Topline

In today's mini-episode, Sam, AJ, and Asad discuss their thoughts on planning for 2025 and setting growth targets. They dive into the macroeconomic outlook for 2025 and the importance of being on the front foot with growth. Crossbeam x Pavilion: The Future of Revenue (Part II). Contribute to the research . Secure your ticket to GTM2024 in Austin, TX (October 14 - 16), and don't forget to use the c...

In this Sunday's episode, our hosts discuss the two ways to win in a competitive market: product velocity and go-to-market excellence. They break down the challenges and trade-offs of each approach, highlighting the importance of building a sustainable competitive edge. The conversation also explores how RevOps plays a pivotal role in crafting effective go-to-market strategies and the power of lev...

In this week's mini-episode, the group answers a question brought to AJ around a board member that isn't as engaged as they should be and is continually asking questions that pull focus. The trio shares their advice on how to navigate this situation, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing and providing context. Crossbeam x Pavilion: The Future of Revenue (Part II). Contribute to the research ....

Mark Kosoglow joins Topline this week to introduce us to Operator AI ahead of it's official announcement. Operator AI is a solution to improve sales efficiency by providing high-quality, unique data for free and leveraging AI to generate actionable insights ( get early access ). Marks shares insights on the current state of outbound sales and the challenges posed by over-automation, how Operator A...

Join hosts AJ Bruno, Asif Zaman, and Sam Jacobs on Topline Hotline, where they tackle questions from the go-to-market community. In this episode, the team debates the effectiveness of using gifting platforms to boost top-of-the-funnel meeting show rates and win rates. Secure your ticket to GTM2024 in Austin, TX (October 14 - 16), and don't forget to use the code TOPLINE for 15% of your ticket. Enj...

In this episode of Topline, hosts Sam, AJ, and Asad dive into the intricacies of growth versus free cash flow margin, especially the evolving premium on growth, the concept of profitable, efficient growth, and the importance of understanding unit economics. The conversation also touches on Q3 market updates from PitchBook and the challenges of transitioning leadership in high-profile companies, us...

This week, Sam, AJ, and Asad dive into a question from Pavilion's Slack community: When planning for the fiscal year ahead at the CRO level, should you proactively create a comprehensive plan or deck outlining key actions and deliverables? Tune in as our Topline hosts discuss different approaches to planning and explore best practices. Make sure to secure your ticket to GTM2024 in Austin, TX (Octo...

In episode 72 of Topline, hosts Sam, AJ, and Asad dive into the tricky balance between growing a business and staying profitable, with Uber and DoorDash as prime examples. The conversation also touches on the role of venture capital, the importance of having a motivated, driven team, and the nuances of different business models. Want more Topline? Join the Topline Slack channel to engage with host...

In this week's episode, Sam, AJ, and Asad first explore whether ARR should be reported before or after applying discounts, a common dilemma for companies offering discounted first-year pricing on annual plans. They also tackle best practices for setting up revenue schedules in Salesforce, specifically whether to align them with the invoicing cycle or distribute revenue evenly across the year. Enjo...

In this episode of Topline, the hosts discuss the landmark antitrust ruling against Google, its implications for early-stage businesses and competition, and the challenges of context-switching for leaders. They also analyze the latest SaaS performance updates, capital allocation strategies, and the importance of B2B tech companies expanding their TAM outside of tech. Want more Topline? Join the To...

Preparing for board meetings is notoriously time-consuming, often requiring weeks to feel fully prepared. In this week's edition of Topline Hotline, our hosts address a question from Slack on how to streamline the preparation process and make it more time-efficient. Enjoy the mini-episode? Join the Topline Slack channel to engage with hosts, guests, and other listeners and subscribe to Topline New...

In episode 70 of Topline, hosts Sam, Asad, and AJ navigate a range of topics, from the recent tumultuous economic events to personal reflections on leadership and feedback. They discuss the Federal Reserve's rate decisions, the labor market, and the impact of Japan's market crash. Want more Topline? Join the Topline Slack channel to engage with hosts, guests, and other listeners and subscribe to T...

In this week's mini-episode, Sam, AJ, and Asad delve into the effectiveness of sales leaderboards and President's Club initiatives in fostering a performance-driven culture. Listen to hear what our hosts think. Enjoy the mini-episode? Join the Topline Slack channel to engage with hosts, guests, and other listeners and subscribe to Topline Newsletter .  

Armand Farrokh, founder of the revenue media platform  Minutes to President's Club and author of "Cold Calling Sucks, and That's Why It Works," joins the show to discuss the evolving landscape of outbound sales, particularly the impact of AI and automation tools. We delve into the paradox of using cold calling techniques in a world increasingly dominated by automated outreach and ask questions lik...

In this Thursday's mini-episode, a seed round CEO wants to make the most of attending conferences and events without spending too much money. How do you pick which events to attend? Should you buy a booth? Do you just go and walk around? Listen to find out. Enjoy the mini-episode? Join the Topline Slack channel to engage with hosts, guests, and other listeners and subscribe to Topline Newsletter .

In this week's episode, our Topline hosts discuss the recent CrowdStrike update that caused massive disruptions, the complexities of building and maintaining effective executive teams, and the evolving landscape of entrepreneurship. Want more Topline? Join the Topline Slack channel to engage with hosts, guests, and other listeners and subscribe to Topline Newsletter . Secure your ticket to GTM2024...

In this week's mini-episode, the conversation revolves around a question from a new SVP of Sales and Account Management who is tasked with shifting the company's marketing strategy from 90% inbound to a 50-50 inbound-outbound split. Is it possible to make a pivot like this in just one year? Enjoy the mini-episode? Join the Topline Slack channel to engage with hosts, guests, and other listeners and...

This week, our hosts are joined by Kareem Amin and Varun Anand, co-founders of Clay. They discuss their recent $46 million Series B funding round. Kareem and Varun also share insights on their growth journey, the impact of AI on sales and marketing, and how Kareem's experience at a silent retreat influenced his leadership style. Want more Topline? Join the Topline Slack channel to engage with host...

In this week's mini-episode, Sam, AJ, and Asad tackle a question about effectively communicating pipeline health during board meetings. What details are essential to include? What do you typically hold back? Listen to this week's Topline Hotline to see what our hosts think. Enjoy the mini-episode? Read the recaps and join our Slack channel to engage with other listeners here .  

In this episode of Topline, the hosts welcome Dan Gottlieb, Vice President at Gartner, to discuss the evolving landscape of sales technology. The conversation delves into the competitive dynamics among sales tech companies such as Gong, Outreach, and Salesloft, exploring how these companies navigate growth and innovation challenges. Dan also shares insights on the importance of AI and data interop...

Join hosts AJ Bruno and Asad Zaman on this episode of Topline Hotline as they tackle a pressing question from the go-to-market community: how to balance getting a great deal for your company while choosing the right product. They discuss the importance of being a savvy buyer, the dynamics of commoditized versus non-commoditized products, and the role of leverage in negotiations. Enjoy the mini-epi...

In this episode of Topline, AJ Bruno, Asad Zaman, and Carta's Head of Insights Peter Walker are joined by Bob Moore, CEO of Crossbeam, to discuss his company's recent merger with Reveal. Bob shares the strategy behind the merger, along with the challenges and opportunities that the merger brings to Crossbeam. The episode also touches on broader market trends, including the state of M&A activity an...

In this week's mini-episode, our Topline hosts explore a real-life scenario faced by a female CEO of a software company. Despite overcoming challenges and showing positive results, the company faces a cash crunch. The CEO needs more capital from investors, knowing it will dilute her equity. Simultaneously, she wants to negotiate a raise to protect her stake. How can she advocate for herself effect...

This week on Topline, Sam, AJ, and Asad discuss their lessons from Q2, the Crossbeam and Reveal merger and the why behind QuotaPath's recent product update. Want more Topline? Join the Topline Slack channel to engage with hosts, guests, and other listeners and read episode recaps . Also, make sure to secure a ticket for: GTM EMEA , which will be held in London from 9 - 11 July GTM2024 , which will...

Another Thursday, another mini-episode! This time, Sam, AJ, and Asad tackle a question from the GTM community about creative ways to incentivize account executives to outbound, as this group of AEs generates most of its opportunities and new business through inbound. Enjoy the mini-episode? Read the recaps and join our Slack channel to engage with other listeners here .