Podcasts about Presales

In this episode, Jack Cochran and Matthew James are joined by Rob Bruce, a presales leader at Syndigo with 20 years of experience, to discuss an innovative approach to presales operations: the Pursuit Desk. Rob shares how Syndigo has built a dedicated "concierge team" that handles RFPs, security questionnaires, reference coordination, and other time-consuming tasks, freeing solutions engineers to focus on discovery, solutioning, and building customer relationships. The conversation explores how to operate at the "top of your license," the role of AI in scaling pursuit operations, and practical advice for championing similar initiatives at your organization. Thank you to Elvance for sponsoring this episode: https://elvance.io Follow Us Connect with Jack Cochran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackcochran/ Connect with Matthew James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewyoungjames/ Connect with Rob Bruce: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbruce/ Links and Resources Mentioned Join Presales Collective Slack: https://www.presalescollective.com/slack Book: "Selling is Hard, Buying is Harder" by Garen Hess Timestamps 00:00 Welcome 04:29 What is a Presales Concierge 11:18 Presales culture 14:00 Working at the top of your diploma 17:10 How do you justify this 21:38 As focused as an F1 team 23:32 AI and the Pursuit Desk Key Topics Covered The Pursuit Desk Concept Functions as a presales concierge handling non-customer-facing tasks Manages RFPs, InfoSec documents, NDAs, reference coordination Creates centralized control over messaging and responses Operates on a global scale with cultural sensitivity Operating at the Top of Your License Focus on discovery, creative thinking, empathetic listening, and presenting solutions Eliminate time spent on administrative tasks that don't require SE expertise Reduce context switching and multitasking to maintain flow Maximize value delivery to customers and the organization Building the Business Case Find an executive sponsor to champion the initiative Measure impact through deal win rates and velocity Consider creative budget reallocation (travel budgets, etc.) Calculate ROI based on SE productivity and reduced burnout The Role of AI in Pursuit Operations AI handles first-pass RFP responses (80% completion) Pursuit desk personalizes and adds empathy (final 20%) Machine learning analyzes past deals for pattern recognition Go/no-go scorecards based on historical data Enables scaling without proportional headcount increases Presales Culture and Values Building trust through technical expertise and genuine personality Being a "chameleon" who adapts to different buyer needs Creating an environment where people feel welcomed and valued Mentorship and knowledge sharing across teams Preventing Burnout Eliminating nights and weekends spent on RFPs Reducing stress through better task distribution Enabling SEs to focus on work they're passionate about Creating sustainable workloads that retain top talent Measuring Success Tracking time spent on each RFP or pursuit activity Correlating effort to win-loss rates Building audit trails for continuous improvement Creating dashboards for data-driven decision making  

In this conversation, Lukas Swid discusses the essential strategies for attracting investment in startups. He emphasizes the importance of not appearing desperate for funds, showcasing a strong product, and building credibility with potential investors. Lukas outlines the need for thorough preparation and presentation to demonstrate demand and capability, as well as the significance of location in attracting investment.   Professional Real Estate Investors - How we can help you: Investor Fuel Mastermind:  Learn more about the Investor Fuel Mastermind, including 100% deal financing, massive discounts from vendors and sponsors you're already using, our world class community of over 150 members, and SO much more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/apply   Investor Machine Marketing Partnership:  Are you looking for consistent, high quality lead generation? Investor Machine is America's #1 lead generation service professional investors. Investor Machine provides true ‘white glove' support to help you build the perfect marketing plan, then we'll execute it for you…talking and working together on an ongoing basis to help you hit YOUR goals! Learn more here: http://www.investormachine.com   Coaching with Mike Hambright:  Interested in 1 on 1 coaching with Mike Hambright? Mike coaches entrepreneurs looking to level up, build coaching or service based businesses (Mike runs multiple 7 and 8 figure a year businesses), building a coaching program and more. Learn more here: https://investorfuel.com/coachingwithmike   Attend a Vacation/Mastermind Retreat with Mike Hambright: Interested in joining a “mini-mastermind” with Mike and his private clients on an upcoming “Retreat”, either at locations like Cabo San Lucas, Napa, Park City ski trip, Yellowstone, or even at Mike's East Texas “Big H Ranch”? Learn more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/retreat   Property Insurance: Join the largest and most investor friendly property insurance provider in 2 minutes. Free to join, and insure all your flips and rentals within minutes! There is NO easier insurance provider on the planet (turn insurance on or off in 1 minute without talking to anyone!), and there's no 15-30% agent mark up through this platform!  Register here: https://myinvestorinsurance.com/   New Real Estate Investors - How we can work together: Investor Fuel Club (Coaching and Deal Partner Community): Looking to kickstart your real estate investing career? Join our one of a kind Coaching Community, Investor Fuel Club, where you'll get trained by some of the best real estate investors in America, and partner with them on deals! You don't need $ for deals…we'll partner with you and hold your hand along the way! Learn More here: http://www.investorfuel.com/club   —--------------------

Chaiel Schaffel reports.

Greg and Dan talk to Rik Edgar of the Peoria Civic Center about the upcoming GHOST concert on Thursday, February 5, 2026! This will be one of the biggest productions at the arena in over a decade, thanks to the band’s massive stage presence and theatrical show. Known for their melodic, dramatic style that blends rock with a touch of heavy metal, GHOST has built a global fan base and Peoria audiences have watched them grow from performing in small theaters to now headlining world tour arenas. Presales are happening now at www.ticketmaster.com! Rik also previews what’s coming up at the Civic Center and how the arena is gearing up for the return of Peoria Rivermen hockey.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Jack Cochran and Matthew James are joined by Art Fromm, author of "Making Seamless Sales" and sales enablement expert, to discuss how presales and sales teams can work together more effectively. Art shares insights from his 25+ years in sales enablement, exploring the common disconnects between SEs and AEs, and provides practical strategies for building stronger partnerships that drive better outcomes. The conversation covers the evolution from tribal knowledge to systematic collaboration, the importance of discovery before demos, and how to create value perception rather than just showing features. Art emphasizes that when teams work together properly versus teams that don't, there's a 37% difference in sales outcomes - a substantial opportunity sitting on the table. Connect with Us Connect with Jack Cochran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackcochran/ Connect with Matthew James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewyoungjames/ Connect with Art Fromm: https://www.linkedin.com/in/artfromm/ Links and Resources Mentioned Join Presales Collective Slack: https://www.presalescollective.com/slack Art's Website: https://teamsalesdevelopment.com Team Sales Development: https://www.teamsalesdevelopment.com "Making Seamless Sales" by Art Fromm: https://teamsalesdevelopment.com/making-seamless-sales-book/ Timestamps 00:00 Welcome 03:55 Sol/Con East 2025 05:26 Making SEAMless Sales 11:27 Our Solutions Have No Value 24:02 You Only Get One Shot 29:42 Aren't We All Presales Key Topics Covered The SEAM Framework SE (Solutions Engineers) and AM (Account Managers) working together Breaking down organizational silos between presales and sales Creating systematic approaches rather than leaving collaboration to chance Moving Beyond the Demo Rush Why "we need to do a demo" often leads to failure The importance of proper qualification and discovery first How luck can reinforce bad habits in sales processes Creating Value Perception Understanding that solutions have no inherent value The Venn diagram of customer needs overlapping with solutions Turning "sell" into "buy" and "push" into "pull" The Trust Dynamic Presales comes with trust that can be lost Sales lacks trust that needs to be gained How proper discovery helps both teams build credibility Organizational Alignment Top-down (business focused) vs bottom-up (technical focused) approach Creating healthy overlap between sales and presales responsibilities The pyramid model of customer engagement levels Training and Enablement Moving beyond feature-function training to client success thinking Understanding the complete buyer journey from hello to consumption The concept of "solution enablement" as a continuous process

Schmerz, Impact, Entscheidung: Kundenqualifizierung mit der SPICED Methode Kundenqualifizierung Wenn Angebote versanden und Forecasts wackeln, fehlt oft eine saubere Qualifizierung. Deshalb zeige ich dir, wie du mit der SPICED Methode Kundenqualifizierung Gespräche fokussierst, Prozesse glasklar strukturierst und dadurch schneller zu belastbaren Entscheidungen kommst. Warum SPICED? Statt Bauchgefühl nutzt du eine gemeinsame Sprache im Team – vom Erstkontakt bis zum Closing. Dadurch entsteht eine realistische Pipeline, während Ressourcen zielgerichtet eingesetzt werden. Außerdem ist SPICED leicht trainierbar und passt besonders gut zu modernen B2B-, SaaS- und Service-Sales-Cycles. So funktioniert SPICED in der Praxis S = Situation: Kontext, Branche, Teamgröße, Tools, Prozesse. P = Pain: Was tut wirklich weh – und warum gerade jetzt? I = Impact: Welche Kosten, Risiken oder Umsatzverluste entstehen, wenn nichts passiert? CE = Critical Event: Welcher Stichtag zwingt zur Entscheidung? D = Decision: Wer entscheidet nach welchen Kriterien – und wie genau läuft der Prozess? Mein Gesprächs-Leitfaden 1) Schmerz messbar machen (Euro, Zeit, Risiko). Dadurch erhöhst du die Relevanz. 2) Impact verankern (Business Case, Priorität, Budget). Zudem schaffst du Commitment. 3) Critical Event sichern (Meilensteine, Deadlines). Somit entstehen klare Next Steps. 4) Decision Map klären (Personen, Kriterien, Prozess). Anschließend vereinbarst du verbindliche Aktionen statt „Wir melden uns“. SPICED vs. MEDDIC Beide helfen dir zu qualifizieren. Allerdings ist MEDDIC oft im Enterprise-Umfeld stärker, während SPICED mit Kundenzentrierung und Tempo punktet. Entscheidend ist Konsistenz: Wähle eine Methode, bilde sie im CRM ab, trainiere sie regelmäßig – und halte dich daran. Dadurch steigen Forecast-Qualität und Abschlussquote. Quick-Check für deine Top-Deals Kennst du den Schmerz und kannst ihn beziffern? Darüber hinaus: Gibt es ein Critical Event, das Handeln erzwingt? Ist der Decision-Prozess transparent? Wenn ja, hast du grünes Licht. Wenn nein, dann schärfe nach – oder disqualifiziere fair, damit du Zeit für die richtigen Opportunities gewinnst. Fazit Mit der SPICED Methode Kundenqualifizierung gewinnst du Klarheit, verkürzt Zyklen und erhöhst deine Abschlussquote. Zudem sorgt ein trainiertes Team für wiederholbare Ergebnisse. Deshalb: Verankere Fragenkataloge in jedem Funnel-Step – und verwandle gute Gespräche in planbaren Umsatz.  

For every sport, some people do it professionally, and others are amateurs. One of the bigger differences is that professionals get paid, amateurs don't. When it comes to solution engineering, there are also some professionals and others who work like amateurs, even though they both get paid. We discuss this specific topic with Bill Balnave. We explore the key differences between professionals and amateurs within the industry. Bill shares insights from his extensive career in presales and customer success, while emphasizing the significance of having the right team and environment to stay motivated.  

Provisionsmodelle im Vertrieb entscheiden über Performance und Planbarkeit. In dieser Folge spreche ich mit Alexander Dosse (Centify) darüber, welche Provision wann passt – und was im Sales einfach nicht funktioniert. Provisionen polarisieren: Von „braucht kein Mensch“ bis „ohne Provision keine Performance“ habe ich alles gehört. Mein Grundsatz: Provision ist ein Führungs- und Steuerungsinstrument, kein Ersatz für Management. Sie wirkt, wenn sie schnell spürbar ist, auf beeinflussbaren KPIs basiert und transparent abgerechnet wird. Genau hier passieren die größten Fehler: zu späte Auszahlungen, falsche Kennzahlen (z. B. EBIT), Deckelungen, die Leistung ausbremsen, und Quoten, die am Team vorbei geplant werden. Gerade im SaaS greifen mehrere Rollen ineinander: SDR, AE, PreSales und CSM. Bewährt hat sich eine gemeinsame Logik mit klarer Rollenwirkung. Ein praxiserprobtes Setup: Der SDR erhält eine Pauschale pro qualifiziertem Termin plus kleinen Deal-Anteil, der AE den größeren Abschlussanteil, der CSM wird über Verlängerung, Churn und Expansion incentiviert. So richten sich Provisionsmodelle im Vertrieb auf Umsatz, Kundennutzen und nachhaltiges Wachstum aus. Vier Bausteine für 90% der Fälle 1) Dealbeteiligung: prozentual am Umsatz/DB mit sauberer Attributionslogik – ohne „Mäuler-Stopfen“. 2) OTE/Quote: variables Zielgehalt (z. B. 70/30 oder 60/40 in DACH; 50/50 häufig in USA/UK) mit Cliff und Accelerators für Übererfüllung. Wichtig: nie nach oben deckeln, sonst werden Deals geschoben. 3) Bonuszahlungen: fixe Beträge für kurzfristig beeinflussbare Aktionen (z. B. „qualifizierter Termin“, „Produktbundle verkauft“). 4) SPIFs: zeitlich begrenzte Sprints zum Monats-/Quartalsende – monetär oder als Sachprämie. Starker Hebel, um Verhalten gezielt zu steuern. Vermeide Fehlanreize: Wer nur nach Marge vergütet, verkauft keine Neueinführungen. Wer erst am Jahresende zahlt, verliert Motivation. Und wer ohne Datenqualität plant, erntet Misstrauen. Darum mag ich Tools, die Echtzeit-Transparenz schaffen: Centify dockt an gängige CRMs an, rechnet automatisch und erlaubt Simulationen für neue Pläne. Umsetzungstipp: Ziele top-down & bottom-up kalibrieren, historische Daten prüfen, Regeln einfach formulieren („ein Satz, ein Beispiel“), monatlich auszahlen – und Kultur nutzen: Rankings, Golden Hours, kleine Wettkämpfe. So entsteht positiver Leistungsdruck statt System-Gaming. Fazit: Das perfekte System gibt es nicht – aber das passende. Mit klaren KPIs, schneller Auszahlung und den vier Bausteinen setzt du Provisionsmodelle im Vertrieb so auf, dass sie Wachstum wirklich treiben.  

In this episode, Jack Cochran and Matthew James are joined by Wendy McHenry, Chair of WISE (Women in Solutions Excellence) at Presales Collective and Former Head of Global Solutions Engineering at CDATA, to discuss the critical need for supporting women in presales careers. They explore the challenges women face in a field where only 18% of solutions professionals are women, discuss unconscious bias in hiring and workplace environments, and highlight how WISE is creating support networks and career development opportunities to advance equity in the solutions field. To join the show live, follow the Presales Collective's LinkedIn page or join the PSC Slack community for updates. This episode is sponsored by Elvance. More information at https://elvance.io/  On the Show Today Connect with Jack Cochran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackcochran/ Connect with Matthew James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewyoungjames/ Connect with Wendy McHenry: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendymac98/  Links and Resources Mentioned Join Presales Collective Slack: https://www.presalescollective.com/slack WISE Chapter Information: https://www.presalescollective.com/wise  Presales Collective LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/presalescollective  Timestamps 00:00 Welcome 04:51 Why WISE? 09:12 Being a woman in sales today 12:57 You're not technical enough 16:16 Women leaving the profession 20:33 How is WISE helping? 27:55 What's happening next? Key Topics Covered The Current State of Women in Presales Only 18% of solutions professionals globally are women Many women are the only woman on their SE team Higher attrition rates during layoffs disproportionately impact women Unconscious Bias and Workplace Challenges "Not technical enough" bias applied differently to women Interview panels dominated by men Social environments that may exclude women The importance of calling out bias when witnessed WISE Mission and Structure Started as an ERG at Salesforce, now part of Presales Collective Open to anyone who cares about supporting women in solutions careers Regional chapters like Women in Solutions Consulting Australia/New Zealand Company-specific chapters at organizations like Salesforce and Pegasystems Creating Change and Allyship How to be an effective ally in supporting women's careers Starting WISE chapters at your company (or expanding to broader sales/tech groups) The importance of diverse account teams and client representation Free career coaching and mentorship available through WISE council

This interview is part of a Microsoft Agentic AI Playbook, the download link is below.James Caton interviews Sheba Fernando, Vice President, AI Solutions and Presales, LTIMindtree, on the Agentic conversations she is having in Industry. We discuss:• an example of how Agentic AI transformed the operations of a building automation customer, reducing call handling time by 60% and significantly lowering operational costs• how LTI Mindtree is rethinking the traditional AI COE, to include specialized components such as agentic frameworks, reasoning and planning engines, memory systems, and execution environments. • the need for ‘watcher' agents, which will monitor incoming signals and alert for anomalies, driving consistency and enterprise value for customers. .YouTube:https://youtu.be/7jwYA3ZxOmsApple:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/generate-now/id1566458654Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/43XcU8A1dsNfW3YGT8KXhp?si=97412552ae4c439aSheba Fernando:https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheba-fernando-40060619/James Caton:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmcatonAgentic AI Playbook:https://aka.ms/AgenticPartnerPlaybook

In this episode, Jack Cochran and Matthew James are joined by Akash Ganapathi, CEO of Opine, to discuss how AI strategies differ between startups and enterprises in the presales space. They explore the myth of AI replacing SEs, the importance of specialization vs. generalization, and how AI can help presales teams manage more revenue per team member while focusing on strategic, relationship-building activities. Follow Us Connect with Jack Cochran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackcochran/ Connect with Matthew James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewyoungjames/ Connect with Akash Ganapathi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akash-ganapathi/  Links and Resources Mentioned Join Presales Collective Slack: https://www.presalescollective.com/slack Opine: https://tryopine.com/ Contact Akash directly: akash@tryopine.com Timestamps 00:00 Welcome 04:35 Why AI strategy differs for startups vs enterprises 09:27 Debunking the myth of AI replacing SEs 18:35 The human element in buying and selling 24:35 How enterprises can leverage existing knowledge bases 28:12 The paradox of considering AI for every task 32:14 Future predictions for 2026-2027 Key Topics Covered Startup vs Enterprise AI Strategy Startups benefit from generalist approaches and bottom-up experimentation Enterprises need specialized, top-down AI strategies to avoid redundancy The role of specialization vs wearing multiple hats The AI Replacement Myth Why the "AI SE" that replaces human SEs doesn't work SEs do much more than just answer technical questions The importance of relationship building and strategic thinking Current AI Limitations Context window constraints (around 1 million tokens currently) Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) accuracy at ~75% Why breakthrough improvements are needed for true automation The Future of Presales with AI More revenue managed per team member Shift toward hiring less experienced SEs with AI enablement Focus on strategic consulting rather than administrative tasks Practical AI Implementation Draft-and-approve workflows for deliverables Automating account research, meeting prep, and RFP responses Using AI for onboarding and knowledge enablement Mid-Market Recommendations Lean toward enterprise-style, forward-looking strategies Enable not just current team but future hires Focus on cross-organizational enablement (AEs, product, marketing)  

Ron Whitson joins us to discuss how we as Solution Engineers can build better relationships with customers and how we can help them make better decisions.     show notes: https://wethesalesengineers.com/show325

On the Predictable Revenue Podcast, host Collin Stewart sat down with Gil Quadros Flores, founder and CEO of CoGrader, to unpack the messy realities of building an EdTech startup. From identifying teachers' deepest pain points to navigating long sales cycles, Gil's story is a case study in how founder-led sales and an experimental mindset drive real traction. For early-stage founders, especially in education, the key takeaways are clear: prove the concept before chasing profit, build trust before scaling, and continue iterating as the market shifts. Highlights include: From Idea to Pre-Sales (06:37), Quantifying Pain and Market Needs (09:02), Pricing Strategies and Early Sales Insights (10:04), Recognizing Product-Market Fit (15:31), and more... Stay updated with our podcast and the latest insights in Outbound Sales and Go-to-Market Strategies!

Christopher Baldrey-Chourio CEO & Founder, ConstructKoin AI + Real Estate + Blockchain Pioneer#crypto #blockchain #ChrisBaldrey-ChourioAll Episodes can be found at www.thecryptopodcast.org All about Roy / Brain Gym & Virtual Assistants athttps://roycoughlan.com/About my Guest Chris Baldrey-ChourioChristopher Baldrey-Chourio CEO & Founder, ConstructKoin AI + Real Estate + Blockchain PioneerCBC is revolutionising the $280 trillion global real estate industry by combining AI, blockchain technology, and the bold vision to "Be the Bank."As CEO of ConstructKoin, Chris is executing one of the most innovative fundraising strategies in crypto history—a **100-phase token presale** raising $100 million USD, with tokens progressing from $0.01 to $1.00 across systematic phases. This isn't just another crypto project; ConstructKoin is backed by real income-generating property and proprietary AI technology that reduces lending approval times from weeks to minutes (95% speed improvement). What we Discussed: 01:00 Who is Chris Baldrey-Chourio02:16 Why is it Koin and not Coin02:45 What the Company does in Real Estae with Blockchain04:25 Invest as Little as you want06:00 The Different ways to Pay07:45 How do they Protect the Token Holders for Projects11:45 Why its an Advantage for having people personally liable14:35 Are the Fixed term contracts or with a Price Variation applying17:00 Helping the Developers gives returns19:26 Is there Plans for Everlasting Homes20:40 The Challenges23:30 Fractional Ownership Opportunities25:00 Are the Tokens locked in for the Duration of the project28:10 You are responsible for your own Taxes29:34 Using Ai to reduce Costs32:40 Long Term Vision36:00 The Build Process is starting with Family Homes37:10 Controling the Cowboy Builders41:50 The Insurance of the Projects42:35 Draw for a House 45:10 The Structure of the Company47:50 Where to Find Chris How to Contact Chris Baldrey-Chourio https://www.constructkoin.com/All about Roy / Brain Gym & Virtual Assistants at ⁠https://roycoughlan.com/⁠

Leicester On Similarities Between #DeXRP and #BlockDAG Presales (OOC) #Crypto #Cryptocurrency #podcast #BasicCryptonomics #Kaspa #XRP Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.CryptoTalkRadio.net⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@ThisIsCTR⁠⁠⁠⁠ Discord:⁠⁠⁠⁠ @CryptoTalkRadio⁠⁠⁠⁠ Chapters (00:00:00) - Block Dag vs XRP: What's The Difference?

Today marks our 200th episode of Behind the Screens! Our hosts tackle the genres of horror and comedy this week with Weapons and Freakier Friday resonating with wide audiences, and we look at the pre-sales audience, box office predictions, and marketing opportunities for the upcoming Nobody 2.Topics and times:Weekend box office results - 1:16Weapons box office in-depth breakdown - 3:25Weapons audience analysis - 5:19Weapons reception and critical response - 7:40Freakier Friday box office breakdown - 9:10Freakier Friday audience analysis - 9:50Freakier Friday audience marketing opportunities - 11:41Are comedies back? - 13:30Upcoming releases: Nobody 2, Americana, and Highest to Lowest - 14:24Nobody 2 pre-sales box office tracking - 15:19Nobody 2 pre-sales audience insights - 16:33Nobody 2 marketing opportunities - 18:55Next week - 22:14Find us at https://www.linkedin.com/company/vista-group-limited/, and follow lifeatvistagroup on Instagram

In this episode, Jack Cochran and Matthew James are joined by Ben Hills, Founder and CEO of Iris, to discuss how to scale presales teams effectively while avoiding burnout. They explore the difference between healthy high performance and unsustainable overwork, the role of AI in streamlining repetitive tasks like RFPs, and practical strategies for building scalable processes that enhance rather than replace human expertise. To join the show live, follow the Presales Collective's LinkedIn page or join the PSC Slack community for updates. The show is bi-weekly on Tuesdays, 8AM PT/11AM ET/4PM GMT. Follow the Hosts Connect with Jack Cochran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackcochran/ Connect with Matthew James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewyoungjames/ Connect with Ben Hills: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminhills/ Links and Resources Mentioned Join Presales Collective Slack: https://www.presalescollective.com/slack Iris: https://heyiris.ai/ Timestamps 00:00 Welcome 04:04 Iris 05:14 Ben's background 14:29 Healthy high performance vs burnout 21:55 Common scaling mistakes and the headcount trap 29:14 Effective AI tools for presales teams 35:04 The future of AI-to-AI RFP processes 37:46 Final advice on embracing AI Key Topics Covered Understanding Burnout vs. High Performance Why burnout isn't just about hours worked The importance of connecting work to larger purpose and outcomes Creating time-bound periods of intense work with clear endpoints Scaling Without Adding Headcount The "mythical man month" problem in presales Building playbooks and processes before hiring Separating "in the business" vs "on the business" work The Rocks, Pebbles, Sand Framework Planning for big quarterly tasks (rocks) Managing predictable weekly activities (pebbles) Handling unexpected fire drills (sand) AI Tools That Actually Work RFP automation and response generation Call transcript analysis for product feedback Demo automation with synthetic data Why AI SDRs haven't lived up to the hype The Future of RFPs and AI Model Control Protocol (MCP) for AI-to-AI communication Maintaining personalization in automated processes The buyer's perspective on RFP proliferation  

In this episode, Jack Cochran and Matthew James are joined by Ben Pearce, founder of Elevated You, to discuss how technical professionals can effectively communicate with senior executives. They explore the critical differences between speaking to technical stakeholders versus C-suite leaders, covering everything from preparation strategies to delivery techniques. Ben shares practical frameworks for being relevant rather than just expert, emphasizing the importance of focusing on "what" and "why" instead of "how" when presenting to senior leaders. Thank you to Storylane for sponsoring this episode. Find out more about Storylane and how to build killer demos in 2 minutes at https://storylane.io To join the show live, follow the Presales Collective's LinkedIn page or join the PSC Slack community for updates. The show is bi-weekly on Tuesdays, 8AM PT/11AM ET/4PM GMT. Follow the Hosts Connect with Jack Cochran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackcochran/ Connect with Matthew James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewyoungjames/ Connect with Ben Pearce:https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpthoughts/ Links and Resources Mentioned Presales Collective Slack: https://www.presalescollective.com/slack Elevated You: https://www.elevatedyou.live/psc Tech World Human Skills Podcast: https://www.elevatedyou.live/twhs  Timestamps 00:00 Welcome 05:18 Why speaking to senior leaders is different 12:49 Being relevant vs. being an expert 16:19 Mastering delivery under pressure 25:04 Reading the room and course-correcting 32:53 De-risking and the human element Key Topics Covered The Technical Expert's Dilemma How technical expertise can become a curse when speaking to executives Moving from demonstrating knowledge to demonstrating relevance The Three-Part Framework for Executive Communication Relevance: Understanding what matters to your specific audience Compelling Content: Creating materials that speak to their priorities Excellent Delivery: Performing under pressure with confidence Preparation Strategies Mapping out personas and industries for reusable content The importance of team collaboration in content creation Practice vs. preparation: Why both are essential Reading the Room Starting with curiosity and mini-discovery Mirroring language and adapting on the fly Course-correcting based on real-time feedback The Punchline Problem Why building up to a big reveal doesn't work with executives Leading with impact: "Hitting them between the eyes" Getting to value within the first 90 seconds Risk Management and Trust Building Understanding that you represent organizational risk The "never get fired for buying IBM" mentality How human skills differentiate in an AI-driven world Building confidence through listening and problem-solving  

A secret month-long project in New Zealand, Whittaker’s chocolate, boy bands, and new music—Ed Sheeran’s coming back to New Zealand in 2026, and Ash London gets the goss. Tours, tunes, and sooo much more! Presales start Monday 28 July. Tickets go on sale next Tuesday 29 July. Get all the deets at theedge.rova.nz

Gero Decker, Gründer von Signavio, gibt dir Einblicke in die unkonventionelle Sales-Strategie in den frühen Jahren. Er teilt, wie das Unternehmen mit branchenfremden Junior-Sellern startete, warum uncapped commission der richtige Weg ist und wie sie von 0 auf 50 Millionen ARR skaliert haben. Was du lernst: Warum Signavio bewusst branchenfremde Junior-Seller einstellte Die Bedeutung von Energie und Lernbereitschaft vs. Erfahrung Wie man Sales-Cycles durch cleveres Pre-Sales und Procurement-Management verkürzt ALLES ZU UNICORN BAKERY: https://zez.am/unicornbakery  Mehr zu Gero und Florian: Gero Decker: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gerodecker/  Signavio: https://www.signavio.com/de/  Florian Dostert: https://www.linkedin.com/in/florian-dostert/  Syntinels: https://www.syntinels.com/ Join our Founder Tactics Newsletter: 2x die Woche bekommst du die Taktiken der besten Gründer der Welt direkt ins Postfach: https://www.tactics.unicornbakery.de/ 

In this episode, Matthew James and Timmy Hendrickson are joined by Nalin Senthamil, Founder and CEO of Storylane, to discuss the future of pre-sales and AI driving influence beyond pipeline. They explore how demo automation is transforming the self-serve buyer experience, the changing role of solutions engineers, and how AI can create 10X impact in pre-sales workflows. Nalin shares insights on leveraging AI for demo personalization, managing complex product integrations, and why the traditional discovery call may be dying. To join the show live, follow the Presales Collective's LinkedIn page or join the PSC Slack community for updates. The show is bi-weekly on Tuesdays, 8AM PT/11AM ET/4PM GMT. Follow the Hosts Connect with Matthew James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewyoungjames/ Connect with Timmy Hendrickson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timmyhendrickson/ Connect with Nalin Senthamil: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nalinpradeep/ Links and Resources Mentioned Join Presales Collective Slack: https://www.presalescollective.com/slack Storylane: https://www.storylane.io/ Timestamps 00:04 Welcome 01:08 Nalin's background and founding Storylane 03:08 What does a self-serve buyer experience look like? 08:18 How AI has changed presales 13:40 Training AI agents to answer technical questions 17:02 AI testing customer scenario 19:28 Overlooked use cases for demo automation 26:30 One workflow where AI can create 10X impact today Key Topics Covered The Death of Discovery Calls Why buyers are coming to conversations already educated How self-serve experiences span the entire buying journey The role of AI sales agents in initial discovery The Four Categories of SE Work Relationship building and strategic solutioning Demo delivery and POC management Administrative tasks and CRM updates Knowledge sharing and product insights AI as an SE Sidekick Demo preparation and tailoring automation Administrative task reduction Strategic thinking enhancement rather than replacement Demo Automation Use Cases Supporting different AE to SE ratios Managing complex product integrations Upsell and expansion opportunities Micro-demos for specific features Training AI for Technical Questions Leveraging tribal knowledge from Slack, Google Drive, and call recordings Importance of data quality and curation Automatic ingestion of organizational knowledge The Future of Pre-Sales AI enabling faster iteration and personalization Strategic partnership between CS and pre-sales for upsells The evolution from technical support to strategic advisory roles  

SUPERMAN INFLATED BUDGET? Fantastic Four Pre-Sales! Area 51 Studios w/ Ernie Altbacker which he returns to the channel after our first interview with him a couple weeks ago on the DC Fan-imated Stream. A lot of Superman talk with runtimes, budgets, and posters. Fantastic Four pre-sales went live as well as Jurassic World Rebirth.

In this episode, Rick Mayo sits down with John Herrera, the guy who crushed the presale record at Alloy Alamo Heights and built an awesome community from day one. He is the director of training.John's journey through the fitness world - from managing gyms in different states to leading at Alloy - is full of lessons on what it really takes to get people excited and keep them coming back.Rick and John discuss how quick follow-ups and genuine care make all the difference in turning interested leads into committed members. John reveals how setting expectations early and coaching with heart helped keep churn low.If you're looking for real advice on growing a fitness business that people love being part of, this episode is for you.Key TakeawaysIntro and John's background (00:00)Breaking presale record at 150 members (06:22)Organic marketing and local business outreach (08:27)Speed to lead follow-up approach (12:04)Overcoming fear of bothering leads (15:27)Using referrals for growth (20:18)Setting member expectations during Starting Point Sessions (26:23)Coaching with seven core tenets and closing procedures (34:01)Impact of personalized follow-up texts on retention (38:42)Additional Resources:- Alloy Personal Training- Learn About The Alloy Franchise Opportunity---------You can find the podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.If you haven't already, please rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts!

With the box office booming once more with Lilo & Stitch and Mission: Impossible, we take a look at 2025's box office performance against previous years and slates, then tackle Karate Kid: Legends and upcoming pre-sales analysis for the John Wick spinoff, Ballerina!Topics and times:Year-to-date box office comparisons - 0:21Diversity and demand reflected in the slate - 1:59Lilo & Stitch holdover box office overview - 2:39Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning box office - 4:10Karate Kid: Legends box office debut - 4:40Karate Kid: Legends audience analysis - 5:35Karate Kid: Legends audience reception and marketing - 7:37Karate Kid series comparisons - 8:58Bring Her Back box office and audience analysis - 9:41Bring Her Back audience reception - 12:18Ballerina's upcoming release - 13:29Ballerina pre-sales analysis - 14:14The Phoenician Scheme - 15:03Next week - 15:53Find us at https://www.linkedin.com/company/vista-group-limited/, and follow lifeatvistagroup on InstagramBox Office Overview:Lilo & Stitch stayed in 1st position, grossing $63M domestically for a domestic total now of $280M. Internationally, it saw a $113M result over the 3-day weekend, bringing the international total of $330.7M, and the worldwide cumulative total to $610M.Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning grossed $27.3M domestically for a current domestic total of $123M. Internationally, it added $76.1M for a total of $231M internationally, and worldwide, $354M.Karate Kid: Legends debuted to $21M domestically, and internationally added $12M, bringing the international cumulative total to $26M.Bring Her Back debuted with $7.1M domestically, and $1M from 8 internationally territories, for a global total of $8.1M.

In this second part of our conversation with Raphael Joseph, former SE turned recruiter and founder of Brando Tech, Jack Cochran and Matthew James dive deep into why traditional job hunting methods no longer work in today's market. Raphael shares strategic insights on how SEs should approach job searching in 2025, treating themselves as products and leveraging their natural skills to navigate the competitive landscape. IMPORTANT: This is Part 2 of a two-part series. Make sure to listen to Part 1 first for the complete discussion on personal branding and LinkedIn optimization. To join the show live, follow the Presales Collective's LinkedIn page or join the PSC Slack community for updates. The show is bi-weekly on Tuesdays, 8AM PT/11AM ET/4PM GMT. Follow the Hosts Connect with Jack Cochran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackcochran/ Connect with Matthew James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewyoungjames/ Connect with Raphael Joseph: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphael-joseph-23044150/  Links and Resources Mentioned Join Presales Collective Slack: https://www.presalescollective.com/slack Episode Sponsor: Opine - https://tryopine.com Timestamps 00:00 Welcome 04:42 What is "classic job hunting" and why it's dead 11:52 How to get on recruiters' radar 13:33 Starting your job search the right way 21:04 Treating job hunting like account management 27:23 Interview process changes and AI requirements 30:30 Why it's not a numbers game anymore Key Topics Covered The Death of Classic Job Hunting Why sending CVs to job postings no longer works How companies receive hundreds of applications they can't process The cycle of posting jobs, failing to hire, then using recruiters Why your application often goes unread The New Digital Job Hunting Approach Treating yourself as a product you're selling Building warm leads with hiring managers Using SE skills for job hunting: research, discovery, and value proposition The importance of targeted, high-touch approaches over spray-and-pray Working with Recruiters Effectively Why good recruiters provide 1-in-3 odds vs 1-in-300 direct applications How recruiters can prep you with insider knowledge The value of having internal champions in the hiring process Market Dynamics in 2025 Why it's now an employer's market The shift from growth-at-all-costs to profitability focus How COVID overhiring led to current oversupply of candidates AI's impact on hiring decisions and productivity expectations Interview Strategy in the Current Market Companies' increased specificity in requirements Why "must-haves" are truly must-haves now The importance of AI literacy and demonstrable skills How to address gaps in your experience strategically Leveraging SE Skills for Job Hunting Using research abilities to identify opportunities Applying discovery skills to understand company needs Creating value propositions for yourself as a candidate Avoiding the same mistakes SEs coach AEs to avoid  

This episode of the No Film School Podcast is a deep dive into the often opaque world of film finance, distribution, and foreign pre-sales. GG Hawkins hosts the episode and is joined by filmmakers Stephen Cedars and Benji Kleiman, as well as special guest Mike Chapman from Bluefinch Films. Together, they explore what it takes to get a film made and sold in today's unpredictable global market. From debunking myths about foreign pre-sales to discussing how to attract investors and get your film noticed at festivals, this is an essential listen for indie filmmakers navigating the post-production and sales process. In this episode, No Film School's GG Hawkins and guests discuss... The harsh realities of the current acquisitions and distribution market Why understanding distribution from the beginning helps you fund your movie The value (and limitations) of foreign pre-sales and cast attachments What sales agents look for in a pitch, and how to present a compelling deck Why comps in pitch decks can be misleading or counterproductive Navigating film festivals and markets like Cannes, Berlin, and Toronto effectively Practical tips for raising money without burning out or making costly mistakes Memorable Quotes: “Nobody knows anything in the film industry.” “Every birth is a miracle. Editors are midwives. We could really keep this metaphor going.” “You've got to be bold. If it just feels like a lower-budget version of something the studio's making, they'll just watch the studio version.” “If it is a good film, it will find a way to cut through.” Guests: Mike Chapman (Bluefinch Films) Stephen Cedars Benji Kleiman Resources: Blue Finch Film Releasing The Wolfpack Deadstream Hundreds of Beavers Find No Film School everywhere: On the Web: No Film School Facebook: No Film School on Facebook Twitter: No Film School on Twitter YouTube: No Film School on YouTube Instagram: No Film School on Instagram

We've reached our Final Destination with a bang in the box office! Join us as we uncover who made the franchise's return such a success, as well as pre-sales audiences and analysis for the upcoming memorial day weekend releases Lilo & Stitch and Mission: Impossible: The Final Reckoning here on Behind the Screens.Topics and times:Final Destination: Bloodlines opening - 0:27Box office performance comparisons - 1:27AMC discount days expansion & market possibilities - 2:21Final Destination: Bloodlines box office overview - 8:05Final Destination: Bloodlines audience analysis - 11:41Hurry Up Tomorrow box office overview - 14:57Memorial Day previews - Lilo & Stitch and Mission: Impossible - 16:39Mission: Impossible: The Final Reckoning pre-sales analysis - 17:11Mission: Impossible: The Final Reckoning pre-sales audience - 18:41Lilo & Stitch pre-sales analysis - 21:10Lilo & Stitch pre-sales audience - 22:01Next week - 24:11Find us at https://www.linkedin.com/company/vista-group-limited/, and follow lifeatvistagroup on Instagram

In this episode, Jack Cochran and Matthew James are joined by Raphael Joseph to discuss the critical importance of building a strong LinkedIn profile for PreSales professionals. They explore how the platform has evolved as a powerful career tool, especially in today's competitive job market. Raphael shares practical tips on crafting a professional presence that highlights your unique value proposition, explains the impact of consistent engagement, and offers advice on creating authentic content that resonates with hiring managers. To join the show live, follow the Presales Collective's LinkedIn page or join the PSC Slack community for updates. The show is bi-weekly on Tuesdays, 8AM PT/11AM ET/4PM GMT. Follow the Hosts Connect with Jack Cochran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackcochran/ Connect with Matthew James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewyoungjames/ Connect with Raphael Joseph: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphael-joseph-23044150/ Links and Resources Mentioned Join Presales Collective Slack: https://www.presalescollective.com/slack Sponsor: Opine - https://tryopine.com Timestamps 00:00 Welcome and introduction to LinkedIn's evolution 01:50 Sponsor: Opine 03:06 Raphael's background and career journey 10:46 Why you should build your LinkedIn profile before you need it 21:11 Focusing on your ideal customer profile (ICP) 25:21 Engagement strategies: connecting, commenting, and posting 33:49 Overcoming nervousness about posting Key Topics Covered LinkedIn Profile Optimization Using your banner as prime real estate to showcase your unique value Crafting a clear headline that highlights your specialization Writing descriptions that focus on the value you provide The importance of professional photos and consistent branding Strategic Profile Positioning Reverse-engineering your profile based on your target roles Focusing on 3-4 key specializations rather than listing everything Using industry-standard job titles even if your company uses different terminology Making it easy for recruiters to find you through targeted keywords Building Meaningful Connections Connecting with 100-200 potential hiring managers weekly Engaging with their content through thoughtful comments and questions Creating a network before you need it for job searching Leveraging connections for opportunities when transitions occur Content Creation Strategy Starting with comments before moving to creating original posts Sharing authentic experiences from customer interactions Finding your niche audience within the PreSales community Focusing on consistency rather than viral metrics The Changing Job Market How market conditions have shifted from candidate-focused to employer-focused Why specificity now trumps broadness in skills presentation Standing out in a competitive environment through specialization Using LinkedIn as your primary job search tool rather than traditional resumes  

In this episode, Jack Cochran and Matthew James are joined by Karthik Krishna, Manager of Solutions Engineering at Freshworks and Presales Collective's Regional Community Leader for Chennai. They explore how Solutions Engineers can gain strategic influence in deal cycles beyond just giving demos and answering technical questions. Episode Highlights Karthik shares his journey from developer to pre-sales professional The evolution from "demo-giver" to strategic partner in deal cycles How SEs can co-own opportunities with Account Executives Navigating tough conversations when deals aren't a good technical fit Building credibility to increase your strategic influence Leveraging customer success and implementation teams for deal strategy About Our Guest Karthik Krishna is a Manager of Solutions Engineering at Freshworks, where he has built and coached distributed teams of SEs across companies of all sizes. He also serves as the Presales Collective Regional Community Leader for Chennai, recently hosting an event with over 60 SEs in attendance. Follow the Hosts and Guest Connect with Jack Cochran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackcochran/ Connect with Matthew James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewyoungjames/ Connect with Karthik Krishna: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karthikkrishna-s/  Links and Resources Mentioned Join Presales Collective Slack: https://www.presalescollective.com/slack Presales Collective: https://www.presalescollective.com Timestamps 00:00 - Welcome and introduction 02:46 - Karthik's background and journey to presales 05:28 - What it means to "be in the room" for deal strategy 11:27 - Handling deals that aren't a good technical fit 16:30 - Building AE-SE relationships and trust 20:02 - Leveraging past customer experiences 27:14 - Growing strategic influence as an SE 32:30 - First experience in pipeline meetings and QBRs Key Topics Covered The Evolution of the SE Role From technical demonstrator to strategic partner Building relationships alongside technical expertise Flying "under the radar" while still influencing deals Co-Ownership vs. Support Understanding sales' responsibilities and pressures Taking appropriate accountability for deal outcomes Building a partnership model with Account Executives Strategic Influence Tactics Speaking up consistently, even when not initially heard Framing technical concerns alongside potential solutions Leveraging past experiences and customer success stories Cross-Functional Collaboration Involving product, implementation, and customer success teams Using collective wisdom to validate concerns Creating a "common voice" across departments Building Credibility Trust your instincts and speak up Demonstrate value through accurate deal insights Help teammates at critical junctures Bottom Line Solutions Engineers possess unique insights that can make or break deals, but gaining the opportunity to share those insights strategically requires building credibility, relationships, and influence over time. The most successful SEs find ways to contribute to deal strategy while respecting the unique pressures faced by their sales counterparts. Presales LIVE airs every other Tuesday. Join the Presales Collective Slack community to stay updated on future episodes, and follow the PSC LinkedIn page for upcoming shows.  

In this episode of Nintendo Therapy, we dive into the buzz around Switch 2 presales and what Nintendo fans might expect next. We also review the peaceful indie gem A Short Hike and take a nostalgic spotlight look at Iggy's Reckin' Balls for the N64!

Today's episode was recorded during Presales Collective's AI-Powered Presales Summit on March 26th, 2025. In this episode, Jack Cochran (General Manager, Presales Collective) and co-host Matthew James discuss the ethics and trust issues surrounding AI in sales environments with guest Diana Capello, Director of Solutions Consulting for US and Demo Engineering at Eightfold. The discussion explores how AI is transforming the presales landscape, from creating demo environments to navigating AI buying committees and addressing hiring practices in tech. Diana shares insights from her 20-year journey in AI, offering valuable perspectives on maintaining customer trust while leveraging AI tools. To join the show live, follow the Presales Collective's LinkedIn page or join the PSC Slack community for updates. The show is bi-weekly on Tuesdays, 8AM PT / 11AM ET / 4PM GMT. Connect with Us Connect with Jack Cochran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackcochran/ Connect with Matthew James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewyoungjames/ Connect with Diana Capello: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianacappello/  Links and Resources Mentioned Join Presales Collective Slack: https://www.presalescollective.com/slack Presales Collective newsletter: https://www.presalescollective.com/newsletter Book Recommendation, "AI Superpowers" by Kai-Fu Lee: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38242135-ai-superpowers  Presales Collective's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/PreSalesCollective Presales AI Summit recordings, available on the PSC YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@presalescollective7795  Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction 01:27 - Welcome Diana Cappello 04:10 - Maintaining customer trust while using AI 06:50 - Explaining how AI works to customers 11:45 - Navigating AI councils in enterprise sales 20:34 - AI in hiring processes 27:43 - Book recommendation 31:10 - Q&A  

Die Karwoche verbringen Isabel und Lukas mit ihren Kindern diesmal in Apulien. Nach einem etwas holprigen Start mit einer nicht funktionierenden E-Ladestation am Flughafen Triest, aber einem wunderbaren Essen in Duino, macht sich die Familie mit dem Mietauto auf eine Route quer durch die Landschaft und die Strände Apuliens. Sie entdecken dabei die spannendsten Restaurants, Unterkünfte und teilen Ihre schönen und weniger schönen Erlebnisse im Süden Italiens. Eine wichtige Durchsage: Ab sofort gibt es die Shownotes jeder Folge, unsere Rezepte und exklusive Pre-Sales der kommenden Salon Mama & Negroni Nights Veranstaltungen als kostenpflichtiges Abo unter [www.negroninights.at](https://www.negroninights.at/)

In this episode, Jack Cochran (General Manager, Presales Collective) and guest co-host Allison Macalik dive into the topic of "Presales People in Disguise" with Alex Nation. They explore the journey into presales roles, the importance of effective discovery techniques, the power of silence in customer interactions, and the unique relationship between presales professionals and sales teams. Alex shares valuable insights from her career transition from retail to tech, highlighting key skills that have made her successful in the presales world. To join the show live, follow the Presales Collective's LinkedIn page or join the PSC Slack community for updates. The show is bi-weekly on Tuesdays, 8AM PT/11AM ET/4PM GMT. Find us: Connect with Jack Cochran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackcochran/ Connect with Allison Macalik: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonmacalik/ Connect with Alex Nation: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandranation/  Links and Resources Mentioned Join Presales Collective Slack: https://www.presalescollective.com/slack Presales Collective newsletter: https://www.presalescollective.com/newsletter Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction 02:48 - Alex's background and journey into presales 08:59 - The importance of being a presenter pain point gatherer 10:40 - The power of effective discovery 14:24 - The art of silence in customer interactions 20:26 - Presales vs. Sales 26:20 - Advice to younger self 29:25 - How to find Alex Key Topics Covered Career Transitions into Presales Alex's journey from Nordstrom to tech Finding your strength as a "presenter pain point gatherer" The accidental path many take into presales roles Effective Discovery Techniques The importance of listening more than speaking How good discovery differentiates vendors Building trust with customers through purposeful questions The Power of Silence Using silence as a negotiation technique Training yourself to be comfortable with pauses Demonstrating confidence through patience Presales and Sales Dynamics Developing empathy for sales counterparts Understanding the complete customer lifecycle Working together for customer success Career Development The unique pressures and rewards of presales Developing flexibility and resilience Creating paths for women in presales  

Snow White has finally hit the big screen, and we're diving into the box office, audience, and marketing opportunities for the latest Disney live action. Looking ahead, we have both CinemaCon on the horizon, and a pre-sales look towards the Minecraft movie!Topics and times:Snow White hit the big screens - 0:45Snow White reception and sentiment - 1:50Snow White audiece analysis - 2:42Snow White marketing recommendations - 3:55Alto Knights debut box office results - 5:41Alto Knights audience analysis and reception - 7:15Pre-sales for Minecraft - 8:17Next week and CinemaCon! - 10:05Find us at https://www.linkedin.com/company/vista-group-limited/, and follow lifeatvistagroup on InstagramBox Office Overview:Snow White debuted to $43M domestically, and $44.6M internationally for a worldwide total of $87.6M.Alto Knights meanwhile debuted in 6th position domestically, with $3.2M, and an additional $1.9M internationally for a worldwide opening of %5.1M.

In this episode, Jack Cochran and Matthew James are joined by Manisha Raisinghani, Founder and CEO of SiftHub, to discuss how AI is transforming the Presales landscape. They explore how SiftHub's AI sales engineer helps solutions teams consolidate tribal knowledge, automate repetitive tasks, and increase productivity. Manisha shares insights on leveraging AI for RFPs, POCs, and competitive intelligence, while emphasizing that AI serves as a sidekick to enhance SEs' strategic value rather than replace them. To join the show live, follow the Presales Collective's LinkedIn page or join the PSC Slack community for updates. The show is bi-weekly on Tuesdays, 8AM PT/11AM ET/4PM GMT. Follow the Hosts Connect with Jack Cochran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackcochran/  Connect with Matthew James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewyoungjames/ Connect with Manisha Raisinghani: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manisharaisinghani/ Links and Resources Mentioned Join Presales Collective Slack: https://www.presalescollective.com/slack SiftHub: https://www.sifthub.io/  Timestamps 00:00 Welcome 03:34 Manisha's journey to founding SiftHub 08:12 SE to AE ratios in different organizations 13:10 The changing role of SEs in relationship building 15:06 Three main buckets of SE work and how AI can help 16:30 The evolution of tribal knowledge 20:40 SaaS proliferation and knowledge fragmentation 26:51 How SEs can leverage AI effectively 31:02 Using AI to analyze POCs and RFPs Key Topics Covered The Evolution of Tribal Knowledge From undocumented information to knowledge scattered across platforms How AI can consolidate knowledge from Slack, Salesforce, call recordings, and more Leveraging recorded conversations to preserve context and insights SE Challenges and AI Solutions Managing repetitive questions from sales teams and product managers Handling documentation tasks and RFP responses Creating custom solutions across different industries and regions The Changing SE Role Shift from technical support to relationship building Evolving buyer journeys requiring deeper technical engagement Balancing solutioning, question-answering, and demo responsibilities Measuring AI Impact Time savings on RFP responses and repetitive questions Using freed-up time for strategic activities and better customer engagement Supporting more deals simultaneously with AI assistance AI as a Teammate Using AI to enhance rather than replace SE capabilities How AI can work 24/7 across global teams The future of visual and diagram-based AI assistance

With all eyes ahead to Snow White, we're taking a deep dive into the pre-sales analysis, controversies, initial media impressions, and the pre-sales audience this week. In addition, we analyse the performances and audiences of new releases Novocaine and Black Bag, so join us for all the insights Behind the Screens.Topics and times:Box office overview - 0:47Year-to-date comparison - 1:38Domestic box office - 2:53Novocaine audience analysis - 3:42Black Bag box office overview - 6:31Black Bag audience analysis and reception - 7:35Snow White pre-sales analysis - 10:02Snow White initial media impressions - 11:00Snow White pre-release audience - 12:53Next week - 14:03Find us at https://www.linkedin.com/company/vista-group-limited/, and follow lifeatvistagroup on InstagramBox Office Overview:Novocaine debuted in top position with $8.7M in the domestic market, and a further $1.8M from 19 international markets for a worldwide total opening of $10.5M.Mickey 17 in its second week saw a 60% drop, grossing $7.51M in the domestic market.Black Bag debuted just behind Mickey 17 with $7.5M in the domestic market, and $4.3M from 37 international markets, making an $11.8M global opening.

Holly's Headlines 8a Wednesday 3/12/25

In this episode, Jack Cochran and Matthew James talk with Kalyan Ramkumar about his journey from novice to expert in the presales field. Kalyan shares his experience starting as an SDR at RSA Security with no technical background and how he worked his way up to become a skilled solutions engineer. He discusses the importance of domain knowledge in security, his framework for effective demos, and strategies for managing POCs and building your internal brand. To join the show live, follow the Presales Collective's LinkedIn page or join the PSC Slack community for updates. The show is bi-weekly on Tuesdays, 8AM PT/11AM ET/4PM GMT. Follow the Hosts Connect with Jack Cochran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackcochran/ Connect with Matthew James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewyoungjames/ Connect with Kalyan Ramkumar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kalyan-ramkumar-679927151/ Links and Resources Mentioned Join Presales Collective Slack: https://www.presalescollective.com/slack Presales Collective Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/presalescollective Presales Collective newsletter: https://www.presalescollective.com/newsletter CompTIA Security+ Certification: https://www.comptia.org/certifications/security CompTIA Network+ Certification: https://www.comptia.org/certifications/network Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 03:15 Kal's Background 10:12 First Ever Demo 14:10 When did you know you're an SC 19:40 The Four Do's of Demos 23:35 Challenging the challenger 27:02 Building your personal brand 29:35 POC strategies  Key Topics Covered Breaking into Presales Starting as an SDR and transitioning to SE Getting hired without technical background Importance of work ethic and eagerness to learn Building Domain Expertise Value of security certifications (Security+ and Network+) Moving from scripted to fluid demos Building trust with technical customers Demo Framework: The Four Do's Conducting your own discovery Framing every click and feature Evaluating specific customer KPIs Challenging difficult stakeholders POC and Success Strategies Customizing POC length to customer needs Collaborating with account executives Building internal relationships Creating workshop sequences for implementation

In today's episode, Jack Cochran and Matthew James sit down with David Yockelson, Distinguished VP and Gartner Fellow, to discuss the evolution of value realization in tech sales. They explore how buyer behaviors have changed, the importance of understanding customer needs before leading with technology, and practical approaches for pre-sales professionals to shift towards value-based selling. To join the show live, follow the PreSales Collective's LinkedIn page or join the PSC Slack community for updates. The show is bi-weekly on Tuesdays, 8AM PT/11AM ET/4PM GMT. Follow the Hosts and Guest Connect with Jack Cochran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackcochran/ Connect with Matthew James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewyoungjames/ Connect with David Yockelson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-yockelson-452324/  Links and Resources Mentioned Join PreSales Collective Slack: https://www.presalescollective.com/slack PreSales Collective newsletter: https://www.presalescollective.com/newsletter Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 03:33 The current issues in tech 10:48 How to stop talking about your tech to focus on value 23:04 Understanding your customer's business 27:55 The place of demos on the website 31:15 Practical approaches to shifting to value   Key Topics Covered Changes in B2B Tech Buying Diversification of buying teams Shift from technical to business-focused decisions Evolution of the buying process Increased financial scrutiny on deals Value-Based Selling Approaches Understanding buyer personas and value drivers Moving beyond technical features Building and defending business cases Articulating value to different stakeholders Pre-Sales and Marketing Collaboration Alignment between product marketing and SEs Value modeling and demonstration strategies Website demo effectiveness Data collection and buyer insights Interactive Demonstrations Role of self-service demos Converting website visitors Collecting valuable user interaction data Creating warmer sales conversations Practical Implementation Leveraging SE expertise across the sales cycle Demonstrating impact on revenue Supporting customer success and adoption Documenting value contribution  

Derrick Kosinski & Scott Yager are joined by Double Agents Champ Amber Bortzotra.Amber B returns to the show to talk becoming a mom, the sacrifices she made to return to The Challenge, playing alongside a Rival, what makes her and Fessy Rivals, the format of Rivals and MUCH MORE!www.ChallengeManiacs.com for FULL VIDEO of this and all our interviews, plus Bonus Pods, Pre-Sales and MORE!PITTSBURGH PRE-SALES at www.ChallengeManiacs.com THIS WED 2/19 for our Return to Pittsburgh on Saturday, June 28th!www.ChallengeMania.Livewww.ChallengeMania.Shop

Derrick Kosinski & Scott Yager are joined by Bananas, Mark, Aneesa, Aviv and Ed LIVE IN PHILLY on Saturday, January 10th. To celebrate the Eagles Super Bowl Win here is the FULL LIVE SHOW AUDIO from that epic afternoon at Helium!To get LIVE SHOW TIX for FLORIDA, NYC, STL and more...head to www.ChallengeMania.Livewww.ChallengeManiacs.com for Pre-Sales, Videos, Ad-Free Audio, Bonus Pods and MORE!www.ChallengeMania.Shop for SWAG!!

Show Notes In today's episode, Dean Shu (CEO & Co-founder, Arphie) joins Jack Cochran and Matthew James to discuss AI agents in PreSales and the evolution of the industry. They explore the changing landscape of PreSales leadership, practical applications of AI, and strategies for evaluating AI solutions. Thank you to Arphie for sponsoring this episode. Arphie is the leading AI-powered platform for automating RFPs and security questionnaires. Arphie empowers teams — from the Fortune 500 to high-growth startups — to save time, improve accuracy, and deliver results faster than ever by combining your prior responses and company context with the latest AI agent capabilities. To join the show live, follow the PreSales Collective's LinkedIn page. PreSales LIVE airs bi-weekly on Tuesdays, 8AM PT/11AM ET/4PM GMT. Links and Resources Mentioned Join the Presales Collective Slack:https://presalescollective.com/slack Contact Dean Shu: dean@arphie.ai https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-shu/  LE SSERAFIM, Crazy EP: https://open.spotify.com/album/538vEfAgLJ6g2I8ubuOlap?si=so9xz_qMQBatFqHMDTp5sw  Hidden Brain podcast episode with Brian Klass - https://open.spotify.com/episode/5MowfIBQdmQEIMYdDL3MYK?si=fff1b1731daa48ff  Timestamps  00:00 - Introduction 03:13 - What are you listening to 06:30 - Dean's background 09:20 - What's top of mind for presales leaders? 11:57 - How to make a presales tech purchase 20:13 - What are AI agents? 26:40 - How do you properly explore AI? 32:25 - Is AI going to replace people? 35:41 - Outro Key Topics Covered PreSales Leadership Evolution Elevating the sales engineering role Building stronger cross-functional partnerships Gaining executive-level presence Understanding AI in PreSales Different types of AI models and their applications AI agents vs. traditional AI tools Real-world implementation strategies Evaluating AI Solutions Key criteria for vendor selection Security considerations Proof of concept best practices  

In this episode, Jack Cochran (General Manager, PreSales Collective) and Matthew James discuss the human qualities of presales leadership with special guest Ron Whitson. Ron shares insights from his 30-year career in the industry, discusses his book "A Friendly Human in Presales," and explores how leaders can effectively transition from being top individual contributors to successful team leaders. To join the show live, follow the PreSales Collective's LinkedIn page. PreSales LIVE airs bi-weekly on Tuesdays, 8AM PT/11AM ET/4PM GMT. Links Follow the Hosts & Guest Connect with Jack Cochran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackcochran/ Connect with Matthew James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewyoungjames/ Connect with Ron Whitson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronwhitsonse/ Links and Resources Mentioned PreSales Collective Slack: https://www.presalescollective.com/slack Ron's Book "A Friendly Human in Presales": https://a.co/d/gJIwWE7 She Means Biz Podcast:  https://open.spotify.com/show/3zx8BmZ9PrURuASJbAemDu?si=26772c8356854348 Talking Too Loud with Chris Savage Podcast:  https://open.spotify.com/show/21btwSaqoaF8SDxmwcLMIQ?si=37aa691ee80b4a0f  Timestamps 00:00 Welcome and Introductions   03:54 What are you Listening to?   07:23 Ron's Journey to PreSales Leadership   13:56 Transitioning from IC to Leader   16:12 Coaching vs. Telling 19:11 One Plus One is More than Two 21:17 Importance of One-To-Ones   26:02 Coaching your Team to be Different than You   31:15 Practice Humility Key Topics Covered 1. Leadership Transition Moving from individual contributor to leader Common challenges and mindset shifts IBM's leadership training program insights 2. Essential Leadership Qualities Empathy and humility in leadership Balancing directness with support Creating space for team growth Regular one-on-one communications 3. Effective Team Development Coaching approaches vs. direct instruction Building trust and relationships Removing roadblocks for team success Understanding personality types 4. Practicing Humility as a Leader Provide room for your team to take the spotlight Be open to different ways of doing things Listen more and speak less

Derrick Kosinski & Scott Yager are joined by Rachel Robinson to discuss The Challenge 40 Reunion (Parts 1 and 2) and to wrap up her Championship Season!WATCH VIDEO HERE: https://www.patreon.com/posts/video-reunion-2-120551817**This is a Free Preview of a much longer episode that is currently exclusive to Maniac Level Patrons and above at www.ChallengeManiacs.com - Sign up today and also take part in one of our Pre-Sales for STL TIX going on Sale Monday 1/27 beginning at 10AM EST!www.ChallengeManiacs.comwww.ChallengeMania.Livewww.ChallengeMania.Shop

Derrick Kosinski & Scott Yager are joined by Tori Deal.TORI DEAL makes her return to Challenge Mania to talk Season 40, Karma Points, hosting The Official Challenge Podcast, taking time off AND MORE!WATCH this interview HERE: https://www.patreon.com/posts/video-tori-deal-119655782See TORI DEAL LIVE in Florida on March 8th and New York on May 4th! Tix at www.ChallengeMania.Livewww.ChallengeMania.Shopwww.ChallengeManiacs.com for Bonus Podcasts, Video, Fantasy Leagues, Contests, Giveaways and Pre-Sales!!

Derrick and Scott are back to break down the exhilarating, action-packed, drama filled episode of The Challenge 40 that led folks to wonder if S39 was better. All this, more guests for Challenge Mania NYC AND MORE! This is a Free Preview of a longer Episode Breakdown Podcast that is a Patron Exclusive.Head to www.ChallengeManiacs.com and sign up at the Maniac-Level or above to enjoy all of our Bonus Content, Full Video, Early and Ad-Free episodes, Pre-Sales, Giveaways and MORE!FULL VIDEO HERE: https://www.patreon.com/posts/video-episode-15-117445526www.ChallengeMania.Live for Tix1/11 - Philly1/24 - Baltimore2/22 - Minneapolis3/8 - Florida (Fort Lauderdale)5/4 - NYCwww.ChallengeMania.Shop

Challenge Mania finally making its MINNESOTA debut THIS FEBURARY!Pre-Sales 11/26 at www.ChallengeManiacs.comWhatever is left will go on sale at www.ChallengeMania.Live Wednesday, 11/27!Sign up for the Pre-Sale and make sure you don't miss out!

Derrick Kosinski & Scott Yager are joined by Derek Chavez.Derek Chavez returns to the show to talk his big win on Season 40, his season so far, all his relationships and how they've allowed him to stay out of the arena, his thoughts on some of the drama and MORE!Watch this interview HERE: https://www.patreon.com/posts/video-derek-on-116450998MINNESOTA MANIA on February 22nd! Tix on sale THIS TUESDAY 11/26 beginning with www.ChallengeManiacs.com Pre-Sales!www.ChallengeMania.Livewww.ChallengeMania.Shop

Scott reveals our second Challenge Mania Live show of the year and gives you info on how you can make sure to get your tickets for our return to MARYLAND on January 24th featuring DERRICK, CARA MARIA AND MORE!Pre-Sales are THIS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6th:10AM EST - SAVAGE PATRONS10:30AM EST - DIESEL PATRONS12:00PM EST - MANIAC PATRONS3:00PM EST - ALL PATRONS!More info and ability to enroll in time to access tickets here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/balti-moria-this-115017241www.ChallengeMania.Livewww.ChallengeManiacs.comwww.ChallengeMania.Shop