Loren Padelford

In this engaging conversation, Loren Padelford, Founding CRO at Shopify, who scaled Shopify Plus to $1 billion, delves into the intricacies of modern sales leadership. He advocates for focusing on impact over mere productivity and emphasizes emotional intelligence in building sales teams. Loren shares insights on leveraging data for customer-centric strategies and reflects on the toll of hustle culture on personal life. He encourages redefining success by prioritizing meaningful relationships over relentless work, offering a refreshing perspective for today’s sales leaders.

In a compelling discussion, Loren Padelford, CRO of Slice and former Shopify Plus executive, shares his insights on selling and scaling in vertical SaaS. He breaks down how Slice supports independent pizzerias with tailored software solutions, emphasizing the distinct strategies needed to compete with larger chains. Loren discusses the resilience of the pizza industry, key characteristics of effective sales teams, and the importance of building trust with SMBs. A must-listen for those looking to understand the nuances of vertical SaaS!

Sales and marketing expert Loren Padelford discusses the limitations of predictable revenue, Salesforce's game-changing approach to software sales, and the need for personalized sales systems. Topics include traits for successful sales, Shopify's unique hiring strategies, and the role of sales reps as e-commerce platform tour guides.

Loren Padelford, a VP and GM at Shopify, is known for challenging conventional sales doctrines. In this discussion, he reveals the limitations of traditional sales hiring practices and emphasizes that past success doesn't guarantee future performance. Loren shares Shopify’s remarkable journey from a billion-dollar valuation to a $120 billion titan, highlighting the importance of data-driven sales strategies. He also advocates for hiring creative and curious individuals over seasoned salespeople, reshaping how companies approach talent acquisition.

SaaStr CEO Jason Lemkin and Shopify Plus GM Loren Padelford discuss the challenges and benefits of going upmarket, the shift from CIO to CMO in budget allocation, the power of selecting Shopify as a platform, the importance of prioritizing customer success over revenue, strategies for growing revenue in the Shopify ecosystem, and the significance of building a great product for Shopify's growth.