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Smart Agency Masterclass with Jason Swenk: Podcast for Digital Marketing Agencies
Would you like access to our advanced agency training for FREE? https://www.agencymastery360.com/training If you're one of the many owners concerned that AI will end the agency model, what are you doing to stay relevant? How are you building lasting relationships that help clients see your value beyond executing tasks? Artificial intelligence, automation, and enterprise-level change have everyone in the agency world wondering what's next. However, agencies have managed to stay relevant with past technological disruptions and the answer has always been: you need to adapt. Today's featured guest has scaled his business through seven iterations for over fourteen years by being willing to adapt to change, and the AI era is no exception. He'll unpack how agencies can stay relevant when technology, data, and client expectations are evolving faster than ever. He also talks about the importance of partnership-based client relationships and why soft skills (not just smart systems) are the real differentiator in the next decade. Ben Childs is the President of Digital Reach, a full-stack B2B marketing consultancy serving SaaS, cybersecurity, AI, and data-driven technology clients. With deep expertise in paid media, SEO, RevOps, and digital experience, Ben's team helps enterprise companies integrate their marketing, data, and operations to drive real revenue growth. Since launching in 2011, Digital Reach has evolved through multiple "versions" as it adapted to the changing marketing landscape, becoming one of the most respected players in modern B2B marketing. In this episode, we'll discuss: The soft skills edge that outperforms AI. Why you should start running toward the problem. The power of in-person connections in a remote-forward industry. Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Sponsors and Resources This episode is brought to you by Wix Studio: If you're leveling up your team and your client experience, your site builder should keep up too. That's why successful agencies use Wix Studio — built to adapt the way your agency does: AI-powered site mapping, responsive design, flexible workflows, and scalable CMS tools so you spend less on plugins and more on growth. Ready to design faster and smarter? Go to wix.com/studio to get started. How Agencies Can Stay Relevant in AI Revolution At a recent Ad Week event, Ben heard a fellow agency leader predict that all agencies would be "dead in two years" because of AI. Her point: enterprise companies are developing their own language models and internal data systems, cutting agencies out of the picture. Ben does admit this is true. However, his outlook is more optimistic, seeing several possible solutions. Should agencies be partnering with third-party data providers? Should they adjust their skill set? In his view, the need for strategic expertise and technical problem-solving won't disappear anytime soon. The agencies that thrive will be those who adapt to new tools while deepening their human value—helping clients navigate complexity, not just execute tasks. "The reality," Ben explains, "is that hiring people to help you solve hard problems isn't going away. Business is always changing, and that's a huge opportunity for agency owners willing to think and integrate, not panic." Why Soft Skills Outperform AI in the Agency World As agencies evolve, the differentiator isn't going to be who can use AI faster, it's who can understand and support people better. When it comes to enterprise clients, marketing execution has become table stakes. What truly sets a great agency apart is the ability to navigate organizational politics, manage internal friction, and act as a trusted advisor inside complex companies. "We're armchair psychologists half the time," he laughs. "Our clients know we're good at SEO or paid media. What they really need is someone who helps them get things approved, makes their life easier, and has their back when things get tough." Soft problems will never go away and, Ben argues, may even increase in value when the execution problems potentially become commoditized. Agencies that ignore human connection will lose, just like traditional firms that refused to go digital twenty years ago. In the end, the "people part" never goes out of style. Adapting Your Agency: Lessons from 7 Business Iterations Ben started Digital Reach in 2011 using his grandmother's dresser as a desk and charging $200 a month for Google Ads management. Since then, the agency has reinvented itself seven times—each evolution aligning to new markets, services, and technologies. From scrappy freelancer to B2B consultancy, Ben's philosophy has stayed the same: build, learn, and change before you're forced to. "We're on Digital Reach 7.0 in 14 years," he says. "We'll probably hit version 12.0 in the next ten. You can't just ride your old business idea into Valhalla. Some people will always be better at adapting, and that will never change." WhyPartnership (Not Performance) Determines Client Retention When agencies talk about "partnership," it often sounds like marketing fluff. But Ben explains that true partnership is built on trust and reliability, not just metrics. Most clients don't fire agencies because of poor performance; they leave because of broken trust, poor communication, or lack of understanding. "When clients say, 'You don't get our business,' that's when numbers start to matter," Ben explains. "If they can't trust you when things go wrong, you're done." Ben understands that helping clients solve internal problems like procurement delays or team politics can do more to build loyalty than a great campaign. Running toward the problem, taking ownership, and communicating transparently are the fastest ways to strengthen relationships that last across multiple companies. Build Client Trust Fast by Running Toward the Problem Other than delivering results and making your clients' lives easier, Ben believes another powerful way to build trust is not being afraid to admit your mistakes and being quick to fix them. Honesty builds staying power. When agencies take responsibility for missteps and present a clear plan for fixing them, clients respond with respect, not resentment. Do not avoid the problem. In fact, you should run towards the problem and face the situation head on. You'll get more benefit of the doubt from clients with this attitude. Ben's team once led a client call with bad news—the metrics were down. Instead of hiding it, they explained what went wrong, what they learned, and how they'd adjust. "The client was ready to run through a wall for us after that," he says. "They loved that we owned it." The Power of In-Person Connection in a Remote-Forward Industry As agencies lean more into remote work, Ben calls for agencies to make an effort to meet with clients in person: "In-person will always be in vogue." It'll help your clients understand who you are, rather than just staring at your picture on Zoom, and trying to form a true connection. He encourages owners to set a clear revenue threshold for when to invest in face-to-face meetings—whether that's a kickoff, annual review, or shared conference. When clients meet you over pizza and a drink, it transforms the relationship from vendor to partner. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.
What happens when a RevOps leader takes the leap into running a seed-stage startup? In this episode, Kyle Himmelwright, VP of Strategy and Operations at Luster, joins Jeff Ignacio to talk about building from scratch, from defining focus in a massive TAM to using AI for top-of-funnel efficiency. They unpack what “predictive enablement” really means, how to stay adaptable without losing focus, and why cultivating your network might be the most underrated skill in operations today.
Send us a textGuest: Mark Walker, CEO at Nue.io -- SaaS pricing isn't breaking because of AI — it's breaking because most revenue systems were never built for the speed and complexity of today's models.In this episode, Mark Walker, CEO of Nue.io, joins host Ken Lempit to unpack why modern SaaS and AI companies are abandoning legacy CPQ and billing stacks for a flexible, unified revenue infrastructure built for rapid change.Key highlights:Why legacy CPQ + billing can't support modern SaaS pricingHow committed consumption + bank-billed models are reshaping monetizationWhy speed of configuration is now a GTM advantageWhat RevOps must rethink as pricing experiments explodeHow elite teams thrive on hard problems and high-velocity executionIf you're a B2B SaaS founder, CRO, CMO, or RevOps leader navigating complex pricing models, upgrading your revenue stack, or preparing for next-gen AI monetization, this conversation will change how you think about scaling.---Not Getting Enough Demos? Your messaging could be turning buyers away before you even get a chance to pitch.
In this special flashback episode, host Brendon Dennewill looks back at the most powerful insights from Season 3 of RevOps Champions. Throughout the year, Brendon sat down with industry leaders, founders, strategists, technologists, and operators who are navigating massive changes in the business landscape.As businesses navigate unprecedented transformation driven by AI's explosion and evolving growth frameworks, this episode distills critical wisdom across three major themes that emerged this season:The AI revolution: We learn what's working, steps every organization should take, and how individuals can rapidly upskill.Operations and frameworks: Leaders share why EOS, RevOps, and systems alignment matter more than ever.Leadership mindsets: Guests share how focus, data-driven decision-making, and exponential thinking power them and their organizations.This episode stitches together the most actionable moments from our top guests, giving leaders a roadmap to thrive in 2026 and beyond.Resources MentionedCRIT AI Prompt Framework EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) OKRs (Objectives & Key Results) RevOps Systems & CRM Alignment Rockefeller Habits Scaling UpScrum Featured GuestsScott Litman, SVP, Capacity.aiMike Kaput, Chief Content Officer, Marketing AI InstituteAlex Bratton, CEO & Chief Geek, LexTec Global ServicesGeoff Woods, Founder, AI Leadership | Author, The AI Driven LeaderMike Paton, EOS Implementer, Author, and Host of EOS Leader PodcastDick Polipnick, VP of Marketing, GoRoutLauren Ryan, Senior Corporate Solutions Engineer, HubSpotVince Chiofolo, SVP of Revenue Strategy, Dash SolutionsAIs your business ready to scale? Take the Growth Readiness Score to find out. In 5 minutes, you'll see: Benchmark data showing how you stack up to other organizations A clear view of your operational maturity Whether your business is ready to scale (and what to do next if it's not) Let's Connect Subscribe to the RevOps Champions Newsletter LinkedIn YouTube Explore the show at revopschampions.com. Ready to unite your teams with RevOps strategies that eliminate costly silos and drive growth? Let's talk!
In this CRO Spotlight episode, host Warren Zenna sits down with Steven Birdsall, CRO at Alteryx, to unpack a sweeping leadership transition and how a newly formed C‑suite aligned on product and go‑to‑market. Steven shares how a product‑centric CEO and a servant‑leader CRO combine to create clarity of mandate, performance culture, and human‑first execution across sales, CS, partners, and solutions engineering.The conversation dives deep into Alteryx's evolution from workflows feeding BI to becoming the governed “canvas” for AI and agent use cases. Steven explains how business users can blend structured and unstructured data, enforce governance and access controls, and then safely bring LLMs into the same environment—pushing compute down to cloud data platforms like BigQuery, Databricks, and Snowflake.For CROs, Steven details practical AI operationalization: SDR personalization at scale, three‑dimensional agents trained on company knowledge, and revenue insights built directly on internal data. He outlines how to raise sales efficiency without scaling opex linearly, and why fast experimentation with new AI tools is now core to modern GTM orchestration.Steven closes with hiring and leadership principles for today's CRO: prioritize grit, perseverance, and customer centricity over pedigree; remove roadblocks for the field; and mentor generously. He shares how to balance data‑driven rigor with empathy, build alignment with marketing regardless of reporting lines, and stay entrepreneurial—even inside a large, complex organization.
Most teams think the answer to growth is simple. Add more. More markets, more products, more layers, more plays. The layer cake approach.It almost never works.It adds complexity, drains focus, and breaks what was already working.In this episode, Toni Holbein and Personio's Koen Stam talk about a better path. Instead of piling on new initiatives, fix the foundation. Improve the things that already drive revenue. Tighten ICP. Narrow focus. Sell better. Enable buyers. Strengthen the ecosystem around you. Document the process so the business does not depend on a few heroes.Do less. Execute better.This episode is brought to you by ZoomInfo, the Go-To-Market Intelligence Platform. ZoomInfo gives you high-quality B2B data and sales intelligence on in-market buyers across companies of all sizes, powered by AI-driven automation with integrated outreach tools to help your GTM teams build pipeline and close deals faster. Check them out at zoominfo.com/revenue-formula Want to work with us? Learn more: revformula.io(00:00) - Introduction (04:37) - Addressing the Great Pipeline Starvation (07:22) - Challenges of the Layered Approach (14:58) - Understanding Revenue Sources (19:19) - Data-Driven Decision Making (24:36) - The Parking Lot Exercise (27:43) - Vanity in Expansion (30:28) - Understanding Y our ICP (31:43) - Building a Target List (34:23) - Enabling Buyers (38:51) - Leveraging Ecosystems (43:55) - Process Over People (48:35) - Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up
In this HANDS-ON episode of GTM Live, we're ditching theory and building a real go-to-market strategy live—using AI, public data, and a completely different approach to finding and messaging prospects.Join host Amber Williams and special guest Jordan Crawford, the "OG GTM Engineer" and early advisor to Clay, for a masterclass in pain-qualified segmentation. Watch as Jordan demonstrates how to use ChatGPT to identify prospects who actually need your solution and craft messages that deliver independent value before you ever ask for a meeting.What You'll Learn:Why traditional ICP scoring is "mental masturbation for executives" and what to do insteadHow to work backwards from customer pain using public data and AIThe game-changing concept of "the list is the message"How to identify demonstrable value props that competitors can't replicateWhy vertical SaaS has a hidden advantage (and what horizontal SaaS can learn)PLUS: Real-time walkthrough: Finding pain-qualified prospects for a clean energy platform using only ChatGPT and public dataAI has transformed tools from "access" to "power tools" overnight. Leaders can no longer delegate strategy to RevOps and hope for the best. You need to get your hands dirty with the data to understand what's actually possible.
We reframe SEO for an AI-first world and show how agentic workflows turn messy sales processes into predictable follow-through. Matthew Bertram and Stephen Werley discuss how to map the stack, from transcripts and enrichment to Slack-driven next actions that recover hidden revenue.• rebrand to Best SEO Podcast and new AI-derived book• why LLMs matter for analysis, decks, and feedback• custom GPTs tuned with domain knowledge• building automations in n8n, Make, ClickUp, and HighLevel• human in the loop as the quality guardrail• data enrichment with RB2B and Clay for true personalization• marketing, RevOps, and agent orchestration converge• LLM visibility certification and next stepsGuest Contact Information: Website: stevenwerley.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stevenwerleyInstagram: instagram.com/stevewerleyFacebook: facebook.com/steven.werleyMore from EWR and Matthew:Leave us a review wherever you listen: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Amazon PodcastFree SEO Consultation: www.ewrdigital.com/discovery-callWith over 5 million downloads, The Best SEO Podcast has been the go-to show for digital marketers, business owners, and entrepreneurs wanting real-world strategies to grow online. Now, host Matthew Bertram — creator of LLM Visibility™ and the LLM Visibility Stack™, and Lead Strategist at EWR Digital — takes the conversation beyond traditional SEO into the AI era of discoverability. Each week, Matthew dives into the tactics, frameworks, and insights that matter most in a world where search engines, large language models, and answer engines are reshaping how people find, trust, and choose businesses. From SEO and AI-driven marketing to executive-level growth strategy, you'll hear expert interviews, deep-dive discussions, and actionable strategies to help you stay ahead of the curve. Find more episodes here: youtube.com/@BestSEOPodcastbestseopodcast.combestseopodcast.buzzsprout.comFollow us on:Facebook: @bestseopodcastInstagram: @thebestseopodcastTiktok: @bestseopodcastLinkedIn: @bestseopodcastConnect With Matthew Bertram: Website: www.matthewbertram.comInstagram: @matt_bertram_liveLinkedIn: @mattbertramlivePowered by: ewrdigital.comSupport the show
Text us your thoughts on the episode or the show!In this episode of OpsCast, hosted by Michael Hartmann and powered by MarketingOps.com, we are joined by Penny Hill, Founder and Principal Consultant at Three Threads Consulting. Penny has built her career at the intersection of marketing, operations, and strategy, helping teams simplify complexity, connect departments, and make data more meaningful.The conversation centers on one of the most common sources of friction in go-to-market teams: attribution and alignment. Penny shares insights on why teams often clash over credit, what “marketing contribution” truly means, and how simplifying metrics and conversations can drive stronger collaboration and better outcomes.In this episode, you will learn:Why attribution continues to challenge marketing and sales alignmentHow to simplify performance measurement without losing insightWays to present metrics that build trust with executives and peersHow Marketing Ops professionals can shift the focus from “who gets credit” to “how we win together”This episode is perfect for Marketing Ops, RevOps, and go-to-market professionals who want to improve collaboration, clarity, and trust across their organizations.Episode Brought to You By MO Pros The #1 Community for Marketing Operations Professionals Ops Cast is brought to you in partnership with Emmie Co, an incredible group of consultants leading the top brands in all things Marketing Operations. Check the mount at Emmieco.comSupport the show
Episode SummaryIn this episode of the Thread Podcast, host Justin Vandehey sits down with John Queally, Senior Director of Revenue Operations at Clari, to explore how RevOps is evolving in the age of AI, and what it really means to build a data-driven go-to-market organization.John's career spans consulting, analytics at JP Morgan, leadership roles at American Express and Qualtrics, and now Clari — one of the companies that helped define modern RevOps. He shares how his early assumption that tech companies were “amazing at data” turned out to be completely wrong, and why that realization led him to see RevOps as the spinal column and nervous system of every go-to-market organization.Together, they dive deep into:How to unify fractured data systems across sales, marketing, CS, and productThe difference between “tools” and true data architectureWhy AI is exposing every fault line in go-to-market organizationsThe human side of RevOps: partnerships, trust, and communicationWhat “world-class” looks like for RevOps in 2025 and beyondHow to balance machine intelligence with human intuition in salesAnd how leaders can prepare for the next generation of revenue operationsChapters00:00 – Introduction Justin introduces John Queally and his path from consulting and banking to RevOps leadership at Clari.01:10 – From JP Morgan to Clari: The Data Reality Check John shares how his early experience in finance led him to realize how disorganized data is across tech companies — and how that sparked his RevOps journey.03:30 – Defining RevOps as the Spinal Column Why RevOps should serve as the connective nervous system for GTM — ensuring every function operates from the same base of facts.05:00 – What “World-Class” RevOps Looks Like Today John explains how the definition of world-class RevOps is shifting toward data ownership, cohesive field experiences, and AI-enabled decision-making.06:30 – AI vs. Human Intuition The ongoing tension between automation and human instinct in sales — and why RevOps needs to serve as a checkpoint, not a replacement.08:15 – The Future of CRM and GTM Systems A look ahead at how the sales tech stack is evolving beyond monolithic CRMs into a connected ecosystem of specialized tools.10:00 – Machine Learning and Predicting Customer Behavior John shares how Clari partnered with data science firm QuadSci to achieve 94% churn prediction accuracy — and how that insight gets surfaced seamlessly to the field.13:00 – Cross-Functional Alignment at Scale Why true RevOps alignment comes from people, not tickets — and why John's team embeds directly within every GTM function.15:30 – Developing the Next Generation of RevOps Leaders The skills operators need to thrive in this next era — including data fluency, architectural thinking, and strategic ownership.18:00 – The AI Wake-Up Call Why 80% of AI projects fail — and how RevOps leaders can prepare their orgs by fixing data quality and alignment first.20:00 – Closing Thoughts John's reflections on RevOps as a community-driven discipline, the future of collaboration, and why every GTM leader must now own their data story.
In this episode, Kristina McMillan, Executive in Residence at Scale Venture Partners, shares what she's seeing across Scale's portfolio when it comes to AI adoption in revenue teams. From the rise of the go-to-market engineer to the three levels of AI maturity, Kristina breaks down what's working, what's hype, and why RevOps needs to lead with strategy, not just tools. We also get into AI's real impact on metrics like ARR per employee, the role of internal AI hackathons, and how top teams are choosing between building and buying. If you're feeling overwhelmed by the pace of change, this episode will give you clarity and a tactical playbook.
Lative, the AI sales planning platform for sales and go-to-market teams, has announced it has raised $7.5 million in funding to boost product development and expand its go-to-market. The round, co-led by Act Venture Capital and Senovo VC, has also been backed by Elkstone, Enterprise Ireland, WestWave Capital, Handshake Ventures and Shuttle. Among customers utilising the platform already for more precise sales planning are Seismic, Intercom, Aiven, Avalara and Version 1. Lative helps companies understand their sales data and invest resources where they'll have the greatest impact. Instead of juggling multiple sheets, models and disconnected tools, Lative unifies the sales planning process in one cloud-based platform by connecting top-down targets and quota plans with bottom-up sales productivity and capacity. Teams can model and simulate future org designs to have the most effective sales team for achieving revenue goals, adjust plans in real time, and gain clear visibility into sales productivity and efficiency through AI Insights. This allows them to make smarter hiring and investment decisions based on data rather than assumptions, identify risks and opportunities before they impact revenue, and track execution with confidence. Lative was launched in 2022 by industry veterans Werner Schmidt and Laura Tortosa Sancho, bringing together over 32 years of senior operations experience from Sage, Citrix, and Deloitte. They recognised a common pain point: manual, fragmented sales planning that lacks real-time visibility and tracking execution. Frustrated by high-performing teams wasting time on outdated spreadsheets and models, Werner and Laura created Lative to deliver real-time sales intelligence and automated planning with AI. For end users, this means smarter planning, instant insights, and the ability to make faster, better decisions with customers seeing up to 24% increases in sales productivity across segments. "We saw the same issue over and over again, in every company we worked in - sales planning was slow, manual, and stuck in spreadsheets," said Werner Schmidt, Co-Founder and CEO of Lative. "We built Lative to change that, and to give sales teams real-time visibility and confidence so every decision is informed, not guessed in this critical activity for go to market organisations. Every sales organisation needs to plan and track execution, and it's mainly done in spreadsheets today. Now there's a better way." The sales performance management market, valued at over $2.3 billion in 2023, is projected to exceed $7 billion by 2030, showing the demand for solutions that automate and optimise sales execution. In just 15 months, Lative has achieved 10x growth, a clear sign of the demand for such a product. The company was recently ranked second to Salesforce on G2's Sales Planning Grid. Lative has also forged strategic integration partnerships with data platform leaders Salesforce, HubSpot, and Snowflake to enable seamless data sharing for revenue teams. "Lative is driving a paradigm shift to sales planning and optimisation teams that is long overdue. By helping teams identify what's working and what isn't in real-time, problems are identified before they become too large to manage," said Dr. Alexander Buchberger, Partner at Senovo. "RevOps leaders love Lative when they see it. New AI Consumption models now need better tooling to manage complexity. Lative helps industry leaders like Seismic, Intercom and Version 1 see true sales productivity and capacity in real-time to deliver efficient growth. Werner, Laura, and their team are defining a new category with an exciting AI roadmap." said Andrew O'Neill, Principal at Act. "Lative allows us to see our productive sales capacity in real-time which is fundamental to how we scale the business and invest in the right areas to accelerate growth." said Mathieu Cognac, Vice President of Revenue Operations at Seismic. See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are...
Databox is an easy-to-use Analytics Platform for growing businesses. We make it easy to centralize and view your entire company's marketing, sales, revenue, and product data in one place, so you always know how you're performing. Learn More About DataboxSubscribe to our newsletter for episode summaries, benchmark data, and moreWhat if the secret to hitting your sales targets isn't hiring more reps – but adjusting just three levers?In this episode, we sit down with Dougie Loan, Chief Revenue Officer at SourceWhale, to break down the simple but powerful sales planning formula that's reshaped how his team forecasts growth. Spoiler: It has nothing to do with throwing more headcount at the problem.Dougie walks through how his team shifted from boardroom wishful thinking to a data-driven forecasting model built on three core metrics: Qualified Held Meetings, Close Rate, and Average Deal Value. You'll hear how they use this model to build annual plans, set realistic targets, coach reps, align marketing and sales, and even decide where to invest R&D dollars.Watch the full interview to learn how Dougie:- Replaced headcount-based forecasting with a repeatable, lever-driven model- Redefined what actually counts as a qualified opportunity- Aligns marketing and sales teams around shared revenue metrics- Profiles churned vs. retained customers to refine their ICP- Uses CS adoption scoring to drive renewals and upsell strategy
In this episode, host Brendon Dennewill and Tony D'Angelo—founder of Collegiate Empowerment and creator of the Intellectual Capitalist®—explore how entrepreneurs can unlock hidden business value through intellectual property. Tony reveals how 90% of the S&P 500's value now comes from intangibles and introduces the concept of “surplus understanding”—the overlooked proprietary knowledge driving much of a company's revenue. He shares a practical framework for identifying, protecting, and monetizing these assets to bridge the gap between traditional business and the AI economy. A must-listen for RevOps leaders and executives looking to turn organizational know-how into protected, profit-generating IP. What You'll LearnIntellectual property is now the #1 asset classFour dangers block most IP strategiesYour business holds hidden IP valueNot all IP protections are created equalAI now acts as augmented intelligence for IP creationProtecting your processes starts with simple stepsTrust remains the timeless currency of commerceResources MentionedStrategic Coach EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) The Go-Giver USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office) Library of Congress Instant IP by Carrie Oberbrunner Primal Intelligence The Print Kolbe Assessment About Tony D'AngeloTitle: Founder & Intellectual Property AdvisorCompany: Collegiate Empowerment & The Intellectual Capitalist®To learn how to transform your useful ideas into cash flowing assets, schedule a complimentary IP Conversation with Tony D'Angelo, by going to: www.TheIPconversation.com or if you're ready to take the leap and enroll in The IP Simplifier Series please visit: www.IPsimplifier.com to enroll today!Is your business ready to scale? Take the Growth Readiness Score to find out. In 5 minutes, you'll see: Benchmark data showing how you stack up to other organizations A clear view of your operational maturity Whether your business is ready to scale (and what to do next if it's not) Let's Connect Subscribe to the RevOps Champions Newsletter LinkedIn YouTube Explore the show at revopschampions.com. Ready to unite your teams with RevOps strategies that eliminate costly silos and drive growth? Let's talk!
In this episode of the CRO Spotlight, Warren Zenna welcomes Mike Genstil, CEO at ValueCore, to discuss a critical inefficiency in modern sales: the "value gap." Mike explains that too often, sellers rush to provide a price quote while buyers remain fixated on features, rather than starting the conversation by aligning on the specific problems the organization faces and what those problems are costing them.Warren and Mike explore why "value engineering" isn't commonplace. Mike contrasts the role with the ubiquitous Sales Engineer. While organizations readily invest in Sales Engineers for technical validation, the Value Engineer—who handles the business validation—is often scarce and stretched thin. Mike argues this function is critical for justifying high-ticket solutions to a buying committee and proving impact beyond just features.The conversation shifts to the process of value engineering, which Mike describes as the most effective form of sales discovery. He outlines the four key buckets that Value Engineers analyze to build a business case that resonates with a CFO: hard cost savings, team productivity gains, revenue acceleration (such as customer acquisition or retention), and strategic risk mitigation. This diligence helps the buyer champion the solution internally.Finally, Mike discusses how technology platforms are making value engineering more scalable and integrated. He explains how AI can rapidly analyze public data, case studies, and even call recordings to build robust models. This technology allows pre-sales and post-sales teams to collaborate on value. They also cover how a strong value framework is essential for managing Proof of Concepts (POCs), preventing "tire-kickers" by agreeing on success metrics upfront.
Most misses in sales are baked into the plan before the year even starts.In this episode, Toni talks with Scott Domareck, a four-time VP of Sales who's been through every phase of growth, exit, and burnout imaginable. Together, they break down the hidden mistakes that ruin annual planning long before execution begins.From massaged Excel spreadsheets to unrealistic ramp times and compounding assumptions that look great to investors but kill execution, they get real about what actually happens inside revenue planning season, and how to build a plan you can actually hit.This episode is brought to you by Evergrowth — Their Agentic GTM Workspace enables revenue teams to collaborate and win with AI-powered teammates, breaking down silos and helping B2B teams grow smarter with fewer resources. Want to work with us? Learn more: revformula.io(00:00) - Introduction (04:16) - The Reality of Planning Season (07:22) - Transparency and Context in Planning (13:12) - Compounding Effects in Sales Planning (18:14) - Involvement of Go-to-Market Leadership (25:29) - Trust and Executive Leadership (28:43) - Top Mistakes in Hiring (30:49) - Staggering for Supply and Demand (34:02) - Challenges in Scaling and Execution (41:04) - The Reality of Adding New Elements to the Plan (43:34) - Risk Management and Buffers (46:31) - Planning for Attrition and Unexpected Events (49:13) - Final Thoughts and Future Discussions
This week on Make It Happen Mondays, John sits down with Rory Sadler, Co-founder and CEO of trumpet, the leading digital sales room platform helping companies like Gong, HubSpot, and Personio increase sales velocity by transforming the buying experience.Before founding trumpet, Rory spent years on the front lines of SaaS sales—first as an individual contributor, then leading global teams at Hotjar. Along the way, he saw firsthand just how painful and chaotic buying software had become—and made it his mission to fix it.In this episode, Rory shares the aha moment that led to building trumpet, his early entrepreneurial grit (selling sweets and DJing as a teen), and why entrepreneurship is way different than just working at a startup. We also dive into:Why buyer enablement is the new sales enablementHow mutual action plans build real trust and alignmentWhat sellers are still getting wrong about personalizationThe massive opportunity in simplifying complex buying decisionsIf you're in sales, RevOps, or just care about delivering a smoother, faster, and more human buying experience, this episode will hit home.Are you interested in leveling up your sales skills and staying relevant in today's AI-driven landscape? Visit www.jbarrows.com and let's Make It Happen together!Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarrows/Connect with John on IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnmbarrows/Check out John's Membership: https://go.jbarrows.com/pages/individual-membership?ref=3edab1 Join John's Newsletter: https://www.jbarrows.com/newsletterConnect with Rory on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rory-sadler-trumpet/ Connect with Trumpet on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sendtrumpet/Check out Rory's Website: https://www.sendtrumpet.com/
In this episode of Run the Numbers, CJ Gustafson sits down with Sam Jacobs, Founder and CEO of Pavilion, the global community for GTM leaders. Sam shares how getting fired multiple times as a CRO led him to build a business rooted in belonging — one that monetized members first, prioritized intimacy over growth, and turned a Slack group into a multimillion-dollar company. He and CJ unpack the mechanics of community: the tradeoffs between exclusivity and expansion, why venture capital doesn't always fit human-centered businesses, and how Pavilion balances pricing, curation, and access. They also explore the evolution of the GTM function — from the myth of the plug-and-play VP of Sales to how AI is reshaping RevOps, forecasting, and leadership. Finally, Sam reflects on building durable value beyond personal brand and what it really takes to scale trust as a product.—LINKS:Sam Jacobs on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samfjacobs/Company: https://www.joinpavilion.com/CJ on X (@cjgustafson222): https://x.com/cjgustafson222Mostly metrics: https://www.mostlymetrics.com—RELATED EPISODES:E120: What does the future of tech look like when it costs $0 to switch software?https://www.youtube.com/live/Cpw2pkq-FXI?si=-0y0tcLTIlIbkmyOCFOs: Want to Outmaneuver Your Competitors? Here's the Jedi Mind Trickhttps://youtu.be/Yte_fe1xF90?si=hVfgdd0Fg0PQuuoSThe Gross Margin Episode with Sarah Wang of a16zhttps://youtu.be/72aP5ohBxvE—TIMESTAMPS:00:00:00 Preview and Intro00:03:05 Sponsors – Mercury, RightRev, and Tipalti00:06:50 Pavilion, Community, and Go-to-Market Leadership00:10:28 Career Tenure and Executive Turnover00:12:55 Compensation Structure and Equity Negotiation00:14:31 Building Wealth Through Equity00:16:30 Sponsors – Aleph, Fidelity Private Shares, and Metronome00:19:36 Managing Wealth, Lifestyle, and Longevity in Leadership00:22:58 Founding Pavilion to Empower Operators00:25:13 Taking Roles for Learning, Titles, and Leverage00:28:47 Contrarian Executives, Team Dynamics, and Leadership Lessons00:30:36 What Makes a Great VP of Sales00:33:23 Revenue, Profitability, and Misaligned Incentives00:35:08 Quota Setting, Forecasting, and Spreadsheet Pitfalls00:39:07 AI in Sales and the Myth of the AI SDR00:40:32 The Future of Playbooks in the Age of AI00:43:38 The Dangers of AI and the Need for Humans in the Loop00:45:27 Monetizing Pavilion – Memberships, Sponsors, and Pricing Strategy00:49:30 Building Higher-Margin Community Businesses00:57:46 Building a Personal Brand with Long-Term Value01:01:52 Closing Credits and Outro—SPONSORS:Mercury is business banking built for builders, giving founders and finance pros a financial stack that actually works together. From sending wires to tracking balances and approving payments, Mercury makes it simple to scale without friction. Join the 200,000+ entrepreneurs who trust Mercury and apply online in minutes at https://www.mercury.comRightRev automates the revenue recognition process from end to end, gives you real-time insights, and ensures ASC 606 / IFRS 15 compliance—all while closing books faster. For RevRec that auditors actually trust, visit https://www.rightrev.com and schedule a demo.Tipalti automates the entire payables process—from onboarding suppliers to executing global payouts—helping finance teams save time, eliminate costly errors, and scale confidently across 200+ countries and 120 currencies. More than 5,000 businesses already trust Tipalti to manage payments with built-in security and tax compliance. Visit https://www.tipalti.com/runthenumbers to learn more.Aleph automates 90% of manual, error-prone busywork, so you can focus on the strategic work you were hired to do. Minimize busywork and maximize impact with the power of a web app, the flexibility of spreadsheets, and the magic of AI. Get a personalised demo at https://www.getaleph.com/runFidelity Private Shares is the all-in-one equity management platform that keeps your cap table clean, your data room organized, and your equity story clear—so you never risk losing a fundraising round over messy records. Schedule a demo at https://www.fidelityprivateshares.com and mention Mostly Metrics to get 20% off.Metronome is real-time billing built for modern software companies. Metronome turns raw usage events into accurate invoices, gives customers bills they actually understand, and keeps finance, product, and engineering perfectly in sync. That's why category-defining companies like OpenAI and Anthropic trust Metronome to power usage-based pricing and enterprise contracts at scale. Focus on your product — not your billing. Learn more and get started at https://www.metronome.com#RunTheNumbersPodcast #Finance #CommunityBuilding #Leadership #GoToMarket This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cjgustafson.substack.com
Do you ever feel like you have all the right tools and opportunities, but your business isn't as far ahead as it should be? In this episode of the RevOps Champions podcast, host Brendon Dennewill is joined by data and AI expert Andrew James to tackle this common feeling of paralysis among today's business leaders. They dive deep into why simply adopting more technology isn't the answer and explore the real source of competitive advantage in the AI era.Andrew argues that the key to leapfrogging the competition lies not in external tools, but within your own company's data. The solution is to plumb your unique operational data—from your CRM, sales pipeline, and financials—directly into AI to make decisions with high conviction. This approach transforms AI from a confusing threat into a powerful ally, revealing the true constraints and leverage points within your business.This episode is essential for RevOps professionals, B2B executives, and any leader feeling stuck, providing a clear framework to move from analysis paralysis to profitable, data-driven action.What You'll LearnThe Profitability 2×2 Matrix: A simple way to find your next big win: map your efforts by whether they increase revenue or cut costs—and whether they target new or existing customers. Why Conviction Beats Accuracy: Most leaders aren't stuck from lack of data, but lack of conviction. Frame AI projects as clear, high-confidence “trades,” not perfect strategies.The Power of Internal Data: LLMs know what everyone knows. Your private CRM, financial, and ops data is what gives you a real edge—if you connect it to AI.Finding Your X-Factor Metric: Identify the one money-based metric—like cost per acquisition or revenue per lead—that, if improved, accelerates your entire business.From Top-Down to All-In: Stop centralizing decisions. Share data and AI tools across teams so everyone can act on insights and drive results faster.Resources MentionedX-Factor OptimizationCerebro AnalyticsHubSpotPsychology of Money and The Art of Spending Money by Morgan HouselGoogle OKRs (Objectives and Key Results)Automation tools: N8n, Is your business ready to scale? Take the Growth Readiness Score to find out. In 5 minutes, you'll see: Benchmark data showing how you stack up to other organizations A clear view of your operational maturity Whether your business is ready to scale (and what to do next if it's not) Let's Connect Subscribe to the RevOps Champions Newsletter LinkedIn YouTube Explore the show at revopschampions.com. Ready to unite your teams with RevOps strategies that eliminate costly silos and drive growth? Let's talk!
When marketing meets finance, the data gets real.In this episode, George Samaras, Head of Marketing Operations at Ataccama, joins Adam Kaiser to zoom in on what happens when marketing ops reports directly to the CFO.George explains how being part of the finance org reshaped his view of marketing metrics, moving from campaign performance to pipeline impact and revenue accountability. He also outlines how Ataccama's RevOps model unites marketing, sales, and customer success around one shared source of truth for better GTM visibility.You'll hear how he's helping bridge the gap between creative strategy and financial outcomes, what he's learned about efficiency from the finance lens, and why marketers need to start thinking in terms of dollars, not just engagement.In this conversation, you'll learn:How sitting under finance changes the way marketing ops measures successWhy marketers should frame results around revenue generation or cost savingsHow RevOps alignment improves data visibility and decision-makingWhy financial fluency is becoming a must-have skill for modern marketersJump into the conversation:(00:00) Introducing George Samaras(01:03) Why marketing ops now reports to finance at Ataccama(03:57) How financial alignment changes marketing measurement(05:49) Evaluating MQLs, pipeline, and event ROI(07:14) How AI and SEO shifts are impacting acquisition strategy(08:14) Attribution challenges and in-house solutions using Salesforce and 6sense(10:02) Lessons from sitting under the CFO's org(11:17) How finance influences marketing budgets and ROI analysis(13:30) Why marketing ops needs to think like finance(14:51) Acting as “Switzerland” between marketing and finance(16:35) How shared data builds credibility for marketing(18:17) The most unrealistic request George has ever received
When marketing and finance work in silos, growth stalls. But when the CMO and CFO operate as true partners? The business moves faster and decisions get smarter.In this conversation, Audrey Masset (Senior Director of Marketing) and Mark Beakhouse (CFO) at Wegrow share what it really takes to build a high-trust, co-owned relationship between marketing and finance, one that goes beyond budget approvals and into shared growth responsibility.→ Why marketing can no longer be seen as a cost center→ How CMOs earn credibility with CFOs (data, transparency & shared KPIs)→ The systems and dashboards that align sales, finance, and marketing→ Why long-term impact matters just as much as short-term pipeline→ The mindset shift marketing leaders must develop to drive revenueThis episode is essential for CMOs, CFOs, RevOps leaders, and anyone shaping go-to-market strategy inside a scaling business.
In this episode, Doug and Jess break down the seven essential attributes that separate top sales performers from the rest. While automation and AI dominate today's conversations, Doug argues that sales is losing its art and that true success comes from mastering the fundamentals that technology can't replace.For updates on new episodes, follow us on:LinkedIn: Lift Enablement, Doug Davidoff, Jess CardenasSubscribe to our YouTube channel!You can access the show notes and watch the video version of the show on our page. Thanks for listening and remember to just say no to shitty RevOps!
AI in go-to-market is mostly bullshit.In this episode, Toni talks with Koen Stam, a senior sales leader at Personio and creator of GTMOS. They break down where AI is actually helping in sales, marketing, and customer success, and where it's falling apart.They talk about why “AI SDRs” don't live up to the pitch, why outbound emails generated by AI are useless without context, and why most teams don't have the data or workflows to make AI perform. Koen shares how he uses AI at Personio for tasks like research, call prep, and churn prediction, and why the fundamentals still matter more than hype.Visit Personio: https://www.personio.com/Read Koen's Substack: https://koenstam.substack.com/Learn more about Attive: attive.ai (00:00) - Introduction (04:04) - The Importance of Context in AI (07:14) - Challenges in AI Implementation (10:47) - AI and SEO (14:56) - AI in Sales and SDRs (23:06) - Proactive AI Assistance (25:43) - Balancing Automation and Relevance (28:10) - AI in Sales and Call Coaching (31:35) - The Importance of Practical AI Applications (41:28) - Proactive Churn Prediction with AI (48:05) - Wrapping up
AI has changed how B2B marketers work — and how they connect.In this episode, Dr. Amy Cook, Co-Founder and CMO at Fullcast, joins Michael to explore what happens when automation starts replacing authenticity, and how today's most effective marketers are rebuilding the human side of their craft.Her framework is simple: use AI for knowledge. Leave relationships to humans.Amy brings an unusual perspective to this conversation. She has a PhD in organizational rhetoric (how companies actually persuade people), ran her own agency for 15 years, and spent her early career as a professional violinist performing with the Osmond family. That last credential matters: she learned on stage that audiences always know when something feels rehearsed instead of real.That's exactly what's happening in B2B marketing right now.Join us, as we explore where AI actually makes marketers better versus where it destroys the trust that drives revenue. You'll get frameworks you can apply immediately, data from Fullcast's State of RevOps 2025 research, and the expensive lessons that come from getting this balance wrong.What we cover
In this episode of the Thread Podcast, host Justin Vandehey sits down with Max Mozes, Director of Revenue Operations at Walmart for Business, to unpack what it takes to build a world-class B2B motion inside one of the world's largest retail organizations.Before joining Walmart, Max carried a quota as a seller, scaled local business teams at LevelUp (acquired by Grubhub for $400M), and held key operational roles at Amazon Business — giving him a unique perspective on how to connect frontline sales experience with scalable systems and data strategy.Together, Justin and Max dive into:The evolution of RevOps from sales enablement to strategic business architectureHow Walmart is redefining B2B commerce for 30+ million potential business customersWhat RevOps looks like when you're serving both local bakeries and Fortune 500sThe art of structuring and prioritizing massive datasets across millions of prospectsWhy data enrichment and hierarchy matter more than just “more data”What's hype vs. what's real when it comes to AI and GTM automationAnd the soft skills that separate good operators from great ones: agency, resourcefulness, and ownership Key TakeawaysB2B at scale is an architecture problem. Data flows, enrichment, and prioritization define how sales teams actually execute.RevOps must translate complexity into clarity. The role is as much about storytelling as it is about systems.AI and data are only as powerful as the processes behind them. Automation should amplify human productivity, not replace it.Resourcefulness + Agency = Operator Superpowers. The best RevOps leaders identify problems, fix them, and bring solutions already in motion.Memorable Quotes“Every business in the U.S. is a potential Walmart customer — from a one-person bakery to a university with a $300M endowment.” “There's no sales team big enough to manually reach every account — so data prioritization becomes your growth strategy.” “RevOps isn't about the system you use. It's about how you organize information so sellers can take action.” “Agency and resourcefulness — that's the difference between operators who just report problems and those who drive change.”Chapters00:00 — Introduction: From Seller to RevOps Leader 02:00 — Lessons from LevelUp and Amazon Business 03:30 — Bridging Sales and Operations 05:00 — Inside Walmart for Business: Scaling B2B at Retail Scale 08:00 — Data Architecture, Enrichment, and Prioritization 11:00 — AI Hype vs. Reality in Enterprise RevOps 14:00 — Building Resourceful Teams and Taking Ownership 17:00 — Walmart for Business: Hiring and Next StepsResources & MentionsWalmart for Business — https://business.walmart.comGrubhub acquires LevelUp — $400M acquisition (TechCrunch, 2021)Max Mozes on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxwellmozes About the GuestMax Mozes is the Director of Revenue Operations at Walmart for Business, where he leads strategy, data, and process optimization for one of the largest B2B commerce initiatives in the U.S. His career spans sales and RevOps roles at Amazon, Grubhub/LevelUp, and high-growth startups, giving him a rare perspective on building go-to-market infrastructure from both startup scrappiness and enterprise scale.
RevOps pros spend too much time fixing data and not enough driving growth. Mason McMullin, VP of RevOps and Strategy at Alysio explains how his team uses AI to streamline reporting, clean data, and cut tool-switching. He shares his playbook for prompting LLMs effectively, building a reliable data dictionary, and freeing Ops to focus on what really matters: strategy and enablement.
In this episode of RevOps Champions, host Brendon Dennewill sits down with Hannah Ajikawo, founder and CEO of Revenue Funnel, HubSpot modern sales leader, and LinkedIn top voice in B2B sales. With 17 years of experience leading sales and go-to-market teams, Hannah shares her philosophy on making sales simple by stripping away the over-engineered complexity that holds revenue teams back.Hannah challenges conventional wisdom about sales methodologies, arguing that companies often lose sight of fundamentals by trying to turn salespeople into formula-following robots. She reveals how misalignment across revenue teams—from unclear ownership to missing expectations—costs companies millions and explains why being "data-informed" beats being "data-driven" every time. The conversation explores practical frameworks for building alignment, leveraging AI effectively, and finishing Q4 strong while setting up for success in 2026.This episode is essential listening for RevOps professionals, CROs, sales leaders, and founders who want to cut through the noise, realign their revenue engine around what actually works, and scale growth without adding unnecessary complexity or headcount.What You'll LearnWhy sales becomes unnecessarily complicatedThe true meaning of revenue alignmentThe 72.9% Ronaldo Principle for launching initiativesData-informed vs. data-driven strategyHow AI is reshaping buying and sellingSales velocity as the CRO's north star metricPractical Q4 advice for hitting targetsResources MentionedThe Go-Giver by Bob Berg Revenue Funnel Go-to-Market Health Check HubSpot Academy EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System)Denamico Growth Readiness Score About Hannah AjikawoTitle: Founder & CEO Company: Revenue FunnelIs your business ready to scale? Take the Growth Readiness Score to find out. In 5 minutes, you'll see: Benchmark data showing how you stack up to other organizations A clear view of your operational maturity Whether your business is ready to scale (and what to do next if it's not) Let's Connect Subscribe to the RevOps Champions Newsletter LinkedIn YouTube Explore the show at revopschampions.com. Ready to unite your teams with RevOps strategies that eliminate costly silos and drive growth? Let's talk!
Everyone dreams about taking their company global. But most teams have no idea how hard it really is.In this episode, Toni sits down with Shantanu and Koen from Personio to talk about why expanding into new markets can easily sink your go-to-market strategy. They've both helped companies like Gong, LinkedIn, and Personio grow across borders, and they've got the scars to prove it.They dig into what founders get wrong about international expansion, how to tell if your product actually fits a new geography, and why “just translating the website” is never enough. You'll hear how cultural nuances, regulations, and even small hiring decisions can make or break your success abroad.This episode is brought to you by Evergrowth — Their Agentic GTM Workspace enables revenue teams to collaborate and win with AI-powered teammates, breaking down silos and helping B2B teams grow smarter with fewer resources. Want to work with us? Learn more: revformula.io(00:00) - Introduction (03:57) - Common Mistakes in Expansion (09:10) - Product Geo Fit (11:59) - Localized Market Strategies (19:25) - Cost and Investment in New Markets (24:07) - Finding the Right International Leader (25:53) - Practical Approaches to Market Entry (32:07) - Viewing Expansion as a Bet (34:51) - Team and Culture Considerations (37:31) - Leadership Advice for International Expansion (43:13) - Balancing Global and Local Needs (47:24) - Navigating Complexity in International Operations
Renegade Thinkers Unite: #2 Podcast for CMOs & B2B Marketers
Most marketing books promise tips. Scalable Acts of Marketing shows you how to build a system that scales. Written after thirteen years of helping grow Service Express from $30 million to $350 million in ARR, Joshua Leatherman's field-tested guide blends a business fable with a hands-on playbook. In this episode, Joshua Leatherman (Cyderes) joins Drew to walk through how durable growth happens when marketing speaks in outcomes, earns executive trust, and runs one motion across brand, demand, sales, and success. He connects the fable's lessons to real-world moves inside growth-stage companies, laying out a playbook any marketing leader can use to build momentum that lasts. In this episode: How to shift from activities to outcomes that a CFO and CRO will back How to own pipeline with clear SQO definitions, shared attribution, and consistent follow-up How to stand up RevOps as “Switzerland,” with shared KPIs, fast handoffs, and five-minute speed-to-lead targets Plus: Why marketing must stay on the field after the first meeting How to use R&D (“rip off and duplicate”) to accelerate playbooks What to hire for right now: Curiosity, learning velocity, and accountability How authoritative content fuels discovery in an AI-led world If you're ready to build a marketing system that earns trust, investment, and results, this episode shows where to start! For full show notes and transcripts, visit https://renegademarketing.com/podcasts/ To learn more about CMO Huddles, visit https://cmohuddles.com/
In this RevOps Hero episode, Chris Strom interviews five marketing leaders live at Dreamforce to unpack why top teams still invest in in-person events — and exactly how they plan, execute, and measure them. We cover pre-event planning and process, on-site actions (booth, breakouts, side events), post-event follow-up, and how these leaders run attribution that ties events to pipeline and revenue.You'll learn:How in-person accelerates trust (and thus deal velocity)What to do leading up to the event (lists, invites, cadences, creative, logistics)On-site tactics that actually convert (meetings, scans, activations)Post-event follow-up that doesn't feel spammySimple, workable attribution (lead source + campaign influence) and realistic ROI targetsGuests:Ann-Marie Fleming (Traction Complete), Laura Sweet (Riva), Rachel Kim (Mutiny), Milissa Holland (Spaulding Ridge), Aishling Finnegan (Copado)Subscribe for more RevOps and GTM breakdowns.
In this episode of RevOps Champions, Brendon Dennewill sits down with Mike Paton—longtime EOS Implementer, author, and host of The EOS Leader Podcast—to explore how organizations can scale effectively using the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) framework.With over 17 years of experience delivering 2,000+ full-day EOS sessions across more than 150 companies, Mike shares battle-tested lessons on leadership, process, and accountability. He breaks down why Vision and Traction are non-negotiable in times of uncertainty, how the 20/80 process documentation method drives efficiency, and why radical honesty is the ultimate form of leadership care.Whether you're leading a fast-growing startup or scaling a 250-person company, this conversation delivers practical frameworks for building systems, managing change, and creating scalable growth—without sacrificing your entrepreneurial DNA.What You'll LearnWhy Vision and Traction matter most in uncertain timesThe three biggest challenges holding growing companies backThe 20/80 approach to process documentationHow Process and Data work togetherWhy radical honesty is a form of careWhy technology is an accelerant, not a solutionThe real reason change initiatives failResources MentionedGet a Grip Process Traction by Gino Wickman Radical Candor by Kim ScottThe EOS Leader Podcast EOS Worldwide90-Minute EOS Meeting EOS Tools About Mike PatonTitle: EOS Implementer, Author, Speaker, and Host of the EOS Leader PodcastIs your business ready to scale? Take the Growth Readiness Score to find out. In 5 minutes, you'll see: Benchmark data showing how you stack up to other organizations A clear view of your operational maturity Whether your business is ready to scale (and what to do next if it's not) Let's Connect Subscribe to the RevOps Champions Newsletter LinkedIn YouTube Explore the show at revopschampions.com. Ready to unite your teams with RevOps strategies that eliminate costly silos and drive growth? Let's talk!
Excellent Executive Coaching: Bringing Your Coaching One Step Closer to Excelling
Jim Delaney is the Co-Founder and CEO of Traction AI, a go-to-market partner for founders navigating the early stages of growth. What lessons from military leadership carry over into building a high-performing startup team? Why do so many founders struggle with go-to-market execution — and how can they fix it? What does "RevOps" actually mean for an early-stage company? How can a founder align product, marketing, and sales without overhiring or burning cash? What advice would you give to leaders who are stepping into the CEO role for the first time? Jim Delaney Jim Delaney is the Co-Founder and CEO of Traction AI, a go-to-market partner for founders navigating the early stages of growth. A former U.S. Naval Officer and National Security Agency team lead, Jim spent the first chapter of his career in national defense before transitioning into the private sector, where he worked as a senior executive for JPMorgan Chase and on the executive leadership team at Dun & Bradstreet. He then worked for various venture capital and private equity firms as a portfolio CEO for various portfolio companies and led two technology companies to successful exits — Marketwired sold to Nasdaq and Sysomos sold to Meltwater. With over 30 years of experience scaling data and SaaS businesses, Jim brings a rare blend of operational rigor and servant leadership to the startups he supports. He holds a degree from the U.S. Naval Academy and an MBA from the Wharton School. Excellent Executive Coaching Podcast If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review. The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals. Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.
My Fintech Newsletter for more interviews and the latest insights:↪︎ https://rexsalisbury.substack.com/In this episode, I sit down with Stevie Case from Vanta, a former pro gamer turned chief revenue officer, to discuss how AI is transforming the entire go-to-market function in B2B SaaS. Stevie shares insights on building agile sales organizations, how AI supercharges human roles rather than replacing them, and the evolving expectations for sales, customer success, and RevOps teams. The conversation covers AI tool adoption, hiring for an AI-native workforce, and why go-to-market roles are among the most exciting in tech today.Stevie Case: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steviecase/00:00:00 - AI's Impact on Go-To-Market Functions00:02:06 - Building Scalable Sales Organizations00:04:47 - Specialization and Segmentation in Sales00:06:28 - AI Supercharging Customer Success00:08:23 - Hiring and Onboarding with AI Support00:10:07 - Building AI-Driven Products with Customers00:12:08 - Selling New Products to Existing Customers00:15:02 - Early Product Adoption and Iteration00:17:25 - Operating at All Levels in Organizations00:20:01 - Creating Intense, High-Velocity Teams00:22:15 - Hiring AI-Native, Curious Builders00:25:05 - Measuring Success by Team Pride and Feedback00:26:07 - Developing Agent Platforms00:28:02 - Monetization and Business Model Evolution00:30:49 - AI-Enabled Competitive Advantages in Fintech00:32:31 - Top-Down AI Automation Demand00:34:11 - Reinforcement Learning in Fraud Detection00:38:00 - International Go-To-Market Expansion00:41:33 - Designing Global Sales Footprints00:45:04 - Resourcing RevOps and Systems Teams___Rex Salisbury LinkedIn:↪︎ https://www.linkedin.com/in/rexsalisburyTwitter: https://twitter.com/rexsalisburyTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rex.salisburyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/rexsalisbury/
Most companies still hire salespeople wrong in 2025.They rely on resumes, gut feeling, and vague interviews instead of testing real skills. In this episode, Raul and Toni explain why that approach fails and how to replace it with a system that actually works.They break down a practical process to identify what you really need, define the skills that matter, and test candidates in realistic scenarios. No fluff, no guesswork, just a repeatable way to hire people who can actually sell.This episode is brought to you by ZoomInfo, the Go-To-Market Intelligence Platform. ZoomInfo gives you high-quality B2B data and sales intelligence on in-market buyers across companies of all sizes, powered by AI-driven automation with integrated outreach tools to help your GTM teams build pipeline and close deals faster. Check them out at zoominfo.com/revenue-formula Want to work with us? Learn more: revformula.io(00:00) - Introduction (01:41) - Hiring is Broken (07:09) - Basics of Effective Hiring (12:35) - The Myth of the Perfect Candidate (14:20) - Understand your Needs and Context (16:56) - Time Pressure in Hiring (22:02) - The Three Step Solution (29:10) - Assessing Candidates: Interpretation (30:16) - Assessing Candidates: Talking (31:21) - Assessing Candidates: Showing (32:53) - Assessing Candidates: Doing (36:53) - Iterating on the Process (39:57) - Roleplaying in Sales Hiring (43:33) - Hiring Sales Leaders (46:00) - Final Thoughts and Takeaways
THE Sales Japan Series by Dale Carnegie Training Tokyo, Japan
Trust isn't a “soft” metric—it's the conversion engine. Buyers don't buy products first; they buy us, then the solution arrives as part of the package. Below is a GEO-optimised, answer-first version of the core human-relations principles leaders and sales pros can use today. How do top salespeople build trust fast in 2025? Start by listening like a pro and making the conversation about them, not you. When trust is low, buyers won't move—even if your proposal looks perfect on paper. The fastest pattern across B2B in Japan, the US, and Europe is empathetic listening that surfaces goals, constraints, and internal politics. Post-pandemic norms (hybrid work, async decisions) mean you must read what's said and what's unsaid: tone, pauses, body language on Zoom, and email subtext. In enterprise sales, this shifts you from “pitching” to “diagnosing.” You become the buyer's trusted business advisor—especially in consensus-driven cultures like Japan where ringi and nemawashi favour rapport and patience over pressure. Do this and high-stakes deals stop stalling because stakeholders finally feel safe to share the real blockers. Do now: Open with one agenda question—“What outcome matters most by [date]?”—then listen without interrupting for 90 seconds. What questions reliably open buyers up? Use simple, human prompts that invite stories. Who have they worked for? What was it like? Where's the office? When did they start? Why choose this company? What do they like most? These “Who/What/Where/When/Why/How” prompts turn small talk into signal, revealing priorities (speed vs. safety), risk appetite, and decision cadence. Across SMEs, startups, and multinationals, these prompts work because they're culturally neutral, non-intrusive, and buyer-centred. In APAC, they respect hierarchy; in the US, they feel pragmatic; in Europe, they invite thoughtful context. The goal isn't to interrogate—it's to let people talk about themselves while you capture needs, metrics, and names of influencers you'll later engage. Do now: Prepare six openers on a card; ask two, go deep on one, and mirror key phrases back. How do I remember personal details without being awkward? Use the “Nameplate → House → Family → Briefcase → Airplane → Tennis Racquet → Newspaper” memory chain. Visualise a giant nameplate smashing into a bright house; inside, a baby with a briefcase pulls out an old plane; its propellers are tennis racquets threaded with rolled newspapers. Each hook cues a safe, human topic: name, home, family, work, travel, hobbies, and industry news. This light mnemonic keeps first meetings natural across cultures. In Japan, it supports relationship-first norms (meishi exchange, hometown ties). In the US/EU, it avoids prying while still finding common ground (sports, routes, recent sector headlines). Use tact and sequence flexibly; skip topics if they feel private. The point is to remember them so follow-ups feel personal, not transactional. Do now: Before calls, jot the seven cues; after calls, log one fact per cue in your CRM. What if I don't know the buyer's interests yet? Keep asking—then mirror their language and frame benefits in their terms. Early on, many buyers withhold interests until they decide you're trustworthy. That's normal. Persist with respectful questions, then translate features into “so-whats” they already value: uptime for CTOs, cycle-time for COOs, compliance for CFOs, psychological safety for HR. As of 2025, complex deals involve multi-threading (RevOps, Legal, IT, Security). Tailor each touch: startup CTOs want velocity and unit economics; enterprise VPs want risk mitigation and stakeholder alignment; Japanese heads of division may prioritise harmony and precedent. The win is relevance—your proposal reads like their strategy memo, not your brochure. Do now: After each meeting, write one line: “They care most about ___ because ___.” Lead with that next time. How do I make someone feel important—without manipulation? Spot real wins and praise them sincerely and specifically. Most professionals get little recognition. When you catch people doing something right—clear brief, crisp data, fast feedback—name it. Never over-flatter; buyers detect tactics instantly. The goal is dignity, not drama. Practical example: “Your timeline reduced rework across Legal and IT—that saved us both weeks.” In Japan, sincere appreciation that acknowledges team effort (not just the individual) lands better; in the US, direct credit energises champions. Across sectors (SaaS, manufacturing, services), this fosters reciprocity and deepens trust far faster than discounts ever can. Do now: In your next email, add one honest, specific thank-you sentence linked to a business outcome. What should leaders systemise so this sticks? Bake these principles into playbooks, onboarding, and CRM hygiene. Codify the seven memory cues, the open-question matrix, and a “buyer interest” field in CRM. Coach for silence (count to three before replying). Review call snippets for interrupt rate and question balance. Reward teams for discovery quality, not just revenue. Executives at firms from startups to conglomerates can run fortnightly “deal trust reviews”: is the sponsor heard, interests mapped, and recognition given? In Japan, align with nemawashi—map stakeholders and pre-wire decisions. In the US/EU, pressure-test value hypotheses with RevOps and Finance. Consistency beats charisma. Do now: Add three fields to your CRM today—Interests, Stakeholders, Recognition Given—and make them required. Conclusion When you listen deeply, speak in the buyer's interests, and recognise people sincerely, you stop selling and start being chosen. Make this your firm's operating system and watch cycle times shorten and referrals grow. FAQs Isn't this just “be nice” advice? No—these behaviours reduce friction, surface risks early, and accelerate consensus, which shortens sales cycles. Do these tips work in Japan? Yes—especially the memory chain and sincere group-focused recognition, which fit relationship-first norms. How do I measure progress? Track interrupt rate, number of stakeholder interests captured, and instances of specific recognition logged in CRM. Next Steps Add the seven-cue mnemonic and open-question set to your onboarding. Require “Interests” and “Recognition Given” fields in every opportunity. Coach teams to wait three beats before replying on calls. About the Author Dr. Greg Story, Ph.D. in Japanese Decision-Making, is President of Dale Carnegie Tokyo Training and Adjunct Professor at Griffith University. He is a two-time winner of the Dale Carnegie “One Carnegie Award” (2018, 2021) and recipient of the Griffith University Business School Outstanding Alumnus Award (2012). As a Dale Carnegie Master Trainer, Greg is certified to deliver globally across all leadership, communication, sales, and presentation programs, including Leadership Training for Results. He has written several books, including three best-sellers—Japan Business Mastery, Japan Sales Mastery, and Japan Presentations Mastery—along with Japan Leadership Mastery and How to Stop Wasting Money on Training. Japanese editions include ザ営業, プレゼンの達人, トレーニングでお金を無駄にするのはやめましょう, and 現代版「人を動かす」リーダー. Greg also publishes daily business insights on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter, and hosts six weekly podcasts. On YouTube, he produces The Cutting Edge Japan Business Show, Japan Business Mastery, and Japan's Top Business Interviews, followed widely by executives seeking success strategies in Japan.
Text us your thoughts on the episode or the show!In this episode of OpsCast, hosted by Michael Hartmann and powered by MarketingOps.com, we are joined by Sarah Lane-Hawn, a fractional marketing leader and consultant who helps organizations shape their go-to-market strategy and build operational infrastructure with intention. Sarah brings experience leading both marketing operations and demand generation, offering a clear view of how these functions can work together more strategically.The discussion focuses on how Marketing Operations professionals can move beyond the “ticket-taking” mindset and step into roles that drive real business impact. Sarah shares how understanding the “why” behind requests, influencing decisions, and aligning with organizational goals can elevate both personal growth and company success.In this episode, you'll learn:Why a human-centered strategy is essential to the future of marketing operationsHow MOps professionals can gain credibility and influence within their organizationsThe difference between building for reporting versus enablementPractical ways to bring strategic thinking and intuition into daily workThis episode is perfect for Marketing Ops, RevOps, and demand generation professionals looking to increase their strategic impact, build stronger partnerships with stakeholders, and find more meaning in their work.Episode Brought to You By MO Pros The #1 Community for Marketing Operations Professionals Join us at MOps-Apalooza: https://mopsapalooza.com/Save 10% with code opscast10Support the show
Amy Osmond Cook talks about her book The RevOps Advantage and how to maximize your revenue potential. Amy is the co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Fullcast – a RevOps platform for planning and executing go-to-market strategies. She's an expert in aligning marketing, sales, and operations for strategic growth. Listen for three action items you can use today. Host, Kevin Craine Do you want to be a guest? https://Everyday-MBA.com/guest Do you want to advertise on the show? https://Everyday-MBA.com/advertise
In this episode, Chantel Hirschel, Director of Revenue Operations at Sana, discusses the unique challenges and opportunities in the healthcare industry, particularly in revenue operations. She shares insights on transitioning from traditional B2B SaaS to healthcare, the importance of HIPAA compliance, and the role of AI in rev ops. Chantel also offers advice for aspiring leaders in the field, emphasizing the importance of communication and strategic thinking.ChaptersIntroduction to Chantel Hirschel(0:00)Transitioning to Healthcare Rev Ops(3:00)AI and Automation in Rev Ops(9:00)Leadership and Communication in Rev Ops(15:00)Future of Sales and Rev Ops(21:00)
In this episode of DisrupTV, hosts Vala Afshar and Ray Wang sit down with Amy Osmond Cook, Ryan Westwood, and Marty Dubin to explore how Revenue Operations (RevOps), AI, and leadership self-awareness are shaping the next era of business success. From breaking down organizational silos to balancing automation with human insight, this conversation dives deep into what it takes to scale growth, drive alignment, and lead with authenticity in a rapidly changing world. If you're a CEO, RevOps leader, or future-focused executive, this episode delivers actionable insights for navigating the intersection of technology, leadership, and human performance. DisrupTV is a weekly podcast hosted by R "Ray" Wang and Vala Afshar. The show airs live at 11 AM PT/ 2 PM ET every Friday. Each week, top leaders in tech, business, and innovation join to share their insights on the future of work, leadership, and digital transformation.
In this episode, Jeff sits down with Lindsay Roethlisberger, Director of Revenue Operations at Zapier, to explore how RevOps is evolving in a world increasingly shaped by AI. Lindsay shares her journey from Zapier's first marketing ops hire to leading a 12-person RevOps team spanning analytics, automation, and enablement.Together, they dig into:How Zapier uses AI across SMB, mid-market, and enterprise motionsThe difference between AI-driven workflows and agents - and where each fitsPractical use cases, from chat classification to renewal prep to sales coachingWhy RevOps leaders should think like product managers when adopting AIIf you want to see how AI is reshaping go-to-market infrastructure - and the lessons from one of the most automation-driven companies in SaaS - this episode is packed with practical takeaways.
In this episode of Run the Numbers, CJ Gustafson sits down with Ivan Makarov, Operating Partner at Andreessen Horowitz and former VP of Finance at Webflow, to explore what it takes to build a finance function from scratch inside a fast-growing startup. Ivan shares lessons from the trenches—how to decide between outsourcing and hiring in-house, what makes a great first finance hire, and why early-stage companies often run out of cash before they run out of ideas. He also dives into fundraising pitfalls, audit readiness, and the tools that make up a modern finance stack. Beyond the spreadsheets, Ivan opens up about the shift from operator to venture partner, the value of helping founders avoid his past mistakes, and what makes an offsite actually work.—LINKS:Ivan Makarov on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivansmakarov/Andreessen Horowitz: https://a16z.com/CJ on X (@cjgustafson222): https://x.com/cjgustafson222Mostly metrics: https://www.mostlymetrics.comRELATED EPISODES:Webflow's VP Finance Ivan Makarov on Understanding Startup Equity:Portfolio Operations: This Is What You Actually Have To Do To Make Sure a Company Is Successful:Brex COO/CFO Michael Tannenbaum on Taking Risks996 Culture, Exploding AI Bills & SaaS Chaos—TIMESTAMPS:(00:00:00) Preview, Intro(00:01:18) Meet Ivan Makarov of Andreessen Horowitz & Episode Setup(00:02:39) Sponsor – Tipalti | Aleph | Rillet(00:06:51) From Webflow to Andreessen: Becoming an Operating Partner(00:09:19) When and Why Founders Hire Their First Finance Leader(00:12:52) Hiring Early in Complex or Regulated Industries(00:13:58) The First Finance Hire in 2025 vs. 2015(00:15:46) Sponsor – Fidelity Private Shares | Mercury | RightRev(00:19:02) The Many Hats of Finance Leaders & The Rise of RevOps(00:24:55) What Founders Look For: Startup DNA and Work Ethic(00:26:05) Grind Culture, Return to Office, and New Expectations(00:28:20) From BizOps to RevOps: How Finance Roles Are Evolving(00:31:57) The First 12 Months of a Finance Leader's Playbook(00:35:05) Choosing Audit Partners and Avoiding Hidden Costs(00:36:32) Why Startups Really Fail — Running Out of Cash(00:39:16) Cash Controls, Banking Diversification, and Fraud Prevention(00:43:48) Fundraising Red Flags: Metrics, Definitions, and Diligence(00:47:50) 409A Valuations, Equity Clarity & Candidate Questions(00:50:09) The Modern Finance Tech Stack & Gen 3 Tools(00:55:05) AI's Impact: Replacing Labor, Not People(01:00:00) Offsites, Team Building & The Future of Finance Leadership(01:02:28) Wrapping Up: Reflections, Gratitude & Closing Credits—SPONSORS:Tipalti automates the entire payables process—from onboarding suppliers to executing global payouts—helping finance teams save time, eliminate costly errors, and scale confidently across 200+ countries and 120 currencies. More than 5,000 businesses already trust Tipalti to manage payments with built-in security and tax compliance. Visit https://www.tipalti.com/runthenumbers to learn more.Aleph automates 90% of manual, error-prone busywork, so you can focus on the strategic work you were hired to do. Minimize busywork and maximize impact with the power of a web app, the flexibility of spreadsheets, and the magic of AI. Get a personalised demo at https://www.getaleph.com/runRillet is the AI-native ERP modern finance teams are switching to because it's faster, simpler, and 100% built for how teams operate today. See how fast your team can move. Book a demo at https://www.rillet.com/metricsFidelity Private Shares is the all-in-one equity management platform that keeps your cap table clean, your data room organized, and your equity story clear—so you never risk losing a fundraising round over messy records. Schedule a demo at https://www.fidelityprivateshares.com and mention Mostly Metrics to get 20% off.Mercury is business banking built for builders, giving founders and finance pros a financial stack that actually works together. From sending wires to tracking balances and approving payments, Mercury makes it simple to scale without friction. Join the 200,000+ entrepreneurs who trust Mercury and apply online in minutes at https://www.mercury.comRightRev automates the revenue recognition process from end to end, gives you real-time insights, and ensures ASC 606 / IFRS 15 compliance—all while closing books faster. For RevRec that auditors actually trust, visit https://www.rightrev.com and schedule a demo.#RunTheNumbersPodcast #StartupFinance #VentureCapital #CFOInsights #Leadership This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cjgustafson.substack.com
Lauren Ryan, Senior Corporate Solutions Engineer and CRM competitive expert at HubSpot, joins Brendon Dennewill to unpack how smart technology decisions can transform business operations from the inside out. Drawing on her experience as the founder of Coastal Consulting—where she specialized in HubSpot-Salesforce integrations—Lauren shares how aligning systems isn't just a technical upgrade, but a cultural one that helps teams collaborate better and improve quality of life at work.In this episode, Lauren and Brendon explore the crucial link between technology choices and strategic business outcomes. She reveals why many CRM implementations fail—not because of the tools themselves, but due to misalignment between people, processes, and data. Through real-world examples, from credit unions empowering frontline tellers with unified data to sales leaders who refuse to work without HubSpot, Lauren shows how the right platform can boost adoption rates by up to 30% and drive measurable growth.Whether you're a RevOps professional, CRM admin, or business leader evaluating your tech stack, this conversation will help you understand the true total cost of ownership, avoid common implementation pitfalls, and make technology investments that deliver both business performance and a better employee experience.What You'll LearnWhy systems alignment drives organizational alignment The hidden cost of technology decisionsHow to think strategically about software buyingThe difference between having data and running on data Why employee experience is a critical CRM value proposition What makes a platform truly enterprise-readyThe people-first principle for change management Resources MentionedHubSpot Academy HubSpot CRM Salesforce Marketing Cloud Salesforce Financial Services Cloud Breeze Assistant About Lauren RyanTitle: Senior Corporate Solutions Engineer Company: HubSpotIs your business ready to scale? Take the Growth Readiness Score to find out. In 5 minutes, you'll see: Benchmark data showing how you stack up to other organizations A clear view of your operational maturity Whether your business is ready to scale (and what to do next if it's not) Let's Connect Subscribe to the RevOps Champions Newsletter LinkedIn YouTube Explore the show at revopschampions.com. Ready to unite your teams with RevOps strategies that eliminate costly silos and drive growth? Let's talk!
Databox is an easy-to-use Analytics Platform for growing businesses. We make it easy to centralize and view your entire company's marketing, sales, revenue, and product data in one place, so you always know how you're performing. Learn More About DataboxSubscribe to our newsletter for episode summaries, benchmark data, and moreDave Gerhardt built Exit Five by treating community like a product—not a side project.In this episode, he walks through how the Exit Five team runs community with the same rigor as a SaaS org: dedicated product roles, roadmaps, feedback loops, NPS, and sprint cycles. He also shares why most B2B companies shouldn't build a community, and what to focus on instead.We also dig into how to justify the ROI of brand and community work, why direct traffic is your best brand metric, and how AI is reshaping what lean GTM teams can do.In this episode, you'll learn:Why Exit Five runs its community like a product orgThe biggest mistakes B2B companies make when launching communitiesHow Drift's podcast helped drive $1M in pipeline – with no attribution modelDave's take on brand, content, and the new AI-powered marketerThe exact metrics Exit Five tracks to grow and retain members
What does the future AE look like in the age of AI?Toni and Raul break down how AI could transform sales productivity, reshape go-to-market structures, and create the $5M ARR AE. From hyper-optimized workflows to the rise of the “celebrity AE,” this episode explores three new models that redefine what top performance looks like.This episode is brought to you by Evergrowth — Their Agentic GTM Workspace enables revenue teams to collaborate and win with AI-powered teammates, breaking down silos and helping B2B teams grow smarter with fewer resources. Want to work with us? Learn more: revformula.io(00:00) - Introduction (03:00) - The 5M ARR AE with AI (11:17) - Hyper Optimized Enterprise AE (15:18) - AI-Assisted Sales Meetings (19:04) - Maximizing Sales Efficiency (20:50) - Salesperson as a High Performer (22:01) - Factory Automation (24:42) - The SMB Multitasker (32:44) - The Celebrity AE (35:29) - Influencer Crossovers in Sales (39:00) - Wrapping up (40:42) - Next Week: The 2025 Hiring Playbook
On this episode of GTM Live, Carolyn and Amber sit down with Steve Armenti, CEO & Founder of Twelfth Agency and former demand gen leader at Google.Steve shares his journey from corporate marketing to building a thriving agency, and dive into why most revenue teams miss the real story in their data, how to flip the script on pipeline analysis by studying rejection instead of just conversion, and the critical role of sales + marketing alignment in fixing the “pipeline black box.”You'll hear practical examples from Steve's experiences as an in-house demand gen leader and now running his ABX agency, insights into what's working for growth-stage SaaS companies right now, and a fresh perspective on building GTM systems that actually deliver results.If you're a CMO, CRO, or RevOps leader looking for new ways to diagnose what's holding back your pipeline, this episode is a must-listen.Key Topics Covered:Lessons from demand gen on identifying what works vs. what doesn'tABM → ABX: creating account-based experiences that align sales + marketingThe “messy middle” handoff between sales and marketing, and why it breaks most funnelsFlipping the script: studying disqualification rates instead of obsessing over MQL → SQL conversionPractical examples of diagnosing rejection data and what it revealedThe underestimated importance of data hygiene, UTMs, and ops rolesWhy improving what you already have often beats chasing new volume
Text us your thoughts on the episode or the show!In this episode of OpsCast, hosted by Michael Hartmann and powered by MarketingOps.com, we are joined by Chris Golec, Founder and CEO of Channel99, and Emily Gustin, Business Development Manager at LinkedIn. Chris and Emily share how the shift from individual-level to company-level attribution is transforming how B2B marketing teams measure ROI, particularly in social media.They discuss how LinkedIn and Channel99 are partnering to provide marketers with a privacy-safe approach to connect paid and organic social engagement to website activity and pipeline impact. The conversation explores the implications for ABM and ABX strategies, the evolving landscape of view-through attribution, and how marketing operations professionals can gain deeper insight into brand reach, buyer behavior, and overall performance across the funnel.In this episode, you'll learn:How company-level attribution is changing B2B social measurementThe role of privacy-safe solutions in connecting social engagement to pipeline impactInsights into ABM and ABX strategies informed by better dataHow MOPs teams can leverage attribution to understand brand reach and buyer behaviorThis episode is perfect for marketing operations professionals, B2B marketers, and anyone looking to improve social ROI and attribution strategies.Episode Brought to You By MO Pros The #1 Community for Marketing Operations Professionals Marketing Ops, RevOps, Data Pros, and AI innovators will come together to share what's really working and what's not during the week of Dreamforce. Join the conversation shaping the future of rev ops and AI, and save your spot now at AI Unfiltered, happening October 15th from 2:00 PM to 5:30 PM at Sandbox VR in San Francisco. Just steps away from Dreamforce. Visit tractioncomplete.com to learn more. Join us at MOps-Apalooza: https://mopsapalooza.com/Save 10% with code opscast10Support the show
James Roth, CRO at ZoomInfo, joins Toni to break down how AI is reshaping go-to-market. From the collapse of inbound demand to the rise of intelligent outbound, he explains how teams can stay efficient, use AI without the hype, and turn data into real impact.We also talk about ZoomInfo's $1.2B ARR growth, the myth of “AI-native” startups, and what go-to-market intelligence actually means in 2025.Want to work with us? Learn more: revformula.io(00:00) - Introduction (01:38) - ZoomInfo's Growth and Public Perception (06:45) - AI's Role Today (10:04) - ZoomInfo's Approach to AI and Competition (15:35) - Go-to-Market Intelligence Explained (21:09) - Integration and Collaboration in the Industry (26:01) - SEO Challenges and Market Impact (28:45) - The Resurgence of Outbound Sales (33:27) - AI's Role in Sales Efficiency (39:46) - Leveraging AI for SMB Data (46:39) - The Drive for Efficiency with New Tools (53:10) - Next Week: $5M ARR per AE with AI
In this episode of Make It Happen Mondays, John Barrows sits down with Kevin Davis, the co-founder and CEO of Boogie Board—a company rethinking sales territory planning through the lens of data, transparency, and AI.Kevin's journey started far from Silicon Valley, in a small Wisconsin town where he learned grit the hard way—from shoveling snow and driving plows to climbing the ranks in sales and ops. Despite saying he never should've been in sales, Kevin's experience on both sides of the revenue engine gives him a rare perspective that's now shaping how companies think about go-to-market strategy.They dive into Kevin's “surfer, not hunter” sales philosophy, why current territory models are broken, and how we can rebuild them to create trust between reps and RevOps. Kevin also opens up about early tactical missteps, the importance of clarity in selling, and how Boogie Board is helping teams get smarter about where and how they sell.If you're in sales leadership, RevOps, or just tired of guessing your way through territory planning—this conversation is a must-listen.Are you interested in leveling up your sales skills and staying relevant in today's AI-driven landscape? Visit www.jbarrows.com and let's Make It Happen together!Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarrows/Connect with John on IG: https://www.instagram.com/johnmbarrows/Check out John's Membership: https://go.jbarrows.com/pages/individual-membership?ref=3edab1 Join John's Newsletter: https://www.jbarrows.com/newsletterConnect with Kevin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinboogie/Check out Kevin's Website: https://boogieboard.ai/
If your board asks “Why is pipeline down?” and your opportunity dashboards only say marketing-sourced vs. SDR-sourced (AKA the four-funnel model), you're stuck with surface-level data and left guessing at fixes instead of diagnosing the problem. The real story lives between engagement and opportunity, the unmeasured factory floor where prospecting happens (or dies). In this episode, Carolyn and Amber show how to rip the lid off that black box, swap vanity volume for "causal" metrics, and find the repeatable patterns that actually manufacture pipeline.Expect blunt takes, practical questions to bring to RevOps tomorrow, and real outcomes from teams who've made the shift (e.g., win rates jumping from ~13% to ~24% and easier budget approvals once the black box is illuminated).What You'll Learn:[02:20] Why “source” reporting hides the truth (and fuels misalignment)[08:00] The Pipeline Black Box: measuring the in-between (triggers → first meeting → opp)[15:00] Pattern-spotting: sequences that create pipeline vs. waste[17:30] Visual walkthrough: opening the black box[20:55] Prospecting as its own lifecycle: timing, activity load, DQs, velocity[26:10] From more leads to more lift (conversion, speed, win rate 13%→24%)[36:00] Turning visibility into stronger board stories & budget wins[38:25] 3 questions to expose your black box this weekWho This Episode ForCROs, CMOs, Demand leaders, and RevOps owners ready to graduate from MQLs/last-touch to a factory-style measurement system.