Belkins Podcast

For 10 years, Belkins’ founders never sat down on camera to talk honestly about what building this company has really cost them.Michael Maximoff and Vlad Podoliako have spent a decade building together. They took Belkins from zero to one of the world’s leading B2B lead generation agencies, built Folderly, and managed a portfolio of joint investments.On paper, the story looks perfect. But a portfolio of companies doesn’t show what it feels like to live through it.To close out one of the hardest years they’ve ever had, Michael and Vlad finally sit down — in person — to break the silence.This special episode isn’t about “how we scaled an agency.” It’s about what happens to two people when they spend a decade in hardcore mode: carrying a 300-person team, making painful decisions, holding impossible targets, and trying not to lose themselves (or each other) in the process.They talk about optimism turning into realism, when caring too much starts holding the company back, and why 2025 felt like a loss even with “good numbers.”If you’ve ever felt the weight of responsibility as a founder, co-founder, agency owner, or someone building ambitious things inside a B2B company, this conversation will hit home.In this episode, we unpack:🔹 Co-founder dynamics in real life — how Michael and Vlad actually work together, where they clash, and how they’ve stayed partners through years that didn’t feel like “wins.” 🔹 Naivety, loyalty, and letting go — when believing in people becomes a liability, how many second chances are too many, and what they’ve learned about making hard calls faster. 🔹 The cost of being “#1” — what it really took to build and keep a leading B2B agency while launching a product company in a crowded market. 🔹 Living in “hard-mode entrepreneurship” — why they see business like a video game with one life, bosses, grinding, side quests — and why they still choose to play it this way. 🔹 Seeing a whole year as a “loss” — why Vlad calls 2025 a losing year, why Michael still sees it as a foundation, and how that tension keeps the company moving. 🔹 Identity, ego, and who you become — the versions of themselves they had to let go over the last 10 years, what they miss, and why they still believe this journey is worth it.If you’re tired of polished “success stories” and want to hear what this life actually feels like from the inside, start here.Chapters:00:00 — Intro: Building Belkins & What Success Really Cost Us07:20 — The "Street MBA": Lessons We Learned the Hard Way11:55 — Optimism vs. Realism: How Leadership Changes You Over Time24:03 — Business on Hard Mode: Stress, Pressure, and Staying in the Game33:47 — One Company, One Bet: Choosing Between Belkins and Folderly36:29 — Trust, Expectations, and the Realities of Co-Founder Leadership49:48 — Rapid-Fire: Bootstrapping, VCs, Tools, and Startup Tradeoffs59:10 — The “Walk-Away” Question — What If It All Collapsed?01:07:00 — Was 2025 a Failure? Conflict, Perspective, and Resilience01:17:59 — Good CEO vs. Great CEO — Responsibility, Identity, and What Comes NextAbout the ShowWhat does it really take to grow a B2B business today? We ask the people doing it. The Belkins Podcast dives deep into the strategies, decisions, and behind-the-scenes insights driving real growth at top B2B companies. Each episode features candid conversations with industry heavyweights—CROs, CMOs, founders, and seasoned operators—who've navigated market downturns, scaled teams, and mastered the realities of revenue growth. You'll hear hard truths, unfiltered insights, and actionable tactics directly from leaders who've actually done the work.🔔 Subscribe to never miss an episode.💬 Enjoyed the conversation? Share it with your network and help spread real insights.⭐ Leave a review—your feedback helps us keep bringing you valuable conversations.About the HostMichael Maximoff is the Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer of Belkins, the #1 ranked B2B appointment-setting agency, recognized by Clutch, G2, and Inc. Over the past decade, Michael has built Belkins into one of the most respected voices in B2B sales and marketing, helping over 1,000 companies across 50+ industries achieve predictable, scalable growth. Known for his straightforward style, Michael hosts the Belkins Podcast to speak directly with top growth leaders and uncover what truly moves the needle today.Connect with Vlad: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chiefdata/Connect with Michael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-maximoff/Check us out: https://belkins.io/

Revenue teams are dealing with more tools, more data, more automation - and more pressure - than ever before. Growth isn’t just about selling better anymore. It’s about how the entire revenue engine actually works.For the first time, RevOps isn’t a background function — it’s shaping how companies grow, scale, and make decisions.In this episode of the Belkins Podcast, Michael Maximoff sits down with Jen Igartua, Founder & CEO of Go Nimbly, to unpack what’s really happening inside modern revenue organizations — and why RevOps is suddenly at the center of it all.Jen has helped architect revenue systems for some of the most respected SaaS companies in the world, including Twilio, Zendesk, Snowflake, Intercom, and Superhuman. But this conversation isn’t about theory or frameworks. It’s about what breaks when companies scale, where AI actually helps (and where it creates chaos), and why the future of sales, marketing, and RevOps looks very different than most teams expect.What you’ll learn in this episode:Why RevOps is having a moment — and how rising complexity, AI adoption, and executive pressure have pushed RevOps into a strategic roleWhat Revenue Operations actually does beyond automation, reporting, and tooling — including enablement, strategy, and protecting the customer experienceHow AI is changing RevOps teams — from workflow automation and data architecture to the risks of agent and automation sprawlThe real future of sales roles — why junior SDR roles are disappearing, and why business development is becoming more senior, not automated awayHow to know when your company needs RevOps — including revenue thresholds, organizational signals, and common mistakes founders make too earlyWhat strong RevOps teams get right — clean data, shared definitions, cross-functional trust, and decision-making that actually sticksThroughout the episode, Jen and Michael go deep on the messy, human side of scaling revenue — misaligned incentives, broken handoffs, over-engineered stacks, and the uncomfortable truth that most companies don’t actually have a single view of the customer.This isn’t a hype conversation about tools. It’s a grounded look at how modern revenue organizations are being rebuilt — and why RevOps is now one of the most critical functions inside growing B2B companies.Chapters:00:00- Intro: Who is Jen Igartua03:17- What is RevOps?09:25- AI Changed RevOps: AIOps, When to Hire RevOps, Build vs Outsource17:25- Workflow Automation Is Getting Out of Control24:02- What’s Next: Platform Consolidation in RevOps27:46- Clay, HubSpot, and the Reality of the Modern RevOps Stack33:48- The Limits of AI in Sales & Marketing39:25- How SDRs, Marketing, and Social Selling Are Merging49:50- RevFest: Building Real RevOps Community01:00:49- Go Nibly's Evolution and Strategy01:12:44- Curated Dinners as Acquisition Strategies01:21:26- Creativity, Leadership, and “Follow the Fun”About the ShowWhat does it really take to grow a B2B business today? We ask the people doing it.The Belkins Podcast dives deep into the strategies, decisions, and behind-the-scenes insights driving real growth at top B2B companies. Each episode features candid conversations with industry heavyweights — CROs, CMOs, founders, and seasoned operators — who’ve navigated market downturns, scaled teams, and dealt with the realities of modern revenue growth.You’ll hear hard truths, unfiltered insights, and actionable perspectives from leaders who’ve actually built and operated revenue engines at scale.🔔 Subscribe to never miss an episode💬 Enjoyed the conversation? Share it with your network⭐ Leave a review — it helps others find the showAbout the HostMichael Maximoff is the Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer of Belkins, the #1 ranked B2B appointment-setting agency, recognized by Clutch, G2, and Inc.Over the past decade, Michael has helped more than 1,000 companies across 50+ industries build predictable, scalable growth engines. Known for his direct, operator-first approach, he hosts the Belkins Podcast to explore what actually works in B2B sales, marketing, and revenue leadership today.

Behind every well-known tech company is a leader navigating pressure, uncertainty, and constant change. That’s what makes this conversation with Wade Foster — Co-Founder and CEO of Zapier — stand out.Wade doesn’t show up with clichés or polished CEO lines. He talks about the decisions that actually shape a $5B company: how he manages his time, how he thinks about hiring and org structure, what AI really means for Zapier, and why leadership gets harder — not easier — as the company scales.This is one of those episodes you watch if you care about real leadership, decision-making under pressure, and what it takes to build a product people depend on every day. It’s grounded, tactical, and surprisingly honest.👇 What you’ll learn: • How a CEO actually spends their time — the systems, guardrails, and rituals Wade uses to stay clear and focused • The leadership pivots that changed Zapier — adding layers of management, hiring execs, correcting mis-hires, building around strengths • How Zapier approaches AI without the hype — what’s useful, what isn’t, and why they’re not chasing trends for the sake of it • Why “small teams ship faster” — and how Zapier thinks about efficiency, headcount, and org design at 750+ employees • How Wade deals with imposter syndrome — and why founders who grow with their company have an advantage outsiders don’t • What inspired “Agents of Scale” — Zapier’s AI podcast focused on real business use cases versus the drama dominating mainstream AI talk • The habits and routines that keep him steady — from fitness to sleep to managing mental load • A rare look at the pressure behind the scenes — how he handles nonstop decisions, fires, expectations, and scaling pains • Why the future of work is “despecialization” — and what that means for teams learning to work with AI • Whether a one-person, AI-powered billion-dollar company is actually possibleWade Foster is one of the most respected builders in SaaS. This episode shows why — not through big statements, but through clarity, discipline, and how he thinks about problems that only show up at massive scale.00:00 — Introduction: Who Is Wade Foster, Zapier CEO?03:37 — Inside a CEO’s Daily Workflow06:45 — How Leadership Changes at Scale12:20 — The Mindset Behind Big Decisions18:40 — How Zapier Really Uses AI Today27:59 — Should Zapier Build Its Own Model?32:17 — Why Wade Started Agents of Scale (and What Leaders Miss)41:37 — Would Wade Be a Billionaire?48:06 — Could Zapier Run With 100 People?54:10 — Cut Deep or Scale Smart?59:00 — How AI Reshapes Team Skills01:05:06 — The Future of Hiring in AI01:09:22 — Are Solo Billion-Dollar Firms Next?01:16:40 — Final Thoughts + This or ThatAbout the Show What does it really take to grow a B2B business today? We ask the people doing it. The Belkins Podcast dives deep into the strategies, decisions, and behind-the-scenes insights driving real growth at top B2B companies. Each episode features candid conversations with industry heavyweights—CROs, CMOs, founders, and seasoned operators—who've navigated market downturns, scaled teams, and mastered the realities of revenue growth. You'll hear hard truths, unfiltered insights, and actionable tactics directly from leaders who've actually done the work. 🔔 Subscribe to never miss an episode.💬 Enjoyed the conversation? Share it with your network and help spread real insights.⭐ Leave a review—your feedback helps us keep bringing you valuable conversations. About the HostMichael Maximoff is the Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer of Belkins, the #1 ranked B2B appointment-setting agency, recognized by Clutch, G2, and Inc. Over the past decade, Michael has built Belkins into one of the most respected voices in B2B sales and marketing, helping over 1,000 companies across 50+ industries achieve predictable, scalable growth. Known for his straightforward style, Michael hosts the Belkins Podcast to speak directly with top growth leaders and uncover what truly moves the needle today. Connect with Wade Foster: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wadefoster/ Zapier: https://zapier.comListen to Agents of Scale Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4O7eFPtxPBSrdsO2KwY6KoConnect with Michael Maximoff: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/michael-maximoffLearn more about Belkins: https://belkins.io

AI has changed how B2B marketers work — and how they connect.In this episode, Dr. Amy Cook, Co-Founder and CMO at Fullcast, joins Michael to explore what happens when automation starts replacing authenticity, and how today’s most effective marketers are rebuilding the human side of their craft.Her framework is simple: use AI for knowledge. Leave relationships to humans.Amy brings an unusual perspective to this conversation. She has a PhD in organizational rhetoric (how companies actually persuade people), ran her own agency for 15 years, and spent her early career as a professional violinist performing with the Osmond family. That last credential matters: she learned on stage that audiences always know when something feels rehearsed instead of real.That's exactly what's happening in B2B marketing right now.Join us, as we explore where AI actually makes marketers better versus where it destroys the trust that drives revenue. You'll get frameworks you can apply immediately, data from Fullcast's State of RevOps 2025 research, and the expensive lessons that come from getting this balance wrong.What we cover🔹 Where AI adds value, and where it breaks trust🔹 The PASSF Framework for Campaign Planning🔹 How Belkins spent 20% of revenue creating thousands of posts. Zero conversions. Then deleted 80% and ranked #1.🔹 State of RevOps 2025: Companies have 3 AI tools, 13 total tools, and 100% say their data is terrible.🔹 The metrics and roles that sustain revenue: Revenue per employee, marketing ops hiring, and how to split pipeline between marketing and sales.Chapters00:00- Introduction: Marketing in the Age of AI02:52- The PASSF Framework - Marketing as Science and Art06:24- Use AI for Research, Not Relationships11:32- Marketing Fundamentals vs. AI Shortcuts16:00- How AI Does Market Research in 2 Hours vs. 2 Weeks24:10- Where AI Works in Marketing (Press Releases, Blogs, Images)29:13- Content Quality Over Quantity: Deleting 80% to Rank Higher38:20- Ethos, Pathos, Logos: How to Persuade in B2B Marketing42:10- Marketing Patience: When to Wait vs. When to Move Fast49:00- Founder-Led Marketing When You're Outfunded56:48- What's Driving B2B Pipeline in 20251:07:52- Lead Scoring, Revenue Per Employee, and Marketing Ops Hiring1:18:09- State of RevOps 2025: The Data Quality ProblemAbout our guestDr. Amy Cook is the Co-Founder and CMO at Fullcast, an AI go-to-market platform built on Salesforce. Before Fullcast, Amy helped scale and exit multiple high-growth companies, founded Stage Marketing and has guided several teams from Series A through acquisition. She’s also the co-author of The Rev Ops Advantage, which reveals why RevOps is more than just a supporting function; it’s your organization’s ultimate competitive edge.This book offers a step-by-step roadmap to align your teams, streamline your processes, and harness the power of automation to outpace the competition. Whether you’re a CEO, RevOps leader, sales executive, or investor, this is the RevOps guide you’ve been waiting for.About the ShowWhat does it really take to grow a B2B business today? We ask the people doing it.The Belkins Podcast dives deep into the strategies, decisions, and behind-the-scenes insights driving real growth at top B2B companies. Each episode features candid conversations with industry heavyweights—CROs, CMOs, founders, and seasoned operators—who’ve navigated market downturns, scaled teams, and mastered the realities of revenue growth.You’ll hear hard truths, unfiltered insights, and actionable tactics directly from leaders who’ve actually done the work.🔔 Subscribe to never miss an episode.💬 Enjoyed the conversation? Share it with your network and help spread real insights.⭐ Leave a review—your feedback helps us keep bringing you valuable conversations.Connect with Amy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyosmondcookGet your copy of "The Rev Ops Advantage" book: https://www.fullcast.com/the-revops-advantage/Connect with Michael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-maximoff/

Mark Niemiec, Chief Revenue Officer at Salesloft, shares insights on the evolving role of BDRs, suggesting that they might become obsolete by 2026. He highlights the shift to full-cycle sales reps, discussing how they tend to generate more effective pipelines. Mark also delves into the transformative impact of AI in sales, including Salesloft's innovative tools for account planning and engagement. He emphasizes the importance of human interaction in sales, warning against the overhype of fully autonomous AI sales roles.

Only 1% of HubSpot's 6,500+ partners ever reach elite status. So what do the top 1% do differently?Brendan Walsh built his agency into that exclusive group, but the path had its challenges. He went 7 months without paying himself during a cash crunch and learned when to say no to clients - and crucially, when it's too early to start saying no.In this first-ever Belkins episode recorded LIVE, Michael and Brendan sit face to face to go through the hardest lessons, biggest mistakes, and key decisions that turned Mole Street into a successful consultancy.They dig into what it really takes to build lasting partnerships - both in business and with co-founders - and the expensive lessons most founders learn the hard way.What we cover:🔹 HubSpot elite partnership requirements - What it takes to reach the top 1% and the benefits you get🔹 Cash flow mistakes - Going 7 months without founder pay and when to listen to advisors🔹 When to say no vs say yes - The business stage framework that prevents pipeline disasters🔹 Executive search ROI - Why paying serious recruiting fees beats DIY hiring🔹Strategic partnership tactics - How working from HubSpot's office built real business relationships🔹14-year co-founder relationship - Values alignment and what makes business partnerships lastBrendan doesn't skip over what didn't work, and Michael asks the questions that get to how decisions actually get made.If you're ready to hear how the top 1% actually think about growth, this conversation delivers.About our guest: Brendan Walsh is the Principal and Co-founder of Mole Street, an Elite HubSpot Solutions Partner that helps mid-market and enterprise organizations unify complex tech stacks on HubSpot. About the Show:What does it really take to grow a B2B business today? We ask the people doing it.The Belkins Podcast dives deep into the strategies, decisions, and behind-the-scenes insights driving real growth at top B2B companies. Each episode features candid conversations with industry heavyweights: CROs, CMOs, founders, and seasoned operators who've navigated market downturns, scaled teams, and mastered the realities of revenue growth.You'll hear hard truths, unfiltered insights, and actionable tactics directly from leaders who've actually done the work.Chapters00:00- Intro: Brendan Walsh02:48- How Do You Transform a Scattered Business into Focused Growth?06:29- The Hardest Lesson - Learning to Say No for Growth15:00- Why Copying Competitors Destroys Your Competitive Advantage20:05- The $500K Founder Mistake ((Going 7 Months Without Pay)25:24- Why Hiring Finance Advisors Was Our Best Decision32:25- How to Scale from Lifestyle Business to $10M+ Company36:24 - HubSpot Partnership Strategy: Elite Benefits and Tactics52:03 - What Makes Co-Founder Partnerships Last 14+ Years?01:03:30 - Why Successful Leaders Need Hobbies Outside Work01:09:24- What Can Polo Teach You About Business Strategy?01:13:45 - This or That: Polo vs Marketing🔔 Subscribe to never miss an episode.💬 Enjoyed the conversation? Share it with your network and help spread real insights.⭐ Leave a review—your feedback helps us keep bringing you valuable conversations.About the Host:Michael Maximoff is the Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer of Belkins, the #1 ranked B2B appointment-setting agency, recognized by Clutch, G2, and Inc. Over the past decade, Michael has built Belkins into one of the most respected voices in B2B sales and marketing, helping over 1,000 companies across 50+ industries achieve predictable, scalable growth.Known for his straightforward style, Michael hosts the Belkins Podcast to speak directly with top growth leaders and uncover what truly moves the needle today.Let's stay connected:👉 Brendan Walsh - https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendan-walsh-940563a/👉 Michael Maximoff - https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-maximoff👉 Michael’s newsletter “From Zero To Agency Hero” - https://www.fromzerotoagencyhero.com/👉 Belkins - https://www.linkedin.com/company/belkins

Building software today? Easy. But standing out in a saturated SaaS market—with 40,000+ new apps launching each year—is a whole different game.In this can't-miss episode, Godard Abel—Co-Founder and CEO of G2—breaks down exactly how G2 thrives amidst the AI explosion shaking up the B2B software industry. With 50 new AI software categories emerging in the past year alone, discover how the industry's top platform stays ahead.Tune in to uncover:How G2 navigates an app marketplace flooded by AI startups (and how you can, too).The surprising shifts in buyer behavior that are transforming B2B sales.G2’s unique strategy for embedding their platform into leading AI tools like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot.Practical tactics for positioning your software as the go-to choice in an overcrowded market.Why brands leveraging authentic, human-driven content dominate AI-powered discovery platforms."AI won't replace humans, but humans with AI will replace humans without AI," Godard warns. If you're serious about staying ahead in sales, marketing, or RevOps, this conversation will equip you with actionable strategies you can use right now.About Godard Abel:Godard has built and sold three software companies. His first two exits—BigMachines and SteelBrick—went to Oracle and Salesforce for a combined $760 million. Now he's running G2, which became the world's largest software marketplace and trains the AI tools your prospects use to research vendors.About the Show:What does it really take to grow a B2B business today? We ask the people doing it.The Belkins Podcast dives deep into the strategies, decisions, and behind-the-scenes insights driving real growth at top B2B companies. Each episode features candid conversations with industry heavyweights—CROs, CMOs, founders, and seasoned operators—who've navigated market downturns, scaled teams, and mastered the realities of revenue growth.You'll hear hard truths, unfiltered insights, and actionable tactics directly from leaders who've actually done the work.Chapters:00:00 - Introducing Godard Abel02:30 - Why Building Software is Easy But B2B Marketing is 10x Harder in 202504:14- 40,000 New Apps Launched on G2 in One Year: Software Market Saturation05:42 - Should Your SaaS Company Pivot to AI or Add AI Features?09:01- Multi-Product Strategy: How to Compete in Multiple Software Categories16:13- HubSpot's API Integration Strategy: How to Build on Existing Platforms19:54- AI Categories See 100% Traffic Growth While Traditional SaaS Declines23:29- Personal Branding vs Corporate Marketing: Why CEO Posts Get 10x More Engagement39:16 - How to Rank in ChatGPT and Claude: Building Authority for AI Training Data (Tips for writers)48:13- How G2 Competes with ChatGPT: Partnership Strategy vs Fighting AI Search53:49 - AI Buying Agents: The Future of B2B Software Purchasing (G2AI Demo)01:15:01- From Single-Function BDRs to Full-Stack Revenue Professionals01:17:24 - From Hiring More to Revenue Per Employee: The New Growth Metric01:23:01 - Thanks for watching!🔔 Subscribe to never miss an episode.💬 Enjoyed the conversation? Share it with your network and help spread real insights.⭐ Leave a review—your feedback helps us keep bringing you valuable conversations.About the Host:Michael Maximoff is the Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer of Belkins, the #1 ranked B2B appointment-setting agency, recognized by Clutch, G2, and Inc. Over the past decade, Michael has built Belkins into one of the most respected voices in B2B sales and marketing, helping over 1,000 companies across 50+ industries achieve predictable, scalable growth.Known for his straightforward style, Michael hosts the Belkins Podcast to speak directly with top growth leaders and uncover what truly moves the needle today.Let's stay connected:👉 Godard Abel - https://www.linkedin.com/in/godardabel/👉 Michael Maximoff - https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-maximoff👉 Michael’s newsletter “From Zero To Agency Hero” - https://www.fromzerotoagencyhero.com/👉 Belkins - https://www.linkedin.com/company/belkins#B2BSaaS #AIStrategy #SoftwareMarketing #RevenueGrowth #G2 #SaaSMarketing #GenerativeSEO

What do you do when the market crashes and your team starts to panic? ZoomInfo’s CRO James Roth has one rule: don’t lower the bar.In this episode, James opens the playbook on what it really takes to lead a high-performing sales org through chaos. No buzzwords. No theory. Just the hard truths, decisions, and systems that keep ZoomInfo’s revenue engine running—even when headlines scream panic.▶ From stock market volatility to sales team psychology, from discipline under pressure to the revolutionary impact of AI—this episode goes deep.James shares:Why most sales leaders get downturns completely wrong.The exact moment leaders lose control of their team’s culture—and how to prevent it.What a real CRO’s morning routine looks like (and why it starts at 4:30 a.m.).How ZoomInfo’s AI instantly surfaces insights, empowering every rep to sell like a top performer.Why lowering quotas in tough times is never the answer.The precise leadership mindset that turns pressure into your strongest advantage.This is the episode to share with your VP, your board, or your top performers who are questioning how to navigate market uncertainty.It’s a candid, behind-the-scenes conversation with one of the most respected go-to-market leaders in SaaS.Watch until the end—James reveals the single most damaging mistake sales leaders make when markets tank (and it's not what you think).About the ShowWhat does it really take to grow a B2B business today? We ask the people doing it.The Belkins Podcast dives deep into the strategies, decisions, and behind-the-scenes insights driving real growth at top B2B companies. Each episode features candid conversations with industry heavyweights—CROs, CMOs, founders, and seasoned operators—who've navigated market downturns, scaled teams, and mastered the realities of revenue growth.You'll hear hard truths, unfiltered insights, and actionable tactics directly from leaders who've actually done the work.🔔 Subscribe to never miss an episode. 💬 Enjoyed the conversation? Share it with your network and help spread real insights. ⭐ Leave a review—your feedback helps us keep bringing you valuable conversations.About the HostMichael Maximoff is the Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer of Belkins, the #1 ranked B2B appointment-setting agency, recognized by Clutch, G2, and Inc.Over the past decade, Michael has built Belkins into one of the most respected voices in B2B sales and marketing, helping over 1,000 companies across 50+ industries achieve predictable, scalable growth.Known for his straightforward style, Michael hosts the Belkins Podcast to speak directly with top growth leaders and uncover what truly moves the needle today.Let's stay connected:👉 James Roth - https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-roth-3a913b51👉 Michael Maximoff - https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-maximoff/👉 Michael’s newsletter “From Zero To Agency Hero” From Zero To Agency Hero - https://www.fromzerotoagencyhero.com/👉 Belkins - https://www.linkedin.com/company/belkins/

Cold calling is making a comeback. Enterprise sales has changed. And taking prospects to the World Series might just be the smartest move in sales.In this episode, Colin Specter, VP of Sales at Orum, breaks down how he helped scale a bootstrapped startup into a Series B+ sales powerhouse—and why relationship-driven sales is more important than ever.Does taking a prospect to the World Series make sense? Colin explains why high-touch engagement wins big deals—and why an $8,000 investment on client experiences can outperform digital lead gen.Why cold calling isn’t dead. AI has flooded inboxes, making voice the next frontier. Find out why sales teams are doubling down on live conversations.Orum’s go-to-market edge: Why their "pilot-first" approach closes faster than traditional sales cycles.The #1 mistake sales leaders make when moving upmarket. Colin shares why some startups fail at enterprise sales—and how to avoid those missteps.Forget MEDDIC—why Orum created its own framework (MEADFIC) and what’s missing in your sales process.Full-cycle selling is back: Why top AEs are generating their own pipeline—no matter how full their calendar is.Watch until the end to hear Colin’s biggest leadership lesson- and why your sales team should start thinking like CEOs of their own territories.🎧 Don’t forget to subscribe for more bold insights on sales, marketing, and revenue growth!Timecodes:00:00- Introducing Colin Specter02:50- The Power of In-Person Sales? Colin's Travel Insights and Customer Engagement14:40- The Mid-Market Trap: Why It’s Harder Than It Looks17:40 - Building a Category Leader: How Orum Stands Out in a Crowded Market28:15- How AI Is Changing Cold Calling39:20- Beyond MEDDIC: Orum's Unique Sales Framework45:30- Playbooks Don’t Close Deals—People Do1:00:50- Hiring and Developing Elite Sales Teams1:05:55- Champion-Building 101: The #1 Factor in Closing Enterprise Deals1:12:30- Why Every AE Should Be Prospecting1:15:55- Social Selling and the New Buyer Journey1:19:32- Get to Know Colin: Surfing, Motorcycles & Final MessageLet's stay connected:👉 Colin Specter - https://www.linkedin.com/in/colinspecter👉 Michael Maximoff - https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-maximoff/👉 Michael’s newsletter “From Zero To Agency Hero” From Zero To Agency Hero - https://www.fromzerotoagencyhero.com/👉 Belkins - https://www.linkedin.com/company/belkins/#BelkinsPodcast #SalesLeadership #EnterpriseSales #B2BSales #ColdCalling #Orum #SalesStrategies #SalesDevelopment #B2BMarketing #RevenueGrowth #StartupSales #TechSales #SalesCulture #SalesPlaybook #SalesProcess

Welcome to Episode 12 of the Belkins Podcast!In this unmissable episode, Peter Caputa, CEO of Databox and the creator of HubSpot’s famous partner program - joins host Michael Maximoff for an unfiltered conversation on SaaS growth, leadership, and the changing dynamics of marketing.In this value-packed episode, Peter reveals:Why traditional inbound marketing is delivering diminishing returns- and the hybrid strategies that are reshaping the playbook.How Databox helps businesses compare their performance to others using the largest live data collection in the world.The biggest mistake companies make with their data—and how to actually use it to grow.His unique leadership style as a “peacetime CEO” and why empowering teams with ownership fuels innovation and results.Seasonality secrets in ad spend- how real-time data saved budgets and maximized ROI for key industries.Stay tuned until the end for Peter’s predictions on the future of marketing and how combining different strategies can give your business an edge.Whether you’re a business leader, marketer, or entrepreneur, this episode is full of practical ideas and strategies you can use right now.Timecodes:0:00 - Intro: Meet Peter Caputa, CEO of Databox2:25: Peter’s Approach to Content Creation and Storytelling8:30 - How Databox is Redefining Benchmarking for Businesses12:00- How Agencies Use Databox Benchmarks to Improve Performance15:05 - Using Seasonality Data to Save Ad Spend18:50 - Common Mistakes Companies Make in Their GTM22:25 - Integrating Marketing and Sales for Best Results24:10 - Insights on Full-Cycle AEs vs. SDRs28:53 - Partnerships As a Powerful Tool for Growth33:46 - Real-World Challenges in Selling Data Analytics40:53 - Lessons on Leadership and Delegation48:00 - Tactics to Overcome a High Churn Rate57:45 - Final Thoughts and This or That QuizLet's stay connected:👉 Peter Caputa - https://www.linkedin.com/in/pc4media/👉 Michael Maximoff - https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-maximoff/👉 Michael’s newsletter “From Zero To Agency Hero” From Zero To Agency Hero - https://www.fromzerotoagencyhero.com/👉 Belkins - https://www.linkedin.com/company/belkins/