Account Management Secrets

Mallory Lee proves that simplifying your systems can be the smartest growth strategy a company ever makes.   Alex Raymond sits down with Mallory Lee, VP of Revenue Operations at PhoneBurner, about how tearing out a decade of legacy systems and moving from Salesforce to HubSpot unlocked faster growth, cleaner data, and stronger alignment across the company. Guided by her “SEC” framework—simple, effective, confident—Mallory shares how she rebuilt the company’s go-to-market motion to unify sales, RevOps, and account management under one streamlined system that actually helps people do their jobs instead of getting in their way.   They discuss how simplification drives better business decisions, why post-sales deserves the same urgency as new revenue, and how operational clarity fuels both performance and wellbeing on fast-moving teams. Mallory also breaks down how her approach reflects the mindset of modern entrepreneurship, where efficiency, trust, and collaboration create the foundation for sustainable growth.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Simplifying the Tech Stack for Growth 03:00 Why PhoneBurner Rebuilt Its CRM Around HubSpot 06:41 How RevOps Unites Sales, Account Management, and Customer Success 12:32 The Power of Simplicity: Mallory Lee’s SEC Framework 21:01 Forecasting with Confidence and Cleaner Data 24:06 Using AI to Automate RevOps and Free Up Time 29:57 Why Customer Success Deserves the Same Urgency as New Business Connect with Mallory Lee: Connect with Mallory on LinkedIn   Connect with Alex Raymond: Visit the AMplify website Connect with Alex on LinkedIn Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Ultra accounts demand a no-deck QBR playbook built on senior trust, steakhouse conversations, and concrete commitments.   Carl Lenocker, Senior Customer Success Executive at Splunk (now Cisco), joins Alex Raymond to talk about managing $10M+ enterprise accounts through clarity, preparation, and authentic relationship-building. He shares how the best account managers operate more like entrepreneurs than employees, balancing business rigor with genuine human connection, and why “promises made, promises kept” is the mindset that sustains both growth and wellbeing. His approach to executive simplicity proves that true expertise means knowing what to say, when to say it, and when to stop talking.   They explore why most QBRs fail before they begin and how to turn them into focused conversations that deliver real outcomes. Carl explains his “steak dinner strategy,” a practical method for earning trust and uncovering critical insights over a meal instead of a slide deck. For anyone serious about entrepreneurship, business success, and personal wellbeing, this episode is a reminder that confident simplicity always wins in the room where decisions are made.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Managing Ultra Accounts: The Realities of Enterprise Account Management 01:18 What Defines an Ultra Account and Why It Matters 07:14 Inside Splunk’s Lean Model for High-Value Customers 10:28 Balancing Revenue Growth and Retention 12:25 Leading Business Conversations That Earn Executive Trust 17:36 Rethinking QBRs: From Presentation to Facilitation 31:06 The Art of Relationship Building and Executive Access 34:01 Mastering the Steak Dinner Strategy 39:58 Year-End Playbook for Account Managers Connect with Carl Lenocker: Connect with Carl on LinkedIn   Connect with Alex Raymond: Visit the AMplify website Connect with Alex on LinkedIn Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Amanda Edington, VP of Account Management at Payscale, transforms her team's approach to growth by prioritizing client service. She reveals how shifting the mindset from chasing new customers to nurturing existing relationships fosters retention and drives expansion. Through coaching and curiosity, account managers can uncover true client needs. Amanda emphasizes the importance of asking, 'How can we be a better partner for you?' to enhance partnerships and prevent churn. Discover how genuine value delivery translates into customer elation and long-term success.

Shep Hyken, a customer experience expert and New York Times bestselling author, discusses the critical differences between customer satisfaction and loyalty. He reveals that 'satisfied' customers can still leave, urging account managers to build genuine partnerships through consistent communication and effective problem resolution. Shep emphasizes that B2B clients now expect B2C-level experiences, offering a six-step playbook to enhance loyalty. He also highlights the importance of adopting a customer-focused culture and mastering service recovery to foster long-term retention.

Anthony DeShazor, founder of Protia Revenue Systems and former head of customer success at Givelify, discusses the shift from contracts to value in account management. He emphasizes how removing auto-renewals fosters urgency and leads to stronger customer relations. Anthony articulates the importance of focusing on customer purpose rather than just performance metrics, resulting in increased loyalty and consistent donor growth. He shares innovative approaches to ongoing value communication and structuring impactful Executive Business Reviews to enhance customer engagement and retention.

Revenue is more concentrated than ever, with a handful of accounts driving the majority of growth. That reality makes account management both the biggest risk and the biggest lever in business today. In this episode, Frank Cespedes—senior lecturer at Harvard Business School and author of Sales Management That Works—joins Alex Raymond to talk about why most companies are still scandalously sloppy with account planning, why account managers can no longer afford to be financially illiterate, and what it takes to be taken seriously in the C-suite. They discuss how higher interest rates are changing buying behavior, why lead qualification criteria matter more than ever, and the danger of treating account management as nothing more than discount-driven cross-sell. Frank also weighs in on the “full spectrum AE” debate and why asking one person to do everything across the customer lifecycle is a fantasy in most organizations. For anyone serious about entrepreneurship and building a durable business, this conversation offers a clear reminder: account management isn’t just about customer retention, it’s about protecting wellbeing across the company. If you can’t connect your work to profitable growth and enterprise value, your seat at the table is far from guaranteed. Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Why Account Management Matters with Frank Cespedes 02:28 Why Big Accounts Dominate Revenue Growth 04:54 Lead Qualification in a High-Interest Market 10:49 Why Leaders Are Out of Touch with Customers 13:10 Financial Literacy as a Core AM Skill 20:04 The Account Planning Problem 25:32 Spreadsheets vs. Real Customer Contact 29:09 Technology and AI Reshaping Buying Behavior 30:22 Where to Invest in Account Management 35:56 The Debate on Full Spectrum AEs 39:24 The Future of CS and Account Management   Links Connect with Frank Cespedes: LinkedIn Website   Connect with Alex Raymond: LinkedIn AMplify   Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Bill Senese, Senior Strategic Adoption Manager at Amazon Business and author of 'The Book on That: B2B Account Management', shares invaluable insights on the essence of true partnership in account management. He emphasizes skills like active listening and curiosity, which help uncover unspoken client needs. Bill also discusses the importance of creativity in problem-solving and the distinction between follow-up and genuine follow-through. With tips on transforming meetings into real conversations, he urges managers to earn trust beyond mere signatures.

Customer success used to thrive on easy capital and organic expansion. But in today’s market, that model is running out of runway. If CS isn’t tied to revenue, it’s on borrowed time. In this episode, Justin Strackany - employee #1 at SecureLink who scaled the company to $50M ARR and three exits - makes the case for why post-sales must evolve into a true growth function. He and Alex Raymond discuss what it means to measure CS on NRR, how to split roles between AMs and CSMs, and why strategic account management is the skill that will separate survivors from those left behind.   From AI-enabled automation of low-value accounts, to white-space scoring and executive sponsorship for top-tier customers, Justin shares the playbook he used to turn customer success into a revenue engine. He also outlines what companies must change in their org design, hiring, and training if they want CS to remain relevant.   For account managers and CS leaders, this conversation is both a warning and a roadmap: adapt your skills, claim revenue, and redefine your role, or risk becoming obsolete.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Why Account Managers Drive Business Growth   02:00 Should Customer Success Own Revenue?   06:22 Why CSMs Resist Revenue Accountability   10:27 The Future of CS and Account Management in the AI Era   12:23 Scaling SecureLink from Startup to $50M ARR   18:26 Lessons from Private Equity on NRR and Growth   25:48 Strategic Account Management in the Age of AI   32:05 Redefining CS and AM as the Growth Department   39:31 Roadmap for CSMs to Stay Relevant     Connect with Justin Strackany: LinkedIn GTM.Consulting   Connect with Alex Raymond: LinkedIn AMplify Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

In this discussion, Todd Caponi, a sales expert and author of *Four Levers Negotiating*, shares his innovative approach to value-based negotiations for B2B renewals. He introduces his Four Levers framework—volume, timing of cash, length of commitment, and predictability—to lessen discounts and enhance profitability. Todd stresses the importance of avoiding 'easy gives' that harm credibility and encourages introducing mild friction to increase customer commitment. His insights help account managers protect revenue while fostering stronger business relationships.

In this engaging discussion, Josh Abdulla, Chief Customer Officer at Asana, reveals insights from managing a vast portfolio of 170,000 clients. He emphasizes that low usage often masks deeper issues behind customer churn. The conversation highlights Asana's innovative Red Renewals System, which identifies churn risks 12 months in advance, empowering proactive strategies. Abdulla also discusses the importance of shifting focus from mere task management to driving customer value, fostering healthier relationships, and tackling stress in account management.