session, you're bummed out. You walk out, you're friggin jazzed about life and all they did was ask you eight questions."[00:06:39] "We were in a sustaining innovation realm...you follow that, you're going to be bankrupt in five years."[00:10:04] "The promise of AI is to get rid of the people, to get rid of the salespeople. And when you look at today's sales tech big players, their entire business model is based on charging per person. How the hell are they going to survive in a world where the number of salespeople a company has is declining?"[00:16:47] "The move to cloud infrastructure, subscription pricing, and shifting to inside sales — for a big company, these changes are nearly impossible to make."

The Twenty Minute VC: Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch
20Sales: Biggest Lessons Scaling Hubspot from $0-$100M in ARR, The Framework for How Startups Should Scale into the Enterprise, How to do Channel Partnerships Right and How to Construct Sales Comp Plans Early On with Mark Roberge

The Twenty Minute VC: Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2024 40:00


Mark Roberge is a Co-Founder and Managing Director at Stage 2 Capital and a Senior Lecturer at the Harvard Business School. Prior to these roles, Mark was the founding CRO at HubSpot, where he scaled ARR from $0 to $100 million and expanded his team from 1 to 450 employees. Mark was ranked #19 in Forbes' Top 30 Social Sellers in the World. He was also awarded the 2010 Salesperson of the Year at the MIT Sales Conference. In Today's Episode with Mark Roberge We Discuss: 1. Biggest Lessons Scaling Hubspot to $100M in ARR: What are Mark's biggest lessons in what worked in their sales strategy in scaling to $100M in ARR? What elements of Hubspot's sales strategy did not work? What would he have done differently with the benefit of hindsight? What does Mark know now that he wishes he had known when he started at Hubspot? 2. How the Best Startups Scale into Enterprise: What are the single biggest mistakes startups make when scaling into enterprise? When is the right time? What do founders get most wrong on timing of scale into enterprise? What do you need to have in place both from a team and product perspective to make the transition? 3. Second Product and Second Channel: When is the right time to launch the second product? Why does Mark believe that you should be turning down customers in the early days? Why is not every customer right for your company? How does Mark think about channel diversification? Does Mark agree you only need one channel to scale to $50M in ARR and two to scale to $100M in ARR? 4. 99% of SaaS Founders Do Partnerships Wrong: What are the single biggest mistakes founders make when doing channel partnerships? What can and should they do to set channel partnerships up for success? What do the channel partners need to have to be equipped to sell the partner solution? What level of buy-in and from who on the channel partner side is needed for the partnership to be successful? What did Mark learn from Hubspot's partnership with Salesforce scaling to 10% of Hubspot's revenue?  

Topline
TOPLINE HOTLINE: How will the role of venture adapt as companies reach profitability more cost-effectively?

Topline

Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2024 12:42


Following the episode with Mark Roberge, your Topline hosts discuss the role of venture in a world where companies can achieve product-market fit and profitable growth at reduced startup costs. They also explore the use of AI and emerging technologies in building and selling products with smaller teams, as well as its impact on venture funding and the need for follow-up rounds. Enjoy the mini-episode? Read the recaps or join our Slack channel to engage with other listeners here. Also listen to E55 with Mark Roberge.

Topline
E55: The State of AI in GTM with Mark Roberge of Stage 2 Capital

Topline

Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2024 68:46


Mark Roberge is the Co-Founder of Stage 2 Capital and author of The Sales Acceleration Formula. Mark joins the show to discuss the challenges and opportunities for businesses embracing AI. The group dives into the key GTM applications for AI, challenges larger companies have with adopting this technology, and how future regulation may impact development in the field moving forward. Want more Topline? Join the Topline Slack channel to engage with hosts, guests, and other listeners. Don't forget to read the recaps from previous episodes. Are you a sales executive? Get 20% off your CRO Summit ticket with the code TOPLINE. It's happening June 6, 2024 in Boston. Save your spot.

Sales and Marketing Built Freedom
Mark Roberge Part 2 | AI Native vs. Adapted Companies: Winning Strategies for the Future of Business

Sales and Marketing Built Freedom

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2024 26:13


Join Ryan for part two with Mark Roberge, the original CRO at HubSpot who took the company from zero to $100 million. Roberge shares his unique insights on native AI companies versus adapted companies, offering a fresh perspective on how to effectively use AI in go-to-market strategies.  Join 2,500+ readers getting weekly practical guidance to scale themselves and their companies using Artificial Intelligence and Revenue Cheat Codes.   Explore becoming Superhuman here: https://superhumanrevenue.beehiiv.com/ KEY TAKEAWAYS The science of scaling framework helps boards and founders determine when to scale revenue and at what pace, focusing on product-market fit and go-to-market fit. AI may significantly reduce development cycles and sales cycles, potentially leading to billion-dollar companies run by fewer than 10 people. AI could enable the creation of highly customized micro-products for niche markets, allowing for a multitude of smaller, specialized companies. Integrating AI into employees' workflows is crucial for staying ahead of the curve and capitalizing on the AI revolution. Embracing AI tools can save employees significant time, enabling them to explore new opportunities and innovations. The top 5% of individuals who actively learn and implement AI technologies will have a substantial advantage in the current business landscape. Identifying real AI challengers involves assessing incumbents' access to data and considering how workflows may change in a mature AI world. AI native companies with access to unique data sets, like AI sales coaches, have an advantage over incumbents in certain categories. BEST MOMENTS "When you think ahead to like a mature AI world when does, when you think about that, does the workflow change so much? That the underlying architecture of the incumbent is no longer relevant." "We're in a hype cycle. We're about to get the first taste of companies that had no product and revenue that raised over 100 million that are going to go out of business because there's no traction." "It's such an opportunity right now because the average person just gets like status quo. And the more you can push, push, push, push. That's what we're doing a lot with our portfolio.” "Everyone's so excited. Cause we haven't felt this in like 20 years." "The more we get the message out, the more people we could help, the bigger, the impact we make and the bigger the community gets, which helps everybody." Ryan Staley Founder and CEO Whale Boss ryan@whalesellingsystem.com www.ryanstaley.io Saas, Saas growth, Scale, Business Growth, B2b Saas, Saas Sales, Enterprise Saas, Business growth strategy, founder, ceo: https://www.whalesellingsystem.com/closingsecrets

Sales and Marketing Built Freedom
Navigating the AI Hype Cycle: Insights from HubSpot's Former CRO Mark Roberge Part 1

Sales and Marketing Built Freedom

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2024 27:24


Join Ryan for part one with the legendary Mark Roberge, former CRO of HubSpot and current venture capitalist. They dive deep into the world of AI companies, discussing the immense opportunities and potential pitfalls. Mark shares his unique perspective on identifying promising AI start-ups and provides invaluable insights for entrepreneurs and investors alike. Join 2,500+ readers getting weekly practical guidance to scale themselves and their companies using Artificial Intelligence and Revenue Cheat Codes.   Explore becoming Superhuman here: https://superhumanrevenue.beehiiv.com/ KEY TAKEAWAYS AI is a generational technology, potentially bigger than the internet, but currently in a massive hype cycle similar to the dot-com era. Most current AI ideas are basic integrations into existing workflows, not reimagining the workflow, and are likely to be disrupted. Joining an AI company now provides valuable experience, even if 90% fail, as the winners will scoop up experienced talent. The AI technology creating operational efficiency in the short term may not be the same as the disruptors redefining industries over the next decade. Understanding prompting, the foundation of AI language is crucial for developing micro-workflows, agents, and eventually autonomous swarms. The innovator's dilemma and appropriate beachhead selection are key concepts for AI startups to consider when building for the long-term vision. RevOps, once seen as supporting humans, may flip to AI doing the job with humans tweaking and refining. Technical issues like hallucinations and latency will likely be ironed out as the technology matures, revealing AI's true potential. BEST MOMENTS "I've never had more conviction for my students that come up to me. Like, 'Hey, what's up? Professor, like what, what should I do? Like, I want to be, I want to go into startups. Like, what should I do?' And I, I've always had like different opinions. I was like, do you have to go to AI? Like every tech company is going to, in like six years is going to be native AI. You have to get that experience now." "I think all the tea leaves are similar to like 1997. Let's not forget that in that time, we dialled up to the internet using AOL, launched a Netscape browser and did searches through AltaVista, right? Where are those companies? Lycos, right? Is, is, is, yeah, is OpenAI Netscape or is it Google? Like we got to figure that out, right?" "The AI technology that's going to create significant operational efficiency and growth this year and next for companies, especially these bigger companies that my CROs are from is not going to be the trillion dollar new company that disrupts the space." "I've kind of come to the conclusion that the AI companies, vendors, technology that is going to create the most operational efficiency, even for our start-ups in the next year is not going to be the same AI technology company, et cetera, that becomes the disruptor over the next decade and redefines the sales and martech sector." "RevOps has become huge, didn't even exist 15 years ago. And for the most part, RevOps is seen as an organization that supports the humans to do their job. And that flips with what you're saying. Is, at some point, it flips where RevOps does the job and humans there to tweak it." Ryan Staley Founder and CEO Whale Boss ryan@whalesellingsystem.com www.ryanstaley.io Saas, Saas growth, Scale, Business Growth, B2b Saas, Saas Sales, Enterprise Saas, Business growth strategy, founder, ceo: https://www.whalesellingsystem.com/closingsecrets

The Revenue Formula
Avoid this when scaling (with Mark Roberge, co-founder at Stage 2 Capital)

The Revenue Formula

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2024 53:45


There's a few patterns to avoid when scaling sales. We walk through them together with Mark Roberge.(00:00) - Indtroduction (03:48) - Meet Mark (08:44) - The number 1 pattern of unnecessary failure (11:16) - Getting the right pacing (16:35) - Pushing back on the plan (25:39) - Why do we misunderstand capacity? (33:54) - The problem with commissions (36:31) - The comp plan works against this goal (40:12) - How do you comp on retention? (42:38) - Find your leading indicators of retention (44:10) - Pushback on retention compensation Also, check out the science of scaling here. Mark also did a presentation at SaaStr on common sales potholes, make sure to check it out.*** This episode is brought to you by Growblocks. Finding and fixing problems in your GTM shouldn't take weeks. It should happen instantly.That's why Growblocks built the first RevOps platform that shows you your entire funnel, split by motions, segments and more - so you can find problems, the root-cause and identify solutions fast, all in the same platform.***Connect with us

Revenue Builders
A Look Back: Revenue Builders Podcast's 100th Episode

Revenue Builders

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 29, 2024 32:23


In this milestone 100th episode of the Revenue Builders Podcast, hosts John McMahon and John Kaplan reflect on their journey and share some of their most memorable takeaways from previous conversations. They discuss the importance of authentic leadership, the power of debriefing, and the value of leading with a vision. They also highlight the significance of balancing work and personal life, the impact of Navy SEAL principles on leadership, and the role of customer success in reducing churn. The hosts express their gratitude to the listeners and emphasize the importance of caring for the guests and their stories.Tune in to this conversation with John McMahon and John Kaplan on the Revenue Builders podcast.HERE ARE SOME KEY SECTIONS TO CHECK OUT[00:00:00] Introduction to the 100th episode celebration[00:01:08] Memorable episodes from previous guests[00:11:41] Conclusion and final thoughts on the 100th episode celebration[00:12:08] Sarah Dillegaard's story of staying calm in a crisis[00:15:14] Chris Kin's rare journey from salesperson to CRO in a startup[00:16:53] Cedric Pesce's insight on giving the team a vision to stay motivated[00:19:28] Mark Roberge's strategies to reduce churn at HubSpot[00:21:00] Leading authentically and the importance of caring for your team[00:21:39] John Mosley's selfless leadership as a basketball coach[00:23:06] Customer-centric approach with discovery and the significance of MEDDIC qualification criteriaADDITIONAL RESOURCESLearn more about aligning customer-facing teams to improve execution: https://forc.mx/48o1jyP HIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:04:40] "The podcast is about giving back and taking the experiences from our guests and letting them share those life lessons."[00:10:23] "A good leader needs to give the team a vision that keeps their mind away from the monotony of everyday work.[00:17:38] "If you wanna build a ship, don't drum up people to assign them tasks, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea."

Top of the Pile
Sports Entrepreneurship, Mentorship and College Athletics - Meet the Founders of CGM Sports

Top of the Pile

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2024 40:52


Join me and my talented intern, Christina Klinoff (BC '24), as we co-host this exciting episode that brings together sports entrepreneurship, mentorship, and college athletics.This episode is perfect for a variety of listeners:Are you an aspiring college athlete or a current college athlete?Are you an aspiring entrepreneur?Are you interested in sports, NIL, and/or AI?Are you interested in being motivated by super bright, hard-working, D1 athletes?Yes to any of the above Q's? Then this is the episode for you!  Hear how Sean Woods and Ryan Hetrick met and co-founded CGM Sports or Chasing Greatness Mentorship - a platform that provides advice and mentorship to aspiring college athletes, helping them navigate club teams, prep schools, and the whole college recruiting process. Through entrepreneurship programs at both MIT and Harvard Business School, Ryan and Sean launched CGM and began their entrepreneurial journey.  Learn how Ryan and Sean found their Northstar and how their military backgrounds equipped them with the grit and discipline to stay focused on their shared vision. Additional links and information from this episode:MIT: Martin Trust Center for EntrepreneurshipBuilding an Entrepreneurial Venture (aka "GSD") - MIT Sloane biz school entrepreneurship accelerator, project-based course - getting an idea to marketHarvard Innovation Labs - Summer Accelerator programSean's HBS professors mentioned: Mark Roberge's book: The Sales Acceleration Formula: Using Data, Technology, and Inbound Selling to go from $0 to $100 MillionLou Shipley, Senior Lecturer, Harvard Business SchoolLAUNCH Career Strategies was founded by Karen Elders and Elyse Spalding. We help young professionals launch a successful career path with expert coaching services. Reach out today for an initial FREE coaching session.LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook

Cold Call
What Founders Get Wrong about Sales and Marketing

Cold Call

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2023 19:29


Which sales candidate is a startup's ideal first hire? What marketing channels are best to invest in? How aggressively should an executive team align sales with customer success? Harvard Business School senior lecturer Mark Roberge discusses how early-stage founders, sales leaders, and marketing executives can address these challenges as they grow their ventures in the case, “Entrepreneurial Sales and Marketing Vignettes.”

The Official SaaStr Podcast: SaaS | Founders | Investors
SaaStr 703: Who Will Win the Go-to-Market AI Race — Startups or Incumbents? with Stage 2 Capital's Managing Director and Co-Founder Mark Roberge

The Official SaaStr Podcast: SaaS | Founders | Investors

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2023 35:35


As AI continues to reshape the way businesses operate, it has become a critical differentiator in gaining a competitive edge. Stage 2 Capital Co-founder and Managing Director Mark Roberge dissects the advantages and challenges faced by both startups and incumbents in leveraging AI for Go-to-Market strategies. Uncover the unique capabilities that startups bring to the table and how they disrupt established players with their agility, innovation, and ability to adapt to changing market dynamics. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SaaStr hosts the largest SaaS community events on the planet. Join us in 2024 at: SaaStr Annual: Sept. 10-12 in the SF Bay Area. Join 12,500 SaaS professionals, CEOs, revenue leaders and investors for the world's LARGEST SaaS community event of the year. Podcast listeners can grab a discount on tickets here: https://www.saastrannual2024.com/buy-tickets?promo=fave50 SaaStr Europa: June 5-6 in London. We'll be hosting the 5th SaaStr Europa in London for two days of content and networking. Join 3,000 SaaS and Cloud leaders. Podcast listeners can grab a discount on Europa tickets here: https://www.saastreuropa2024.com/buy-tickets?promo=fave20 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This episode is sponsored by: Northwest Registered Agent When starting your business, it's important to use a service that will actually help you. Northwest Registered Agent is that service. They'll form your company fast, give you the documents you need to open a business bank account, and even provide you with mail scanning and a business address to keep your personal privacy intact. Visit https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/saastr to get a 60 percent discount on your next LLC.

Acquisitions Anonymous
$4.3m/yr to see how the sausage is made - Acquisitions Anonymous 231

Acquisitions Anonymous

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2023 35:50


In episode 231, Heather (@EndresenHeather) and Mills (@thegeneralmills) dive into a unique business opportunity involving a Breakfast Sausage Manufacturing Company for Sale. They explore this business's financial and operational challenges, highlighting the complexities of the food production industry. They discuss the potential for strategic acquisition and how corporate buyers might view this opportunity, shedding light on the intricacies of deal-making in this segment. The hosts also share personal anecdotes and insights into the fascinating food production and distribution world.Today's deal comes from Axial.  Axial is a trusted deal-sourcing platform serving professional acquirers in the American lower middle market.Axial partners with over 2,000 boutique investment bankers and business brokers who use the Axial platform for marketing their deals to lower-middle market acquirers.Thanks to today's sponsorsThe Science of Scaling, hosted by Mark Roberge. Mark is a Senior Lecturer at Harvard Business School. In each episode, he interviews the most successful sales leaders in tech to help you learn how to scale a business, whether that's how to find outside capital or what to look for in your first sales hire.Search for “The Science of Scaling” in your favorite podcast app-----------------CloudBookkeeping offers adaptable solutions to businesses that want to focus on growth with a “client service first” approach. They offer a full suite of accounting services, including sophisticated reporting, QuickBooks software solutions, and full-service payroll options. Do you love Acquanon and want to see our smiling faces? Subscribe to our Youtube channel. Do you enjoy our content? Rate our show! Follow us on Twitter @acquanon Learnings about small business acquisitions and operations.

Acquisitions Anonymous
$3.9mm/yr eLearning business for Amazon Books - Acquisitions Anonymous 230

Acquisitions Anonymous

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2023 24:03


In episode 230, Bill (@billDA), Michael (@girdley), and Heather (@EndresenHeather) discuss a unique e-learning business opportunity about teaching entrepreneurs how to sell books on Amazon. They explore the business's recurring revenue model, impressive growth, and potential expansion into related services. The conversation also touches on the dynamics of the e-learning industry and the challenges of managing a competitive niche.Today's deal comes from Axial.  Axial is a trusted deal-sourcing platform serving professional acquirers in the American lower middle market.Axial partners with over 2,000 boutique investment bankers and business brokers who use the Axial platform for marketing their deals to lower-middle market acquirers.Thanks to today's sponsorsThe Science of Scaling, hosted by Mark Roberge. Mark is a Senior Lecturer at Harvard Business School. In each episode, he interviews the most successful sales leaders in tech to help you learn how to scale a business, whether that's how to find outside capital or what to look for in your first sales hire.Search for “The Science of Scaling” in your favorite podcast app-----------------CloudBookkeeping offers adaptable solutions to businesses that want to focus on growth with a “client service first” approach. They offer a full suite of accounting services, including sophisticated reporting, QuickBooks software solutions, and full-service payroll options. Do you love Acquanon and want to see our smiling faces? Subscribe to our Youtube channel. Do you enjoy our content? Rate our show! Follow us on Twitter @acquanon Learnings about small business acquisitions and operations.