Revenue Builders

John Donnelly III is a seasoned global operational executive with over 25 years of experience in growing enterprise B2B SaaS companies. He has successfully managed various stages of growth for tech companies, ranging from series A to over $900M in revenue, leading large global teams in sales, support, services, and marketing. With a track record of delivering multiple millions in returns to private equity and venture investors, John has played key roles in two IPOs and several M&A exits. In this episode, John McMahon and John Kaplan talk with John Donnelly about his sales career journey, the challenges of business acquisitions, effective sales forecasting, and the importance of storytelling in sales campaigns. Donnelly also stresses the need for sales reps to build emotional connections to their customers and to deeply understand their needs. This episode illuminates valuable insights for sales executives navigating forecast challenges and business acquisitions.Tune in to this conversation with John McMahon and John Kaplan on the Revenue Builders podcast.HERE ARE SOME KEY SECTIONS TO CHECK OUT[01:27] John Donnelly's Career Journey[03:19] John Donnelly's Experience with Acquisitions[05:35] The Challenges of Cultural Fit in Acquisitions[11:49] The Importance of Listening and Understanding in New Leadership Roles[24:52] The Impact of Slip Deals on Forecasting[28:05] The Role of CRM Systems in Forecasting[32:00] Understanding Why Deals Slip[32:13] Top Reasons for Deal Slippage[32:28] The Importance of Attaching to the Biggest Business Issue[33:04] The Role of a Champion in the Sales Cycle[34:09] Differentiating Yourself from the Competition[34:40] The Art of Asking the Right Questions[35:03] Understanding the Timeline of a Deal[38:05] The Importance of Testing Champions[46:15] The Power of Storytelling in Sales[48:59] The Role of Emotional Intelligence in SalesADDITIONAL RESOURCESLearn more about John Donnelly and about their [email protected]://www.linkedin.com/in/johncare/https://www.linkedin.com/company/up-2-speed/HIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:41:55] "And I, like I said earlier, at the very beginning, I think, the reps that get, more people involved and more people involved in a deal, you get more perspective on something. And I think if a rep is holding a deal very close to the chest and not really willing to get other people involved in the business, I always worry about that as well."[00:46:27] "I love this because that's really important. Sorry, Johnny when, especially when they can tell a story that aligns to the same issues that customer had. so they're, because I found that a lot of customers, sometimes they're. Reluctant to talk about all their issues 'cause they think they're the only ones, those issues they have are very unique."[00:51:46] "And I think that's something that's so important. And whenever I talk to customers now, it's always, okay, tell me what we've done to make, why are we, why are you different now using DTIQ? What's different about it? I wanna know what that is and why, and because ultimately, of course, not every customer can speak publicly. But I'm always looking for the next referral, the next customer that can speak on our behalf to say, Hey, we brought DTIQ in before, before we had DTIQ, we had these problems, we brought it in, and now we don't and we saved money." Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale.  Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

In this curated episode of the Revenue Builders Podcast, John McMahon and John Kaplan on the Revenue Builders podcast as they sit down with Terry Tripp, the Chief Revenue Officer at Tynes. In this insightful episode, Terry shares his experiences and key strategies for navigating the critical first steps as a Chief Revenue Officer (CRO). From understanding the team and connecting with customers to identifying early opportunities, Terry provides valuable insights for both new and seasoned CROs.KEY TAKEAWAYS[00:01:31] Understand the team: Prioritize one-on-one conversations with each team member to grasp goals and perspectives.[00:02:56] Explore customer insights: Delve into how customers use the solution, identify problems, and collect valuable feedback.[00:03:19] Seek early wins: Listen for blockers to tackle and discover near-term growth opportunities for quick successes.[00:08:40] Importance of sales process: Establish a common language, facilitate scalability, and ensure consistency for training and forecasting.HIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:01:31] "The first thing for me is really getting to understand the people... one-on-one conversations with every single person in my organization."[00:02:36] "I really wanted to get into the shoes of our customers and understand really what's driving them to tackle this problem and choosing to tackle it with us."[00:06:00] "You've gotta get everybody speaking the same language... important part of a well-defined process is everybody understands what it means when a deal is at a certain stage."[00:06:57] "If you don't have a well-defined sales process, you can't really see any patterns."[00:07:28] "It's a great way to kind of bring those two together and look for those enablement opportunities that probably aren't isolated."Listen to the full episode with Terry Tripp through this link:https://revenue-builders.simplecast.com/episodes/perfecting-the-process-with-terry-trippCheck out John McMahon’s book here:Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/1K7DDC4Check out Force Management’s Ascender platform here: https://my.ascender.co/Ascender/ Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale.  Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

John Care spent numerous years building world-class Sales Engineering organizations at Oracle, Sybase, Vantive, Clarify, CA, Business Objects, and HP Software. He has a BSc with Honours in Chemical Engineering from Imperial College, London, and is a former contributing member of the MBA Advisory Council for the Fox Business School of Temple University, Philadelphia. He has been published in such diverse media as CIO, InfoWorld, Touchline, and The Wall Street Journal. He now serves on the Advisory Boards of several hi-tech startups dedicated to the Sales Engineering community.In this episode, John Care, co-author of "Mastering Technical Sales," joins hosts John McMahon and John Kaplan to discuss the role of technical sales and how sales leaders can effectively utilize sales engineers (SEs) to demonstrate customer value and differentiate their solutions. They emphasize the importance of building relationships, storytelling, and slowing down to go fast in the sales process. The conversation also covers the partnership between SEs and account executives (AEs), the value SEs bring to the sales team, and the significance of qualification and preparation before demos and proof of concepts (POCs)Tune in to this conversation with John McMahon and John Kaplan on the Revenue Builders podcast.HERE ARE SOME KEY SECTIONS TO CHECK OUT[00:03:19] Discussion on what makes a good SE[00:05:49] Data on the value provided by SEs[00:07:01] Importance of storytelling for SEs[00:11:08] The attribute of patience in SEs[00:20:30] Sales engineers should be seen as partners in the sales cycle[00:23:55] Constant communication with the sales engineer is key for success[00:28:55] The importance of debriefing after sales calls[00:35:38] The pros and cons of dashing to the demo[00:42:03] The importance of qualification before a demo[00:54:01] The role of SEs in post-sales and consumption-based modelsADDITIONAL RESOURCESLearn more about John Care and their [email protected]://www.linkedin.com/in/johncare/https://www.linkedin.com/company/up-2-speed/Download our Sales Transformation Guide for Leaders:https://forc.mx/3sdtEZJHIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:57:19] "The SE knows more people, that knows where the bodies are buried, as we like to say, and can actually be the guide for, a new rep as they come in or a new strategy."[01:01:26] "If you're an SE who wants to go over into sales, normally it's better if you go over either into an overlay position or into a pharma type position, as opposed to, hunter killers, new logos type accounts." Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale.  Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

In this curated episode of the Revenue Builders Podcast, hosts Jon McMahon and Jon Kaplan sit down with special guest Brent Gleeson, a Navy SEAL veteran and leadership training expert. Together, they explore the concept of a growth mindset versus a fixed mindset, drawing insights from Brent's experiences and research. The discussion delves into the challenges, efforts, feedback, and setbacks associated with each mindset, providing valuable lessons for individuals and teams seeking to enhance their performance. Brent shares anecdotes from SEAL training, offering practical applications for leaders in any industry. The episode concludes with a focus on leading individuals out of the "gray area" of self-sabotage and fostering a shared sense of purpose.KEY TAKEAWAYS[00:01:30] Fixed Mindset Traits: Individuals resist growth, avoiding challenges and clinging to their existing skills.[00:04:44] Growth Mindset Traits: Embracing challenges, seeking continuous improvement, and staying resilient lead to ongoing success.[00:08:42] Spotting the "Gray Man" Phenomenon: Recognizing disengaged individuals trying to blend in, analogous to workplace disinterest.[00:12:16] Leading Individuals Out of the Gray Area: Establish emotional connections to goals, emphasize shared purpose, and address structural issues for better team engagement.HIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:07:52] "My training is never complete, and therefore, I'm open for feedback and constantly looking for continuous improvement."[00:11:55] "Self-sabotage often happens when individuals in the gray area convince themselves they won't succeed and subsequently neglect necessary actions."Listen to the full episode with Brent Gleeson through this link:https://revenue-builders.simplecast.com/episodes/embrace-the-suck-with-brent-gleesonCheck out John McMahon’s book here:Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/1K7DDC4Check out Force Management’s Ascender platform here: https://my.ascender.co/Ascender/ Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale.  Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

As the Chief Revenue Officer at Skyflow, Tammy Sexton is responsible for driving revenue growth and scaling the go-to-market team for the company's innovative data privacy platform. With more than 20 years of experience in enterprise sales,Tammy has a proven track record of leading and developing high-performing sales teams, building strategic partnerships, and delivering value to customers across various industries and regions. She has successfully managed and grown sales organizations at early and mid-stage startups, such as LaunchDarkly, LogicHub, and Sumo Logic, as well as established companies, such as PagerDuty, EMC, and PTC.In this episode of the Revenue Builders Podcast, Tammy discusses the importance of data privacy and how Skyflow's data vault as a service helps companies protect sensitive information. She shares insights on the impact of data breaches on brand reputation and revenue, as well as the role of data privacy in building customer trust. Tammy also reflects on her journey as a sales leader and provides valuable lessons on transitioning from an account executive to a manager, managing managers, and becoming a CRO.Tune in to this conversation with John McMahon and John Kaplan on the Revenue Builders podcast.HERE ARE SOME KEY SECTIONS TO CHECK OUT[00:01:19] Tammy Sexton's background and role at Skyflow[00:03:48] Examples of companies that use data vaults for privacy protection[00:05:18] Skyflow's certification program and compliance benefits[00:07:53] Tammy Sexton's experience and lessons learned in sales leadership[00:10:22] Avoiding the mistake of becoming a "super rep" as a manager[00:14:12] Coaching first line managers on recruitment and finding the right fit for the company[00:20:17] Focusing on the basics and fundamentals as a second line manager to make a big difference[00:27:48] Challenges of managing different groups as a CRO[00:40:48] Key things to learn as a new CRO in a company[01:06:44] Discovery and pain metrics drive urgencyADDITIONAL RESOURCESLearn more about Tammy Sexton and about their company.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tammy-sexton/Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skyflow/Email: Tammy Sexton [email protected] our Sales Transformation Guide for Leaders:https://forc.mx/3sdtEZJHIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:50:55] "So it's not just about the data. It's not just about necessarily the numbers at the top, but the conversion numbers, the SC conversion from POV to win, the AE conversion at each stage. So if I can sit down with a manager that has six AEs and help that manager with data that says this AE always gets stuck at this part of the sales cycle. Why do they have a 20 percent POV win rate and technical win rate when all the other AEs have a 60 percent chance of moving to the next stage."[01:06:26] "Nothing better than good discovery and good pain and good influence on decision criteria. And at the end of the day, the metric will drive the urgency. If you did it right. If you did it right, go back to the basics." Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale.  Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

In this curated episode of the Revenue Builders Podcast, we delve into the intricate world of sales negotiation with expert Tim Caito from Force Management. We explore the crucial aspects of negotiation, from preparing champions to dealing with procurement and the power of starting early in the sales process. Tim shares valuable insights and strategies to help organizations preserve value in the final deal and achieve successful negotiations.KEY TAKEAWAYS[00:01:07] Starting early in the sales process is crucial for successful negotiation.[00:02:09] Begin the negotiation process before the other side believes you're negotiating.[00:02:58] Having a better alternative gives leverage in negotiations.[00:04:00] Making negotiations about the client's alternative rather than yours is a powerful tactic.[00:05:51] Procurement's role and the importance of preparing champions for the negotiation process.[00:08:23] The significance of creating a powerful cost justification to resist procurement pressure.[00:10:46] The role of champions as the great equalizer in the negotiation process.[00:12:17] Anticipating competitive tactics and preparing champions to handle external pressure.HIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:01:26] "Start the negotiation process before the other side believes we're negotiating."[00:03:18] "If the rep doesn't have a solid alternative, it gives the power back to procurement."[00:08:48] "You have to have done such a good cost justification that they feel like they're losing every day that goes by."[00:10:27] "Champions are the great equalizer in a negotiation process."[00:13:52] "We have to prep them because it is going to happen, and we have to role play and ask specifically, what are you going to say when they ask this question."Listen to the full episode with Tim Caito through this link:https://revenue-builders.simplecast.com/episodes/the-secrets-of-sales-negotiation-with-tim-caitoCheck out John McMahon’s book here:Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/1K7DDC4Check out Force Management’s Ascender platform here: https://my.ascender.co/Ascender/ Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale.  Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

Carl Cross has an established career transforming and leading superior teams resulting in high performance and vibrant revenue growth. Carl has advanced through multiple leadership roles and has consistently been asked to lead key projects that drive corporate strategy. Currently, Carl is the Chief Revenue Officer of Alkami, a SaaS based digital banking platform. He started his career at Peoplesoft where he climbed into the sales leadership ranks before moving to SAP. After SAP he moved to BMC where he was responsible for the company's global outsourcing business and after a two year stint with HP, Carl headed up worldwide sales at AppSense and helped lead the company through its acquisition by ThomaBravo. He then held the position of Executive Vice President of Worldwide Sales at Workfront and remained in that role leading the go to market integration after the acquisition by Adobe.In this episode of the Revenue Builders Podcast, Carl Cross, the Chief Revenue Officer at Alkami, shares his insights on sales leadership and scaling a sales organization. He emphasizes the importance of effective leadership, creating a strong sales culture, and aligning sales and marketing efforts. Carl also highlights the significance of understanding the buyer's journey and conducting thorough discovery in the sales process. When it comes to scaling a sales force, Carl discusses the need for a sales capacity plan and the importance of staying ahead in recruiting to avoid falling behind in sales goals.Tune in to this conversation with John McMahon and John Kaplan on the Revenue Builders podcast.HERE ARE SOME KEY SECTIONS TO CHECK OUT[00:05:20] Lesson learned as a first line manager: it's not about you[00:09:59] Challenges of transitioning to a second line manager[00:12:24] Transition from tactical to strategic thinking[00:17:16] Importance of skills and pipeline in sales[00:19:27] Accountability for recruitment and development of reps[00:23:11] Importance of understanding and motivating individual team members[00:27:08] Living by the culture and taking responsibility for it as a leader[00:32:08] Challenges of being a CRO and the need for alignment[00:41:27] Motivation and individual differences in sales[00:51:14] Lessons on scaling a sales forceADDITIONAL RESOURCESLearn more about Carl Cross and about their company:https://www.linkedin.com/in/crosscarl/https://www.linkedin.com/company/alkamitech/Download our Sales Transformation Guide for Leaders:https://forc.mx/3sdtEZJHIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:52:48] "But for me, scaling is really it's, you know, do you have a sales capacity plan? Right? And I'm not talking about like we're getting ready to come into a new year. We already know the sales capacity plan. We know what we're hiring to, but the most effective CROs, most every SAS company is going to have a 3, 4, 5 year plan, right?"[00:53:28] "But have the plan higher to it, hold the leadership accountable to it and that's how I think about scaling it. There's a lot of things in it, but your sales capacity plan and your average productivity per head is probably the biggest driver in that well." Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale.  Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

If you’re a leader and you want your revenue teams to really own their number, treat their territory or accounts as their own franchise, have them join Force Management's webinar THIS FRIDAY with John Kaplan. In the "Plan to Make the Plan", John Kaplan will cover:Having the right mindset to attack your territory or set of accountsWays to more effectively enter into Account PlanningBest practices on building an Operating Rhythm that works for youAs you know, John is a master at providing salespeople with actionable tips they can use to execute. We’d love to have some Revenue Builders listeners there. Sign up here: https://forc.mx/4aR4OQS Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale.  Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

In this curated episode of the Revenue Builders Podcast, we engage in a riveting conversation with Alan Chhabra, the Executive Vice President of Worldwide Partners at MongoDB. Alan delves into the intricacies of establishing, nurturing, and enhancing partnerships within the realm of sales and channel organizations. Alan shares insights into prioritizing partnerships, aligning them with customer needs, enhancing sales productivity, and turbocharging relationships with various types of partners.KEY TAKEAWAYS[00:01:12] Importance of partnering strategy for selling software at scale.[00:02:15] Assessing partnerships through a customer-centric lens: relevance, ecosystem enhancement, and simplifying procurement.[00:03:55] Focusing on crucial partners: cloud providers, system integrators, ISVs, and resellers.[00:08:49] Convincing partners by highlighting the additional value MongoDB brings to drive their sales.[00:10:40] Establishing trust and momentum through successful mutual deals, leading to a long-term relationship.[00:11:57] Factors that can potentially disrupt partnerships: compensation model changes, competitive products, lack of focus, or overextension.[00:13:44] Turbocharging partnerships with system integrators by offering certification programs aligned with high-margin, strategic projects like cloud migration.HIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:01:33] "You really need people around the product set to be able to sell at scale."[00:05:37] "It was a nice agreement at the top, but there's no underlying relationship at let's call it the street level."[00:09:44] "That's when trust is established, and then you can build and maintain a long-term relationship."[00:11:06] "Partnerships at the central level, they can be struck quickly, but they also can be destroyed quickly."[00:14:26] "There's ways that companies like MongoDB can get big with SIs if we help them with the cloud migration journey."Listen to the full episode with Alan Chhabra through this link:https://revenue-builders.simplecast.com/episodes/the-ideal-partnership-with-alan-chhabraCheck out John McMahon’s book here:Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/1K7DDC4Check out Force Management’s Ascender platform here: https://my.ascender.co/Ascender/ Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale.  Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

Jeremy Burton is the CEO of Observe and a board member of Snowflake. He has a background in product management and marketing, with experience at companies like Oracle, Symantec, and Dell.In this episode of the Revenue Builders Podcast hosted by John McMahon and John Kaplan, Jeremy Burton, CEO of Observe, shares insights from his transition from working at large companies to leading a startup. He emphasizes the importance of introspection and humility, building a culture of open feedback and discussion, and understanding the continuous process of product-market fit. He also discusses the potential of AI to transform industries and increase productivity, while acknowledging its limitations.Tune in to this conversation with John McMahon and John Kaplan on the Revenue Builders podcast.HERE ARE SOME KEY SECTIONS TO CHECK OUT[00:09:01] Importance of optimism and comfort with the unknown in a startup[00:10:53] Importance of being prepared to make mistakes and learn[00:13:11] Pride is detrimental, need to readjust and reassess decisions[00:19:42] Look for a startup that could become a big company[00:21:50] Importance of humility and listening to customer feedback[00:26:01] Building for larger enterprises can have a stronger value proposition[00:29:30] Focusing on solving customer problems rather than cool features[00:40:31] Skill sets of sellers and understanding users and enterprise[00:47:38] Generative AI can automate troubleshooting tasks and improve efficiency[01:00:00] Marketing's role in making sales successfulADDITIONAL RESOURCESLearn more about Jeremy Burton and about their company:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jburton0/https://www.linkedin.com/company/observe-inc/Download our Sales Transformation Guide for Leaders:https://forc.mx/3sdtEZJHIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:54:33] "And I think all of those kinds of industries where a domain expert is required to explain, they're sort of the gatekeeper and you've got to pay them a lot of money. I think that interface is changing. It's going to be blown wide open. And so, if your value is in doing this translation from complicated domain specific language to layman's, you find somewhere else to add value because that's not going to be it."[00:55:52] "But the number of people that can then interact with that is going to be an order of magnitude greater. And so you better make sure your system can scale because more people are probably going to engage. There's a whole bunch of sort of caveats that I think almost every software company is going to have to think through, which is why, if you don't have someone really important in your company working on this, then you're making a mistake." Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale.  Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

In this curated episode of the Revenue Builders Podcast, we engage in an insightful conversation with Hollie Castro, a seasoned Chief People Officer and business transformation leader. Hollie delves into the evolving landscape of loyalty in the workforce, dissecting changing career expectations, motivations behind career transitions, and the shifting definitions of loyalty across different life stages. Holly shares invaluable insights on redefining loyalty in the modern workplace, emphasizing the importance of mindset shifts and transparent conversations between leaders and their teams.KEY TAKEAWAYS[00:00:52] Traditional career longevity is evolving; individuals are more inclined to pursue diverse career paths, influenced by factors like peer comparison, financial gains, and personal growth.[00:01:44] Different life stages dictate varied motivations for career changes. Social media plays a pivotal role in shaping individuals' perceptions of success.[00:03:01] Loyalty remains a fundamental concept, but the expression and expectations surrounding loyalty have transformed over time. Leaders must adapt to the changing dynamics of employee loyalty.[00:04:49] A shift in mindset is crucial. Loyalty doesn't necessarily equate to lifelong commitment; it involves honest conversations and continuous re-recruitment efforts.[00:06:28] How employees exit a company is as vital as their contributions while working there. Leaving transparently and with a positive plan benefits both the departing individual and the organization.[00:08:25] The world is smaller than perceived; leaving a positive legacy matters, as personal reputations endure through professional connections and references.HIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:01:18] "Social media is a powerful force. So when they perceive their peer group to be, you know, making more money or having a bigger title, that has a huge influence on how they think about themselves."[00:04:49] "Loyalty means something different... It's more about having an honest conversation. Somebody's going to leave. Who's going to leave? What do we need to do to re-recruit them?"[00:06:54] "How you leave is more important than actually everything you did because it's the only thing people will remember about you."[00:07:42] "At some point, you're going to quit a job. And when you do that, how you do it... are you going to be a pro or are you going to be a loser?"Listen to the full episode with Hollie Castro through this link:https://revenue-builders.simplecast.com/episodes/hiring-in-the-post-covid-19-era-with-hollie-castroCheck out John McMahon’s book here:Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/1K7DDC4Check out Force Management’s Ascender platform here: https://my.ascender.co/Ascender/ Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale.  Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

Doug May is the Chief of Staff to the CRO at Datadog. He has extensive experience in sales leadership and has a deep understanding of driving business value for customers.In this episode of the Revenue Builders Podcast hosted by John McMahon and John Kaplan, Doug emphasizes the importance of quantifying value in the sales process. By aligning solutions with customer goals and strategies, sellers can show real business impact. Discovery is crucial for understanding customer challenges, and building trust is essential for successful sales engagements. Presenting the results of a business value assessment in a simple and compelling way is key to gaining customer buy-in.Tune in to this conversation with John McMahon and John Kaplan on the Revenue Builders podcast.HERE ARE SOME KEY SECTIONS TO CHECK OUT[00:10:16] Distinguishing oneself as a salesperson through business value.[00:11:57] Importance of how you sell and what you sell.[00:18:07] Earning the right to discuss personal pressure.[00:20:21] Using the value pyramid framework to align solutions.[00:28:30] Collecting metrics and understanding the problem worth solving.[00:31:36] Building trust through understanding and consultative approach.[00:34:51] Story about differentiating through understanding customer challenges and providing a business case.[00:38:59] Creating a customer version of the sales process to set expectations.[00:45:24] Importance of message framework and story arc in sales.[00:53:15] Lifecycle of a BVA and its ongoing measurement of value.ADDITIONAL RESOURCESLearn more about Doug May and about their company:https://www.linkedin.com/in/dougmay/https://www.linkedin.com/company/datadog/Download our Sales Transformation Guide for Leaders:https://forc.mx/3sdtEZJHIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:55:00] "What metrics are we going to help them measure? And when you can integrate this pre-sale value experience into the post-sale value experience. Value is the red thread from the very beginning, from my first call to the customer through the closing of a deal, onboarding, and customer expansion. It's something that's just there all the time."[00:56:18] "In the best scenarios, the champion will get on the phone, invite us to the call with procurement, and explain a couple of critical points."[01:00:20] "I've made a slide that highlights that incident, it's the punch in the gut. Now you're the procurement person, you see the people you've met, the incident, the quotes, this real-world incident. You almost become scared, not wanting to be the one that said no to this vendor." Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale.  Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

Join hosts John McMahon and John Kaplan on the Revenue Builders podcast as they delve into the art of storytelling in sales with Maury Rogow, CEO of Rip Media. Discover how storytelling shapes sales strategies, transforms brands, and influences purchasing decisions. Uncover the crucial role storytelling plays in building relationships, captivating audiences, and driving revenue.KEY TAKEAWAYS[00:01:10] The significance of storytelling in sales for both salespeople and executives.[00:01:27] Understanding the customer journey and tailoring stories for various stages.[00:02:07] Making customers the heroes of your stories to address their needs and solutions.[00:03:42] Simplifying complex information into compelling narratives for emotional connection.[00:08:09] Adapting storytelling techniques based on the buyer's position in the purchasing cycle.HIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:00:49] "Your brand will thrive or die based on the story you tell."[00:01:47] "The folks that tell great stories, get to the point, and build relationships bring in the 6, 7, even 8-figure deals."[00:06:32] "It's not about you; it's about how you help those on the other side of the table. They need to be the hero."[00:07:13] "If you walk in there to serve, the 'what's in it for me,' they're thinking what's in it for me to be sitting here with you."Listen to the full episode with Maury Rogow through this link:https://revenue-builders.simplecast.com/episodes/make-your-customer-the-hero-with-maury-rogowCheck out John McMahon’s book here:Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/1K7DDC4Check out Force Management’s Ascender platform here: https://my.ascender.co/Ascender/ Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale.  Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

John McMahon and John Kaplan as they express gratitude to their dedicated audience while reflecting on the impactful moments of 2023. In this festive episode, the duo discusses the diverse array of esteemed guests, key takeaways, and listener engagement that shaped the Revenue Builders Podcast. From top-tier executives to specific sales strategies, the hosts invite feedback and suggestions for future episodes. They also share exciting plans for 2024 and offer a heartfelt holiday message to their listenersCheck out John McMahon’s book here:Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/1K7DDC4Check out Force Management’s Ascender platform here: https://my.ascender.co/Ascender/ Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale.  Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

In this episode of The Revenue Builders Podcast hosted by John McMahon and John Kaplan, they engage in a dynamic discussion with Mark Thurmond, COO of Tenable, a veteran revenue builder. Mark shares insights on recruiting top talent using the concept of the "three H's" – head, heart, and hard work – emphasizing the significance of character attributes in addition to skills. The conversation delves into the crucial role of effective enablement in empowering sales teams and the necessity of removing friction within an organization to boost productivity.KEY TAKEAWAYS[00:01:55] The Three H's of Recruitment: Mark simplifies recruitment by focusing on intellect (head), passion (heart), and work ethic (hard work) as essential attributes.[00:04:15] The Vitality of Enablement: Enablement is a cornerstone for success, ensuring teams are not only technically competent but also equipped with essential skills.[00:08:05] Frictionless Operations: Identifying and eliminating obstacles within an organization significantly enhances the productivity and effectiveness of the sales force.HIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:01:55] "I look for the head, which is obviously the intellect, the intelligence... the heart, the passion, the enthusiasm... and the last one is the hard work."[00:04:15] "Enablement is maybe the most important function a company has... to train, enable, and ensure the most competent salespeople."[00:08:05] M "Removing friction is about simplifying and removing obstacles for your team... it's on you to make sure there's no cholesterol building up in the organization."Listen to the full episode with Mark Thurmond through this link:https://revenue-builders.simplecast.com/episodes/hard-work-grit-and-removing-friction-for-your-teamsCheck out John McMahon’s book here:Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/1K7DDC4Check out Force Management’s Ascender platform here: https://my.ascender.co/Ascender/ Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale.  Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

In this episode of the Revenue Builders Podcast hosted by John McMahon and John Kaplan, our special guest, Anne Gary, the Managing Director at Force Management, is back again to discuss the intricacies of decision criteria while mastering the role of champions in sales success. Delving into the depths of sales strategy, they explore defining decision criteria, aligning it with customer needs, and differentiating products effectively. John McMahon, John Kaplan, and Anne Gary navigate through the risks of scope creep in Proof of Value (POV) or Proof of Concept (POC) stages, emphasizing the importance of formalizing criteria and engaging stakeholders. Discover the critical role of champions in aligning criteria with business outcomes, understanding customer pain points, shaping compelling points of view, and leveraging their influence to drive sales success. This insightful discussion equips sales teams with actionable strategies and anecdotes to secure customer engagement and ace the sales process.Tune in to this conversation with John McMahon and John Kaplan on the Revenue Builders podcast.HERE ARE SOME KEY SECTIONS TO CHECK OUT[00:03:12] Decision criteria are specific requirements and quantifiable metrics used by customers to evaluate potential solutions.[00:04:21] Aligning product differentiators with decision criteria enhances the chance of winning the validation event.[00:06:38] Differentiation strategies include unique, valuable, and comparative differentiators, but vigilance is needed as these can become targets for competition.[00:12:39] Scope creep in decision criteria introduces more risk, necessitating continuous monitoring and alignment with evolving customer needs.[00:19:06] The process of defining decision criteria begins in the discovery stage, involves scoping and champion involvement, and should be finalized with the economic buyer's approval.[00:22:28] Challenges arise when criteria change, warranting a deeper understanding of who influenced the change and why.[00:23:09] Champions need to be prepared for objections in advance to increase the chances of success in complex sales cycles.[00:26:06] Keeping champions prepared ensures successful meetings and sustains their support for the sales process.[00:27:02] Understanding and quantifying pain points during discovery and scoping stages are vital for success.[00:32:50] Summarizing and understanding customer problems helps in overcoming seller deficit disorder.[00:33:27] Constructing a pain matrix aids in prioritizing and solving identified pain points promptly.[00:37:41] Adapting to changing criteria by utilizing pain matrices enhances adaptability and customer understanding.[00:39:36] Champions play a key role in influencing stakeholders and formalizing decision criteria.[00:43:04] Champions' timely feedback is crucial for addressing challenges and managing stakeholder expectations.ADDITIONAL RESOURCESLearn more about Anne Gary: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-gary-a054aa96/Download our Sales Transformation Guide for Leaders: https://forc.mx/3sdtEZJHIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:03:00] “I define the decision criteria as a specific set of requirements, standards, and real importantly, the quantifiable metrics that the customer uses to evaluate the potential solutions. And making a purchase decision with that definition, though, the importance of the decision criteria is winning in the proof of value lies in the ability of the salesperson to align to the customer's needs and expectations, you know, with their solution. So, with that, by helping to create the decision criteria with the customer, you know, salespeople can demonstrate the value and relevance of their product and increase the likelihood of a successful POV. And ultimately, you know, they're really going to close the deal for higher price points.”[00:27:22] "You really need to show up with a compelling point of view, meaning you've done your homework. You understand the customer and their use cases, you know, knowing their use cases gives you the ability to discuss it with the customer in a confident way. I just can't imagine showing up to a call and not really understanding what they do, what they're about, and you almost understand the patterns of what they're looking for."[00:46:30] "And so if you're listening and you're technically inclined, decision criteria is a great place for you to really help the sales team. What I used to, I love doing when I'd go on a forecast, I'd have the technical people on the forecast as well. I'd ask what the decision criteria is, and then I wouldn't ask the seller. I would ask the, the technical person, I would say, how do you feel about that? Number 1, is that the correct decision criteria? Number 2, can we win with that criteria?" Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This sh

In this episode of The Revenue Builders Podcast hosted by John McMahon and John Kaplan they engage in a captivating conversation with Cedric Pech, the Chief Revenue Officer at MongoDB. Cedric shares insightful experiences and lessons learned in transitioning from a VP role to a CRO position, focusing on the challenges of managing global teams, fostering purpose-driven leadership, and creating a unified vision that motivates teams beyond just financial incentives. The discussion delves into the significance of purpose in motivating teams, navigating the complexities of global leadership, and distinguishing between mercenaries and patriots in an organization.KEY TAKEAWAYS[00:00:59] Transitioning from VP to CRO: Managing global teams brings a shift in scale, complexity, and the need for a different leadership approach.[00:04:26] Purposeful Leadership: Articulating a collective vision and values fosters team alignment and motivation, especially during challenging times like the COVID-19 pandemic.[00:08:15] Building a Vision: Leaders need to emphasize a compelling, meaningful vision that transcends mere financial gains to inspire loyalty and dedication in their teams.[00:12:26] Patriots vs. Mercenaries: Creating a culture of patriots, driven by a shared vision and purpose, sustains resilience in tough times compared to organizations reliant solely on financial incentives.HIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:04:26] "The moment you start asking [why am I doing what I'm doing], then you start needing to dig into yourself and do some introspection to come up with answers."[00:06:16] "If you don't go beyond execution and don't explain to your people why they need to excel, they start feeling it's a grinding organization, not very inspiring."[00:12:26] "Great leaders build patriots versus mercenaries. Tough times reveal the difference in cultures, where patriots stay dedicated to the 'why' amidst challenges."Listen to the full episode with Cedric Pech through this link:https://revenue-builders.simplecast.com/episodes/episode-20-cedric-pechsuccess-is-a-marathon-with-cedric-pechCheck out John McMahon’s book here:Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/1K7DDC4Check out Force Management’s Ascender platform here: https://my.ascender.co/Ascender/ Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale.  Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

JP Bolen is the VP of Global Sales at Rubrik. He has a wealth of experience in sales and sales leadership, having worked at various companies such as Wallace Computer, PTC, Primo, Blade Logic, BMC Software, Dynamic Ops, VMware, ClearSlide, MongoDB, and ThoughtSpot.In this episode, JP emphasizes the importance of sales enablement and the three types of training: onboarding, ongoing, and field training. He shares his experience in implementing a comprehensive onboarding program at Rubrik, which includes interactive classes and real-life scenarios to help new hires become conversationally fluent in the problems Rubrik solves. JP also explains the concept of "winning the stage" in the sales process and how Rubrik measures conversion rates between different stages to identify areas for improvement. The conversation also touches on the significance of having a compelling point of view (POV) when engaging with customers and the role of continuous learning in sales success.Tune in to this conversation with John McMahon and John Kaplan on the Revenue Builders podcast.HERE ARE SOME KEY SECTIONS TO CHECK OUT[00:08:43] JP's initial perception of enablement and his transition into the role[00:09:50] Introduction to Rubrik's onboarding training challenges[00:13:00] A deconstructed approach to onboarding was implemented for better learning.[00:15:59] Onboarding is structured into three tracks for scalability and continuous learning.[00:18:04] The first track focuses on value-based conversations and messaging.[00:19:41] Importance of leaders following up and providing support[00:25:12] Empathy, listening, questioning, and curiosity in discovery[00:28:30] "Change the Game" initiative to drive mindset shift[00:37:39] Stage 1: Identifying pain, stakeholders, quantifying pain, developing champions[00:39:18] Stage 2: Creating a plan, technical validation, financial conversation[00:40:23] Importance of stage 1 and finding the real champion[00:43:12] Focus on understanding how deals got to their current stage[00:44:08] Importance of quantifying pain and understanding why they have to buy[00:45:17] Difficulty in conversion between stage 1 and 2[00:46:15] Implementing friction and champion go/no-go in stage 1 and 2[00:48:00] The importance of answering the 4 essential questions for success[00:49:17] Example of adding information to the framework[00:51:11] Initial challenges faced and the need for a common framework[00:53:55] Training reps to go into accounts with a compelling point of viewADDITIONAL RESOURCESLearn more about JP Bolen:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jpbolen/Download our Sales Transformation Guide for Leaders: https://forc.mx/3sdtEZJHIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:05:11] “The single most important metric inside a company is sales productivity. You have quota, a product, and how well you perform against the quota. The variables and leverage points are obviously who you hire because that's going to dictate a lot. But once you get them in, it's how quickly they can actually understand the customer's problems, the things that customers are going through, the pains they have, and how well you differently address those problems and become productive with the skills and execution.”[00:57:10] “I remember you and I spoke a lot before I took this role. I talked to Grant Wilson a lot. At one point, I was talking to Grant about the things that we were doing. I was explaining to save the data. I was explaining these different pieces. And he said, ‘You're not enabling, like you're not just enabling, you're transforming, you're doing sales transformation inside of the company.’” Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale.  Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

In this episode of The Revenue Builders Podcast, hosts John McMahon and John Kaplan dive deep into the critical role of the CFO in sales deals, especially in uncertain times. Michael Cremen joined us when he was the CSO of Elastic. The discussion revolves around the importance of understanding and addressing the CFO factor, failing fast, and asking the hard questions. The episode provides valuable insights for sales professionals on navigating financial implications, engaging champions effectively, and using strategic language to secure deals.KEY TAKEAWAYS[00:00:36] Competing Beyond Competitors: Salespeople must recognize they're not just competing against direct competitors but against all the other potential investments the CFO could make.[00:01:44] Stacking Up Against Priorities: The real competition lies in how your cost justification compares to all the other initiatives the CFO is juggling.[00:03:24] The Timing Dilemma: Discussion on whether to go early and seek advice or go late and face critique from CFOs. Emphasis on the importance of early engagement and seeking guidance before formal proposals.[00:05:08] Champion Dynamics: The significance of going with a champion and the potential pitfalls of leaving them out of crucial conversations with CFOs.[00:07:36] Strategic Language: The hosts and Michael Kremen discuss the importance of using precise language that conveys the value proposition and justifies the presence of the sales team at the CFO level.[00:09:28] Embracing Paranoia: Encouragement for sales teams to be paranoid and vigilant, especially when dealing with high-stakes deals and engaging CFOs.HIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:08:18] "The best sales teams on the planet are paranoid, like viciously paranoid. If you think it's going to sail through and everything's fine, be careful, be paranoid."[00:10:09] "People rarely argue with their own conclusions. When you ask them to walk you through a scenario and they realize that they've just answered the question, it just makes it a lot easier."[00:11:38] "It needs to be in their language, in their parameters. If you're forcing your goals, the way you read things, the way you're measured onto your customers, they don't understand it."Listen to the full episode with Michael Cremen through this link:https://revenue-builders.simplecast.com/episodes/connecting-to-value-with-michael-cremenCheck out John McMahon’s book here:Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/1K7DDC4Check out Force Management’s Ascender platform here: https://my.ascender.co/Ascender/ Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale.  Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

Harsha Jalihal is the Chief People Officer at MongoDB. She has a background in HR and has worked in various leadership roles at companies like Cognizant and Unilever.In this episode, Harsha emphasizes the importance of balancing the needs of the business with the needs of the employees. She discusses the role of different departments in driving business outcomes and highlights the significance of understanding human behavior and motivations. Harsha also emphasizes the role of trust in building strong relationships and the importance of authenticity and transparency in leadership. She shares insights on managing conflicts, setting clear expectations, and addressing stress and burnout, particularly among salespeople.Tune in to this conversation with John McMahon and John Kaplan on the Revenue Builders podcast.HERE ARE SOME KEY SECTIONS TO CHECK OUT[00:03:01] Balancing the needs of the business and employees[00:08:55] Understanding individual employee motivations[00:12:59] Embracing reality and being direct leads to success[00:15:48] The power of being honest and authentic as a leader[00:18:06] Trusting gut instincts and giving people space and time[00:22:23] Importance of giving feedback to employees about performance issues[00:29:11] Enjoyment of work environment and culture impacts employee retention[00:39:20] Trust is built through credibility, reliability, and selflessness[00:47:38] Handling conflicting motivations and emphasizing the bigger objective[00:55:00] Employee motivations in a changing economyADDITIONAL RESOURCESLearn more about Harsha Jalihal:https://www.linkedin.com/in/harshajalihal/Download our Sales Transformation Guide for Leaders: https://forc.mx/3sdtEZJHIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:51:59] "It's how their words land. The impact they're having is what causes the problem. Sometimes you have to help them see how they are showing up, how the other person is perceiving it. Because when you're in the moment, you don't see it, but a 3rd person watching this interaction between 2 people can see it."[00:57:28] "I think employees are starting to look for slightly different things. Now, even in the technology industry, you talk to our recruiters. They'll tell you simple things like they want just what they just want stability because they've seen so much upheaval up and down. They want to work for a company that is still growing as opposed to a company that's laying people off." Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale.  Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

In this episode of The Revenue Builders Podcast, join hosts John McMahon and John Kaplan as they explore the multifaceted world of sales champions with veteran sales leader and author Richard Rivera. Discover the nuances of champion dynamics, including the often-overlooked aspect of bias for action. Rivera breaks down the four champion tendencies—Complacent, Teaser, Protector, and Transformer—revealing strategies to navigate each and ensure successful deals.KEY TAKEAWAYS[00:01:02] Understanding the Bias for Action: Richard Rivera introduces the concept of bias for action in champions, emphasizing its crucial role in sales success.[00:02:29] The Defining Characteristics of a Champion: The importance of champions not just having power and influence but actively taking action on behalf of the salesperson.[00:03:36] Dimensions of Champion Tendencies: Rivera introduces a framework with two dimensions—appreciation for innovation and bias for action—to categorize champions into four tendencies.[00:05:59] The Protector Tendency: Exploring champions who take action but lean towards risk-averse decisions, and how to navigate objections from such individuals.[00:06:38] The Transformer: Rivera's favorite tendency, champions who prioritize innovation and have a bias for action, but with potential pitfalls. Strategies for dealing with Transformers in the sales process.[00:08:44] Selling in a Collective Yes Environment: Acknowledging the shift towards collective decision-making and the challenge of navigating the intricacies of multiple decision-makers and influencers.[00:11:19] Becoming the Protector: When dealing with Transformers, the importance of assuming a protector role—anticipating risks and ensuring a smooth decision-making process.[00:12:48] Early Challenges with Transformers: Highlighting the risk of Transformers going too early to the economic buyer and losing the deal due to lack of preparation.[00:14:37] What We Heard Concept: Introducing a mature approach to address potential conflicts with Transformers by referring back to shared understandings and perspectives.HIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:03:16] "If they're not taking action, they are not being a champion for us."[00:06:18] "Recognize who you have and then fill their gaps."[00:09:10] "If you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with."[00:13:46] "What we heard is a mature way to address potential conflicts."Here are the links to our full episodes with Richard Rivera: Part 1: https://revenue-builders.simplecast.com/episodes/developing-buyer-champions-with-richard-rivera-part-1Part 2: https://revenue-builders.simplecast.com/episodes/developing-elite-sales-habits-with-richard-rivera-part-2Check out Richard Rivera’s book here: https://www.amazon.com/CHAMPION-SELL-L-I-T-Building-Champions/dp/B0BV415V9M/ref=sr_1_1Check out John McMahon’s book here:Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/1K7DDC4Check out Force Management’s Ascender platform here: https://my.ascender.co/Ascender/ Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale.  Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

In this episode of The Revenue Builders Podcast hosted by John McMahon and John Kaplan, Kelly Connery delved into the nuances of transitioning into leadership roles, specifically focusing on the Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) position. Kelly shares invaluable insights from his extensive experience in various leadership positions, offering crucial advice on leadership, team alignment, and global perspectives crucial for success in the CRO role.KEY TAKEAWAYS[00:01:10] Transitioning to Leadership: Moving from a singular contributor to a manager requires a shift from a selfish mindset to a selfless one, focusing on team success over individual achievements.[00:02:33] Embracing Coaching: Finding fulfillment in guiding and coaching the team often marks a natural progression for effective leadership.[00:03:51] Emphasis on Fundamentals: Emotional connection to the fundamentals is a key indicator of an individual's potential to excel as a coach or leader.[00:04:30] Realities of the CRO Role: Moving into a CRO position involves seeking alignment with the board, understanding growth objectives, leveraging technology, and comprehending global perspectives.[00:07:33] Decision-Making and Managing Influences: Handling situations where multiple stakeholders offer conflicting advice and ultimately making decisions as a CRO.HIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:01:28] "It's not about certain individuals. It's all about the team."[00:03:51] "If they're emotionally connected to fundamentals, they're typically going to be a really good coach."[00:05:59] "Look for alignment. Challenges will come, but without alignment, it's going to be difficult."[00:07:33] "You have to make a decision. Get all these people whispering in your ear, and the buck stops with you."Listen to the full episode with Kelly Connery through this link:https://revenue-builders.simplecast.com/episodes/the-art-of-selfless-leadership-with-kelly-conneryCheck out John McMahon’s book here:Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/1K7DDC4Check out Force Management’s Ascender platform here: https://my.ascender.co/Ascender/ Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale.  Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

Join hosts John McMahon and John Kaplan in a profound exploration of Product-Led Growth (PLG) and its seamless integration with traditional sales strategies. Guest expert Alex Bilmes, CEO of Endgame, shares practical insights and strategies for revenue leaders aiming to leverage product data to supercharge their sales efforts. Discover how PLG, far from being a threat to sales, serves as a force multiplier when intelligently integrated. Gain valuable perspectives on aligning product signals with conversion and expansion, making sales teams more efficient, and navigating the evolving landscape of modern go-to-market strategies.Tune in and learn more in this episode of the Revenue Builders podcast.HERE ARE SOME KEY SECTIONS TO CHECK OUT[00:04:10] Understanding PLG Spectrum[00:05:54] Product Suitability for PLG[00:09:38] PLG Implementation Questions[00:13:28] Sales Integration with PLG[00:22:32] Ownership of PLG[00:35:11] Implementing PLG[00:43:42] Endgame's Role[00:46:39] Implementation Process[00:49:06] Standard Product Signals[00:55:30] Navigating Uncertain EconomiesADDITIONAL RESOURCESLearn more about Alex Bilmes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bilmes/Download our Sales Transformation Guide for Leaders: https://forc.mx/3sdtEZJHIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:02:24] "The definition of PLG is effectively that the product is the primary driver of your go-to-market."[00:06:19] "Calendly is a prototypical, very easy-to-get-started-with PLG example. The product would be so great that people could just come in and use it."[00:10:59] "We see a huge opportunity for a PLG company who's done some amount of that work already. How do you better tie in the sales efforts to accelerate the sales process using a lot of that product data?"[00:24:20] "In a PLG motion, everybody's interfacing on the same product data. So that entire team is operating against that shared source of truth, which makes it more multi-threaded, maybe a little bit more complex, but also easier for the customer to understand." Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale.  Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

In this episode of The Revenue Builders Podcast hosted by John McMahon and John Kaplan, Chris Reising, a five-time Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) with extensive experience in scaling sales at early-stage tech companies, shares invaluable insights into the challenges and strategies involved in scaling sales functions for startups. From finding product-market fit to hiring the right sales reps and understanding the importance of pain points, this conversation provides a comprehensive guide for entrepreneurs looking to grow their businesses.KEY TAKEAWAYS[00:01:17] In the early stages of a startup, you must wear multiple hats, including being a product manager and a sales professional. Understanding the ICP and gathering customer insights are crucial.[00:02:31] The early days of a startup involve learning every day, attending sales meetings, understanding objections, and identifying the value your technology brings. Effective communication with the product team is key.[00:04:05] Investor relations play a significant role. Early-stage investors look for different data points, and their feedback can be invaluable in understanding market signals.[00:06:11] The importance of prioritizing technology components based on customer pain points and the potential to generate immediate revenue.[00:07:44] Recognizing a recurring pattern in sales discussions where customers react positively to specific functionalities is a sign of repeatability and scalability.[00:09:05] Founders who want to remain deeply involved in the sales process need guidance on when to step back. It's a common challenge in early-stage startups.[00:12:42] Breaking down a grand vision into bite-sized chunks of value that address specific business problems is crucial for achieving repeatability and market success.[00:13:30] Expanding the vision is essential but keeping the framework simple enough for the market and sales team to understand and execute is key to early-stage success.[00:13:50] The importance of focusing sales efforts on the most productive areas and avoiding the mistake of spreading sales teams too thin.HIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:06:56] "When you start to recognize a recurring pattern...you start to say, 'Now I have some sense of repeatability,' and that's really important."[00:10:08] "There's a huge difference between a first and second-time founder...you need to help them understand that stepping away is an important part of growing the business."[00:13:01] "Recognize you've got to break that big vision down into bite-sized chunks that can be digested by your go-to-market team and by the market, by customers."[00:13:30] "Where are we going to place our salespeople? Where are they going to be the most productive? That's really a key point."Listen to the full episode with Chris Reisig in this link:https://revenue-builders.simplecast.com/episodes/building-a-scalable-culture-with-chris-reisigCheck out John McMahon’s book here:Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/1K7DDC4Check out Force Management’s Ascender platform here: https://my.ascender.co/Ascender/ Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale.  Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

Devdutt Yellurkar is a managing partner at CRV and has a wealth of experience as a sales VP, CEO, and venture capitalist. He has worked with several successful startups and has a deep understanding of the sales process and building successful companies. Devdutt is also a co-founder of the VC fund named Propeller, which focuses on investing in companies that address climate change.In this conversation with John McMahon, Devdutt shares his insights on how his experience in sales has helped him as a CEO and venture capitalist. He discusses the importance of sales in building a company and the role of a CEO in selling the company's vision. He talks about making hiring mistakes and how sales has changed with the speed of new technologies and new sales models. Devdutt emphasizes the need for empathy and non-judgmental support when working with founders and the importance of persistence in achieving success. Finally, he discusses the impact of climate change and how venture capital can be a powerful tool in addressing this global issue.HERE ARE SOME KEY SECTIONS TO CHECK OUT[00:08:10] The importance of selling as a CEO[00:11:11] Selling enterprise software and the importance of storytelling[00:11:53] Jack Welch admitted to making hiring mistakes as a CEO.[00:14:48] Forecasting in sales helped in forecasting as a CEO.[00:16:49] Pipeline coverage is key to mitigating deal slippage.[00:19:03] Tough experiences provide valuable lessons for growth.[00:27:01] Implementation of sales methodology and importance of qualification.[00:30:51] Importance of being a grandparent, not a parent, as a board member.[00:44:04] The power of persistence in achieving success.[01:04:48] Propeller VC fund was started to address climate change.ADDITIONAL RESOURCESLearn more about Devdutt Yellurkar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devduttyellurkar/Download our Sales Transformation Guide for Leaders: https://forc.mx/3sdtEZJHIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:54:15] "Because you want your resource, your best resources are actually focused on taking a pro license and moving it to a strategic relationship, because that's when emotional intelligence is needed."[01:04:23] "You can't just be a sales guy because, you know, as we discussed earlier, a lot of this is around product market fit. And that is a lot through kind of understanding the market, understanding your customer. Understanding technology." Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale.  Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

In this episode of The Revenue Builders Podcast hosted by John McMahon and John Kaplan, Anne Gary, Managing Director at Force Management, dive into the crucial topic of identifying and understanding champions in the sales process. They explore the differences between business champions and technical champions, the significance of the power chart, and the role of coaches. Discover how to distinguish between these key players, the indicators to look for when meeting potential champions, and the importance of aligning with individuals who have both authority and influence within an organization.KEY TAKEAWAYS[00:01:21] Start with an organization chart to understand the hierarchy, reporting structure, and positional authority within an organization.[00:02:33] Identify not only positional authority but also influence within the organization, as influence plays a crucial role in decision-making.[00:03:44] Just because someone holds a position in the organization doesn't guarantee their influence in the sales process, especially with the economic buyer.[00:04:30] Look for change agents on the "power chart" who have a track record of making a positive impact on the organization.[00:06:02] Influence and authority are independent of hierarchy; influential champions can be found at various organizational levels.[00:07:23] Business champions focus on articulating positive business outcomes, while technical champions possess deep domain expertise.[00:10:10] Champions provide access to the economic buyer's power, which is essential for controlling the decision process.[00:12:26] Coaches offer valuable insights and guidance but may lack the authority and influence to access the economic buyer.[00:13:40] Continuously test conversations to identify whether you're developing a technical champion or a champion with the necessary business acumen.[00:15:11] Business champions address substantial business problems "above the noise" and speak in terms of business outcomes.HIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:03:44] "Just because somebody has positional authority in a company, we can't automatically conclude that they have power in the organization over a potential decision to buy our software."[00:04:30] "Start by looking for change agents on the 'power chart,' individuals who have made a positive impact on the organization in the past."[00:07:23] "Business champions focus on articulating positive business outcomes, while technical champions possess deep domain expertise."[00:10:10] "You really know you're in control when you have a champion that's selling on your behalf, helping you control the decision criteria in terms of influence."[00:15:11] "Business champions address substantial business problems 'above the noise' and speak in terms of business outcomes."Listen to the full episode with Anne Gary in this link:https://revenue-builders.simplecast.com/episodes/finding-your-champion-with-anne-garyListen to the episode we did with Anne Gary on Economic Buyers here: https://revenue-builders.simplecast.com/episodes/getting-to-the-economic-buyer-with-anne-garyCheck out John McMahon’s book here:Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/1K7DDC4Check out Force Management’s Ascender Platform: https://my.ascender.co/Ascender/ Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale.  Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

Paul Ohls is the Chief Revenue Officer at Sprinklr. He has had a successful career in sales leadership, working at companies like Aerotech, Ariba, NuScale, Zillent, Lattice Engines, Medallia, Fuse, tenfold, and now Sprinklr.In this conversation with John McMahon, Paul shares his insights on sales leadership and the importance of hiring the right people. He emphasizes the need for intelligent, driven, and coachable individuals who can ask insightful questions and think critically. Paul also discusses the challenges of forecasting and the importance of focusing on the fundamentals. He highlights the value of understanding the customer's pain points and aligning the solution with their objectives. Additionally, Paul emphasizes the need for a strong pipeline and the importance of conversion rates in driving sales success.HERE ARE SOME KEY SECTIONS TO CHECK OUT[00:02:11] - Overview of Sprinkler and its purpose[00:07:16] - Testing for key characteristics in potential hires[00:24:23] - Focus on testing and optimizing fundamentals in the sales process[00:30:06] - Enabling the team to have a realistic view of their forecast[00:35:45] - Considering the stage of new deals and their likelihood of closing[00:38:56] - Diagnosing reasons for consistently high forecasts.[00:40:12] - Implicated pain and alignment with decision criteria indicate a committable deal.[00:42:07] - Differentiating recruiting process through sales manager pipeline generation.[00:44:35] - Using a simulation exercise to assess candidate skills and fit.[00:54:40] - Key KPIs for decision-making: leading indicators and conversion rates.ADDITIONAL RESOURCESLearn more about Paul Ohls: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulohls/overlay/about-this-profile/Download our Sales Transformation Guide for Leaders: https://forc.mx/3sdtEZJHIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:19:38] "If you've done the right things and you truly are connected to a corporate objective, if you think about the concept of a value pyramid, those handful of things that are at the top of that value pyramid, oftentimes the things that the C level CEO has promised Wall Street, has promised investors. We aspire to go from X to Y. We are making acquisitions. We got to monetize those acquisitions, those acquisitions, these, these big things. If you have started there and your solution is you can make a direct correlation between what you are working with your champion on. To the inability of a company to deliver upon those things at the top of the value pyramid, the CFO meeting should be relative, like a relatively easy thing to do." - Paul Ohls[00:55:34] “What we ask our leaders to do is we call it sales manager or sales leader PG. So we're asking pipeline generation. For those that don't know what that means. We ask sellers and other people in the ecosystem to dedicate time. To go build their pipeline on future deals, block out the world, spend your time doing this set of work in a defined period every single week." - Paul Ohls Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale.  Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

In this episode of The Revenue Builders Podcast hosted by John McMahon and John Kaplan, Snowflake's CRO Chris Degnan delves into the pivotal decisions and strategies that led Snowflake to its incredible growth. Chris shares insights into recognizing key moments and adapting to changing market dynamics. From selling to large enterprises to navigating the shift to the cloud, Chris provides valuable lessons on scaling a successful business.KEY TAKEAWAYS[00:00:53] The pivotal moment when Capital One became a game-changer for Snowflake's growth.[00:02:21] Identifying an ideal customer profile and how it reshaped Snowflake's strategy.[00:03:06] Mechanically expanding the addressable market and pursuing a larger customer base.[00:06:40] Balancing the rapid expansion of the addressable market while maintaining focus and not overextending.[00:08:40] Adapting to changes and reorganizing the sales team to effectively target large enterprises.[00:10:32] The importance of adaptability, coachability, and a willingness to try new strategies.[00:12:40] The significance of understanding your company's culture and capabilities before making major changes.HIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:01:19] "We got something, and it was a lot of work because they wanted us to do more engineering work than we originally planned."[00:04:43] "You can't build a business on just the large enterprise. Getting new logos matters."[00:05:53] "The competition can't help them vacate the data center; Snowflake can."[00:07:28] "You can't sell to the large enterprise the same way you're selling to small and medium businesses."[00:09:24] "What worked before doesn't mean it's going to work forever."[00:10:50] "You gotta figure out, is this game-changing? How do you balance it and understand what you have in the kitchen before bringing something new?"[00:12:40] "Before you decide to remodel, figure out what's in the kitchen first."Listen to the full episode with Chris Degnan in this link:https://revenue-builders.simplecast.com/episodes/scaling-and-growth-with-chris-degnanCheck out John McMahon’s book here:Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/1K7DDC4Check out Force Management’s Ascender platform here: https://my.ascender.co/Ascender/ Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale.  Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

Pawan Deshpande is a serial entrepreneur and angel investor, and a Head of Product & Growth at Linea. He has founded multiple successful companies, including Curata, a content marketing and analytics software company. Pawan has extensive experience in customer success and has implemented a critical care framework to improve customer retention and satisfaction.Pawan shares his experience with customer success and introduces the concept of critical care, a proactive approach to customer support. He discusses the four distinct ways companies handle customer success: reactive support, onboarding, business reviews, and critical care. Pawan emphasizes the importance of a culture of ownership within the customer success team and the need for proactive monitoring of customer health. He also highlights the role of instrumentation and telemetry in detecting issues and setting appropriate thresholds. Pawan concludes by discussing the mindset shift required for effective customer success and the potential for upselling within the customer success role.HERE ARE SOME KEY SECTIONS TO CHECK OUT[00:05:11] Discussion of the challenges faced by Curata and the need for a culture change[00:07:28] The importance of breaking down silos between customer success, sales, and product/engineering teams[00:09:00] Creating collaboration between customer success and sales through pod structures[00:10:36] Outcome-oriented goal setting for customer success teams[00:11:01] Reactive support is like urgent care for customers[00:16:58] Building instrumentation and telemetry into the product is important[00:31:04] Importance of setting up thresholds for customer intervention[00:38:21] Incentivizing customer success team through variable compensation[00:41:42] Customer success is more important than sales for sustaining a business[00:46:30] Client success should be involved in upsells, but may need partnershipADDITIONAL RESOURCESLearn more about Pawan Deshpande: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pawandeshpande/How to Make QBRs Valuable for Your Customers: https://forc.mx/3s1Q3JzBecome a Must-Have Solution for Customers in Any Economy: https://forc.mx/45ZRo1zHIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:06:36] So what I did is I pulled my desk into the customer success room. And it was really eye-opening when I pulled up a desk in there and I would just work out of there and hear the conversations. What I really heard was a culture of futility. - Pawan Deshpande[00:10:18] And that's like the impetus for critical care. That was one of the key instrumentations we had was detecting if someone hasn't used the product for 14 days, then we kind of swarmed the customer and tried to revive the account. - Pawan Deshpande[00:22:37] And just on the usage, you know, that was particular to us and not all companies are like that. Our product is more like a gym membership. If you don't go to the gym every day, you're probably not going to show up ever again. - Pawan Deshpande Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale.  Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

In this episode of The Revenue Builders Podcast hosted by John McMahon and John Kaplan, growth executive Jim Baum, who has more than 25 years of experience in growing and managing cutting-edge tech businesses, shares his insights into what makes great leadership in the world of entrepreneurship and startup growth. The conversation delves into the significance of a leader's unwavering belief, perseverance, and the importance of market research. Jim's anecdotes and wisdom provide valuable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs.KEY TAKEAWAYS[00:02:13] - Leader's belief is crucial for early-stage company success.[00:04:46] - Perseverance can turn setbacks into major victories.[00:07:26] - Beware of blind belief; seek evidence and adapt.[00:11:20] - Primary market research is vital for success.[00:15:01] - Entrepreneurship demands perseverance, intelligence, and a touch of "craziness."HIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:02:13] "The belief, the conviction, the strength of the founder or founders is just not to be underestimated as a force for building the company."[00:04:46] "They just needed more time. The market wasn't quite ready. The messaging wasn't quite right. And their perseverance carried it through, turned into a great return for the investors, a great return for the founders, and a big win."[00:07:26] "It's sometimes easy to get caught up in the belief. So you do have to look for evidence and you do have to look for what are we going to do differently to make things turn around here in cases where it's not going well."[00:15:01] "It takes a pretty special kind of mindset to be successful as an entrepreneur. I think that mindset is one of perseverance, a deep belief, and maybe just enough of the craziness to make it happen."Listen to the full episode with Jim Baum in this link:https://revenue-builders.simplecast.com/episodes/the-entrepreneurial-mindset-with-jim-baumCheck out John McMahon’s book here:Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/1K7DDC4Check out Force Management’s Ascender platform here: https://my.ascender.co/Ascender/ Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale.  Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

Leslie Venetz is a corporate sales trainer and sales-led GTM consultant. She has made over 100,000 cold calls, was a 3x Head of Sales & is now the Founder of Sales Team Builder. Leslie uses her expertise to help teams talk WITH their prospects instead of AT them. She is an active content Creator with over 60,000 followers. She has posted daily on LinkedIn for over 1000 days & is a LinkedIn Top Voice. Leslie was also the first B2B sales creator on TikTok posting under @‌SalesTipsTok. ‌Leslie co-authored the book Heels to Deals: How Women are Dominating in B2B Sales. She is passionate about transforming sales into an inclusive, respected profession.Leslie shares her expertise on cold calling. She emphasizes the importance of treating cold calling as a craft and using it as part of a multi-channel outreach strategy. Leslie provides tips on how to maximize success before making a cold call, including creating a segmented and niche list and conducting research on the prospect's business challenges. She also discusses the elements of a compelling cold call pitch and the importance of curiosity, conversation, and conclusion in handling objections. Leslie advises on the best practices for follow-up calls and offers insights on the ideal time to make cold calls.Tune in and learn more in this episode of The Revenue Builders.HERE ARE SOME KEY SECTIONS TO CHECK OUT[00:03:24] Definition of cold calling and its relevance in sales[00:07:25] Conducting research on ideal customers and their pain points[00:13:14] Creating ways to make it easy for customers to get value[00:24:59] Introduction to the topic of curiosity[00:27:00] The value of keeping the conversation going[00:30:10] Using curiosity to continue the conversation on cold calls[00:39:19] Using a game-changing question to increase close rates[00:46:06] Guidelines for follow-up calls and adding value[00:51:58] Asking for referral if not the right person[01:02:09] ConclusionADDITIONAL RESOURCESJoin Leslie at her Outbound Sales Masterclass in Tampa November 7th.https://www.eventbrite.com/e/outbound-sales-masterclass-with-leslie-venetz-nikki-ivey-tampa-nov-7-tickets-701193597927Download her FREE Objection Deck for Cold Callers:https://hubs.ly/Q01_NGRj0Learn more about Leslie Venetz through this link.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslievenetz/Check out John McMahon’s book here: https://www.amazon.com/Qualified-Sales-Leader-Proven-Lessons/dp/0578895064HIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:14:44] "The number one most important thing about cold calling is confidence."[00:17:06] "The goal isn't to overcome the objection via email. The goal is to get curious and learn something."[00:25:27] "The number one most important thing that you can do when you hear an objection is just try to keep the conversation going."[00:49:27] "The reason for following up is never just to follow up and just to check in because that gives exactly no value to the person that we're speaking with." Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale.  Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of sales leadership with veteran sales leader Andy Byron. We discussed critical aspects of sales scaling, including ideal customer profile alignment, pipeline metrics, and the cost of a bad hire. Andy shares invaluable insights on what it takes to build a successful sales organization and the common pitfalls to avoid. Whether you're a seasoned sales professional or an aspiring leader, this episode offers practical advice for achieving sustainable revenue growth.KEY TAKEAWAYS[00:01:08] Define your ideal customer profile to target the right audience effectively.[00:02:10] Avoid blindly copying strategies; adapt to your unique market and product.[00:03:15] Lessons from Andy's experience: Choose your target market, Embrace adaptability, and Surround yourself with supportive, challenging peers.[00:06:33] Blend art and science in sales leadership; establish fact-based decisions, hiring profiles, and productivity models.[00:08:14] Take responsibility for developing team members, ensuring their success.[00:10:00] Focus on leading indicators to build predictability and sustainable growth in sales.HIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:00:51] "You have to be very smart about developing an ideal customer profile where your differentiators really align with the pain that the customer has."[00:02:37] "Sometimes I've seen where there's a brand new CEO and they're influenced by venture capitalists who never have ever scaled the sales force themselves..."[00:04:37] "Surround yourself with great people that have the same desired outcome in mind... constantly challenge each other, support each other and push each other to get there with good intentions."[00:10:57] "When you can get Sally successful and you can repeat that time and time and time again across these leading indicators, it becomes a really predictable business that can outpace the rest of the market."Listen to the full episode with Andy Byron in this link:https://revenue-builders.simplecast.com/episodes/tactical-advice-for-scaling-sales-organizations-with-andy-byronCheck out John McMahon’s book here:Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/1K7DDC4Check out Force Management’s Ascender platform here: https://my.ascender.co/Ascender/ Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale.  Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

Brian Halligan, former CEO, and co-founder and executive chairperson of HubSpot, is a visionary leader who revolutionized marketing with the concept of "inbound marketing." His tenure as CEO, until 2021, was marked by consistent recognition on Glassdoor's and Comparably's lists of best CEOs. Brian's influence extends beyond HubSpot; he is an esteemed educator, teaching MIT's Scaling Entrepreneurial Ventures class for over a decade and receiving the Monosson Prize for his mentorship in entrepreneurship. In addition to his educational endeavors, he directs a $100 million climate tech venture fund at Propeller Ventures, serves on the boards of Navier and Aquatic Labs, and is deeply involved in preserving the legacy of the Grateful Dead. Brian's journey began with a BSEE from the University of Vermont, leading him to executive roles at PTC and Groove Networks, which later merged with Microsoft. Brian Halligan shares his journey of building HubSpot and the evolution of the inbound marketing methodology. He emphasizes the importance of international expansion and the challenges of scaling a company. Brian also discusses the concept of "grinding it out" and the need for continuous improvement. In addition, he talks about his new venture, Propeller, a fund that invests in companies working on climate and ocean-related solutions.HERE ARE SOME KEY SECTIONS TO CHECK OUT[00:01:41] Brian Halligan shares the story of how he came up with the idea of inbound.[00:05:27] Sales experience at PTC helped in building HubSpot.[00:09:45] Grinding it out and no magic moments in company growth.[00:10:23] Setbacks and unforced errors on the road to success.[00:11:12] The creation of the "pothole report" to avoid future mistakes.[00:14:28] Decision to go long and not sell HubSpot.[00:19:05] Changes made in marketing, sales, service, and product organizations.[00:21:28] The importance of constantly refining the ideal customer profile.[00:26:40] Maturity level and skillset needed for different stages of the company.[00:32:10] Don't hire too far ahead in their career.[00:46:12] The importance of having a good co-founder[00:53:51] Starting Propeller VC with a focus on climate changeHIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:09:45] "Every time we put in a new system, let's say a new HR system. I start my watch the day we make the decision on whatever system or process we put in because within three years, it's going to break."[00:52:55] "And if you're wrong on a couple in a row, that's the problem. You know, being right is underrated and people talk a lot in the startup world about failing fast and all that being right is really underrated."ADDITIONAL RESOURCESLearn more about Brian Halligan through this link.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianhalligan/Check out John McMahon’s book here: https://www.amazon.com/Qualified-Sales-Leader-Proven-Lessons/dp/0578895064 Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale.  Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

Veteran sales leader Carlos Delatorre joins Revenue Builders for a conversation into pipeline generation and the essential skills and metrics that sales leaders should monitor. Carlos shares his experience in building a sophisticated pipeline generation machine at MongoDB, highlighting the complexity of open source software sales. He emphasizes the importance of conducting thorough research on target accounts and tailoring messages to different personas. The discussion also covers key metrics such as net new meetings and visible opportunities, with Carlos providing insights into what constitutes a visible opportunity. Throughout the conversation, the importance of unambiguous exit criteria for each sales stage is emphasized as a crucial element of successful pipeline management.KEY TAKEAWAYS[00:01:08] Pipeline Generation Is Crucial[00:02:02] Building a Sophisticated Pipeline Recipe[00:03:14] The Secret Sauce: PG Recipe[00:03:33] Managing a Large Pipeline[00:04:17] Key Metrics for Monitoring Sales[00:08:15] Importance of Clear Exit CriteriaHIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:01:08] Pipeline Generation's Crucial Role - "I would say that I guess the thing that comes to mind the most is, um, pipeline generation." [00:03:14] The Secret Sauce of MongoDB's Success - "Over time, the PG recipe became a big part of the secret sauce for why that company was growing so quickly."[00:04:49] The Significance of Visible Opportunities - "The second really important metric is visible opportunities or scope stage opportunities."[00:08:40] The Power of Unambiguous Exit Criteria - "For each stage, you have unambiguous exit criteria."The full episode with Carlos Delatorre in this link:https://revenue-builders.simplecast.com/episodes/driving-a-sales-discipline-with-carlos-delatorreCheck out John McMahon’s book here:Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/1K7DDC4 Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale.  Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

Keno Helmi is a five-time CRO with a wealth of experience in the technology industry. He has held leadership positions at companies such as PTC, HP, Digby, Duetto, Platform 9, and Pegasus. Currently, he serves as the CRO at Espressive.Keno discusses the importance of proof of value (POV) in the sales process. He explains that a POV is not just about validating the technology, but also about validating the business case. By setting clear success criteria and involving the economic buyer (EB) in the process, sales reps can increase the predictability of the outcome and improve their forecasting. Keno emphasizes the need for a champion to take the rep to the EB and highlights the importance of thorough qualification before engaging in a POV. He also shares best practices for running a successful POV, including defining objectives, setting clear success metrics, and involving the sales rep throughout the process. Keno concludes by discussing the importance of debriefing with the champion and presenting a comprehensive report or presentation to the EB after the POV.HERE ARE SOME KEY SECTIONS TO CHECK OUT[00:00:00] POC vs. POV: POC validates technology; POV validates both tech and business value.[00:05:19] Meeting the Economic Buyer is critical for authority and budget.[00:11:50] Don't do POCs too early; understand the customer's use case.[00:14:11] Champions expedite sales by taking you to the Economic Buyer.[00:18:17] POC should lead to a natural close, not put the customer in the market.[00:25:11] The go, no-go meeting with the Economic Buyer is decisive.[00:38:33] Share a comprehensive RFP or scoring template to guide the evaluation.[00:41:45] Leverage serendipitous visits from stakeholders to build additional champions.[00:43:29] Proactively bring in potential champions who may not be aware of the POV.[00:46:13] Actively engage during the POV, troubleshoot discreetly, and showcase successes.[00:48:16] Create a comprehensive report or presentation (Champion's Deck) summarizing technical and financial results.HIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:10:28] "You want to do a P.O.V. to increase the predictability of the outcome, improve your forecasting, and potentially grow the business value of the deal."[00:13:25] "That person has earned the right to be called a champion and not a prospective champion. You do not have the right to call that person a champion until that person takes you to the economic buyer."[00:15:11] "You want to ensure that your test plan is going to be the scoring mechanism by which all vendors are evaluated."ADDITIONAL RESOURCESConnect with Keno: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keno-helmi-74779329/More on Espressive: https://www.espressive.com/ Engineer Your Strongest SKO Yet: https://forc.mx/46BipZB Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale.  Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

In this episode of the Revenue Builders podcast, hosts John McMahon and John Kaplan are joined by Mark Roberge, co-founder at Stage 2 Capital and Harvard Business School lecturer. The discussion revolves around scaling sales and building a disciplined hiring process. Mark shares his insights into hiring for sales and highlights the importance of context in shaping the ideal sales team. He emphasizes the need to create a hiring scorecard with attributes like coachability, intelligence, and curiosity. Mark also explains the role of role-playing in interviews and the significance of continuous evolution in the hiring process.KEY TAKEAWAYS[00:01:52] Context matters in sales hiring, and there's no universal top sales hire profile.[00:02:41] The Role of Context in Sales Hiring[00:04:30] Creating a hiring scorecard with defined attributes is crucial for success.[00:08:14] Role plays are critical in assessing candidates' abilities during sales interviews.[00:11:37] The Ongoing Evolution of the Hiring ProcessHIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:01:52] Context Matters in Sales Hiring - "I realized that there is no universal top sales, higher profile, but it's very contextual to your go to market context."[00:04:30] The Importance of a Hiring Scorecard - "What I did was I sat back, and I, like the first thing I did... like a low score? So we have this rubric, right?"[00:08:14] Role Plays in Sales Interviews - "I'll often like throw some curveball technical questions... they're uncomfortable."[00:11:37] Adaptability and Evolution in Hiring - "Your recruiting scorecard needs to evolve as your company evolves... and there's probably already a budget for your product."Listen to the full episode with Mark Roberge in this link:https://revenue-builders.simplecast.com/episodes/the-blueprint-for-a-sales-dream-team-with-mark-robergeCheck out John McMahon’s book here:Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/1K7DDC4 Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale.  Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

As Founder of Artisanal Talent, Andy is globally recognized for having helped build, and invest in, some of the most successful software startups in history. He has spent 26 years in the industry, built two companies as CEO in the exec search industry, and 2 years inside two of the top VC firms in the world (Redpoint and Index).He continues to work closely with, and learn from, the best VC’s in the history of the space: Mike Speiser (Snowflake Founding investor), Scott Raney (Twilio, Stripe, Hashi), Mike Volpi (Elastic, Pure, Confluent, etc.), Ravi Viswanathan (Plaid, MuleSoft), Eric Vishria (Confluent, Amplitude, Contentful, Benchling), Pat Grady (Zoom, SNOW, etc.), Hemant Taneja (Stripe, Livongo, Olive, etc.), among others. He worked for ~2 years at Index as an EIR, 1 at Redpoint as a Venture Partner, and has been fortunate to be a strategic Limited Partner of most of the top performing venture firms.In this interview, Andy discusses the world of recruiting and talent acquisition in the software industry. He shares the story behind the founding of his companies and how they connect capital and talent to help build iconic software companies. John and Andy delve into the changing landscape of recruiting, the importance of specialization, and the shift towards consultative recruiting. The conversation also explores the role of sales leaders in the recruiting process and the common misconceptions about replacing sales leaders as a company grows. Andy emphasizes the significance of owning the recruiting process and investing in talent acquisition.HERE ARE SOME KEY SECTIONS TO CHECK OUT[00:01:24] Introduction to Artisanal Ventures and Artisanal Talent.[00:04:36] Shifting search firms from transactional to contributing to a company's success.[00:10:47] Easy access to capital caused recruiting inefficiencies.[00:20:07] The four phases of company growth: product-market fit, deal stage, scale stage, and maturity stage.[00:24:08] We must plan for the future to avoid disruptions.[00:24:24] Balance between sales and implementing processes is crucial.[00:25:04] Continuity in leadership is vital for a company's stability.[00:25:18] Recruiting talent from large tech companies can be complex.[00:32:32] Sales leadership has become more complex and analytical.[00:45:22] Sales leaders should prioritize team cohesion over just increasing salaries.[00:47:37] Careful evaluation of the first CRO is critical for long-term growth.[00:53:01] The demand for enterprise sales expertise is rising.[01:03:34] AI can enhance candidate selection but won't replace human judgment.HIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:45:22] "Sales execs sometimes resort to being transactional, just offering more money, but that behavior eventually tarnishes the team's reputation and trust within the company." - Andy Price[00:47:37] "Proper evaluation of the first Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) is crucial for sustained growth, and rushing this decision can lead to significant problems down the line." - John McMahon[00:53:01] "You have this gigantic industry-wide scramble for enterprise talent... It's all about efficiency, cost efficiency."[01:03:34] "I think as soon as the customer embraces how they would use technology to de-risk a hire, I think that's going to be a moment that's very similar."ADDITIONAL RESOURCESMore tips for handling an RFP as a seller: https://forc.mx/3ELMidQHow to stack customer requirements in your favor: https://forc.mx/48oUxdFLearn more about Andy through this link.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyprice1/Check out John McMahon’s book here: https://www.amazon.com/Qualified-Sales-Leader-Proven-Lessons/dp/0578895064 Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale.  Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

In this episode of the Revenue Builders podcast, John McMahon and John Kaplan interview Navy SEAL veteran and VMware COO, Mike Hayes, about leadership and decision-making. Mike discusses the concept of dynamic subordination, where anyone in an effective team can take the lead based on their skills and the situation. He emphasizes the importance of leaders empowering others and creating a culture where individuals feel comfortable bringing up ideas and attempting challenging tasks. Mike also shares insights on learning, humility, and continuous improvement in leadership.KEY TAKEAWAYS[00:00:28] Dynamic Subordination in Leadership[00:01:38] Leadership is About Making the Best Decision[00:05:29] Creating a Culture of Decision-Making[00:08:23] The Importance of Trying Hard Things[00:10:06] Continuous Learning and Humility in Leadership[00:04:05] Balancing Collaboration and Decision-Making[00:07:07] Fostering Idea Generation[00:09:10] Celebrating Effort and LearningHIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:01:15] Leaders Gain Authority by Giving It Away - "I like to say leaders gain authority by giving it away."[00:08:23] The Power of Trying Hard Things - "Helping people lose the discomfort associated with trying hard things and not classically succeeding is what separates the high-performing elite teams from just the teams."[00:10:06] Continuous Learning and Humility in Leadership - "There's no end to it. It's a constant loop."[00:07:07] Creating a Culture of Idea Generation - "I start from a position of saying why might I be wrong instead of why am I absolutely right?"Listen to the full episode with Mike Hayes in this link:https://revenue-builders.simplecast.com/episodes/mission-meaning-and-impact-with-mike-hayesCheck out Mike Hayes’ book here:Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/3qU7cV6Check out John McMahon’s book here:Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/1K7DDC4 Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale.  Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

Scott Sinatra is the CEO and Co-Founder of Bountiful. Scott is a serial entrepreneur and former senior vice president of worldwide sales at Glassdoor. With deep industry knowledge in HR technology, Sinatra also served as a founding executive and head of go-to-market at Glint, which was acquired by LinkedIn in 2018In this interview, Scott shares his experience responding to an RFP during his time at BladeLogic. He discusses the importance of having a champion within the customer's organization, the need to influence the decision criteria in the RFP, and the value of training and understanding your product and competition. Scott also emphasizes the importance of making a go/no-go decision when evaluating an RFP and the need to prioritize activities that will lead to successHERE ARE SOME KEY SECTIONS TO CHECK OUT[00:01:26] Overview of Bountiful, a referral platform for recruiting[00:03:03] Explanation of how Bountiful works and how scouts can refer candidates[00:09:06] Formation of a committee and funding for the initiative[00:10:11] Surprise of receiving an RFP and the alignment with decision criteria[00:11:14] Conclusion of the RFP discussion and next steps[00:11:14] Scott offers to provide a test plan template for the RFP.[00:23:14] Addendum received with more details on problem to solve[00:24:41] Scott writes another letter declining to participate further[00:25:32] Scott receives a call from the company[00:26:12] Second addendum received with desired changes[00:35:42] Salespeople need to get buyers thinking about their solution[00:36:12] If you didn't write the RFP, your differentiators may not be included[00:37:31] Example of influencing criteria in an RFP to win a deal[00:44:59] Importance of managing the sales process for team success[00:45:40] Introduction and discussion about RFPsADDITIONAL RESOURCESMore tips for handling an RFP as a seller: https://forc.mx/3ELMidQHow to stack customer requirements in your favor: https://forc.mx/48oUxdFHIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:17:49] “We can either play by somebody else's rules or we can change the game” - Scott Sinatra[00:24:54] "We really appreciate the time, but if this is the criteria you're going to use to make a decision, we're going to respectfully decline to participate further." - Scott Sinatra[00:33:07] "Understand how to set decision criteria. The shopping list of capabilities required to solve pain is fundamental. You need to know your products and services really well, as well as your competition's, so you can differentiate."[00:44:09] "This is a team sport. If you manage a sales process with the idea that you're going to make your team successful, they're going to appreciate that a lot. You'll build a lot of internal credibility, and they'll be more apt to want to help you." - Scott SinatraLearn more about Scott through this link.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-sinatra-b399312/Check out John McMahon’s book here: https://www.amazon.com/Qualified-Sales-Leader-Proven-Lessons/dp/0578895064 Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale.  Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

In this episode, John McMahon and John Kaplan host Murray Demo, a seasoned CFO with a wealth of experience at renowned companies. Murray shares valuable insights on the transition from sales leader to business leader, emphasizing the need for aligning with company-level problems and becoming a strategic thinker. The discussion explores the ideal profile of a Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) with a focus on business acumen and alignment with company goals. Murray also discusses the challenges of budgeting during economic downturns and the delicate balance between fiscal responsibility and agility. Key metrics for evaluating sales performance, including command of the business, pipeline management, and discounting, are highlighted. The episode concludes by addressing the burden of budgeting within organizations and the importance of aligning compensation programs with corporate strategies.KEY TAKEAWAYS[00:00:50] Transition to Business Leadership[00:04:05] Aligning with Company Priorities[00:05:02] Adapting During Tough Times[00:16:06] Aligning Compensation with StrategyHIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:00:50] Becoming Business Leaders - "The best sales leaders are actually business leaders. They've made a transition from carrying the bag and trying to make their number."[00:04:05] Sales and Business Strategy - "So how do my priorities or the company priorities get funded and does my team know that I utilize my seat at the table as well as I could to try to better the sales organization?"[00:05:02] Adapting During Tough Times - "When the recession hits, customers just don't have as much money to buy things. So you're going to have to pull back in marketing and you're going to have to pull back on sales."[00:16:06] Aligning Compensation with Strategy - "I think there has to be some thoughtfulness about how you transition from, you know, here's your quota. Here's what you can do on accelerators. It's all cash. To start mixing in more stock as you go."Listen to the full episode with Murray Demo in this link:https://revenue-builders.simplecast.com/episodes/leading-through-economic-challenges-with-murray-demoCheck out John McMahon’s book here:Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/1K7DDC4 Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale.  Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

Jim Pouliopoulos, known to all as “Pouli” is a storyteller, professional speaker, author, and Senior Lecturer and Director of the Professional Sales Program at Bentley University. In July of 2020, his book, “How to be a WELL BEING: Unofficial Rules to LIVE Every Day”, was published by Wiley Publishing. It shares Pouli’s insights on bringing a happiness-first approach to business, education, and life. In his three TEDx Talks, he explores similar concepts and the question of what drives inner motivation and professional success. He is also a certified trainer for “The Art of Brilliance,” a UK-based firm that specializes in training and development to increase workplace wellbeing and personal positivity. He is a currently a Facilitator at Force Management.He is a self-proclaimed "recovering engineer." After earning two engineering degrees and an MBA, he left the corporate world behind and found true happiness and success as an educator, speaker, facilitator, and author.Pouli holds an MBA in Marketing from Bentley University, a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from RPI, and a Bachelor’s degree in EE from WPI.In this conversation with John McMahon, Pouli discusses the importance of happiness in business and life. He explains that happiness is not dependent on external circumstances but rather on our mindset and daily habits. Pouli emphasizes the need to focus on the process rather than the outcome and shares insights on how to minimize the impact of negativity bias. He also introduces the career satisfaction matrix and highlights the importance of finding enjoyment in our work.HERE ARE SOME KEY SECTIONS TO CHECK OUT[00:03:23] The gap between expectations and reality affects happiness[00:09:53] External circumstances should not determine happiness[00:13:39] Many people dwell on regrets and don't learn from them[00:17:13] Recognizing when negativity bias impacts our viewpoint[00:21:33] Importance of empathy and trust in sales conversations[00:26:01] Burnout from doing something well but not enjoying it[00:39:21] Gaining knowledge quickly vs. developing skills through practice[00:49:56] The importance of getting enough sleep[00:50:58] Focusing on daily actions rather than the end goal[00:53:39] Solution to many problemsHIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:13:39] "Regret has always sort of been this early warning system that you're doing something against what you truly care about." - Jim "Pouli" Pouliopoulos[00:20:47] "If you just focus on things that are positive on a daily basis, you will be happier." - Jim "Pouli" Pouliopoulos[00:25:42] "If you do something well, but you don't enjoy doing it, it becomes drudgery." - Jim "Pouli" Pouliopoulos[00:32:32] "Mastery never means you stop learning." - Jim "Pouli" PouliopoulosLearn more about Jim "Pouli" Pouliopoulos through this link.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pouli/Check out John McMahon’s book here: https://www.amazon.com/Qualified-Sales-Leader-Proven-Lessons/dp/0578895064 Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale.  Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

In this episode, hosts John McMahon and John Kaplan sit down with Jeremy Duggan, a seasoned sales leader with a track record of success. They delve into the challenges and strategies of building a sales team from scratch and inspiring them to achieve greatness. Jeremy emphasizes the importance of data, facts, and transparent leadership. He shares insights on the three R's of leadership, leading indicators for success, and the role of education and development in reaching sales goals. The episode highlights the value of constant self-improvement and learning in the dynamic world of sales leadership.KEY TAKEAWAYS[00:01:09] Starting from Scratch and Inspiring Teams[00:01:51] Data and Facts in Leadership[00:02:03] Leading Indicators for Success[00:02:44] Education and Development[00:13:13] The Importance of Full Transparenc[00:13:38] Continuous Self-ImprovementHIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:02:27] The Winning Lottery Numbers of Leadership - "What I say to people here is, when I talk to you about leadership and the three R's or the leading indicators in sales, what I'm actually doing is handing you the winning lottery numbers. All you've got to do is go down to the shop and buy a ticket."[00:05:41] The Importance of Inspection for Improvement - "Inspection is a mechanism for improvement because they know you have their best interest at heart."[00:09:18] Self-Coaching and Continuous Improvement - "I didn't really remember big mistakes, even though I know I've made loads of little ones because, for me, the whole point of making a mistake is immediately recognizing it, and then you figure out why you did it so you don't do it again." [00:11:28] Participate in Your Own Rescue - "You have to participate in your own rescue and have self-awareness and self-reflection. You don't wait for anybody to tell you or give you feedback. You give yourself the feedback first."Listen to the full episode with Jeremy Duggan in this link:https://revenue-builders.simplecast.com/episodes/all-you-need-to-know-about-good-leadership-with-jeremy-dugganCheck out John McMahon’s book here:Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/1K7DDC4 Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale.  Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

Oliver Jay is a former Chief Revenue Officer of Asana and an advisor and leadership coach for various companies.In this conversation with John McMahon, Oliver Jay discusses the concept of product-led growth (PLG) and its impact on B2B sales. PLG is a methodology that focuses on using the product as the primary conduit for acquiring users, driving sales, and retaining customers. Oliver explains that PLG is effective for certain personas and products, but it requires careful planning and consideration as companies scale. He also highlights the importance of understanding the buyer's perspective and the need to articulate the value of the product in terms of revenue, profitability, and risk.ADDITIONAL RESOURCESWhat CROs Prioritize to Scale PLG Success: https://forc.mx/3LaTFPENavigating Product-Led Growth COmplexities: https://forc.mx/44CnwaBHERE ARE SOME KEY SECTIONS TO CHECK OUT[00:01:29] Oliver Jay's background and experience in PLG[00:06:41] Different models of PLG: self-service, product-led sales, freemium[00:07:59] Factors to consider in choosing the right PLG model[00:09:40] Steering customers towards the best PLG model[00:11:33] The benefits and ease of managing trials in PLG[00:13:02] Time to value as a key consideration in PLG model choice[00:13:46] Differentiating products for PLG vs. non-PLG.[00:23:19] Combination of PLG and sales-led growth for enterprise sales.[00:24:42] Building a multi-layered PLG business.[00:25:42] Challenges of transitioning to a traditional sales motion.[00:32:40] Major elements of a PLG system[00:48:23] PLG companies need to break down into granular components[00:56:46] Importance of product market fit for SLG[00:57:30] Selling to users vs. selling to buyers[00:58:56] Adding SLG motions is hard for PLG companiesHIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:03:27] Oliver Jay: "PLG is an elegant model that uses the product as the primary conduit for acquiring users, driving sales, and increasing retention."[00:39:59] Oliver Jay: "PLG companies should view their self-serve and product-led sales teams as part of the same funnel, not as separate entities."[01:00:50] Oliver Jay: "PLG companies need to be aware that outbound sales is rarely the remedy to growth and should only be pursued when there is product-market fit for a top-down sales motion."Learn more about Oliver Jay through this link.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliverjayleadership/Check out John McMahon’s book here: https://www.amazon.com/Qualified-Sales-Leader-Proven-Lessons/dp/0578895064 Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale.  Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

Terry Tripp is the Chief Revenue Officer of Tines, a high-growth company in the security orchestration, automation, and response (SOAR) space. With a background in sales and recruiting, Terry brings a wealth of experience to his role.In this conversation with John McMahon, Terry Tripp, CRO of Tines, discusses the importance of a well-defined sales process and the top three things he focuses on when starting a new role. He emphasizes the need to understand the people, get feedback from customers, and identify early opportunities for improvement. Terry also explains the concept of SOAR and how Tines is disrupting the cybersecurity market.HERE ARE SOME KEY SECTIONS TO CHECK OUT[00:02:01] Overview of Tines and its role in the cybersecurity market[00:06:16] Top three things a CRO wants to learn on day one[00:08:54] What a CRO wouldn't find when joining a startup[00:10:27] Importance of a well-defined sales process[00:18:24] The importance of thorough discovery before entering an account[00:19:23] Show up with an informed hypothesis and a provocative point of view[00:20:37] Researching competitors and industry challenges for a PPOV[00:22:11] Understanding the pressures faced by CIOs and CISOs.[00:22:44] Tailoring messaging based on industry and persona.[00:24:55] Moving from a general point of view to specific scoping.[00:33:03] Importance of KPIs and metrics.[00:33:15] Understanding wins and losses.[00:33:45] KPIs to monitor during the quarter and after the quarter ends.[00:35:13] The importance of fundamentals and hiring A players.[00:35:56] The significance of emotional intelligence (EQ) in sales roles.[00:46:35] Priorities for sales leaders: making the number, playbook, pipeline[00:47:59] Pitfalls of having a small pipeline and not qualifying deals[00:51:34] Learning from various role models and experiences in salesAdditional Resources:Connect with Terry: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terrytripp/Resources for Selling to the C Suite: https://forc.mx/3YTzfQMHIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:13:21] Terry Tripp: “I think you've got to have things that you know that as you look across your deal portfolio, your pipeline, your current quarter forecast, next, next quarter forecast that you have confidence that if you see certain deals that are at a certain point in that process, if we're, you know, true to those, to those criteria and, and the stages along the way.”[00:16:55] Terry Tripp: “There's certain, it's somewhat in my experience. Depends a little bit on, on the, on the nature of the lead, if you will, the nature of the opportunity. If somebody is coming and knocking on our door, it's something that's more of an inbound. We probably have a slightly different qualification lens on that inbound opportunity. You know, what's driving it? Why are they coming to us? Try to understand a bit more about the problem they're trying to solve.”Learn more about Terry Tripp through this link.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terrytripp/Website: https://www.tines.com/Check out John McMahon’s book here: https://www.amazon.com/Qualified-Sales-Leader-Proven-Lessons/dp/0578895064 Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale.  Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

In this episode of the Revenue Builders Podcast, we take a second look at some of our sales leader interviews over the past few months. This episode features lessons learned from three powerhouse revenue builders.Hear from Veteran Sales Leader Carlos Delatorre on hiring while you scale. Founding CRO of Procore Dennis Lyandres talks about leadership lessons learned and the hard reality of letting people go. And, Tenable Chief Operating Officer Mark Thurmond talks about Command and Control leadership and removing friction for your sales teams. HERE ARE SOME KEY SECTIONS TO CHECK OUT[00:01:51] Carlos Delatorre shares a common mistake made by first-time sales managers.[00:05:57] The importance of assessing the readiness of leaders.[00:08:20] The challenges of scaling without the right leaders.[00:15:22] Taking care of oneself is crucial for making good decisions.[00:18:15] Importance of managing time and prioritizing tasks as a leader.[00:19:21] Paying attention to small actions to understand people better.[00:23:56] Dennis Lyandres discusses his journey in recruiting and training his team.[00:25:26] The importance of taking ownership in hiring.[00:26:44] The need to learn from failure in recruiting.[00:39:29] Communication, work ethic, becoming an SME, mentors[00:45:53] Mark's ability to simplify and remove obstacles for his team.[00:46:31] Mark's approach to removing friction in the system.[00:48:25] The importance of influential leadership over command and control leadership.[00:52:27] The power of persuasive power over positional power.[00:53:34] The importance of explaining the “why” to get people emotionally connected.[00:54:49] The impact of the why on successful M&A integration.[00:55:23] The focus on validating conviction over compliance in leadership. Learn more about our guests through the links below:Carlos Delatorre’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cadelatorre/Dennis Lyandres’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dlyandres/Mark Thurmond’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-thurmond-350a4628/Check out John McMahon’s book here: https://www.amazon.com/Qualified-Sales-Leader-Proven-Lessons/dp/0578895064 Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale.  Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

Dick Thomas is a sales consultant and founder of RW Consulting. He has over 25 years of experience in sales and has sold the largest deals in the history of four different companies.In this conversation with John McMahon, Dick Thomas emphasizes the importance of quantifying the value a solution brings to a customer in order to drive bigger deals. He talks about how salespeople can differentiate themselves and gain access to higher levels in an organization by focusing on solving business problems and showcasing the value of the solution. Thomas outlines four major components of selling business value: the value pyramid, gold miner discovery, value-based demo, and the business case ROI model. These strategies equip salespeople with an unfair competitive advantage and position them as trusted business partners for their customers. Tune in to this episode of Revenue Builders for specific strategies, real-life anecdotes and inspiration on selling on business value.HERE ARE SOME KEY SECTIONS TO CHECK OUT[00:03:00] Importance of quantifying the value of a solution[00:06:11] Breakdown of the major components of selling business value[00:06:35] Value pyramid and its importance in understanding the prospect's business[00:08:46] How to build a value pyramid and prioritize prospects[00:11:24] Where to find information for the value pyramid[00:15:19] Importance of gold miner discovery in uncovering pain points[00:34:14] How to get the customer to discuss pain points[00:36:46] The value of a value-based demo[00:40:56] Importance of the business case and ROI model[00:46:08] Difference between operational value and business impact[00:56:03] Unfair competitive advantage from building value pyramids[00:56:12] Differentiation as a business partner and dealing with procurement[00:57:13] Negotiating discounts and preserving solution functionalityHIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:06:11] Dick Thomas: “There's four major components [people need to go into selling business value]. One is the value pyramid. That's where you gain a deep understanding of prospects' business. The second, I call it gold miner discovery because it's like swinging a pick and you got to discover down to annualized dollars. The third is a value based demo, which is an interesting methodology to discover and quantify value during the demo itself and actually confirm it with the customer and the last is the business case ROI model, comprehensive business case with an ROI model.”[00:55:27] John McMahon: “That's how they sold in the future. They weren't just doing demos to do demos. They weren't just getting meetings to get meetings. They were doing value pyramids everywhere they went. In fact, I remember going to a meeting in London and the team did such an effective job of discovery and building the value pyramid that one customer in the room banged his fist on the table and said, ‘where did you get this type of information?’”Learn more about Dick Thomas through this link.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dick-thomas-15a01112/Website: https://www.rwtsalesconsulting.com/ Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale.  Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

Anthony Palladino is the Chief Revenue Officer at mabl. mabl is the enterprise SaaS leader of intelligent, low-code test automation that empowers high-velocity software teams to embed automated end-to-end tests into the entire development lifecycle.Prior to mabl, Anthony spent five years at Splunk from pre-IPO through $1 billion in revenue as the leader of their Americas Field Organization. As Chief Revenue Officer at Aisera, the industry’s first AI Service Management solution, he helped define the company’s product market fit, built and ramped their customer-facing functions, and increased revenue eightfold. Prior to Aisera, Anthony was the Senior Vice President at CloudBees overseeing global field operations. In just over three years, CloudBees quadrupled its revenue. A holistic growth leader with experience in building customer-facing organizations, go-to-market strategies, and diverse partner networks.In this conversation with John McMahon, Anthony discusses the importance of focusing on the little things in sales to drive big results. He emphasizes the need for disciplined execution, maintaining urgency with customers, and developing compelling energy in sales conversations. By identifying the deltas and addressing them, sales teams can build good habits and drive successful outcomes. Palladino also highlights the significance of documenting fit and gaining consensus in sales conversations.HERE ARE SOME KEY SECTIONS TO CHECK OUT:[00:02:03] Overview of Mabl and its impact on revenue, profitability, and risk[00:05:26] Top priorities for exploring with the salesforce[00:08:02] Importance of focusing on the little things that make a big difference[00:11:01] Example of using a sequence to drive pipeline generation[00:20:26] Importance of identifying and teaching people the knowledge areas[00:32:59] Creating compelled energy to compel customers to move forward[00:39:18] Importance of documenting the fit and gaining consensus in the first meeting[00:44:46] The components of compelled energy and the exit criteria for the first meeting[00:50:41] Importance of documenting customer requirements and identifying champions[00:55:24] The challenges of being a CRO and the importance of hiring well[00:58:00] Building a leadership team and establishing a common goalHIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:53:41] "Who do we think is the champion? Right? And it's probably who do we think is the champion? Because an understanding if you're new to the organization, there's probably not a firm notion of what a champion is. And, you know, the definition we have is person with political respect and or technical authority who fights for us when we're not there and I have the and or in their job, because I think in a lot of cases with consensus, certain environments, those 2 things are very distinct today in some cases." - Anthony Palladino[00:57:59] “I think establishing a leadership team that is with each other. They're supporting each other. They're with each other. You're sharing that common goal to the mission. And but doing it, you know, as people and really creating that that's that's I think it doesn't come easy because you have to create a special relationship.” - Anthony Palladino Learn more about Anthony through this link:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonypalladino/Check out John McMahon’s book here: https://www.amazon.com/Qualified-Sales-Leader-Proven-Lessons/dp/0578895064 Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale.  Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

Chris Riley serves as President of Worldwide Field Operations of DataRobot, where he is responsible for accelerating the company’s revenue growth and global footprint, bringing DataRobot to organizations across all industries and geographies. Riley previously served as Chief Revenue Officer for Robotic Process Automation (RPA) leader Automation Anywhere, where he led global sales in over 90 countries and managed an ecosystem of over 1,900 partners. Prior to Automation Anywhere, Riley served as President of Global Sales at Dell Technologies, where he was responsible for a multi-billion dollar route to market. Riley also served as Vice President and General Manager for HP’s storage business at HPE. Riley lives in Naples, FL with his family.In this conversation with John McMahon, Chris discusses the importance of understanding the culture and processes of a new organization when stepping into a leadership role. He emphasizes the need for leaders to be adaptable and willing to learn from their teams. Chris also highlights the significance of metrics and productivity in managing a sales organization, as well as the importance of hiring the right people and providing them with the necessary training and development. He shares insights on building trust with the sales team, prioritizing pipeline generation, and the role of mentors, coaches, and godfathers in a leader's career.HERE ARE SOME KEY SECTIONS TO CHECK OUT:[00:01:51] Overview of what DataRobot does and its applications[00:15:13] The importance of work ethic, coachability, and aptitude in hiring[00:23:47] Characteristics of successful leaders and the consequences of failure[00:38:48] The most critical step in the sales process and the importance of a champion[00:47:26] Navigating a sluggish economy and advice for salespeople[00:54:15] The importance of hard work, generating pipeline, and following the processHIGHLIGHT QUOTES[00:22:02] "A mentor is somebody you can speak openly without fear of judgment." - Chris Riley[00:36:35] “A good leader builds trust with the team and shows genuine interest in their success.” - Chris RileyLearn more about Chris through this link:https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisriley3/Check out John McMahon’s book here: https://www.amazon.com/Qualified-Sales-Leader-Proven-Lessons/dp/0578895064 Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale.  Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

Adam Aarons is a seasoned sales executive with extensive knowledge of the risk and compliance space. Adam is well known and admired for his time as the CRO of Okta, during which Okta grew from a $1M startup to a publicly traded $300M+ ARR category winner. Adam was previously an active advisor to Drata, and has now joined the company full time to drive revenue at scale as CRO.In this conversation with John McMahon, Adam discusses the keys to scaling a salesforce, including productivity per head, average deal size, and ramp times. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the ideal customer profile and where they are located. Adam also highlights the critical role of qualification in the sales process, focusing on the ICE framework (Identify pain, Champion, Economic buyer). He stresses the need for continuous discovery and the importance of establishing decision criteria. Adam shares insights on forecasting, metrics, and the value of customer success in reducing churn and driving revenue. He also discusses the challenges and lessons learned when transitioning from a sales rep to a manager, VP, and CRO on this episode of Revenue Builders.HERE ARE SOME KEY SECTIONS TO CHECK OUT:[0:00:42] Introduction to Drata and its automation of compliance data collection[0:49:52] Using an automation platform to coordinate customer outreach and marketing campaigns[0:55:18] The need for effective communication and expectation setting between managers[1:00:55] The importance of coaching for young CROsHIGHLIGHT QUOTES[0:57:08] "Having respect and empathy for people that haven't done it before, that you're working with to make sure that they understand the why versus just saying, hey. Trust me, let me go do my job like I know what I'm doing.”[0:52:03] "If you're a leader and you're doing this work, it's hard work. You should expect it to be hard. You should enjoy the grind and enjoy the challenges because you learn so much in these jobs that even with the things that you and I have talked about, there's so much more depth that you could dive down into."Learn more about Adam through this link:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-aarons-438111/Check out John McMahon’s book here: https://www.amazon.com/Qualified-Sales-Leader-Proven-Lessons/dp/0578895064 Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale.  Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management

Brian McCarthy is an accomplished executive and leader with progressive sales and leadership experience building and leading talented teams to achieve hyper-growth within the enterprise software and information services industry. Brian serves as Rubrik’s Chief Revenue Officer, where he leads the global go-to-market sales strategy. Previously he led the sales, services and support teams at ThoughtSpot, where he led the go-to-market function and the company’s SaaS transformation. Preceding his time at ThoughtSpot, Brian came from AppDynamics, which was acquired by Cisco, where he was responsible for leading the Americas organization as GVP and from QlikTech where he served as President of the Americas. He graduated from Franciscan University.Join us as Brian shares shares insights on managing and enabling sales teams. He emphasizes the importance of caring for and developing employees, and the need for leaders to have a secure mindset. McCarthy and John McMahon discuss tracking deals and stages in the sales process, forecasting, and improving the probability of closing deals. Tons of lessons from two top-tier sales leaders shared on this episode of Revenue Builders.HERE ARE SOME KEY SECTIONS TO CHECK OUT:[0:01:15] Brian's background and experience in sales and leadership roles[0:09:30] Brian's approach to managing and training people[0:17:23] The importance of listening skills in leadership[0:24:33] The unique approach to enablement at Rubrik[0:42:04] The critical stage in the sales process for forecasting[0:56:50] The metrics Brian tracks during and after the quarter[1:02:03] The importance of focusing on productivity in a growth company[1:04:35] The impact of churn on productivity and the importance of recruiting and training[1:14:55] Leaders who consistently over forecast or wear rose-colored glassesHIGHLIGHT QUOTES[0:40:33] Leaders job as an ultimate success - John McMahon: “Your job is to get the best players and coaches on your team. And then if you do, you're going to look like a freaking hero, right? And you also hit on something that's really critical is that ‘when is a leader's job done?’. A leader's job's done is when they've been able to prove that they were able to recruit people, train and develop those people to take their spot.That's when it's ultimate success”[1:13:49] The importance of looking at new and existing deals in the forecast - Brian: “I have a much better idea of exactly where they're going to land, plus or minus. And I usually tell them too, as I'm going through, I'll go through and be like, okay, so here's where each of your people are. Here's the range: worst is this all right, I think you're going to be about two and a half million more than you're calling here, but okay, got it.” Learn more about Brian through this link:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bkmccarthy/Check out John McMahon’s book here: https://www.amazon.com/Qualified-Sales-Leader-Proven-Lessons/dp/0578895064 Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results.  This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale.  Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management