[Un]Churned – The No. 1 Podcast for Customer Retention

"How Agentic AI Is Replacing Subscription Revenue"Chuck Ganapathi, the CEO of Gainsight & Brett Queener, Managing Director at Bonfire Ventures, who previously ran product at Salesforce and helped destroy Siebel, the company where he and Chuck first met. Together, they've witnessed every major shift in enterprise software over three decades, and they believe the biggest one is happening right now.In this conversation, Brett unveils his forthcoming thesis on "the end of ARR," arguing that agentic AI will fundamentally break subscription business models. When products finally achieve what he calls "product purity", actually doing the job they promise without requiring armies of CSMs, endless onboarding, and quarterly business reviews, the entire economic foundation of SaaS collapses. Chuck and Brett discuss whether this is an existential threat or the evolution the industry has been waiting for.What you'll learn:- Why the "friction gap" between product and value created the entire CS industry- What "product purity" means and why it threatens traditional SaaS economics- How agentic AI fundamentally changes the unit economics of software- Why usage-based pricing is inevitable once products actually work- The product marketing playbook that still matters in an AI-first worldCheck out the Key Takeaways & Transcripts: https://www.gainsight.com/presents/series/unchurned/Where to Find the GuestBrett's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/brettqueener/Chuck's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckganapathi/Where to Find Josh: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jschachter/In this episode, we cover:0:00 - Preview & Introduction1:18 - Meet Chuck & Brett3:30 - How Brett and Chuck met at Siebel 9:28 - Transition to Salesforce: destruction of Siebel as a goal14:11 - Changing Nature of Product Marketing in the AI Era18:00 - Systems of Record vs. Systems of Action21:13 - Databases as “lossy” representations of reality29:00 - Brett's thesis: "The End of ARR (And I Feel Fine)"34:28 - How should agentic applications be priced?43:43 - Future Outlook: Market paying premium for top agents47:17 - 10x CSMs enabled by AI agentsReferences:- Brett Queener's blog: https://queener.substack.com/

How Human-Centric AI Frees CSMs for Strategic Work at BMCLeading customer success at a global scale is never easy—especially after a company split. For Sofia Barbosa, this meant steering a leaner team while still supporting hundreds of BMC products worldwide. The challenge: deliver more impact with fewer hands. The solution: build Succedo, an AI platform that reimagined how her team worked. The results spoke for themselves—customer success stories accelerated from months to days, output tripled, escalations dropped, and CSMs finally had time to focus on the strategic work that drives growth.In this episode, Sofia shares the inside story of how she’s embedding AI across customer success at BMC. From value summaries and training path recommendations to support prioritization and statements of work, Sofia is proving that AI isn’t about replacing people—it’s about elevating them. She explains how she manages change, structures her AI teams, and why she believes experimentation (and even failure) is the only way forward.What you’ll learn:- How Succedo helped triple the output of customer success stories.- The role of AI in reducing escalations and improving customer sentiment.- How to build specialized AI teams inside a large enterprise.- Why “human in the loop” remains critical in AI adoption.- The mindset shift leaders need to drive AI transformation.Check out the Key Takeaways & Transcripts: https://www.gainsight.com/presents/series/unchurned/Where to Find Sofia: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sofiabarbosa/Where to Find Josh: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jschachter/In this episode, we cover:0:00 – Preview & Introduction1:40 – Meet Sofia Barbosa (CCO, BMC Software)3:15 – Sofia’s promotion and the BMC split6:53 – Why & how Succedo was born11:30 – The impact of using Succedo12:55 – Using AI to create value summaries15:40 – Creating personalized training paths with AI18:35 – AI for support: prioritization and sentiment analysis21:18 – Automating statements of work with AI24:35 – Building “Succedo Forge” and “Succedo Care” teams27:10 – Managing change and team sentiment around AI28:45 – Advice for CCOs driving AI transformationReferenced:- Sofia's post: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sofiabarbosa_customersuccess-ai-bmc-activity-7366224818586685441-q74P

David Karp, Chief Customer Officer at Disqo, shares his insights from leading a transformative AI hackathon called the Hackinator. He discusses how clearing two days for innovation ignited a cultural shift, boosting grassroots initiatives and cross-functional collaboration. Karp reveals the secret sauce behind successful hackathons: effective rules, constraints, and scoring. He emphasizes the need for leaders to actively use AI tools themselves and provides practical advice on sustaining momentum and driving real business outcomes in AI adoption.

In this engaging discussion, LeeRon Yahalomi, VP of Customer Success at Aligned, reveals her innovative approach to managing 100 accounts with just two people by utilizing AI agents. She shares her strategies for enhancing customer experiences and the importance of viewing customer success as integral to future sales rather than just post-sales support. LeeRon dives into the balance between AI automation and human empathy, and how proactive customer success can drive revenue growth. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone interested in the evolution of customer engagement!

How Kalpana, our Enterprise CSM, Scaled Her Book of Business by 40% With AIKalpana Krishna Kumar, an Enterprise CSM at Gainsight, and Brady Bluhm, Senior Product Manager at Gainsight, join the show to share how they’re reimagining customer success with AI. From Kalpana’s 40% increase in her book of business to Brady’s unlikely journey from child actor to AI trailblazer, this episode is full of surprising stories about scaling, stress relief, and the human side of AI. Together, they reveal how AI is less about automation and more about unlocking the best version of yourself.What you’ll learn:1. How Kalpana scaled her accounts by 40% without burning out.2. Why peace of mind is one of AI’s most underrated benefits.3. The grassroots AI movement that transformed Gainsight.4. Brady’s personal workflow hacks for integrating AI into daily work.5. Why AI isn’t replacing CSMs—it’s making them stronger.Check out the Key Takeaways & Transcripts: https://www.gainsight.com/presents/series/unchurned/Where to Find Brady Bluhm LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradybluhm/IMDb - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0089603/Where to Find Kalpana Krishna Kumar LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kalpana-krishna-kumar/Where to Find Josh: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jschachter/In this episode, we cover:0:00 - Preview1:00 - Meet Brady & Kalpana3:35 - First steps with AI 8:24 - Grassroots AI education at Gainsight10:50 - Scaling book of business by 40% 17:13 - Why AI gives CSMs peace of mind19:01 - Find a meeting recording tool24:34 - Predicting the future of CS25:05 - Building personal AI agents & say goodbye to busy work 35:03 - Closing reflectionsReferenced:- Staircase AI - https://www.gainsight.com/staircase-ai/- Gamma - https://gamma.app/- NotebookLM - https://notebooklm.google/- Claude - https://claude.ai/- Zoom AI Companion - https://www.zoom.com/en/products/ai-assistant/

Join Jeffrey Bussgang, a Harvard lecturer and co-founder of Flybridge Capital, and Teresa Anania, Chief Customer Officer at Sophos, as they dive into the reality of AI in business. They discuss how to cultivate an 'AI native' culture that values human judgment alongside innovation. Teresa shares insights on overcoming resistance to AI and enhancing customer engagement through practical automation strategies. The duo also explores balancing technology with human touch, ensuring companies can thrive in a rapidly changing landscape.

Meet Chuck Ganapathi, the new CEO of Gainsight!In this special episode of [Un]Churned, host Josh Schachter sits down with Gainsight’s outgoing CEO Nick Mehta and his successor, Chuck Ganapathi, to mark a pivotal leadership transition. Nick reflects on his 13-year journey building Gainsight into a category-defining company, the lessons he’s learned navigating growth, and why now is the right time to hand over the reins. Chuck shares his gratitude for the opportunity, the deep trust he and Nick have built over decades of connection, and his vision for the company’s next chapter—one shaped by AI, customer success innovation, and a human-first culture.Timestamps0:00 - Welcome & The Big Announcement2:25 - Why Nick Is Stepping Down3:54 - Lessons from Private Equity & Building a Lasting Company6:23 - Chuck on becoming the NEW CEO7:10 - How Nick & Chuck First Met (Stanford Days & Startup Stories)16:25 - Why Chuck Was the Obvious Choice for CEO21:12 - CEO Transitions as Turning Points25:40 - Human-First Leadership & Gainsight’s Mission28:20 - What’s Next for Customer Success in the Age of AI 34:12 - Will AI Replace CSMs? (Nick & Chuck’s Take)36:42 - Looking Ahead: The Next Chapter of Gainsight38:52 - Fun Facts About Chuck (Heartthrob, Tennis & Shopping!)44:34 - Final Words: Legendary & Transformational Futures👉 Explore more episodes, takeaways & transcripts: https://gainsight.com/unchurned👉 Check out the bonus episode: https://gainsight.com/unlock______________________👉 Follow the podcast Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@GainsightApple Podcast: https://apple.co/3dfWXmDSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3KD3Ehl👉 Connect with the guestsChuck Ganapathi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckganapathi Nick Mehta: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickmehta/👉 Connect with hostJosh Schachter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jschachter/ ______________________Keywords: Gainsight, Customer Success, Nick Mehta, Chuck Ganapathi, CEO Transition, Customer Retention, SaaS Leadership, AI in Customer Success, AI Agents, Business Growth, Human-First Leadership, Churn Reduction, Scale Customer Success, SaaS Leadership Podcast, SaaS Growth Strategies______________________[Un]Churned is presented by Gainsight About GainsightGainsight is the retention engine behind the world’s most customer-centric companies. The Gainsight CustomerOS platform orchestrates the customer journey from onboarding to outcomes. More than 2,000 companies trust Gainsight’s applications and AI agents to drive learning, adoption, community connection, and success for their customers. Learn more at www.gainsight.com.

Hosts share Josh's wedding excitement while reflecting on community memories. Kristi dives into her AI learning journey, emphasizing practical application over mere theory. They discuss innovative tools for productivity, inspired by recent tech adventures. The conversation highlights the transformative role of AI in education and customer success workflows. Ultimately, they encourage listeners to invest time in understanding AI, suggesting just ten minutes a day can lead to significant growth.

#updateai #customersuccess #saas #businessRachel Tsui, the ex-Head of CS at Komodo Health, joins hosts Jon Johnson and Josh Schachter to dive deep into the intricacies of customer success. Rachel highlights the innovative use of healthcare data to identify patient trends and enhance service delivery. The conversation explores how Komodo's customer success team navigates post-sales processes, strategically collaborates with account management, and the essential role of data-driven decisions. Jon and Rachel also delve into career growth challenges, touching on the balancing act of flat organization structures, professional development, and the evolving expectations of newer workforce generations. Join us for a captivating journey through customer success strategies, organizational dynamics, and how they shape the future of innovation at Komodo Health.Timestamps0:00 - Preview, & Intros7:30 - CS at Komodo Health 10:28 - KPIs for customer success at Komodo12:00 - Plans and Priorities 13:22 - Focusing on separating support from CS activities16:03 - Managing expectations around promotions20:06 - Navigating career growth23:50 - Cross-functional collaboration and tools for knowledge sharing___________________________👉 Follow the podcast Youtube: https://youtu.be/JprAz-o-dWkApple Podcast: https://apple.co/3dfWXmD Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3KD3Ehl👉 Connect with the guestRachel Tsui: https://www.linkedin.com/in/racheltsui👉 Connect with hostsJon Johnson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonwilliamjohnson/Kristi Faltorusso: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiserrano/Josh Schachter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jschachter/👉 Sign up for ⁠UpdateAI⁠ 👉 Be the first to know when a new episode of Unchurned is dropped. Sign up for our newsletter at ⁠https://blog.update.ai/⁠________________Keywords: How to keep your customers happy, customer success manager, healthcare map, health data, AI, big data, Komodo Health, customer success, net dollar retention, CSM, customer engagement, healthcare platform, data platform, CS team, account management, product utilization, strategic initiatives, executive relationships, customer influence, renewal rate, Gainsight, CRM, AMs (Account Managers), team structure.______________________Unchurned is presented by UpdateAIAbout UpdateAIAt UpdateAI our mission is to empower CS teams to build great customer relationships. We work with early & growth-stage B2B SaaS companies to help them scale CS outcomes. Everything we do is devoted to removing the overwhelm of back-to-back customer meetings so that CSMs can focus on the bigger picture: building relationships.

Cait Keohane, the Chief Customer Officer at Airtable and a former early employee at Zendesk, shares her journey of scaling customer success. She discusses the importance of building robust post-sale strategies and emphasizes listening directly to customers. Cait explores innovative approaches like the 'risk rally' program for enhancing retention and the role of feedback in shaping product development. Additionally, she addresses the balance between personalization and operational efficiency, advocating for effective resource management and the use of AI in customer support.