Topline

As we wrap up Q2, Sam, AJ and Asad talk through lessons learned from a tough quarter, share their outlooks on what Q3 has in store, and dive into the contentious waters of US politics, including recent Supreme Court decisions on affirmative action and student loans, the war in Ukraine, and more.

This week on Topline, Sam, AJ and Asad are joined by guest Mark Roberge. Mark as the original head of sales at HubSpot, and has gone on to teach at Harvard Business School and found Stage 2 Capital. Together, they discuss the implications of AI for go-to-market teams, inflated VC valuations, and how investors think about AI investments.

Insight Partners released new research this week on publicly traded PLG companies showing that sales led companies have higher valuations. The team digs into why and talks about Softbank's recent announcement that it has funds to invest and is ready for a "counter offensive," why Asad is sad the tech recession might end soon, and the biggest lessons they've learned from operating in a tight economy.

This week, the team talks about the state of the market and what it means for tech companies, how to drive engagement amongst employees in a tough economy, and whether burnout is really a problem and how to combat it.

In this week's episode, Sam, Asad and AJ reflect on Jeff Bezos' leadership style, how it has impacted Amazon's growth, and the lessons it holds for startup founders looking to foster a culture of innovation. They also check in on the state of the economy and debate whether companies should be looking to expand market share outside of tech.

The guys talk about level setting the way we assess business performance in the current economy, why multiples for AI companies are way up, how AI is fueling new categories of careers, and the pros and cons of hiring execs that have side hustles.

This week, Sam, AJ and Asad reflect on recent congressional testimony about whether and to what degree AI should be regulated, and share insights around how they're working to get their teams aligned, improve communication, and make better decisions using data.

Sam, Asad and AJ catch up on what's happening with the economy and the hiring market and talk through what the ideal profile of a seller is, what the right level of churn is, how to structure board meetings, and more.

In this episode of Topline, Sam, Asad and AJ speak with special guest, Jamie Barnett, who currently serves as the Interim CEO for Writer. Jamie shares some insightful information about generative AI and how GTM (Go-To-Market) leaders can begin incorporating AI into their strategies. Jamie emphasizes the significance of generative AI in various aspects of business writing, including research and analysis, as well as repurposing and transforming content, and explains that utilizing AI can result in a remarkable 30% increase in productivity. Overall, this episode provides valuable insights into the role of AI in business writing, the benefits it brings to productivity, and how GTM leaders can start incorporating AI into their strategies while ensuring the right talent is in place.

Sam, AJ and Asad talk about the challenges that growth stage companies face when it comes to fundraising and company building. The conversation also touches on bridge rounds and the impact on common stockholders and options holders, as well as the current trends in tech, including AI and selling to non-tech sectors. The episode also covers the importance of finding a balance between being hard-driving and creating a healthy company culture, the pressure for CEOs to always be "on," and how experience changes when transitioning from a CRO to CEO.