Topline

In this episode of Topline, Asad and AJ are joined by Kyle Norton, CRO of Owner.com and Host of The Revenue Leadership Podcast . They explore the evolving role of the CRO, highlighting the diverse characteristics of successful leaders in this position. The conversation also delves into the transformative impact of AI advancements, particularly the implications of GPT-3 and GPT-4 models on business...

Topline is excited to introduce our newest segment – Topline Spotlight. In this series, our hosts sit down with top B2B tech leaders to explore the biggest challenges they've faced and how they conquered them.   This week Sam, AJ, and Asad are joined by Jenny Podewils, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Leapsome, to discuss the real-world challenges Leapsome faces in the ever-evolving HR tech scene. Jenny s...

Investor and AI power user Tomasz Tunguz joins the show to break down his bold predictions for 2025. From startups with 30 employees hitting $100M ARR to the explosive productivity gains driven by AI, Tomasz explains how automation is reshaping the tech landscape. Tomasz, Sam, AJ, and Asad dive into his personal AI-driven workflows, the future of SaaS, why big enterprises might benefit from AI bef...

Topline is excited to introduce our newest segment – Topline Spotlight. In this series, our hosts sit down with top B2B tech leaders to explore the biggest challenges they've faced and how they conquered them.   For the debut episode, Sam and Asad interview AJ Bruno, CEO of QuotaPath and co-host of Topline, to reflect on his experience navigating significant headcount cuts nearly two years ago. AJ...

In our first episode of 2025, Sam, AJ, and Asad continue the conversation on how AI is reshaping innovation and product development. They explore how the real game-changer isn't just about coding anymore—it's about sparking original ideas and unleashing creativity in this tech-driven era. Asad brings an interesting perspective on management, suggesting that trimming down on traditional managers mi...

In this episode of the Topline, hosts Sam, AJ, and Asad look back at the defining moments of 2024, sharing personal reflections and key lessons on growth. They dive into the transformative role AI is playing across industries, from its impact on SaaS applications to the enduring value of human expertise in an automated world.   Looking ahead to 2025, Asad makes a bold prediction about HubSpot's tr...

In this episode of the Topline podcast, hosts Sam, AJ, and Asad sits down with Janet Gehrmann, co-founder of Scoop Analytics, to dive into the ever-evolving world of tech startups. Janet shares the story behind Scoop Analytics and its mission to make data access and presentation effortless for business users. Together, they discuss the challenges of pivoting in response to market changes, finding...

Roxanne Bras Petraeus, CEO of Ethena, joins Sam, AJ, and Asad on Topline this week. Roxanne peels back the curtain on Ethena's early success in securing major clients like Figma and Netflix, highlighting the company's strategic approach to client acquisition and effective use of press coverage. The conversation also explores the evolving employer-employee relationship, focusing on Diversity, Equit...

This week on Topline, Sam, AJ, and Asad sit down with Nick Mehta, CEO of Gainsight, to discuss the evolution of customer success (CS) and its growing impact on business strategy. Nick explains why sustained investment in CS is crucial, how customer success managers can thrive by combining technical and commercial skills, and the role AI plays in transforming customer interactions. The episode also...

In Episode 85 of Topline, Sam Jacobs and Asad Zaman welcome Peter Walker, Head of Insights at Carta, for a deep dive into the shifting landscape of venture capital and market trends. The discussion spans the resurgence of IPOs, the state of M&A activity, and how startups are adapting in a post-2021 economy. They explore the role of AI in reshaping growth strategies, the rising importance of capita...

In this Sunday's episode, Sam, AJ, and Asad explore today's market dynamics looking at recent economic shifts, from Federal Reserve rate cuts to the crypto surge, and the challenges of business predictability. They also explore how sales compensation is evolving, especially with the rise of usage-based pricing models. Topline by Pavilion is also proud to debut The Revenue Leadership Podcast with K...

In this week's episode, hosts Sam, AJ, and Asad dissect the election results and what it means for business leaders and workplaces. They tackle the tricky balance of handling political conversations in the office, highlighting the importance of keeping organizational goals in sight while respecting diverse employee viewpoints. They also look at how media is changing, pointing out the growing appea...

We welcome back David Obrand, CEO of Salesloft, for a lively discussion on navigating the shifting world of enterprise sales. David dives into his company's strategic move toward enterprise growth, highlighting why focusing on profitability and staying adaptable is crucial in today's unpredictable economy. They also explore how AI is shaping sales, the hurdles of staying competitive, and how go-to...

In this episode of the Revenue Leadership Podcast, host Kyle dives into the complexities of hiring top-tier sales talent with Asad Zaman, CEO of Sales Talent Agency and co-host of Topline. Together, they explore the unique challenges of recruiting in the tech industry, where demand for skilled salespeople often outpaces supply. Asad shares why a structured hiring process is crucial—from a well-tho...

In this episode of the Topline podcast, hosts Sam, AJ, and Asad sit down with Alon Alroy, Co-Founder and CMO of Bizzabo, to explore the ever-changing world of event technology. Alon opens up about Bizzabo's journey, from navigating the challenges of COVID-19 and the boom in virtual events to the exciting return of in-person experiences. They also dive into how AI is shaping personalized event expe...

In this episode of The Revenue Leadership Podcast, Mark Niemek, Chief Revenue Officer at Salesloft, opens up about his journey from Salesforce to Salesloft. He talks about the company's shift from being product-driven to a platform-focused organization and shares his thoughts on the critical role of operational discipline, transforming talent, and preserving company culture during times of change....

In episode 80 of Topline, host Sam, AJ, and Asad sit down with David Spitz, a former investment banker turned entrepreneur, to tackle the topic of GTM efficiency. Together, they dive into the growing challenges SaaS companies face as GTM efficiency metrics continue to decline. David introduces a new metric that compares sales and marketing spend to net changes in ARR, highlighting a troubling tren...

If you like what you heard from Kyle today, make sure to follow The Revenue Leadership Podcast for new episodes every Wednesday. Want more content from the Topline media family? Listen to Topline Podcast with Sam Jacobs, AJ Bruno, and Asad Zaman. Join the Topline Slack channel to engage with hosts, guests, and other listeners. Subscribe to Topline Newsletter written by Asad Zaman.

In episode 79 of Topline, Sam and Asad sit down with Benedict Evans to discuss the rapid evolution of AI. Together, they explore AI's growing impact on businesses and the economy, with Benedict offering expert insights on the scalability of AI models and the challenges companies face in staying competitive. The conversation also delves into AI's implications for the job market and its role in shap...

On this episode of the Revenue Leadership podcast, host Kyle Norton chats with Dini Mehta, former CRO of Lattice, to uncover the art of scaling through a multi-product strategy. Dini shares her journey of transforming Lattice from a single-product company into a thriving multi-product powerhouse. Together, they explore the nuances of launching new products, structuring teams for success, and drivi...

In this episode of Topline, Sam and Asad welcome Kyle Norton, CRO of Owner.com and new host of the Revenue Leadership Podcast. The discussion kicks off with insights from a recent episode featuring Jason Lemkin, where they explore the dynamics between boards and CROs, emphasizing the importance of trust and the challenges of fear in leadership roles. The conversation also delves into the evolving...

Pavilion is thrilled to introduce The Revenue Leadership Podcast with Kyle Norton, now part of the Topline media network. In the second episode, Kyle sits down with Kevin "KD" Dorsey, CRO of finally. KD opens his mind to us, sharing insights from his extensive experience building successful startup sales teams. He highlights the critical role of developing comprehensive playbooks, focusing on five...

In episode 77, our hosts dive deep into the biggest go-to-market trends emerging from two major tech conferences, INBOUND and Dreamforce. They explore how Salesforce and HubSpot are pushing the boundaries with AI, especially around AI agents, and what this means for B2B SaaS sales and customer experience. They also debate about whether the go-to-market approach is fundamentally broken or simply ch...

Pavilion is thrilled to introduce The Revenue Leadership Podcast with Kyle Norton, now part of the Topline media network. In the debut episode, Kyle sits down with Jason Lemkin, Founder & CEO of SaaStr and VC. Jason and Kyle delve into the complexities of board dynamics and offer advice on how revenue leaders can build trust with their board, take direct feedback in stride, and embrace bad news. T...

In this episode of Topline, Sam, AJ, and Asad delve into the concept of GTM Efficiency , a metric introduced by David Spitz that measures the cost of generating NRR. They discuss the implications of this metric for tech companies, including its potential as a leading indicator of future performance. The discussion also touches on whether there's a need for a "Chief Go-To-Market Officer, " debating...