325: A High-Growth Sales Career w/ Todd Busler, Co-founder Champify
Nov 28, 2022
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Todd Busler, co-founder of Champify, has an impressive sales career background, having worked at SAP, Square, and Heap, where he became VP of Sales. The conversation highlights his journey from an athlete to a sales executive, emphasizing the value of networking and mentorship. Todd shares insights on transitioning from VP of Sales to entrepreneur and the challenges of launching Champify. The discussion also touches on influential books and the importance of hobbies for mental clarity, along with overcoming sales pipeline challenges through innovative solutions.
Todd Busler's diverse experiences in sales, from SAP to co-founding Champify, highlight the importance of mentorship and adaptability in career growth.
His focus on leveraging existing relationships for pipeline generation illustrates innovative approaches to overcoming traditional sales challenges and enhancing response rates.
Deep dives
Career Path and Early Experiences
The journey of Todd Bustler in the sales industry showcases the importance of diverse experiences and the value of early mentorship. Starting as a sales engineer at SAP, Todd quickly learned how to bridge the gap between technical knowledge and sales, which set a foundation for his future roles. His entrepreneurial spirit shone through early on as he engaged in various ventures, including running a surf camp and selling ice cream on the beach, illustrating his natural inclination towards business. These formative experiences ultimately shaped his approach to sales and leadership in complex environments, enabling him to transition from being a contributing sales rep to taking on more leadership roles.
The Transition from Sales to Leadership
Todd's evolution from an Account Executive to the Vice President of Sales at Heap exemplifies the potential for rapid growth in dynamic environments. His strategic decision-making and understanding of the sales landscape allowed him to navigate the challenges of scaling a sales team in a startup atmosphere. Collaborating with seasoned colleagues and focusing on areas like sales operations and compensation allowed him to gain a holistic view of the business operations. Todd emphasized the significance of low ego and a strong desire to support the business's growth, which helped him cultivate relationships with leadership and ultimately positioned him for leadership roles.
Entrepreneurial Journey with Champify
After a successful stint at Heap, Todd embarked on an entrepreneurial journey by co-founding Champify, aimed at addressing the challenges faced by sales leaders in generating pipeline. Recognizing the difficulties of traditional cold outreach methods, the company focuses on leveraging existing relationships with users, thereby simplifying the sales process and increasing response rates. Todd's belief in the importance of strong go-to-market strategies and understanding customer needs directly informs the development of Champify’s product offerings. By utilizing his sales background, Todd aims to create a solution that streamlines pipeline generation, ultimately reducing the burden on sales teams in a competitive market.
Growth Mindset and Learning Focus
Todd Bustler emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and adapting in his role as a founder, particularly in understanding product and marketing dynamics. Seeking advice from experienced mentors and engaging with various educational resources has become essential for his development. He actively pursues insights from different founders and experts, allowing him to refine his strategies and decision-making processes. Todd’s commitment to understanding customer challenges and market trends highlights a growth mindset crucial for sustained success in the entrepreneurial landscape.
In this episode, I talk to Todd Busler about his high-growth sales career.
He started as a Sales Engineer at SAP, was one of the first reps at Square and then bet on himself as the first GTM hire at Heap. He stayed for 6 years, eventually becoming their VP Sales.
He recently cofounder Champify to help create a new pipeline channel for salespeople.
This episode of the Millennial Sales Podcasst is sponsored by Dooly.
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