The Reflective Journey from Sales Leader to CRO with Alex Varel
Feb 6, 2025
auto_awesome
Alex Varel, the CRO at Multiverse and seasoned sales leader, dives into his journey spanning media, software, and technology. He emphasizes the power of vulnerability and authenticity in leadership, sharing personal stories that highlight their role in fostering strong team connections. Varel discusses the importance of data-driven decisions and iterative improvements for scaling sales. He balances recruiting talent internally versus externally and stresses the need for effective operating rhythms to drive growth and cultivate a culture of continuous learning.
Vulnerability and authenticity in leadership foster trust and a relatable dynamic, enabling deeper connections within teams.
Experiencing defeats provides invaluable lessons and encourages resilience, transforming challenges into growth opportunities for both leaders and teams.
A team-centric approach, focusing on iterative improvements and collective accountability, drives sustainable growth beyond dependence on high performers.
Deep dives
The Value of Vulnerability in Leadership
Vulnerability is highlighted as a key trait for effective leadership. Leaders who openly share their struggles and defeats create a relatable dynamic that fosters trust among their teams. By revealing their own brokenness, leaders become more approachable and authentic, enabling their teams to connect on a deeper level. This openness can create a supportive culture where individuals feel comfortable sharing their challenges, ultimately driving team success.
Learning from Defeats
Experiencing and learning from defeats can provide invaluable lessons for personal and professional growth. The challenges faced during tough times shape future reactions and provide insights that successes may not teach. Such experiences encourage resilience and highlight the importance of adapting one's mindset in the face of adversity. By reframing defeats as growth opportunities, leaders can inspire their teams to persevere and find value in difficult situations.
Mindset and Accountability as a CRO
Adopting a proper mindset is crucial for new Chief Revenue Officers (CROs) to navigate their roles effectively. Understanding the accountability that comes with the position and partnering with the executive team is vital for driving success. CROs should take the initiative to listen, gather insights, and make informed decisions that align with the company’s objectives. Building a strong relationship with board members and understanding their expectations also contributes significantly to a CRO’s effectiveness.
The Importance of Team-Based Success
Transforming a sales organization from a reliance on superstars to a focus on broad-based success can drive sustainable growth. A team-centric approach encourages collaboration and leverages the strengths of each member, creating a more cohesive unit. By focusing on iterative improvements, measuring outcomes, and fostering a common methodology, leaders can cultivate an environment of success. This approach emphasizes collective accountability and the importance of developing every team member, rather than depending on a few high performers.
Traits of Successful Recruits
Key traits for successful recruits include drive, intelligence, and coachability, forming the foundation for potential success in the organization. Understanding a candidate's motivation and formative experiences can help identify individuals who will thrive in challenging environments. Intelligence encompasses both street smarts and book smarts, essential for adapting to the fast-paced nature of sales. Leaders should recognize that while experience is important, fostering intangibles like drive and adaptability is crucial when building a high-performing team.
In this episode of the Revenue Builders Podcast, hosts John McMahon and John Kaplan are joined by accomplished sales leader, Alex Varel, CRO at Multiverse. They discuss Alex's diverse career across media, software, and technology companies, including his transition to human capital management software. The conversation covers valuable lessons on leadership, the importance of authenticity, and the role of vulnerability in personal and professional growth. Varel shares insights on the significance of iterative improvements, data-driven decision-making, and a team-first mentality in scaling sales organizations. He also emphasizes the importance of an effective operating rhythm, recruiting the right talent, and balancing internal promotions with external hires. Varel's wisdom, examples, and memorable stories offer valuable takeaways for sales leaders aiming to drive growth and foster a culture of continuous learning and adaptability.
[00:00:50] Alex’s Journey Through Sales Leadership [00:03:06] The Power of Vulnerability and Authenticity [00:05:19] Lessons from Defeat: Embracing Challenges [00:17:27] The Role of a CRO: Responsibilities and Mindset [00:37:17] The Pandemic of Certainty [00:37:40] Learning from Various Sources [00:38:55] The Importance of Note-Taking [00:39:25] Learning from Everyone Around [00:41:03] Operating Rhythm for a CRO [00:42:35] The Value of Skip-Level Meetings [00:45:52] Transforming to a Broad-Based Success Mentality [00:53:50] Key Metrics for CROs [00:56:56] The Role of External Leaders [01:04:03] Traits to Look for in Recruits
HIGHLIGHT QUOTES
[00:12:50] "Learning is in the difficulty." [00:31:58] "You are responsible for giving accurate feedback to every executive team member, especially the CEO." [00:46:47] "You can always count on human fallibility, errors are to be expected." [00:49:24] "Driving iterative improvements in a short period is critical for broad-based success." [00:49:39] "The mindset should be about team performance over individual performance." [01:10:56] "Don't die on every single hill; prioritize your time and energy to move the needle where it matters."
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode