Best Rob Spee Podcasts (2025)

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The Grit, Adventure & Faith Faith Behind the Channel Journeys Pivot 13:25

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7d ago13:25

13:25

Hello, Channel Pros! Welcome to the final episode of Channel Journeys—a moment that’s both nostalgic and exciting. After celebrating our voyage with highlights from ten fantastic guests in the last episode, it’s time to chart a new course toward “Bold Journeys.” This December, in the spirit of advent—a season of anticipation and joy—I reflect on th…

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Thank You Channel Champions for 7 Years of Impact 20:23

30d ago20:23

20:23

Seven years ago, in December 2018, I launched Channel Journeys, on a mission to explore the stories behind the partnerships and partner leaders who shape our industry. My goal was to help all of us become better partnering professionals. Over the past 7 years, I’ve had so many incredible guests who’ve shared so much channel wisdom. This episode is …

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Navigating Co-opetition: From Rivals to Allies 46:45

1M ago46:45

46:45

Figuring out co-opetition, especially with the hyperscalers, is one of the biggest challenges in partnering today. That’s why the number one top listened to Channel Journeys episode over the past 12 months is this one I had with Alan Chhabra. At the time of the interview, he was Executive Vice President of Worldwide Partners and International Sales…

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5 Leadership Steps to Reinvigorate Your Channel 23:08

2M ago23:08

23:08

In this last episode of our ChannelCon series, I have the opportunity to wrap up with MJ Shoer, the Chief Community Officer at GTIA. MJ’s role is pivotal as GTIA executes on it’s mission around community and innovation in technology. As someone deeply embedded in the fabric of GTIA, MJ provides unique insights into the organization’s current stride…

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Leadership Secrets: CEO Jennifer Roy on Team Building and Innovation 17:24

2M ago17:24

17:24

How do great companies thrive in the midst of massive industry and technology changes? What sort of leadership is required to energize employees and your customers? In this episode with Jennifer Roy, CEO of Nucleus Networks, we dive into the secrets of leadership in the rapidly evolving tech industry. Jennifer, who took over as CEO in January 2024,…

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The Secrets to ScalePad’s MSP Success with CEO Chris Day 30:55

3M ago30:55

30:55

In one of my many conversations at ChannelCon, I had the opportunity to interview Chris Day, the co-founder and CEO of ScalePad. Chris offered a unique perspective into the evolving Managed Service Provider (MSP) landscape and shared his journey from the inception of his business to spearheading massive growth through strategic integration and tech…

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Unlock the Power of AI for Partner Success with Jessica Baker 24:04

3M ago24:04

24:04

If you’ve been listening to the series of Channel Journeys podcasts recorded at ChannelCon, you’ll know that there was a lot of conversation around AI. One of the most important and valuable discussions for partners and partner managers was around leveraging AI for partner success. At the forefront of innovation around this topic stands Jessica Bak…

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The AI Evolution from MSP to MIP with Pax8’s Ryan Walsh 37:04

4M ago37:04

37:04

Are MSPs at a major inflection point of opportunity? According to a new report by Pax8, that’s exactly where they are at and it’s driven by AI. In this latest episode of our ChannelCon series, I have the pleasure of chatting with Ryan Walsh, a previous Channel Journeys guest and distinguished leader in the IT sector as the Channel Chief and Chief S…

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Charting GTIA’s Future with CEO Dan Wensley 17:04

4M ago17:04

17:04

Back in April, on episode 162, I spoke with MJ Shoer, the Chief Community Officer, about the new Global Technology Industry Association (GTIA) and how it was formed by the spin-off of CompTIA. At the time, they were searching for a CEO. In today’s episode, you are going to hear all about the future direction of GTIA, the Global Technology Industry …

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Secrets to Scaling AI Responsibly & Profitably with Noelle Russell 28:19

4M ago28:19

28:19

This episode is a must-listen for anyone who’s job or business will be impacted by AI. In other words, this is for just about everyone. My conversation is with Noelle Russell, a trailblazer in artificial intelligence (AI) and founder of the AI Leadership Institute. I met Noelle at ChannelCon where she gave a keynote presentation on Scaling AI Respo…

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Transforming Channel Strategy for AI at Barracuda with Michelle Hodges 17:05

4M ago17:05

17:05

In this episode of Channel Journeys, we welcome back Michelle Hodges, now SVP Global Channels & Alliances at Barracuda, after her impactful tenure at GitLab. I had the good fortune of speaking with Michelle at Channel Con 2025. Michelle shares her unique journey of building foundational channel programs at GitLab from the ground up, leading to a su…

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Harness the Power of AI for Channel Marketing with Heather Margolis 18:37

4M ago18:37

18:37

Last week I had the pleasure of visiting Nashville to attend the first Channel Con hosted by GTIA, the new organization created upon the sale of CompTIA. GTIA invited about 10 podcasters to sit on Podcast Row, including Channel Journeys. This episode is the first of 10 interviews Recorded at Channel Con. I’m speaking with Heather Margolis, a season…

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Mastering Sales Leadership in a Channel-Only Company with Jeff McCullough 51:11

5M ago51:11

51:11

In this episode of Channel Journeys, we welcome back Jeff McCullough, who is now Vice President of North American Sales at NetAlly. Jeff shares his extensive experience transitioning from a channel leader to a sales leadership role while maintaining a strong emphasis on channel partnerships. You’ll hear how Jeff is mastering sales leadership in a 1…

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How to Unleash Channel Sales in Asia with Greg Eckstein 58:46

5M ago58:46

58:46

Are you looking to open or expand your business in Asia? Today we welcome back Greg Eckstein, founder of Channel Sales World with over 30 years of experience helping companies capture the Asian market through partner ecosystems. In our conversation, Greg shares invaluable insights and strategies on how to successfully unleash channel sales in Asia.…

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How to Achieve Customer-Centric Success with Brian Glahn 39:07

6M ago39:07

39:07

I’ve heard many companies talk about customer-centric strategies and virtuous company values, but have rarely seen this executed nearly as well as it sounds. That’s why I’m so excited about this episode, where you’ll meet a CEO who doesn’t just talk the talk, but backs up those words with action. Today you’ll meet Brian Glahn, CEO of business techn…

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How to Master the Mid-Market with Nichole Gunn 42:23

6M ago42:23

42:23

In this episode, I sit down with Nichole Gunn, who has achieved the role of Global Chief Marketing Officer during her impressive 16 years at Extu. Nichole elaborates on the challenges and strategies of channel marketing, particularly focusing on the mid-market businesses and the expansive mission of Extu. With a deep-rooted passion for empowering h…

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Mastering Market Transitions Through Partnerships with Michelle Chiantera 37:51

7M ago37:51

37:51

Gaining strategic alignment between sales and marketing is imperative to success. In this episode, I’m speaking with Michelle Chiantera, who is in a great position to ensure that alignment. She holds the titles of both the Chief Revenue Officer and Chief Marketing Officer at Parallels (part of Alludo). We take a deep dive into the trends and person…

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How Sumo Logic Unlocked Partner-Led Growth with Timm Hoyt 49:47

7M ago49:47

49:47

In every company I’ve worked for, one of my key roles was to drive more partner-sourced revenue. This is the desire of every sale rep, manager and CRO. This episode highlights a huge success story in radically increasing business originated by partners. And you’re going to hear how they did it. I’m speaking with Timm Hoyt, the SVP of Worldwide Part…

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The Art of Partnering at TCS with Raj Gupta 44:19

8M ago44:19

44:19

Have you solved the mystery of how to partner successfully with Global System Integrators, commonly referred to as GSIs? If not, this episode is for you. It’s a replay of my interview with Raj Gupta, the head of global partnerships at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). Raj shares his take on partnerships and the nuances of working effectively with TC…

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Scaling Success Through Partnerships with CEO Jed Ayres 42:40

8M ago42:40

42:40

Where do CEOs develop their appreciation for partnering? Why do some CEOs fully embrace partnering as a core business strategy while others take a fair-weather nice-to-have view? In this episode, you’ll meet a CEO who gets it. Jed Ayres, CEO of ControlUp, talks about his unique career path and insights on channel partnerships. Jed shares his experi…

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Unlocking the Benefits of GTIA with MJ Shoer & Carolyn April 51:56

8M ago51:56

51:56

Where do you go for advice on how to navigate the evolving technology and partner landscape? There’s a new player in town that offers some unique benefits for partners and partner managers. For this episode, I sit down with MJ Shoer, Chief Community Officer, and Carolyn April, Head of Research at the new Global Technology Industry Association (GTIA…

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10 Steps to Maximize Your Partnering ROI with Harald Horgen 55:37

9M ago55:37

55:37

Are you feeling the heat to justify your investment in partnering? Do you know what return on investment (ROI) you’re getting? Many partnering leaders are fighting for investment and having to answer difficult questions from their CFO and CEO to substantiate the value of partnering. I recently had the pleasure of meeting someone who has spent a lot…

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Unlocking the Power of Ecosystems with Bob Moore 55:29

9M ago55:29

55:29

What are you doing in your company to drive partner ecosystem-led growth? In this episode of Channel Journeys, I sit down with Bob Moore, CEO of Crossbeam, to discuss the transformative power of ecosystems in the tech and SaaS industry. We talk about Bob’s book, Ecosystem-Led Growth and get a behind-the-scenes look at Crossbeam’s merger with Reveal…

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The Top 5 Trends Shaping Partner Programs with Margaret Adam 39:57

10M ago39:57

39:57

It’s always a good idea to look at the latest trends in partnering to make sure your strategy and programs are keeping up with the times. In this episode, I’m speaking with Margaret Adam, a former industry analyst and head of ecosystems research, about her five channel predictions for 2025. Margaret is now the Director of Product and Partner Market…

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Set Sail with My Bermuda Triangle Adventure 29:28

10M ago29:28

29:28

If you listen to Channel Journeys, you know I’m passionate about sailing. I thought 2024 was going to be a year without any time on the water. Fortunately, that changed mid-November when I received an OPO Crew Request in my email inbox. OPO (Offshore Passage Opportunities) is a sailing network that helps connect boat owners and captains with willin…

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Partnering Smartly: A CEO’s View with Christa Quarles 52:51

11M ago52:51

52:51

The most effective software CEOs today play the role not only of Chief Executive Officer, but also of Chief Partner Officer. I had the great fortune of meeting such a leader, Christa Quarles, CEO of Parallels (part of Alludo). While she may not think of herself as a chief partner officer, it’s obvious that partnerships play a critical role in her b…

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Partnering Secrets for Exponential Growth with Theresa Caragol 32:02

11M ago32:02

32:02

The new year is a great time to make new goals. I hope one of your goals is to learn to leverage partnerships and partnering more effectively to achieve business growth. Today’s guest, Theresa Caragol, is the founder and CEO of AchieveUnite, a company on a mission to empower organizations to excel through partnering. And she’s the author of a new b…

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How to Master Hyperscaler Co-opetition with Alan Chhabra 52:11

12M ago52:11

52:11

With over $300 billion in customer commitments to AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, the hyperscaler marketplace should play a strategic role in every IT vendor’s go-to-market strategy. But how do you partner successfully with these hyperscalers when you’re also competing with them? That co-opetition is something many people in your C-Suite fear and it …

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Rob and Vince’s Ultimate Channel Insights 49:24

1y ago49:24

49:24

As a podcast host and partner ecosystem fanatic, one of the greatest experiences is sitting down with a fellow podcaster and partnering fanatic. I had just that opportunity a few weeks ago when I traveled to Boca Raton, Florida to be on Vince Menzione’s Ultimate Partner Podcast. You’ll hear our conversation in today’s episode where we talk about ev…

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Revolutionizing MSP Economics with Fred Voccola 51:26

1y ago51:26

51:26

The Managed Service Provider (MSP) industry is poised for massive growth to serve the technology needs of small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs). But there’s a massive hurdle in their way. The core unit economics of MSPs are broken. Today’s guest, Kaseya’s CEO Fred Voccola is on mission to fix that problem. Kaseya is not only revolutionizing the MSP …

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Unlocking Radical Business Growth through MRR with Randy Schirman 47:46

1y ago47:46

47:46

What if there was a way you could increase your total addressable market and open up a whole new channel of partners? What if this strategic move not only enhanced customer satisfaction, but also significantly boosted your company’s market valuation and overall growth trajectory? All this is possible by adding a new revenue model to your business. …

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Rob Spee: My 10 Top Lessons on Partnering 18:03

1y ago18:03

18:03

I’ve gained and shared a ton of channel smarts over the past 6 years producing 150 episodes of the Channel Journeys podcast. It’s hard to condense all this knowledge into one episode, so I aimed at summarizing the key insights for successful partnering. It’s an almost impossible task given the wealth of knowledge shared by my fantastic guests. It t…

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How to Build a Booming MSP Program with Dinara Bakirova 34:18

1y ago34:18

34:18

The market for managed services continues to accelerate, but many software vendors are missing out on this huge opportunity. If you’re wondering what it takes to create a game-changing MSP program, this episode is for you. Dinara Bakirova, Director of Partner Experience at Lookout, shares the most important ingredients to their successful MSP progr…

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10 Tips for Successful GSI Partnerships with Raj Gupta 46:25

1+ y ago46:25

46:25

One of the most rewarding yet most challenging partnerships I’ve seen over my career is working with the massive Global System Integrators, also know as GSIs. Many vendors embark on this journey looking to cash in the attractive potential of multi-million $ sales in the world’s top accounts. Unfortunately, many vendors struggle for years and eventu…

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The Art of Building a 9-Figure Channel with Jeff Heilman 50:02

1+ y ago50:02

50:02

In addition to meeting new people and learning new ideas, one of the things I enjoy the most hosting Channel Journeys is the interesting personal stories I hear from my guests. Today’s guest, Jeff Heilman, has one of those amazing stories. It’s how he was the first employee working for Elon Musk’s first startup, Zip2 Corp. But then the story gets e…

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How Partners are Driving Customer Success with Nancy Ridge and Norma Watenpaugh 42:34

1+ y ago42:34

42:34

After the last episode with Jason Beal where we talked about Barracuda’s Partner Success Program, it got me thinking about the book that was recently released with groundbreaking research on how partner success drives customer success. I interviewed the book’s authors when it first came out back in episode 132. Today I’m relaunching that episode fo…

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How to Build the Ultimate Partner Success Program with Jason Beal 38:56

1+ y ago38:56

38:56

If you’re a SaaS vendor, partner success is the most important factor in your company’s growth. And your partners’ success in driving customer success is the biggest lever you have in driving more partner originated business. When partners are doing the services work, they’re gaining real life experience. They have stories of solving business probl…

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Maximizing the Impact of the Channel with Vandan and Mani 44:40

1+ y ago44:40

44:40

If you’re brand new to the channel world, how can you quickly get up to speed on what partnering is all about? That’s exactly what today’s guests had to figure out. In the podcast episode, I’m speaking with Vandan Jain and Mani Bansal, the authors of a new book titled “Maximizing the Impact of the Channel.” They interviewed 15 partner professionals…

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Mark Rogers: The Number One Challenge of Partner Leaders 38:12

1+ y ago38:12

38:12

What is the top challenge you are facing today? Changes in buyer behavior, increased competition going after fewer dollars, longer buying cycles – these changes are driving a huge amount of stress and strain on partner leaders. Today’s episode looks at these challenges and what you can do to address them. Joining me is Mark Rogers, SVP of Global Pa…

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Rob Spee: Sailing the Bermuda High in a Covid Low 29:06

1+ y ago29:06

29:06

For this 4th of July holiday week, I’m going back in the archives to replay this story of a sailing adventure. This one took place during the summer of 2021 when we were still under the grip of the covid pandemic. I took a break from the covid madness to sail from Bermuda to New York with my sailing hero, Tania Abei, the author of Maiden Voyage, an…

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Maximizing Co-Sell Success: Cassandra Gholston’s 11-Step Playbook

1+ y ago

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What does co-selling mean to you? Is your company co-selling at scale with your partners or are you still at the stage of random acts of co-selling? The changes in buyer behavior that we’ve all been talking about is making co-selling more important than ever. And the advent of automated partner mapping technologies is enabling co-selling at scale. …

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How to Transform your Channel for SaaS Success with Lisa Citron

1+ y ago

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Many software vendors and solution providers are still making the digital transformation to the SaaS business model. This transformation impacts just about every facet of your business – sales, marketing, finance, product development. And it absolutely impacts your channel strategy – in fact your entire go-to-market strategy will likely change. In …

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Breaking the Discount Cycle: Colin Puckett’s Playbook for Partner Success 42:43

1+ y ago42:43

42:43

Are you aware of the impact customer discounts are having on your partner ecosystem? Are you wondering how to break the never-ending cycle of discounting and find a better way to drive growth? In this episode, Colin Puckett, SVP of Global Channel and Field Operations at Appfire, talks about their groundbreaking approach to sales discounts. Colin sh…

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5 Steps to Unleashing the Power of Ecosystem Marketing with Rick van den Bosch 41:37

1+ y ago41:37

41:37

Looking to amplify your partner marketing strategies? This episode of Channel Journeys features Rick van den Bosch, founder and CEO of the Channext partner marketing platform and co-host of the Partnerships Unraveled podcast. You’ll learn 5 steps you can take to unleash to power of ecosystem-centric partner marketing. And proving that startup CEOs …

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Building Partnerships that Drive Customer Value with Barrett King 43:43

1+ y ago43:43

43:43

Is your channel business loosing steam? Classic channel programs and partnering strategies were meant to serve one purpose. Drive more revenue. The world has changed. Focusing solely on more revenue for your company doesn’t fly with your partners or your customers. In this episode, I explore the art and science of building partnerships that drive e…

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Your Blueprint for Successful Channel Transformation with Sam Valme 42:39

1+ y ago42:39

42:39

Wondering how you can transform your company to drive more business through the channel and greater partner engagement across your organization? In this episode, Sam Valme, Sr. Director US Channels at Ave Point, shares how they are ramping up sales through Resellers, Integrators and MSPs. Sam unveils the pivotal moments and strategies behind AvePoi…

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Rob Spee: 5 Levers for Partner Sourced Business 10:37

1+ y ago10:37

10:37

One thing I hear almost every day is “how can we get our partners to bring us more business?” The shift to the SaaS model and a partner ecosystem approach is designed to add more partner value throughout the buyer journey. More influence, more customer success, more account expansion. The good news is that when done right, the ecosystem can also br…

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How to Make Partnering a Business Strategy with Jill Rowley 44:30

2y ago44:30

44:30

How does your company view partnering? Is it a functional department siloed from the rest of the organization? Perhaps it’s integrated into your sales strategy. But it stops there. One of the messages I’ve been promoting discussing with ecosystem leaders and analysts is that partnering has to be much, much more. My thinking on this topic was actual…

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The 4 Success Metrics of a SaaS Channel with Angus Robertson 38:13

2y ago38:13

38:13

There’s a lot of talk about the demonstrating the ROI of the partner ecosystem as we transition to the SaaS model. The SaaS recuring revenue model is so different than the perpetual world most of us came from. How should we be thinking about the impact and ROI of a SaaS channel? To find some answers, we’re going back to my conversation with Angus R…

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The Future of Digital Distribution with Jen Anaya 32:06

2y ago32:06

32:06

Cloud marketplaces have gotten a ton of buzz, but what’s going on in distribution? How are the classic value add distributors (VADs) responding to the rapid growth of the AWS, Azure, and Google marketplaces? One VAD who’s not resting on their laurels is Ingram Micro. Ingram is rolling out a new digital platform that is a game change for partners an…