Belkins Podcast

What does it take to build a brand in B2B that people actually talk about? Udi Ledergor has a word for it. Courage. He was employee #13 at Gong. The first, and for a long time, only marketer. He joined when nobody had heard of them, with 11 paying customers and zero brand presence. By the time he stepped back, Gong was doing $300M ARR, had five of the Fortune 10 as clients, and had become one of t...

Companies go upmarket, hit three slow months, and decide the strategy “doesn’t work.” In this live episode, Yann (co-founder of Userled, former Salesforce enterprise seller) breaks down what enterprise deals actually look like up close: long stretches of silence that aren’t rejection, stakeholders who shape the decision without ever joining a call, and why “activity” can feel busy while the deal g...

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 portf...

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 w...

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...

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 per...

Should you hire BDRs or full cycle sales reps? Mark Niemiec, CRO of Salesloft thinks companies are shifting budgets away from BDR teams. At Salesloft, they already made the switch from sales engagement platform to what they call revenue orchestration. Mark's perspective: AE-generated pipeline converts 3-4x better than BDR pipeline. He predicts the BDR role that became popular around 2012 may not e...

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, Mic...

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'...

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. ▶ Fr...

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...

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- an...

Welcome to Episode 11 of the Belkins Podcast In this episode, Michael Maximoff sits down with Bruno Estrella, the Head of Growth Marketing at Clay and former Director of Growth Marketing at Webflow. Bruno shares his remarkable journey from playing soccer in Rio to leading growth strategies in Silicon Valley. They dive deep into the challenges and strategies of scaling startups, discussing: The pre...

Welcome back to the Belkins Podcast! In Episode 10, host Michael Maximoff sits down with Keith Rabkin, Chief Revenue Officer at PandaDoc, a company that reported over $120 million in annual revenue with a customer base of around 60,000 businesses. Keith brings over 20 years of operating experience from industry giants like Google, Adobe, and Johnson & Johnson. He's one of the few individuals to ha...

Welcome back to the Belkins Podcast after a long break. In this new episode, our updated studio. And no more leather jackets! In episode 9, Michael sits down with Jen Allen-Knuth, founder of DemandJen and renowned sales trainer and keynote speaker. Jen shares her incredible journey from an individual contributor in sales to a LinkedIn thought leader with over 70,000 followers. Discover how she use...

Welcome to the Belkins Podcast! In this episode, we've compiled the best moments from Season 4 of the Growth Podcast - part 2, now rebranded to Belkins Podcast and available on our new YouTube channel. Join our host, Michel Maximoff, Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Belkins, as he engages with industry leaders and experts. Dive into insightful discussions on sales, marketing, leadership, and perso...

In this riveting episode of the Belkins Podcast, join host Michael Maximoff as he delves into a candid conversation with Anthony Kennada, Founder & CEO of AudiencePlus. Discover the unfiltered realities of being a first-time founder, the highs and lows of building a company from the ground up, and the crucial lessons learned along the way. Anthony shares invaluable insights into the challenges of...

Welcome to the Belkins Podcast! In this episode, we've compiled the best moments from Season 4 of the Growth Podcast, now rebranded to Belkins Podcast and available on our new YouTube channel. Join our host, Michael Maximoff, Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Belkins, as he engages with industry leaders and experts. Dive into insightful discussions on sales, marketing, leadership, and personal grow...

Are you ready to redefine the future of sales and revenue generation? In this episode, we sit down with Jacco van der Kooij, founder of Winning by Design, to explore the seismic shifts happening in the sales landscape. Jacco brings his wealth of knowledge and forward-thinking perspectives on how AI is transforming sales roles, the importance of understanding business models, and the critical shift...

Want to build real connections with your customers? In this episode, we dive into the world of social selling with Laura Erdem, Head of Sales at Dreamdata. Laura shares her experiences and insights on the power of personalized content and how LinkedIn can be a game-changer for salespeople. We’re talking about: ◾ Switching from old-school tactics to social selling and what it means for salespeople...

How did Fireflies thrive during the pandemic, and what does the future hold for AI in business? In this episode, Krish Ramineni, the CEO of Fireflies, shares his insights on adapting to remote work, turning it into culture, and the surge of new tools caused by the pandemic. Krish will also discuss why a good business model is key to long-term success. Together with Michael Maximoff, they explore t...

How can AI redefine the CRM landscape and take a business like HubSpot to new heights? In this episode, Mark Roberge, Co-Founder of Stage 2 Capital and former CRO at HubSpot, shares his insights on the revolutionary impact of AI on CRM technology and sales roles. Together with Michael Maximoff, they unpack the importance of maintaining a strong team culture, the nuances of customer success for ret...

Ever wondered how a small idea can transform into a major industry influence? In this episode, we sit down with Jay Schwedelson, the visionary behind Outcome Media and Guru Conference, to dissect his journey from spearheading early internet ads to leading innovative virtual conferences. Join Michael and Jay as they explore crucial topics like the evolution of demand generation, the significant rol...

In this episode, Michael dives deep into the fiercely competitive world of tech conferences with Alex Theuma, a prominent figure in this scene. Alex shares his journey of founding SaaStock, highlighting the challenges and triumphs of creating a standout event in the crowded tech conference market. He also offers insights on delivering value to attendees, sponsors, and exhibitors alike. Venture wit...

Imagine this: you're at the helm of several groundbreaking ventures, navigating the complexities of entrepreneurship without the conventional roadmap to success. This is the world of David Henzel, a seasoned entrepreneur who's made an indelible mark across various industries. His story is one of profound resilience, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of integrating love and mindfulness into th...