Taking the Lead

Women are more than capable of managing teams and leading companies. And without a doubt, we need to have more women at executive tables. But no matter their gender, age, or race, all leaders need to have an executive presence and truly show up as leaders when they walk into a room.In this episode of the Taking the Lead podcast, our host Christina Brady welcomes Christine Rogers, the President and COO of Aspireship. They talk about why sales is not for everyone, how to stay true to yourself while moving up the company ladder, and what are the main issues with having a lack of diversity at the executive table.

Hiring new people has become one of the most challenging tasks for a company. Given how incredibly competitive compensation plans have become, it's hard to chase talent as they’re ready to turn down any offer that doesn't meet their needs.However, should compensation be the determining factor for a candidate? Even if compensation plans aren't as convenient as expected, candidates should look at the opportunities available at the company and how they can use them to gain valuable experience in the field, whether it's sales or something else.In this episode of Taking the Lead, Christina Brady welcomes Amber Smith, the VP of Small Business & Mid-Market Sales at InsideView (a Demandbase company). They get into the challenges of hiring talent, how compensation plans impact the candidate's decision while choosing a company, the importance of chasing opportunities, and other ideas concerning hiring and paying employees today.

In almost all companies, there are top sales representatives who are also capable of leading teams and achieving excellent results in their field. They not only know how to position the company and create qualified potential clients, but they also have the skills to build trust within their teams.But most sales representatives do not know how to reach the position of leader (even if  it is handed to them), and they are often afraid to take the next step. Should I ask for a promotion? Am I even ready for that kind of responsibility?In this episode of Taking the Lead, Christina Brady welcomes Michelle Pietsch, the VP of Revenue at Dooly. Christina and Michelle get into how to get to your desired position and advance in your career and emphasize that the most important thing is to work meaningfully on your development path.

The comfort zone is our worst enemy, and most of us decide to settle for less because we fear being rejected by a company we want to be a part of. But, being in a place where you don't feel valued can do more harm than facing failure. Therefore, every time we think there's no way to accomplish more, we should look for examples of successful individuals who once were where we are now. In this episode of Taking the Lead, our host Christina Brady welcomes Debra Senra,  the Head of Sales and CS at ThreeFlow. In this insightful and inspiring conversation, Debra shares her professional experience and how she fought gender inequality. She also explains how to ask for what you deserve without jeopardizing your position, and how even lousy advice can help you grow. 

Shopping for a new tool requires the attention of several departments within the company — marketing, sales, and customers. And the same goes for the piloting, implementation, and trial of a tool. As a rule of thumb, all departments must be aligned to create a coherent strategy, which is the key to accomplishing any goal.But is it necessary to plan and create a thorough annual plan to achieve good alignment between teams? Or is it enough to craft a list of primary goals and observe it from various standpoints?In the latest episode of Taking the Lead, Christina Brady welcomes Esther Friend, the VP of Sales Efficiency and Transformation at Five9. They get into the piloting phase of tool evaluation, creating alignment between teams, the role customer feedback plays in tool improvements, and other such aspects relating to tool acquisition and assessment.

Women have proven time and again that they can be equally good leaders as men. They are able to demonstrate strong leadership skills, make bold decisions, and boost company performance. But being a female leader often comes with some significant challenges, such as getting interrupted, spoken over, or feeling excluded.In this episode of the Taking the Lead podcast, our host Christina Brady welcomes Jenni Dettman, the Vice President of Marketing at DZS and a powerful female leader. They get into the issues women encounter at the workplace and discuss ways to overcome them and come out even stronger. In addition, they chat about self-awareness, adaptability, and authenticity as key aspects of being an inspiring leader.

It is safe to say that the tech sector is taking the lead in today's business world, and every company, regardless of the industry, relies on it. But, how can someone who’s never worked in the tech space and has no prior knowledge of it build a career in it? According to our guest, Kirsten Reynolds, Head of Partnerships at Airvet, it all comes down to our willingness to ask questions, learn, and not compare ourselves to others.''Stop comparing yourself to other people. I still challenge myself with that all the time. It's something I need to tell myself to this day. I wish I would've started when I was younger, but everybody's on this journey. And so, everybody has different speeds at different times.''In this episode of Taking the Lead podcast, Kirsten introduces Airvet, discusses the magical combination of the vet and tech space, and shares what it was like moving from the corporate world to a startup. Kirsten and our host Christina also chat about the importance of building a community, helping each other, and being kind. 

Chief Revenue Officer is one of the newest roles in the C-suite range. Since they're responsible for generating revenue and driving growth, their job is to bring sales and marketing together to ensure customer success.But most CROs struggle with the customer experience piece of the puzzle and rely only on the efforts of their sales and marketing teams to drive revenue. In this episode of the Taking The Lead Podcast, our host Christina Brady welcomes Mary Ward, the CRO of Athennian, to discuss the challenges and perks of being a CRO. They get into how CROs can bring marketing, sales, and CX together, why this holistic approach to revenue generation is so effective, and the best ways to help these teams work towards their common goals.

Do you love your job? If the answer is anything but a firm yes, we suggest you listen to this uplifting episode of the Taking the Lead podcast… and even if it is a “yes” check it out anyway! Today's guest is Nanette George, a pioneer in career changes. But you know what? She is happy and thriving. So if you want to feel the same way, tune in to hear what she has to say.Nanette is the Director of Product Marketing at Comet. Prior to that, she was the Senior Manager of Product Marketing at Oracle and Senior Marketing Manager at Cloud Factory and is also launching her own podcast soon. Nanette says that over the years, she's learned how to leverage all her skills from all these different experiences and go after what she wants in business. Now she wants to help others do the same, discover their North Star, and make that career change they've been dreaming about for so long.In this episode, our host Christina Brady and Nanette chat about the role of curiosity in finding your dream job. How to stand out from others and where to start when you want to make a radical career change.

People tend to express one personality at home and another at work. However, it sometimes makes us fake our true selves and pretend we are something we are not. Is there a way to overcome that obstacle and achieve a true work-life balance?Angela Earl is the VP of Global Marketing at RFPIO Inc., and she believes the key to achieving a flawless work-life balance lies in picking up the pieces of each and integrating them in both spheres. She encourages executives to be who they are at work, be vulnerable, and take a break when things become overwhelming. That way, their teams will be encouraged to do the same.In this episode of Taking the Lead, our host Christina Brady introduces us to Angela Earl. Angela reveals the secrets of maintaining a perfect balance between personal and professional life, especially in the COVID-driven environment.