Are you a CRO looking for insights and ideas from your peers? Are you a Revenue Leader with aspirations to become a Chief Revenue Officer? Are you a CEO looking to appoint a CRO to scale your business? Welcome to the CRO Spotlight podcast, a weekly show featuring insights from Chief Revenue Officers, B2B Revenue Leaders, and CEOs. Hosted by Warren Zenna, Founder and CEO of The CRO Collective, the show goes deep behind the scenes with the people who have been there, done that, and have seen t ...
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Ryan Maimone Podcasts
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Sales Transformation & Customer-Centric Revenue with Dr. Grant Van Ulbrich
54:27
54:27
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54:27In this episode, Warren speaks with Dr. Grant Van Ulbrich, the world’s first doctor of Sales Transformation. They discuss a critical gap in the modern revenue landscape: while other business functions have deep academic rigor, sales education has remained largely stagnant since the 1980s. Grant explains why traditional "tips and tricks" no longer w…
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Balancing an AI-Native Strategy with Human Connection with Amy Osmond Cook
53:57
53:57
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53:57In this episode of the CRO Spotlight Podcast, Warren Zenna sits down with Amy Osmond Cook, Co-Founder and CMO at Fullcast, to tackle the pressing challenge of balancing AI innovation with authentic human connection. As revenue leaders race to adopt AI-native strategies, the risk of losing trust through impersonal automation grows. Amy shares her pe…
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Vetting the CRO Role & Avoiding the "VP of Sales" Trap with Mike Price
59:20
59:20
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59:20In this episode, Warren Zenna sits down with Mike Price, CRO at DTEX Systems, to explore the critical evolution from a functional salesperson to a holistic business leader. Mike shares his unique journey, influenced by an entrepreneurial upbringing, and discusses why successful CROs must view themselves as business executives first. He argues that …
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Building the Machine & Guarding the Culture with Christian Gerron
54:53
54:53
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54:53In this episode of CRO Spotlight, Warren Zenna sits down with Christian Gerron, Chief Revenue Officer at StackAdapt. They dive into the complexities of the programmatic ad tech space, a market saturated with thousands of players. Christian explains how StackAdapt differentiates itself by moving beyond a simple DSP to become a unified "operating sys…
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Leadership Structures & AI at $1B Scale with Steven Birdsall
53:38
53:38
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53:38In this CRO Spotlight episode, host Warren Zenna sits down with Steven Birdsall, CRO at Alteryx, to unpack a sweeping leadership transition and how a newly formed C‑suite aligned on product and go‑to‑market. Steven shares how a product‑centric CEO and a servant‑leader CRO combine to create clarity of mandate, performance culture, and human‑first ex…
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Value Engineering & The ROI Discovery Process with Mike Genstil
30:02
30:02
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30:02In this episode of the CRO Spotlight, Warren Zenna welcomes Mike Genstil, CEO at ValueCore, to discuss a critical inefficiency in modern sales: the "value gap." Mike explains that too often, sellers rush to provide a price quote while buyers remain fixated on features, rather than starting the conversation by aligning on the specific problems the o…
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From BDR to CRO: Building Cross-Functional GTM with Michael Maimone
56:36
56:36
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56:36Warren Zenna sits down with Michael Maimone, CRO at LucidLink, to unpack his journey from BDR to enterprise sales leader to CRO. Michael shares how his time at IBM, Marketo, Adobe, and ZoomInfo shaped a systems mindset, enabling him to translate big-company rigor into agile, early-stage execution without stifling momentum. They dive into the first …
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Warren Zenna hosts Ryan Staley, Founder and CEO at Whale Boss, to separate AI spectacle from strategic value for revenue leaders. They explore where the technology truly helps CROs versus where demos overpromise, and how practitioners can spot durable use cases. Ryan frames adoption as a pragmatic process focused on measurable outcomes rather than …
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Punching Yourself in the Face and Secret CRO Roles with Andy Mowat
48:13
48:13
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48:13In this episode of CRO Spotlight, host Warren Zenna sits down with Andy Mowat, Founder of Whispered, to explore the challenges of landing the ideal Chief Revenue Officer role. Andy shares his journey from running revenue operations at multiple unicorns to building a platform that uncovers unposted executive opportunities. They discuss the ambiguiti…
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GTM Differentiation & Decision Velocity with Amy Hsuan
1:02:29
1:02:29
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1:02:29Warren Zenna sits down with Amy Hsuan, Chief Customer & Revenue Officer at Mixpanel, to unpack what a truly unified revenue engine looks like. Amy shares how org design must follow strategy, why GTM is a core differentiator, and how aligning marketing, sales, success, and services creates consistent end‑to‑end customer experiences that actually win…
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The Art and Science of Sales Compensation Plans with Dana Therrien
46:03
46:03
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46:03In this episode of CRO Spotlight, Warren Zenna welcomes back Dana Therrien, Vice President at Anaplan and a leading expert in sales compensation strategies. Dana shares his insights on designing simple yet effective comp plans that motivate sales teams while aligning with company goals and customer success. He emphasizes the importance of balancing…
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Target Accounts, Intent Signals & Marketing Alignment with Jaime Ruhl
1:05:05
1:05:05
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1:05:05Jaime Ruhl, CRO at Emergn, joins Warren Zenna to explore how a sales leader becomes a strategic revenue architect in a product‑centric consulting firm. She explains stepping into a broader remit that covers sales, go‑to‑market and marketing alignment across global teams. Jaime describes being a player‑coach who builds repeatable sales motion and ch…
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Hamburgers, Revenue Engines and CRO Success with Adam Crandall
1:02:52
1:02:52
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1:02:52In this episode of CRO Spotlight, Warren Zenna speaks with Adam Crandall, CRO at Addtronics, about his journey from VP of Sales to Chief Revenue Officer in a private equity-backed environment. Adam shares how he developed a scalable go-to-market playbook for Addtronics, a platform acquiring robotics and automation companies focused on advancing hum…
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What do Marshmallows have to do with CRO Success? Competency Assessment Breakthroughs with Lindsay Guzowski
1:03:25
1:03:25
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1:03:25In this episode of CRO Spotlight, host Warren Zenna sits down with Lindsay Guzowski, CEO at The Crucible, to explore the power of targeted competency assessments for chief revenue officers. They trace the origins of a bespoke CRO test built for private equity–backed companies, showing how tailored assessments can pinpoint the strengths and gaps tha…
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Shopify Org Design and Why CROs Must Get Technical with Bobby Morrison
1:02:57
1:02:57
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1:02:57In this episode of CRO Spotlight, Warren Zenna sits down with Bobby Morrison, Chief Revenue Officer at Shopify, to explore how the CRO role has evolved beyond traditional sales leadership. Bobby shares his approach to unifying marketing, sales, customer success, and support under a single revenue organization focused on the complete customer journe…
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Building Scalable Revenue Operations from the Ground Up with Jessica Robertson
1:00:24
1:00:24
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1:00:24On this episode of CRO Spotlight, host Warren Zenna sits down with lighting-rod revenue leader Jessica Robertson, Chief Revenue Officer at Orbb. After first connecting at a lively CRO roundtable, they unpack a conversation that could have lasted hours—touching on business philosophy, sales innovation, and the evolving role of relationships in growt…
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Marketing’s Identity Crisis & Unified Revenue Leadership with Emma Clayton
1:04:36
1:04:36
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1:04:36In this episode of CRO Spotlight, host Warren Zenna welcomes Emma Clayton, C-Suite Strategic & Commercial Leadership Consultant at Be Brilliant Consultancy. With 27 years in marketing, Emma reveals the origin of her provocative LinkedIn musing on B2B marketing’s fragmentation and leadership vacuum. She shares why she left a prominent community, how…
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Essential CRO Competencies for PE-Backed Companies with Joe Gravino
56:43
56:43
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56:43In this episode of CRO Spotlight, Warren Zenna sits down with Joe Gravino, Principal at Falcon Partners. They explore how private equity–backed firms identify and deploy revenue leaders. Joe explains Falcon’s boutique search approach focusing on aligning go-to-market teams with strategic objectives. Together, they pinpoint key markers of organizati…
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What CRO Recruiters Look for in Top Revenue Leaders with Wayne Starritt
58:12
58:12
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58:12Hiring the right Chief Revenue Officer can make or break a company's growth trajectory. In this episode, Warren Zenna and Wayne Starritt unpack the systemic issues behind CRO hiring failures—and why fixing the hiring process itself is critical to long-term success. They reveal how many companies unknowingly sabotage CROs before day one. Wayne share…
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Simplifying Revenue Operations & Navigating PE Pressures with John E. Lepto IV
1:01:55
1:01:55
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1:01:55In this episode of CRO Spotlight, host Warren Zenna welcomes John E. Lepto IV for a deep dive into current revenue leadership challenges. Their insightful conversation unpacks the evolving CRO role amid aggressive market dynamics and PE pressures, revealing actionable strategies to balance growth ambitions with operational discipline. John E. Lepto…
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Finding Gold in Dirty Data & Creating Consistency with Guy Rubin
42:58
42:58
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42:58On this engaging episode of CRO Spotlight, host Warren Zenna sits down with Guy Rubin, Founder and CEO at Ebsta, to dissect the evolving CRO role. They explore the challenges companies face when hiring for growth—from misaligned expectations to premature role adoption. Their conversation sparks innovative ideas on how to recalibrate commercial stra…
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Future of Data Automation and the Death of the CRM with Elio Narciso
51:35
51:35
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51:35Warren Zenna welcomes Elio Narciso on CRO Spotlight as they dive deep into the challenges of data overload in today’s sales environments. They explore how manual tasks and disjointed CRM systems drag down productivity while innovative integrations and AI-driven agents set the stage for a transformative approach that empowers CROs and their teams to…
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Data Capture and AI-Driven Revenue Intelligence with Janis Zech
1:07:41
1:07:41
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1:07:41In this episode of the CRO Spotlight podcast host Warren Zenna connects with Janis Zech, Co-Founder and CEO at Weflow. They explore the rising significance of the Chief Revenue Officer role amid evolving market challenges. The discussion sets the stage by addressing operational inefficiencies and the need for precise revenue intelligence in today’s…
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Navigating the Spectrum of CRO Responsibilities with Rich Sutton
1:01:18
1:01:18
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1:01:18In this episode of CRO Spotlight, host Warren Zenna welcomes Rich Sutton, Co-Founder at DM&RS Advisory, for a deep dive into the evolving CRO role. Rich shares his unconventional journey from rock and roll DJ to strategic revenue leader, setting the stage for a conversation that challenges traditional sales-focused perspectives in today’s dynamic m…
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The Long Game in Software Services with Alex Asianov and Jonathan Blessing
52:56
52:56
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52:56In this episode of CRO Spotlight, host Warren Zenna welcomes Alex Asianov and Jonathan Blessing of DOOR3 for a deep dive into their company’s 22-year journey through the ever-changing world of technology services. Alex shares how his early passion for programming led to the founding of DOOR3 and how that foundation evolved into a product-focused mi…
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Navigating the Intangibles of the CRO Role with Steve Kost
59:41
59:41
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59:41In this engaging episode of CRO Spotlight, host Warren Zenna sits down with seasoned executive Steve Kost to explore the intricate world of revenue leadership. Their conversation delves into the often-overlooked intangibles that drive success, drawing on experiences from Fortune 500 giants to nimble startups. The discussion sets a thoughtful tone f…
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Enterprise Revenue Models and AI-Driven Efficient Growth with Justin Shriber
44:49
44:49
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44:49In this episode of CRO Spotlight, host Warren Zenna welcomes Justin Shriber, CEO of BoostUp.ai, for a deep dive into the evolution of sales technology and enterprise revenue strategies. Justin recounts his journey from early days at Siebel to his leadership roles at Oracle and BoostUp.ai, sharing insights on how traditional models are being reimagi…
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Musings on AI, Thermometers and Borrowed Structure
42:26
42:26
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42:26In this episode, Warren Zenna dives deep into the often-overlooked challenges of leadership, particularly for Chief Revenue Officers (CROs). He explores the immense complexity of the role, which requires managing relationships with CEOs, cross-functional teams, boards, and other stakeholders—all while making critical decisions that impact the organ…
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AI-Enhanced Social Selling and LinkedIn Strategies with Brynne Tillman
50:36
50:36
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50:36In this episode of the CRO Spotlight Podcast, host Warren Zenna is joined by LinkedIn expert Brynne Tillman to explore how AI and LinkedIn Sales Navigator are revolutionizing the sales process. Brynne shares insights into using these tools to foster trust-based conversations, create tailored outreach, and enhance relationship-building strategies fo…
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Unlocking the Power of the CRO-CFO Alliance with Eric Steele and Larry Earl
58:37
58:37
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58:37In this episode of CRO Spotlight, host Warren Zenna engages with Eric Steele, Chief Revenue Officer, and Larry Earl, Chief Financial Officer at SIB, to explore the intricate relationship between revenue operations and financial management. The discussion highlights how both roles can collaborate effectively to drive growth while maintaining financi…
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Psychology, Social Selling, and LinkedIn Strategy with Chelsea Olsen
51:07
51:07
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51:07In this episode of CRO Spotlight, host Warren Zenna interviews Chelsea Olsen, founder of CLOHZ, who specializes in helping businesses enhance their sales pipelines through effective LinkedIn strategies. Chelsea shares her entrepreneurial journey, detailing how she transitioned from corporate roles to establishing her consulting business focused on …
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Balancing Short-Term Gains with Long-Term Growth Strategies with Dayna Williams
50:49
50:49
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50:49In this insightful episode of the CRO Spotlight Podcast, host Warren Zenna welcomes Dayna Williams, the Chief Experience Officer at The Myers-Briggs Company and author of The Diligence Fix. Warren and Dayna dive deep into the challenges of the modern CRO role, exploring how the relentless pursuit of top-line revenue often undermines long-term succe…
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Navigating PLG and the Evolution of the CRO Role with Kristen Habacht
48:22
48:22
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48:22In this insightful episode of the CRO Spotlight Podcast, host Warren Zenna engages in a candid conversation with Kristen Habacht, the Chief Revenue Officer at Typeform. Kristen shares her unconventional journey into the CRO role, starting from an office manager position to leading revenue teams in top tech companies. She discusses the evolving natu…
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Enterprise CRO Insights and Strategic Career Growth with James Roth
1:04:08
1:04:08
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1:04:08In this insightful episode of the CRO Spotlight Podcast, host Warren Zenna sits down with James Roth, Chief Revenue Officer of ZoomInfo, to explore the critical elements that shape a successful CRO career. James delves into the importance of "knowledge stickiness," explaining how the ability to absorb and retain valuable insights from various roles…
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Should we get rid of the "CRO" title? with Jonathan Spier
58:45
58:45
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58:45In this thought-provoking episode of the CRO Spotlight Podcast, host Warren Zenna sits down with Jonathan Spier, CEO of Rev AI, to challenge the conventional wisdom surrounding the Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) title. Sparked by a viral LinkedIn post from Jonathan, this conversation dives deep into why he believes the CRO title is not just flawed but…
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Hustle, Cancellation, and Personal Branding with Alexa Curtis
45:34
45:34
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45:34In this episode of the CRO Spotlight podcast, we sit down with Alexa Curtis, a dynamic entrepreneur who navigated the path from a teenage blogger to a media powerhouse. Alexa shares her journey of breaking into the industry with her fearless attitude, from pitching TV segments at a young age to landing a deal with Disney. She recounts her innovativ…
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What it Takes To Successfully Deploy a CRO with Philip Lacor
58:00
58:00
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58:00In this episode of the CRO Spotlight podcast, host Warren Zenna is joined by Philip Lacor, Chief Revenue Officer of Airbase, to discuss the intricate role of a CRO in fostering company growth and alignment. Philip, with his extensive background in engineering, finance, and sales, shares insights on how his diverse experience has equipped him to eff…
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Empowering Revenue Teams and Leveraging AI with Hang Black
46:41
46:41
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46:41In this episode of the CRO Spotlight Podcast, host Warren Zenna welcomes Hang Black, a seasoned revenue enablement expert, to discuss the transformative role of revenue enablement in modern businesses. Hang shares her inspiring journey from being a Vietnamese immigrant to becoming a leader in the field of revenue enablement. She emphasizes the impo…
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Leadership, Motivating Your Team, and Improving Sales Through Neuroscience with Peri Shawn
50:53
50:53
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50:53In this engaging episode of the CRO Spotlight podcast, host Warren Zenna sits down with Peri Shawn, CEO of the Coaching and Sales Institute. The conversation delves into the transformative power of sales training and effective coaching techniques, exploring how Peri's unique methodology enhances sales effectiveness and overall human performance. Th…
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Traits of a Successful CRO and How Companies Should Prepare For Hiring One with Mark Walker
54:41
54:41
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54:41In this episode of CRO Spotlight, Warren Zenna engages in a candid conversation with Mark Walker, a seasoned Chief Revenue Officer with a wealth of experience in scaling businesses from zero to multimillion-dollar revenues. The discussion centers around the pivotal role of a Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) and the critical considerations companies must…
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Reality of the CRO Role and the Importance of CRO Training with Dan Frailey
45:31
45:31
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45:31In this episode of CRO Spotlight, host Warren Zenna, CEO of the CRO Collective, sits down with Daniel Frailey, a dynamic leader who has navigated an unconventional path to success. Starting with an early exposure to the business world through his family's sales company, Daniel initially set his sights on a career in medicine. However, he soon disco…
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How Great Leadership Impacts Revenue Processes and Systems with Roee Hartuv
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54:41
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54:41In this episode of the CRO Spotlight podcast, host Warren Zenna sits down with Roee Hartuv, a senior consultant at Winning by Design, to delve into the complexities of revenue leadership. Warren and Roee explore the critical balance between process-driven strategies and the essential leadership qualities needed to drive successful revenue operation…
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"Data VS Artistry" and "How To Unf**k Your Startup" with Dan Hurwitz
41:17
41:17
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41:17In this episode, Warren welcomes Dan Hurwitz, an experienced revenue leader and the mind behind the podcast "How to Unf**k Your Startup." Warren and Dan delve into the intricacies of revenue leadership, sharing insights from their own journeys and exploring the critical role of intuition alongside data in driving business growth. Dan shares his wea…
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A Recruiters Perspective on the Current CRO Market and How To Navigate It - Michael Campagna
39:30
39:30
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39:30In this episode, Warren sits down with Mike Campagna, an executive recruiter specializing in sales leadership roles within enterprise SaaS and B2B markets. With over a decade of experience, Mike shares his unique perspective on the intricacies of hiring for the CRO role. He discusses the importance of understanding the specific needs of a company b…
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The CRO Role in Modern SaaS: Navigating Shifts in Scaling Mentality with Frank Nardi
53:37
53:37
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53:37In this episode of The CRO Spotlight Podcast, Warren Zenna engages in a candid conversation with a seasoned expert in the revenue space - Frank Nardi, who is the CRO at Cin7. As they navigate through topics like the "Golden Age of SaaS" and the era of "profitable efficient growth," they explore how the role of the CRO has been shaped by changing ma…
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Striking the Balance Between Happy Investors and Satisfied Customers with Lawrence Lanzilli
48:46
48:46
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48:46In this episode of the CRO Spotlight Podcast, we delve into the multifaceted role of a Chief Revenue Officer. The conversation explores the challenges CROs face in navigating the demands of different stakeholders while ensuring the company's long-term success. Lawrence emphasizes the need for CROs to define themselves appropriately, advocating for …
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Revenue Operations, CROs and Treating Customers like your Children with Dana Therrien
49:19
49:19
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49:19In this episode of the CRO Spotlight podcast, host Warren Zenna dives into the critical role of Chief Revenue Officers (CROs) with special guest Dana Therrien, Head of Revenue Operations for Anaplan. Warren and Dana explore the challenges faced by CROs when organizations fail to fully understand or support their roles. They discuss the importance o…
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How CROs can use Negotiation Skills to Build Aligned Organizations - with Sanjay Yadav
1:05:38
1:05:38
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1:05:38In this episode of The CRO Spotlight Podcast, Warren Zenna welcomes Sanjay Yadav, expert negotiation and sales training consultant, to the podcast. With over 26 years of corporate experience across various industries and regions, Sanjay brings a wealth of expertise to the powerful skill of negotiation. Contrary to popular belief, negotiation is not…
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Brand Safety, AdTech and the death of the Cookie with Joe Zappa
45:33
45:33
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45:33Join Warren Zenna, founder and CEO of the CRO Collective, in another episode of the CRO Spotlight Podcast. This week, Warren engages in a thought-provoking discussion with Joe Zappa, founder of Sharp Pen Media, specializing in marketing strategy, content, and PR for ad tech and mart tech companies. In this episode, Warren and Joe delve into the int…
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RevTech and Silos - How to Manage the Tech Stack Morass with Sandy Robinson
42:55
42:55
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42:55Join Warren Zenna, founder and CEO of the CRO Collective, as he dives into the world of revenue success in this episode of the CRO Spotlight Podcast. In this engaging discussion, Warren welcomes Sandy Robinson, Senior Vice President of Revenue Operations and Enablement at Patra, a tech-enabled insurance company. Together, they explore the intricate…
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