This week on Topline, Sam, AJ, and Asad sit down with Nick Mehta, CEO of Gainsight, to discuss the evolution of customer success (CS) and its growing impact on business strategy. Nick explains why sustained investment in CS is crucial, how customer success managers can thrive by combining technical and commercial skills, and the role AI plays in transforming customer interactions. The episode also delves into how pricing models shape CS strategy and what the future holds for AI-driven...

In Episode 85 of Topline, Sam Jacobs and Asad Zaman welcome Peter Walker, Head of Insights at Carta, for a deep dive into the shifting landscape of venture capital and market trends. The discussion spans the resurgence of IPOs, the state of M&A activity, and how startups are adapting in a post-2021 economy. They explore the role of AI in reshaping growth strategies, the rising importance of capital efficiency, and the nuanced dynamics of late-stage funding. Topline by Pavilion is also...

In this Sunday’s episode, Sam, AJ, and Asad explore today’s market dynamics looking at recent economic shifts, from Federal Reserve rate cuts to the crypto surge, and the challenges of business predictability. They also explore how sales compensation is evolving, especially with the rise of usage-based pricing models. Topline by Pavilion is also proud to debut The Revenue Leadership Podcast with Kyle Norton. Listen now. Attention CEOs and Founders! Join Pavilion at the CEO Summit on...

In this week’s episode, hosts Sam, AJ, and Asad dissect the election results and what it means for business leaders and workplaces. They tackle the tricky balance of handling political conversations in the office, highlighting the importance of keeping organizational goals in sight while respecting diverse employee viewpoints. They also look at how media is changing, pointing out the growing appeal of long-form content and authenticity in both politics and business. Topline by Pavilion is...

We welcome back David Obrand, CEO of Salesloft, for a lively discussion on navigating the shifting world of enterprise sales. David dives into his company's strategic move toward enterprise growth, highlighting why focusing on profitability and staying adaptable is crucial in today’s unpredictable economy. They also explore how AI is shaping sales, the hurdles of staying competitive, and how go-to-market strategies are evolving to meet the moment. Topline by Pavilion is also proud to debut...

In this episode of the Revenue Leadership Podcast, host Kyle dives into the complexities of hiring top-tier sales talent with Asad Zaman, CEO of Sales Talent Agency and co-host of Topline. Together, they explore the unique challenges of recruiting in the tech industry, where demand for skilled salespeople often outpaces supply. Asad shares why a structured hiring process is crucial—from a well-thought-out launch phase to a detailed scorecard for assessing candidates. The conversation also...

In this episode of the Topline podcast, hosts Sam, AJ, and Asad sit down with Alon Alroy, Co-Founder and CMO of Bizzabo, to explore the ever-changing world of event technology. Alon opens up about Bizzabo's journey, from navigating the challenges of COVID-19 and the boom in virtual events to the exciting return of in-person experiences. They also dive into how AI is shaping personalized event experiences and the growing importance of standing out in an increasingly competitive market. ...

In this episode of The Revenue Leadership Podcast, Mark Niemek, Chief Revenue Officer at Salesloft, opens up about his journey from Salesforce to Salesloft. He talks about the company's shift from being product-driven to a platform-focused organization and shares his thoughts on the critical role of operational discipline, transforming talent, and preserving company culture during times of change. Mark also highlights the power of a unified sales strategy, stressing how a consistent framework...

In episode 80 of Topline, host Sam, AJ, and Asad sit down with David Spitz, a former investment banker turned entrepreneur, to tackle the topic of GTM efficiency. Together, they dive into the growing challenges SaaS companies face as GTM efficiency metrics continue to decline. David introduces a new metric that compares sales and marketing spend to net changes in ARR, highlighting a troubling trend of inefficiency across public SaaS companies. They unpack the implications of this shift,...

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

In episode 79 of Topline, Sam and Asad sit down with Benedict Evans to discuss the rapid evolution of AI. Together, they explore AI’s growing impact on businesses and the economy, with Benedict offering expert insights on the scalability of AI models and the challenges companies face in staying competitive. The conversation also delves into AI’s implications for the job market and its role in shaping the future of enterprise software. Topline by Pavilion is also proud to debut The Revenue...

On this episode of the Revenue Leadership podcast, host Kyle Norton chats with Dini Mehta, former CRO of Lattice, to uncover the art of scaling through a multi-product strategy. Dini shares her journey of transforming Lattice from a single-product company into a thriving multi-product powerhouse. Together, they explore the nuances of launching new products, structuring teams for success, and driving engagement with thoughtful incentives and enablement. This episode is packed with insights for...

In this episode of Topline, Sam and Asad welcome Kyle Norton, CRO of Owner.com and new host of the Revenue Leadership Podcast. The discussion kicks off with insights from a recent episode featuring Jason Lemkin, where they explore the dynamics between boards and CROs, emphasizing the importance of trust and the challenges of fear in leadership roles. The conversation also delves into the evolving role of RevOps as a critical support function, highlighting its impact on organizational...

Pavilion is thrilled to introduce The Revenue Leadership Podcast with Kyle Norton, now part of the Topline media network. In the second episode, Kyle sits down with Kevin “KD” Dorsey, CRO of finally. KD opens his mind to us, sharing insights from his extensive experience building successful startup sales teams. He highlights the critical role of developing comprehensive playbooks, focusing on five key pillars: people, prospects, problem, process, and product. Kevin also offers practical...

In episode 77, our hosts dive deep into the biggest go-to-market trends emerging from two major tech conferences, INBOUND and Dreamforce. They explore how Salesforce and HubSpot are pushing the boundaries with AI, especially around AI agents, and what this means for B2B SaaS sales and customer experience. They also debate about whether the go-to-market approach is fundamentally broken or simply challenging, emphasizing the importance of product quality and adaptability in a rapidly changing...

Pavilion is thrilled to introduce The Revenue Leadership Podcast with Kyle Norton, now part of the Topline media network. In the debut episode, Kyle sits down with Jason Lemkin, Founder & CEO of SaaStr and VC. Jason and Kyle delve into the complexities of board dynamics and offer advice on how revenue leaders can build trust with their board, take direct feedback in stride, and embrace bad news. The duo also discusses the complex relationship between CEOs and revenue leaders,...

In this episode of Topline, Sam, AJ, and Asad delve into the concept of GTM Efficiency, a metric introduced by David Spitz that measures the cost of generating NRR. They discuss the implications of this metric for tech companies, including its potential as a leading indicator of future performance. The discussion also touches on whether there’s a need for a “Chief Go-To-Market Officer,” debating if another executive role dedicated to GTM strategy is necessary. Want more Topline? Join the...

In today’s mini-episode, Sam, AJ, and Asad discuss their thoughts on planning for 2025 and setting growth targets. They dive into the macroeconomic outlook for 2025 and the importance of being on the front foot with growth. Crossbeam x Pavilion: The Future of Revenue (Part II). Contribute to the research. Secure your ticket to GTM2024 in Austin, TX (October 14 - 16), and don’t forget to use the code TOPLINE for 15% of your ticket. Enjoy the mini-episode? Join the Topline Slack channel to...

In this Sunday’s episode, our hosts discuss the two ways to win in a competitive market: product velocity and go-to-market excellence. They break down the challenges and trade-offs of each approach, highlighting the importance of building a sustainable competitive edge. The conversation also explores how RevOps plays a pivotal role in crafting effective go-to-market strategies and the power of leveraging social media to fuel business growth. Want more Topline? Join the Topline Slack channel...

In this week’s mini-episode, the group answers a question brought to AJ around a board member that isn’t as engaged as they should be and is continually asking questions that pull focus. The trio shares their advice on how to navigate this situation, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing and providing context. Crossbeam x Pavilion: The Future of Revenue (Part II). Contribute to the research. Secure your ticket to GTM2024 in Austin, TX (October 14 - 16), and don’t forget to use the...

Mark Kosoglow joins Topline this week to introduce us to Operator AI ahead of it’s official announcement. Operator AI is a solution to improve sales efficiency by providing high-quality, unique data for free and leveraging AI to generate actionable insights (get early access). Marks shares insights on the current state of outbound sales and the challenges posed by over-automation, how Operator AI differs from Clay, and his “beef” with Adam Robinson.  The episode also touches on Paul Graham’s...

Join hosts AJ Bruno, Asif Zaman, and Sam Jacobs on Topline Hotline, where they tackle questions from the go-to-market community. In this episode, the team debates the effectiveness of using gifting platforms to boost top-of-the-funnel meeting show rates and win rates. Secure your ticket to GTM2024 in Austin, TX (October 14 - 16), and don’t forget to use the code TOPLINE for 15% of your ticket. Enjoy the mini-episode? Join the Topline Slack channel to engage with hosts, guests, and other...

In this episode of Topline, hosts Sam, AJ, and Asad dive into the intricacies of growth versus free cash flow margin, especially the evolving premium on growth, the concept of profitable, efficient growth, and the importance of understanding unit economics. The conversation also touches on Q3 market updates from PitchBook and the challenges of transitioning leadership in high-profile companies, using Snowflake as a case study. Want more Topline? Join the Topline Slack channel to engage with...

This week, Sam, AJ, and Asad dive into a question from Pavilion's Slack community: When planning for the fiscal year ahead at the CRO level, should you proactively create a comprehensive plan or deck outlining key actions and deliverables? Tune in as our Topline hosts discuss different approaches to planning and explore best practices. Make sure to secure your ticket to GTM2024 in Austin, TX (October 14 - 16) and use the code TOPLINE for 15% off your ticket. Enjoy the mini-episode? Join the...