
Revenue Builders
Welcome to the Revenue Builders podcast, a weekly show featuring B2B sales leaders and executives. Hosted by Five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management’s Co-Founder John Kaplan, the show goes in the barrel, behind the scenes with the people who have been there, done that and seen the results. Revenue Builders covers the best practices for scaling and growing your business, while sharing the pitfalls to avoid. Great conversation. Solid interviews. Tangible takeaways to help you succeed. If you enjoy our content, please subscribe, rate and review the show to help us reach more people.
This show is brought to you by: Force Management where we help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale. Check out forcemanagement.com more information
Latest episodes

Nov 14, 2024 • 1h 11min
On Being a Leader with George Conrades
Join George Conrades, former CEO of Akamai Technologies and current Oracle Board member, as he shares inspiring insights from his book, 'On Being a Leader.' He emphasizes the power of effective listening and how inclusiveness fosters team dynamics. Delve into the differences between transactional and transformational leadership while understanding the significance of authenticity and self-awareness. George discusses navigating change, the importance of clarity and accountability, and why loving people is at the heart of true leadership.

Nov 10, 2024 • 11min
Coaching Your Team to Success with Brian White
Brian White, the running backs coach at Bowling Green State University, shares his insights on coaching through human connection. He discusses how losing can teach invaluable lessons about accountability and productivity. White emphasizes the importance of personal connections, understanding players' backgrounds, and instilling core values like gratitude, grit, and selflessness. He also highlights the delicate balance between individuality and teamwork in fostering a strong team spirit. His guiding mantra? "Play hard, fast, and be a great teammate."

Nov 7, 2024 • 23min
Getting Customer Success Right
Sasha Anderson, Global Head of Customer Success at Canva, dives into the nuances of consumption-based pricing and its impact on customer engagement. Dan Barrett, Executive VP at MongoDB, highlights the necessity of aligning customer expectations with tangible value demonstration. Allison Pickens, co-author of The Customer Success Economy, discusses the urgent need to reduce churn by understanding internal factors that drive customer turnover. Together, they emphasize data analysis, cross-team alignment, and strategic transparency as keys to thriving in customer success.

Oct 31, 2024 • 29min
Debriefing Our Most Popular Episodes
Join Jeremy Duggan, a leadership expert from Multiverse, as he shares insights on the difference between managing and leading. Mark Wendling from Snowflake explores essential sales disciplines and the traits that make top salespeople successful. Brian McCarthy, CRO at Rubrik, delves into key sales stages and defining exit criteria crucial for effective execution. Finally, Doug May of Harness emphasizes the importance of aligning solutions to customer goals through his value pyramid framework, bringing clarity to business value assessments.

Oct 27, 2024 • 7min
AI Disruption: Thinking Outside-In
Mark Roberge dives into how AI challenges outdated business models and the necessity for fresh thinking to drive innovation. He highlights how large companies often resist disruptive changes due to internal dynamics. Rather than just automating tasks, there's a call for a comprehensive approach to enhance the customer experience. Roberge warns that current AI tools are merely iterative, lacking revolutionary potential. The conversation also raises provocative questions about the future of work, including the emergence of billion-dollar firms with minimal staff.

5 snips
Oct 24, 2024 • 1h 14min
Sales Management: Key Responsibilities that Will Make or Break Success
Dive into the intricate world of sales management, where effective recruitment and territory planning are paramount for first-line managers. Discover the challenges faced by second-line managers and the significance of accountability in leadership roles. The discussion also includes the critical nature of product knowledge for sales reps and strategic time management. Unravel the essential responsibilities of a Chief Revenue Officer and how collaboration across departments can elevate sales success. Tune in for invaluable insights on building robust sales teams!

Oct 17, 2024 • 1h 5min
Cutting Through the Noise: Understanding AI Through History and Practical Application
Devavrat Shah, CEO of Ikigai Labs and MIT professor, joins the discussion to unravel the complexities of artificial intelligence. He covers the historical evolution of AI, tracing its roots and essential concepts. The conversation highlights AI's role in enhancing business models and decision-making through collaboration and explainability. Shah emphasizes ethical AI governance and the urgent need for upskilling in the workforce, urging businesses to adopt a mindful approach to AI to ensure sustainable growth and innovation.

Oct 13, 2024 • 8min
Demonstrating Opportunity with Your SKO
Discover how to supercharge your sales kickoffs by aligning them with strategic company goals. Learn why demonstrating the opportunities available to revenue teams is vital for their engagement. The hosts emphasize the importance of career growth and targeted training to tackle sales challenges. Clear communication about the purpose behind sales goals can foster a motivating culture that resonates year-round. Overall, it's about creating a purposeful kickoff that inspires success!

22 snips
Oct 10, 2024 • 1h 5min
Mastering Negotiation in B2B Sales with Keno Helmi
Keno Helmi, a seasoned five-time CRO with expertise at leading tech firms, dives into the intricacies of B2B sales negotiation. He stresses the importance of managing price perception and positioning products as premium offerings to highlight value. Keno outlines a negotiation protocol that includes qualifying conditions and preparing for trade-offs. He emphasizes early engagement with procurement and leveraging non-price elements, alongside mastering ROI discussions to navigate objections and close successfully.

Oct 6, 2024 • 6min
The Manager Curse: Being a Super Rep with Tammy Sexton
Tammy Sexton, the Chief Revenue Officer at Aerospike and a seasoned sales professional, shares her journey of shifting from account executive to first-line manager. She discusses the trap of becoming a 'super rep,' where new managers inadvertently overshadow their teams. Emphasizing the importance of effective coaching, Tammy advocates for recognizing individual strengths and fostering empowerment among sales reps. She provides actionable strategies for new managers to encourage team success while driving revenue goals.
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