

Customer Success Talks
Real Challenges, Experts Advice
Welcome to Customer Success Talks: Real Challenges, Expert Advice – the podcast for everyone passionate about CS! Whether you're transitioning into CS or a CSM with around three years of experience, this podcast is here for you. Our discussions tackle day-to-day CSM challenges in a practical way, ensuring value for everyone. Hosted by Bayron Toruno, a true CS enthusiast, each episode features in-depth conversations with industry experts, real-life stories, and actionable advice. Join us and be part of our community, where we grow and succeed together!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 29, 2025 • 52min
Strategic Customer Success: How CSMs Win Trust & Influence Action | Chad Horenfeldt
 Chad Horenfeldt, VP of Customer Success and author of The Strategic Customer Success Manager, shares insights from his 20 years in SaaS. He emphasizes the importance of building trust and becoming a strategic advisor rather than just a problem-solver. Discover how AI tools can streamline preparation and the significance of clear agendas in meetings. Chad also reveals the SOON Funnel technique for collaborative success, and he highlights essential skills like growth mindset and business acumen for CSMs aspiring to advance their careers. 

Oct 22, 2025 • 13min
CSM Quick Lesson: Boost Customer Onboarding Strategies with Donna Weber
 In today's CSM Quick Lesson, Donna Weber. Discover how aligning with your customers' journey builds trust and fosters long-term partnerships. 'Every time we meet, we should be delivering value. Customer success hinges on clear communication and valuing client time, not just product delivery.You can find the full conversation below:YouTube - https://youtu.be/vul6RsDzH78Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/2KhCUm5JGSL0cFSWfVYwPU?si=a610ea064f064dc7Linkedin:Dona Weber - https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnaweb/Bayron Toruno - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bayron-toru%C3%B1o-solano-3a9408113/Check our Dona's book: Onboarding Matters - https://www.donnaweber.com/bookFollow us on:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cstalkspodcast/Tik-Tok @customer.success6Explore Our Podcast Website - https://cstalkspodcast.com/ #customersuccess #onboarding #customerexperience  #businesstips 

Oct 15, 2025 • 41min
Thriving as a New Customer Success Manager in a Startup with Priscila Fletcher
 Priscila Fletcher, a seasoned Customer Success leader and founder of Latinos in Customer Success, shares her insights on thriving as a new CSM in startups. She discusses the critical first 90 days, highlighting a structured 30/60/90-day plan for success. Priscila emphasizes the importance of prioritization, building influence maps, and seeking mentors early on. She also offers practical tips for demonstrating impact and aligning with management goals, helping listeners navigate the chaos of startup life with confidence. 

Oct 8, 2025 • 12min
CSM Quick Lesson: Upselling Tactics with Jan Young
 Jan Young, a seasoned customer experience and success practitioner, shares powerful upselling tactics. She emphasizes the importance of timing and the right approach to maintain trust with customers. Selling too early can erode relationships, so focusing on needs post-sale is crucial. Jan discusses the balance between advocacy and expansion targets, warning against quota pressure that can lead to premature selling and increased churn. She also suggests proactive strategies for spotting upsell opportunities and highlights the value of effective negotiation skills. 

Oct 1, 2025 • 48min
Why Do NPS Surveys Make or Break Your Job? with Myriam Hirt
 In this episode, I sit down with Miriam Hirt, Head of Customer Success, to explore the true power of NPS surveys. With 7+ years of experience building CS teams and processes, Miriam shares her candid love-hate relationship with NPS, why feedback often goes unacted upon, and how her team transformed a bumpy survey journey into a structured, scalable voice of the customer program.You’ll learn:- When and how to send surveys for maximum response and impact- Why feedback is only valuable if you act on it and how to do that- The importance of segmenting your users and feedback types- How to collaborate cross-functionally to drive change- A practical, step-by-step guide to launching or improving your own survey strategyWhether you're just starting with surveys or want to improve how your org listens to customers, this episode is packed with real-world insights you can implement immediately.Mentioned: How to Win Customers and Keep Them for Life by Michael LeBoeufConnect with Us:Myriam Hirt - https://www.linkedin.com/in/myriam-hirt/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/ 

Sep 17, 2025 • 43min
Customer Experience vs Customer Success: How to Design a Journey That Drives Loyalty |Vaishali Dialani
 What’s the real difference between Customer Experience (CX) and Customer Success (CS) and how can they work together to build loyalty, drive measurable results, and create seamless customer journeys?🔗Sponsored by Vitally – the modern Customer Success Platform. Book a qualified demo and get a FREE pair of AirPods Pro!👉 https://www.vitally.io/demo-airpodsIn this episode, we’re joined by Vaishali Dilani – CX strategist, award-winning mentor, speaker, and co-author of CX5. With over 9 years of experience designing impactful customer experiences across industries from SaaS and fintech to healthcare and education, Vaishali shares exactly:- The 3 pillars of a world-class customer experience- How CX and CS roles complement (and differ from) each other- What a well-designed customer journey really looks like- How to start a CX project when no one owns it yet- Ways to align teams internally and use AI for smarter CX- Tangible steps to elevate proactive customer successWhether you're a CSM, CX leader, or just getting started in customer-centric roles, this episode is packed with strategic insight and actionable advice.Connect with Us:Vaishali Dialani - https://www.linkedin.com/in/vaishalidialani/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 

5 snips
Sep 3, 2025 • 49min
The Invisible Game of Negotiation: How Psychology Wins Deals with Kai-Markus Mueller
 Kai-Markus Mueller, a neuroscientist and consumer behavior expert, discusses the hidden dynamics of negotiation that can make or break deals. He reveals how framing can influence perceptions of value, using the Prada sweater strategy to illustrate this. The power of anchoring, why silence can be your secret weapon, and the psychology behind decision-making are explored in depth. Listeners gain insights on effective negotiation tactics that can be applied immediately, enhancing their sales and customer success strategies. 

Sep 1, 2025 • 44min
(Remastered) Unlocking the Power of Voice of the Customer VoC with Andrew Marks
 In a captivating discussion, Andrew Marks, co-founder of SuccessHACKER and expert in post-sales strategies, unpacks the transformative power of the Voice of the Customer (VoC) framework. He emphasizes how a solid VoC program fosters customer satisfaction and drives revenue growth. Andrew shares insights on crafting compelling customer stories and the importance of continuous listening. He also provides practical tips for echoing customer sentiments to build stronger connections, transforming feedback into powerful drivers of organizational improvement. 

12 snips
Aug 20, 2025 • 55min
Entrepreneurial Mindset in Customer Success with Marija Skobe-Pilley
 Join Marija Skobe-Pilley, a Customer Success leader and founder of Women in Customer Success, as she dives into the importance of an entrepreneurial mindset for CSMs. She shares tactical advice on mastering revenue conversations and discovering upsell opportunities without coming off as 'salesy.' Marija emphasizes the significance of understanding customer metrics and offers insights into building confidence through practice. This conversation is rich with actionable strategies to elevate your customer success game! 

Aug 6, 2025 • 39min
Think Like a Revenue Manager: Boosting CS with Data & Strategic Thinking | Diego Fernandez
 Diego Fernandez Perez De Ponga, CEO of Port Hotels and author of 'The Art of Revenue', dives into how Customer Success Managers can adopt revenue management tactics for growth. He highlights the importance of data-driven decision-making to predict churn and improve client relationships. Diego emphasizes segmentation's role in enhancing customer outcomes and discusses transforming customer success from a cost center to a profit center. His insights equip listeners with actionable strategies to become more strategic and revenue-focused in their roles. 


