Predictable B2B Success

In this episode of "Predictable B2B Success," we dive into creative entrepreneurship with Lindsay Scherr Burgess, the founder and Moss Boss of Green Wallscapes. Discover how Lindsay turned an accidental venture into a thriving business that has graced spaces in over 35 states, Canada, and the Caribbean. With a unique fusion of preserved moss, art, and commercial-grade applications, Lindsay has carved a niche in the marketplace, creating lavish expressions of botanical joy. Despite her background in diverse industries such as organic produce and real estate, Lindsay's passion for innovation has driven her company to work with leading brands like Amazon and Starbucks. Join host Vinay Koshy as they explore the challenges and triumphs of scaling operations while maintaining artistic integrity. From overcoming revenue unpredictability to navigating the pandemic's impact, Lindsay's journey offers invaluable insights into the intersection of creativity and business growth. Discover the secrets behind her sales prowess, her approach to team management, and her vision for the future of Green Wallscapes. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned professional, this episode promises to spark your curiosity and inspire your success journey in the business world. Some areas we explore in this episode include: Creative Business Challenges: Scaling operations while maintaining artistic integrity and addressing revenue unpredictability.Lindsay's Business Journey: The accidental start and organic growth of Green Wall Wallscapes.Advantages of Preserved Moss Art: Using preserved moss in commercial spaces for aesthetics and low maintenance.Sales and Business Strengths: Lindsay's strengths in sales and marketing and their impact on business success.Importance of Customer Service: Being responsive and maintaining strong client relationships.Balancing Art and Commerce: Collaborating with clients to maintain artistic integrity in custom projects.Client Education and Market Growth: Strategies for educating clients and expanding the market.Delegation and Team Building: Evolution of delegation and team dynamics, especially during COVID.Navigating COVID-19 Challenges: Supply chain and workforce issues during the pandemic.Networking and Partnerships: Building and leveraging professional networks for growth.And much, much more...

In this episode of the Predictable B2B Success podcast, host Vinay Koshy invites Alex Natskovich, the innovative head of MEV, a strategic partner in software development, to delve into the art of cultivating robust cross-functional collaboration in business organizations. Did you know companies boasting strong collaborative efforts are five times more successful in achieving their goals? Yet, many businesses find themselves hindered by silos and communication breakdowns, leading to missed opportunities and stifled growth. Alex shares his journey from being an engineer intrigued by business complexities to developing MEV, a company that excels by focusing on the "why" behind client needs. In this insightful conversation, Alex unpacks the three key dimensions he deems crucial for successful collaboration: people, process, and tools. Discover how MEV has become an essential ally for its clients by building trust through transparent communication, rigorous processes, and a deep understanding of client needs. Whether you're grappling with startup constraints or navigating the complex dynamics of large organizations, this episode offers valuable lessons on building a winning culture that transcends traditional business barriers, ensuring both parties thrive symbiotically. Tune in to explore how you can steer your organization toward sustainable success. Some areas we explore in this episode include: Cross-functional Collaboration Challenges: Discussion on the importance and challenges of maintaining effective cross-functional collaboration within large organizations.Starting MEV: Alex Natskovich talks about the origins and the driving principles behind creating MEV as a software strategic partner.Importance of Understanding Client Needs: The emphasis on understanding clients' deep needs to deliver successful software projects.Framework for Successful Collaboration: Alex describes a framework that involves people, processes, and tools to foster effective collaboration.Building and Managing Trust: The importance of building trust with clients to foster better collaboration and outcomes.Iterative Development and Metrics: The use of iterative development processes and key metrics to measure success in delivering software projects.Examples of Successful Client Projects: Anecdotes about client projects that had a surprising or significant impact.Quality Assurance in Fast-paced Environments: How MEV approaches quality assurance from the onset of a project.Growth Strategies in Competitive Markets: Insights on driving growth in a competitive Red Ocean market through experimentation and delivering client value.Under-acknowledged Aspects of Strategic Partnerships: Alex discusses aspects of client engagements that don't get much attention, such as cultural alignment and defining success criteria.And much, much more...

In this riveting episode of Predictable B2B Success, host Vinay Koshy dives deep into the intricate world of content marketing with the brilliant Jeff Coyle, co-founder and chief strategy officer of MarketMuse. Have you ever wondered why, despite having cutting-edge technology like AI at our disposal, many B2B companies still struggle to resonate with their audience and maintain a powerful brand presence? Jeff, with over two decades of expertise in the search industry, is here to shed light on this enigma. Jeff shares the hidden costs of missing out on topical authority as he unfolds his journey from the early days of search engine optimization to revolutionizing content strategy with AI-driven insights. Unravel the secrets behind crafting content that doesn't just perform but transforms your content strategy into a powerhouse of revenue growth and brand credibility. Discover why your existing content might be a sandbag dragging down your hot air balloon of success and how crafty differentiation and strategic omnichannel approaches can catapult your brand into the limelight. If you're eager to master the art of leveraging AI for content that captivates and resonates, this episode is your gateway to unleashing untapped potential. Some areas we explore in this episode include: Challenges B2B brands face in establishing topical authority and driving revenue growth.The role of AI in enhancing content efficiency and providing data-driven insights for content creation and strategy.The cost and consequences of not achieving topical authority in a company's niche.Jeff Coyle's personal area of strength in making the right decisions about content creation and updates.The importance of having a documented content strategy and the risks of not having one.Steps businesses can take to ensure content quality and differentiating themselves through unique content.How to justify budget for content activities in relation to sales and revenue growth.Building relationships with third parties to enhance topical authority.The role of PR and citations in improving one's authority and visibility in AI-driven platforms.The importance of omnichannel strategies and fighting battles across multiple platforms to enhance content visibility and authority.And much, much more...

As businesses increasingly harness the power of artificial intelligence, the road from innovation to reliable production is fraught with challenges. In this episode of the Predictable B2B Success podcast, host Vinay Koshy welcomes Brad Micklea, the visionary CEO of Jozu, to unravel the intricacies of AI integration. Jozu, an MLOps collaboration platform, bridges the gap between AI, ML, and app development, promising innovation and predictable revenue growth. While many firms acknowledge AI's potential to offer a competitive edge, only 20% have scaled their AI initiatives effectively. What causes this disparity? Data silos, talent gaps, and alignment challenges are just the tip of the iceberg. Brad shares his unique journey from founding CodeNB to scaling AI solutions that drive substantial business outcomes. With over 25 years in developing software tools, he delves into the importance of aligning AI projects with strategic goals and the benefits of decentralizing AI expertise. Prepare to be enlightened by Brad's insights on AI's role in revolutionizing production, risk mitigation, and organizational culture shifts. Tune in to discover how you can navigate the complexities of AI projects and confidently revolutionize your business strategy. Some areas we explore in this episode include: The challenges of integrating AI into business production processes.Brad Micklea's career journey and the inception of Jozu.The transformation of Jozu from its original focus to its current mission in ML Ops.Personal background and strengths of Brad Micklea, highlighting the importance of diverse perspectives.The risks and complexities involved in transitioning AI prototypes to production systems.The debate on decentralizing AI expertise versus centralizing it within organizations.The cultural shifts required for successful AI adoption and innovation within companies.The significance of open source tools in AI development and the misconceptions surrounding them.Strategies for aligning AI development with broader business objectives and regulatory compliance.Lessons learned from Brad Micklea's previous startup experience and their application to Jozu.And much, much more...

In this episode of "Predictable B2B Success," host Vinay Koshy speaks with Elliot Kallen, a dynamic entrepreneur and the driving force behind Prosperity Financial Group. Elliot, coauthor of the Amazon bestseller "Driven," sheds light on how strategic optimism, trust, and philanthropy can pave the way for sustainable revenue growth and a robust company culture. With a career journey marked by numerous ventures, public speaking, and impactful philanthropy through his charity, A Brighter Day, Elliot brings a wealth of experience. Get ready to uncover the essence of leadership, the pivotal role of communication, and why embracing adversity is crucial for entrepreneurial success. Learn how Elliot has harnessed his personal and professional experiences, including the tragic loss of his son, to create meaningful change through charitable efforts. From the significance of purpose-driven business strategies to the transformative power of empathy and listening within an organization, this conversation is packed with actionable insights. Tune in to explore the intersection of business growth and societal impact and how you, too, can foster an environment where team members thrive, innovate, and drive enduring success. Whether you're a seasoned executive or an emerging entrepreneur, this episode offers invaluable lessons on leading with heart and purpose. Some areas we explore in this episode include: Introduction and Background: Elliot's experience and motivation behind his book "Driven."Personal Strengths: Importance of communication skills and empathy.Strategic Optimism and Adversity: Role of optimism in Elliot's journey and personal anecdotes.Philanthropy and Business: Connection between entrepreneurship and his charity, "A Brighter Day."Purpose in Business: Balancing business goals with personal and family aspirations.Challenging Status Quo: Growth through innovation in social media and AI.Leadership Phases: Leadership skills needed in startup, growth, and post-growth phases.Hiring and Succession: Understanding employee goals and planning leadership succession.Community Engagement: Benefits of active community involvement and philanthropy.Trust and Integrity: Build trust with clients and use podcasts to show personality.And much, much more...

In this episode of Predictable B2B Success, we sit down with Dayna Williams, the insightful author of The Diligence Fix: How Striving for More Revenue Stresses Your Sales Organization and What to Do About It. With over 20 years of experience consulting sales organizations across various industries and leading the Association for Talent Development's Sales Conference program, Dayna offers a wealth of knowledge on overcoming critical issues that plague B2B sales teams. Join host Vinay Koshy as he delves into the misalignment between sales and marketing, ineffective sales enablement, and the underutilization of data analytics that hinder growth. Discover Dayna's compelling journey to identifying these key issues, the creation of her unique framework, and practical steps for sales leaders to drive clarity and practical alignment in their organizations. Tune in to explore Dayna's ten dimensions of diligence and learn how to transform your sales culture from quick fixes and reactive measures to long-term, sustainable growth. Whether you're dealing with friction within your team or constantly striving to hit revenue targets, this conversation promises actionable insights to help you create a more effective and resilient sales organization. Don't miss it! Some areas we explore in this episode include: Misalignment between Sales and Marketing: Initial discussion of issues plaguing B2B sales teams, including misalignment between sales and marketing.Sales Enablement and Forecasting Accuracy: Discussion about the importance of sales enablement and the low confidence sales leaders have in their forecasting accuracy.Use of Data and Analytics in Sales: Mention of how advanced analytics can promote faster growth in sales processes.Origins of Dayna Williams' Book "The Diligence Fix": Dayna's career experiences, particularly with senior sales leaders, and how these led to the creation of her book.Concept of the "Diligence Fix": Explanation of how striving for more revenue stresses sales organizations and the need for a diligent sales approach.Indicators of Stress in Sales Organizations: Identification of friction and the tendency to reach for quick fixes like technology and training as stress indicators in sales teams.Practical Alignment in Organizations: The importance of operationalizing alignment in teams and the need for practical steps to ensure it.Integrated Development vs. Traditional Sales Training: Discussion of integrated development and how it differs from traditional sequential sales training methods.The Ten Dimensions of Diligence: Overview of the ten dimensions of diligence defined in Dayna's book, focusing on sales and personal leadership skills.Implementing Diligence in Organizations: Steps to implement the diligence framework within organizations include making leadership aware and creating a supporting culture. And much, much more...

Welcome to another insightful episode of Predictable B2B Success! Today, we're diving deep into the ever-evolving world of data observability with Ryan Yackel, a seasoned product strategy leader at IBM. Ryan's expertise helps transform complex data quality issues into streamlined, proactive solutions that drive business success. Join us as Ryan unpacks the critical role of data observability in today's digital age, linking it to broader data governance strategies that resonate at the executive level. He'll share his experiences from open-source conferences in Tel Aviv and New York and discuss the importance of a strong narrative design to differentiate your business in the crowded B2B tech space. Curious about the difference between basic alerting and comprehensive observability? Or how a well-crafted strategic narrative can shift your market positioning? Ryan's insights offer compelling industry knowledge and practical tactics for enhancing data reliability and governance. We'll also delve into how pilot testing and proof-of-concept initiatives can demonstrate real-world value, and the nuances of integrating data observability within IBM's robust tech ecosystem. Whether you're a data engineer, a marketing strategist, or a tech executive, this episode promises to open your eyes to new possibilities in data management. Tune in and discover how to elevate your data strategy to new heights! Some areas we explore in this episode include: Data Observability Campaigns: Awareness efforts and collaborations in the emerging data observability space.Community Engagement: Participation in open-source conferences and tech meetups to discuss technical deployments.Executive-Level Strategy: Aligning data observability with data governance to enhance prioritization.DIY Approach vs. Observability: Comparison between basic alerting/monitoring and comprehensive observability with ML detection.Strategic Narrative and Storytelling: The importance of a strong narrative for effective product communication.Pilot Testing for Proof of Concept: Using pilots to demonstrate the effectiveness of data observability solutions.Data Fabric and Data Mesh: IBM's hybrid architecture and integrating data observability.Data Quality and Observability: The importance of "data quality in motion" and evolving observability tools.Data Acquisition Strategy: Combining top-down and bottom-up approaches for integrating DataBank.IBM Acquisition: The impact of DataBank's acquisition by IBM and cultural integration with AI and quantum computing initiatives.And much, much more...

In this episode of Predictable B2B Success, host Vinay Koshy sits down with branding and marketing visionary Chase Friedman, founder of Vanquish Media Group. Dive deep into how purpose and passion can redefine your business success journey, breaking free from the constraints of mere financial gain. Discover the compelling power of user-generated content and learn how to turn your customers into authentic storytellers without the pitfalls of artificial incentives. Chase shares his unique approach to handling sensitive client data in case studies, ensuring impactful narratives while maintaining discretion. He also tackles the pressing issue of "greenwashing," urging businesses to stay true to their mission in an era where authenticity is the gold standard. Embark on a transformative journey through the three phases of brand discovery, positioning, and personality, all curated to create a resonant and genuine brand experience. Listen as Chase unfolds his nine-step framework that guarantees clear and consistent brand messaging, which is essential for steering your business amidst economic challenges. This episode is packed with invaluable insights, from the importance of leadership involvement to pragmatic strategies for balancing long-term branding with immediate growth pressures. Whether you're an emerging brand or an established leader, Chase Friedman's advice is your ticket to aligning profit with purpose and fostering genuine connections. Tune in now! Some areas we explore in this episode include: Defining Unique Purpose: Emphasizing the need for businesses to find and commit to a unique purpose beyond industry focus.User-Generated Content: Encouraging genuine customer testimonials by making them the heroes of their stories without incentives.Sensitive Case Studies: Sharing impactful results discreetly by avoiding specific names or logos for privacy.Profiting with Purpose: Warning against "greenwashing" and advocating for authentic alignment of brand actions with mission and values.Branding Advice: Highlighting the importance of clarity, consistency, and long-term commitment to purposeful branding.Brand Impact and Growth: Enhancing brand resonance and business growth through impactful initiatives and purpose-driven actions.Customer Experience: Focusing on holistic customer touchpoints to shape brand perception positively.Purpose-Driven Framework: Using introspective questions to connect a brand's purpose with growth, spanning phases of brand discovery.Leadership Involvement: The crucial role of executive leadership and team involvement in brand-building.Purpose-Driven Examples: Showcasing companies like Patagonia and Salesforce, along with smaller community-focused enterprises, as models of combining profit with purpose.And much, much more...

Welcome to Predictable B2B Success! In this episode, we dive deep into the future of customer success with the brilliant Shanif Dhanani, CEO and Founder of Locusive. Get ready to uncover how AI revolutionizes customer intelligence and amplifies business insights. Imagine if your customer success team could cut down manual data entry time by 40% and focus instead on strategic growth opportunities—sounds transformative, right? Shanif shares how Locusive supplements powerful BI tools like Tableau and Looker, using AI to generate on-demand insights and visualizations. We explore the groundbreaking techniques Locusive employs to ensure data integrity and mitigate AI hallucinations, presenting a holistic approach to responsible AI use. Discover AI's future potential in boosting customer engagement, predicting churn, and identifying upsell opportunities while significantly easing CS teams' workload. We also delve into the strategic importance of showcasing the revenue benefits of AI solutions to secure enterprise buy-in. Shanif shares invaluable insights on centralizing data for efficiency, integrating AI tools into existing systems, and the emerging role of autonomous AI agents. Whether you're looking to enhance customer success or curious about the challenges of integrating AI across various data systems, this episode is packed with actionable insights. Tune in now, and let's leap into the future of AI-driven customer success! Some areas we explore in this episode include: Locusive's Role: Locusive enhances BI tools like Tableau and Looker with AI-driven insights and reports.AI and Data Integrity: Ensuring accurate data with checks and audit trails to avoid AI hallucinations.AI in Customer Success: Using AI for better customer acquisition, engagement, and upselling.Client Health Monitoring: Leveraging data from systems like Gainsight to monitor client health.Data Challenges and Integration: Integrating AI across systems like Salesforce and centralizing data for efficiency.Strategic Use of AI: Automating manual tasks for Customer Success teams to enhance efficiency.Implementation Challenges: Customizing AI to fit company-specific data and jargon.Locusive's Growth Strategy: Focusing on teams that lack robust reporting and a deep understanding of customer needs.AI and Manual Tasks: AI helping CS managers by offering insights and monitoring client health.Importance of Business Problem Identification: Identifying inefficiencies and bottlenecks for AI to provide solutions.And much, much more...

Welcome to a bonus episode of Predictable B2B Success! Today, we're diving deep into the art of building high-performing teams with our guest, Margie Olsen. Margie, an executive coach and the visionary behind Olsen Consulting brings decades of experience and a transformative program called the "Top Team Accelerator." Imagine knowing the secret to navigating team dynamics, fostering unwavering commitment, and solving the industry's biggest challenges—all while enhancing operational efficiency and strategic alignment. Margie's innovative approach encompasses four main pillars—Teamwork, Commitment, Accountability, and tackling monumental challenges—each integral to creating cohesive and motivated teams. In this episode, Margie reveals how separating tactical and strategic meetings can revolutionize team behaviors, the power of open communication in addressing motivation, and why leaders often feel more like babysitters amidst conflicts. She'll also share incredible stories of transformation and drop actionable insights into the importance of trust, behavioral metrics, and emotional intelligence. Whether you're struggling with internal team conflicts or aiming to boost your team's performance, Margie's journey and her hands-on strategies offer invaluable wisdom. Prepare to be inspired and equipped with practical tools to elevate your leadership and drive team success. Tune in to unlock the blueprint for a thriving, high-performing team! Some areas we explore in this episode include: Top Team Accelerator Program: Four pillars: Teamwork, Commitment, Accountability, and solving challenges.Pillar 1: Teamwork: Team dynamics, emotional intelligence, and "Working Genius" assessment.Pillar 2: Commitment: Aligning goals, decision-making, and team agreements.Pillar 3: Accountability: Building trust, transparent processes, and priority-focused conversations.Operational Efficiency: Align operations with goals and differentiate strategic from tactical meetings.Coaching Approach: Real work scenarios, self-awareness, and addressing team dynamics.Role Clarity and Leadership: Clear roles and leaders are shifting from technical to growth focus.Trust and Communication: Building trust with clear goals, team agreements, and open discussions.Leadership's Organizational Impact: Coherent leadership's influence on performance and competitiveness.Changing Habits for Sustained Change: Methodical habit change, using systems for performance, and improving team structure.And much, much more...