LEARN Podcast

Consolidating your tech stack is a challenge these days. The SaaS competition is intense, you’re never sure what you’re going to get, and the power dynamic between sellers and buyers isn’t what it used to be.“There's a very real shift happening. Buyers of software have a lot of leverage—and with a lot of leverage, it’s really up to you to say what you’re willing to pay. It used to be a couple of years where we saw sellers holding firm and buyers [saying], ‘Okay, I’ve got all this cash. I’m going to spend it.’ But now, it’s more like, ‘I don’t have all this cash.’ So, now we’re really seeing buyers tell their suppliers more, ‘Take it or leave it,’ says Ryan Neu, Co-founder & CEO of Vendr.In our first live LEARN episode, Ryan joins Ted at our LEARN Virtual Event to talk all about consolidating your tech stack as a learning professional. They touch on the ins and outs of getting buy-in from your CFO and understanding how to reach a win-win scenario, whether you’re a buyer or a supplier.In this episode, you will gain insights into:- Speaking the language of the CFO to helps justify expanding your tech stack- Finding leverage in today’s market is essential for suppliers to survive- Understanding the motivations that drive a salesperson’s actions allows you to negotiate betterListen in on your favorite podcast app to learn how you can effectively expand your tech stack and achieve greater ROI on the platforms you choose to invest in.Resources:- Ryan Neu- Vendr- Ted Blosser- WorkRampBook Recommendation:- Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss

Compensation comes in all shapes and sizes, but no matter what your program looks like, it is fundamental to your relationship with your employees. This is why businesses are learning how to make their comp programs even more competitive in order to retain their best performers.“Compensation and transparency are a journey, not a destination. You constantly have to be thinking about and revisiting the different ways in which you’re not transparent or the things that, as an HR professional, you might think, ‘Well, everybody just kind of logically knows that, right?’ And the truth is, that’s often not the case,” says Lexi Clarke, Chief People Officer at Payscale.In this episode, Lexi sheds light on what makes for an effective compensation program. Along the way, she shares how her company transitioned to being fully remote and how they’ve handled their comp program with a global workforce.In this episode, you will gain insights into:- Practicing transparency is your form of currency with your employees- Regularly looking at current comp market data is crucial for providing competitive packages- Going remote allows you to re-invest money into developing company culture across several different locationsTune in on your go-to podcast app to understand how to elevate your company’s compensation programs to retain top talent.Resources:- Lexi Clarke- Payscale- Ted Blosser- WorkRamp

The key to customer success is customer education. And the way digital solutions and tech are blending with one another is creating an exciting convergence of possibilities for the space.“It's another font and resource for success. And I think that's the first driver. Don't think about the money. Think about the success thereafter, the engagement that can help drive that success,” says Dave Derington, Director of Customer Education at ServiceRocket.In our latest episode of LEARN, Dave sheds light on how category convergence could work in the customer education space. Along the way, he and Ted also talk about the potential for AI to disrupt processes and how professionals and leaders can push the industry forward through communities.In this episode, you’ll:- Understand how different categories could blend together in customer education- Harness the power of AI and automation to make customer education tasks much easier- Find like-minded peers in customer education is crucial for your growth, as well as the growth of the industryCheck it out on your podcast app of choice to learn more about how the customer education space is evolving and how to avoid getting left behind.Resources:- Dave Derington- ServiceRocket- Ted Blosser- WorkRampPodcast Recommendation:- Greeking Out

Previous client success strategies are quickly becoming obsolete. Which means continuous internal training needs to a top priority for organizations that want to see the growth they’re hungry for, especially with more people transitioning to the role from completely different industries.“These folks do not have experience selling yet. We're giving them the most important role right now in this economy, where we're not driving a ton of new sales, so we have to work on growing the base. If you have a team responsible for it that's never done it before—and you're not investing in training and enablement—that’s crazy to me,” says Kristi Faltorusso, Chief Customer Officer at ClientSuccess.In our latest episode of LEARN, Kristi discusses the value of a customer education program and her philosophy around training. Along the way, you’ll also learn about avoiding misunderstandings when it comes to user data and the future of the CS category.In this episode, you will gain insights into:- Investing in your client success team’s training- Driving more value to your clients and customers, especially in the messy middle- Learning new skills and mindsets to push your personal growth journey forwardCheck out the episode on your podcast app of choice to discover how to lead client success teams more successfully.Resources:Kristi FaltorussoClientSuccessBook Recommendation:- Atomic HabitsTed BlosserWorkRamp

People are truly a business’s most important asset. With the right skill development and employee wellness program, a company’s talent increases revenue and pushes the organization to reach its goals. “We looked at all of the costs and what employees wanted. Sometimes what they tell you what they want versus what they actually want are two different things. And we didn't want to define what wellbeing meant,” says Patty Kim, VP of People at Vestwell.In this episode of LEARN, Patty discusses how people managers have a valuable seat at the table to set the performance standard at a company. You’ll also hear what it takes to create the ideal benefits package to attract and keep top-tier industry talent.In this episode, you will gain insights into:Crafting a benefits package that balances what your business can afford with what employees want, developing a culture of high performers to drive revenueInvesting in your people’s development and skillsListen in on your favorite podcast app to learn how to become an even more effective people manager who drives noticeable value to your company.ResourcesPatty KimVestwellPodcast Recommendation:The Daily StoicTed BlosserWorkRampEpisode highlights:[04:48] The future of the benefits market[06:15] Strategizing benefits plans[08:20] Understanding the ROI of benefits plans[10:18] Adopting RTO initiatives[17:52] Gamifying learning programs[19:46] Investing in employee development[23:37] LEARN Rapid-fire round

No matter your industry, you’re in the people business. So how do you win friends and influence your people? By building trust.“I believe so deeply that when you truly build trust, you have a much better and more high-functioning team, and you're going to get the best out of your people. You can't force someone to give you their best. They have to choose to really go that extra mile,” says Lindsey Scrase, CRO of Checkr. In our latest episode of LEARN, Lindsey Scrase chats with Ted to talk about her experience joining a late-stage startup and balancing the past with her present and future goals for the team. Additionally, they talk about Lindsey’s four factors of culture that can help you enrich your own.In this episode, you will gain insights into:- Developing culture effectively with four essential factors- Adopting an aggressively data-driven approach to increasing sales and revenue- Enabling sales and staying aligned with the teamTune in to discover how you can cultivate a business culture that moves you closer to your milestones.After you listen:- Lindsey's podcast recommendation, Grit- Connect with Ted Blosser and WorkRamp