Customer Success Talks

Melina Palmer, an applied behavioral economist and author, dives into the world of decision-making with insights from her podcast, The Brainy Business. She discusses the subconscious role in our daily choices, emphasizing how 35,000 decisions are influenced before we even realize it. Melina shares practical communication techniques like reframing language to enhance engagement and influence customer behavior. She also highlights the importance of testing messaging strategies to better resonate with audiences and drive customer loyalty.

In this episode, we dive deep into the art of asking the right questions with special guest Andrea Rijna, trainer, coach, podcast host, and founder of The Power Lab.Andrea shares why listening is one of the most powerful skills in building customer relationships and how great questions unlock not just upsell opportunities but genuine impact for your customers. She introduces the SPICED Framework (Situation, Pain, Impact, Critical Event, Decision) — a simple, customer-centric method to structure conversations and uncover real needs without being pushy.You'll also hear about Andrea's inspiring journey: how a career setback led her to founding her own company, and the powerful lesson she learned about empathy after a big early mistake as a CSM.Key Takeaways:- Why being a great listener is more powerful than being a great speaker.- The SPICED Framework explained step-by-step for real-life application.- How to uncover upsell opportunities naturally through discovery questions.Whether you're an early-career CSM or a seasoned pro wanting to level up your customer conversations, this episode is packed with practical tips you can start using right away!Check out the links below to learn more about Andrea and her work with The Power Lab - https://www.thepowerlab.nl/Connect with Us:Andrea Rijna - https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrearijna/Bayron Toruno - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bayron-toru%C3%B1o-solano-3a9408113/Follow us on:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cstalkspodcast/Tik-Tok @customer.success6Explore Our Podcast Website - https://cstalkspodcast.com/We're expanding to Latin America! Check out Customer Success Talks Latin America, our Spanish version of the show. Find the links in the description below.Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/5R8kF7Yt0VbvNS1Wz06bmEsi=zshhJqR9RDevDal5GluZ0QYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC11VRvlLrv3r46TaUr0zFlA

In this episode of Customer Success Talks, Laura Keitlinger, a seasoned customer success leader, to dive into the importance of cultural awareness in today’s globalized workplace. From navigating small talk to understanding hierarchies and giving feedback across cultures, Lara shares her journey of living and working in the US, UK, Singapore, and Portugal. Learn practical tips for building rapport with customers and colleagues from diverse backgrounds, avoiding cultural missteps, and fostering collaboration in international teams. Whether you're new to customer success or a seasoned pro, this episode is packed with insights to help you thrive in a connected world.🔑 Key Takeaways:- Why is cultural awareness essential for customer success managers- How to adapt communication styles across regions and company cultures- Real-life stories of cultural challenges and lessons learnedStrategies for building empathy and curiosity in professional relationshipsConnect with Us:Laura Keitlinger - https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurakightlinger/Bayron Toruno - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bayron-toru%C3%B1o-solano-3a9408113/Follow us on:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cstalkspodcast/Tik-Tok @customer.success6Explore Our Podcast Website - https://cstalkspodcast.com/Resources:The Cultural Map book - https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Culture-Map-Breaking-Invisible-Boundaries/dp/1610392760Want to learn to level up your Persuasion skills in an ethical way? Go to the link below and receive a SPECIAL DISCOUNT from $897 to only $???:https://cialdini.com/persuasion-power-course-for-dentistry/special-offer?via-rr=OA54EGAOExplore Our Podcast Website - https://cstalkspodcast.com/We're expanding to Latin America! Check out Customer Success Talks Latin America, our Spanish version of the show. Find the links in the description below.Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/5R8kF7Yt0VbvNS1Wz06bmEsi=zshhJqR9RDevDal5GluZ0QYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC11VRvlLrv3r46TaUr0zFlA

In this second episode of our Customer Success Community Special, we shift the focus from building communities to how to truly engage and get value from them. Whether you're looking to network, learn, or contribute, this episode is packed with actionable insights from three inspiring community leaders.🌟 Our Guests:Marija Skobe-Pilley (Founder of Women in Customer Success) – on fostering mentorship and micro-communities for women in CS. Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mspilley/Ejieme Eromosele (Founder of Success in Black) – on creating safe spaces for diversity, equity, and inclusion in CS. Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ejieme/Bhumika Aurora (Founder of RuffDay) – on empowering introverts to find their voice in customer success. Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arorabhumika/🔑 Key Takeaways:✅ How to choose the right CS community for your needs.✅ The importance of engagement—why you should contribute, not just consume.✅ How communities can help with networking, mentorship, and career growth.✅ The difference between online vs. in-person events—and which is right for you.✅ Common mistakes to avoid when joining a CS community.💬 What’s your biggest challenge in engaging with CS communities? Drop a comment below!📌 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell for more insights on Customer Success!Follow-us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cstalkspodcast/and Tik-Tok @customer.success6Explore Our Podcast Website - https://cstalkspodcast.com/We're expanding to Latin America! Check out Customer Success Talks Latin America, our Spanish version of the show. Find the links in the description below.Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/5R8kF7Yt0VbvNS1Wz06bmEsi=zshhJqR9RDevDal5GluZ0QYoutube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC11VRvlLrv3r46TaUr0zFlA#CustomerSuccess #CSCommunity #Networking #CareerGrowth

Welcome to the first episode of our two-part series on Customer Success Communities! In this episode, we dive deep into what it really takes to build a thriving CS community from inspiration to challenges, and everything in between.Our Guests:Paru Bhandari (Founder of South Asian Success) Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/parul-bhandari-1294488/Mohammed Alqaq (Founder of Customer Success Middle East) Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohammedalqaq/Jan Young (Founder of CX Exchange) Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-young-cx/Key Takeaways:- The passion and purpose behind starting a CS community.- Common challenges: member engagement, sustainability, and balancing full-time jobs.- The reality of funding and sponsorship for long-term success.- Lessons learned—what worked, what didn’t, and how to adapt. Subscribe for Part 2, where we explore the benefits of being an active community member!Follow-us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cstalkspodcast/Tik-Tok @customer.success6Explore Our Podcast Website - https://cstalkspodcast.com/We're expanding to Latin America! Check out Customer Success Talks Latin America, our Spanish version of the show. Find the links in the description below.Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/5R8kF7Yt0VbvNS1Wz06bmEsi=zshhJqR9RDevDal5GluZ0QYoutube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC11VRvlLrv3r46TaUr0zFlA

Shruti Sharma, a customer success leader with 20 years of experience and the founder of Consult with Shruti, delves into the essence of value in customer success. She emphasizes the importance of research and setting clear KPIs for valuable conversations. Co-creating flexible success plans and celebrating small wins are key strategies she advocates. Shruti also highlights the power of asking better questions to enhance customer relationships and shares a cautionary tale about a beta feature that didn’t go as planned.

Taskeen Iqbal, a researcher with a PhD in Customer Success and onboarding, shares her insights on tackling startup challenges in customer onboarding. She discusses the importance of customer journey mapping and how to efficiently measure onboarding impact. Iqbal emphasizes fostering interdepartmental collaboration to enhance the customer experience and shares practical strategies to alleviate stress within teams. With lessons drawn from her academic studies and interviews with industry pros, this conversation is a treasure trove for startups aiming for effective onboarding without burnout.

Anika Zubair, Head of Customer Success at Griffin and host of the Customer Success Pro Podcast, shares her 13 years of experience in B2B SaaS. She discusses the crucial role of strategic advisors in Customer Success, emphasizing the need to move beyond product knowledge to create real business impact. Anika highlights the importance of asking the right questions to unlock growth and nurturing meaningful relationships that align with customer goals. She also provides insights on shifting from reactive support to proactive value creation for long-term success.

In this intriguing discussion, public speaking expert Alexander Grabner-Jarlung shares his journey from customer success to mastering communication. He reveals common communication pitfalls, including pesky filler sounds, and introduces the transformative power of storytelling. Alex emphasizes linking emotions to data for impactful messaging and offers unique insights like the 'Angels and Devils Cocktail' for emotional management. With practical tips on authenticity and confidence, he empowers professionals to elevate their communication game.

Join Greg Daines, a SaaS CEO and renowned churn reduction expert, as he uncovers secrets to retaining customers. He reveals why simple satisfaction isn't enough to prevent churn, emphasizing that measurable results are key. Discover surprising truths about NPS and its weak correlation with retention. Learn how to identify early signs of churn and accelerate customer onboarding for quick wins. Greg’s insights show that even bad results can foster loyalty, making this a must-listen for anyone in customer success!