#284 Leslie Douglas - How Top Revenue Teams Thrive Through People-First Leadership

In this weeks’ Scale Your Sales Podcast episode, my guest is Leslie Douglas.   Leslie Douglas is an award-winning sales coach dedicated to helping sales professionals align with their purpose and maximize productivity for high-impact results. With over 15 years of sales experience and a decade in coaching, she empowers individuals and teams to drive pipeline while staying authentic to their unique voice. A LinkedIn Top Sales Voice, and host of the popular Sell Better Daily Sales Show, Leslie speaks globally, inspiring sales professionals to sell with confidence, clarity, and purpose.   In today’s episode of Scale Your Sales podcast, Leslie explores the evolving dynamics of high-performing revenue teams, emphasizing that despite advancements in AI and technology, it’s people and effective coaching that drive success. She discusses the shift from deal-centric to people-focused coaching, the importance of personalized motivation, and the need to support both sellers and leadership. The conversation also highlights the role of diversity, community, and changing generational values in shaping a resilient and inclusive sales culture.   Welcome to Scale Your Sales Podcast, Leslie Douglas.     Timestamps: 00:00 Prioritizing People in Revenue Teams 05:28 Emerging Trends in Sales Kick-offs 07:27 Data-Driven Leadership Insights 12:23 Individual Motivation Beyond Money 14:41 Shattering Glass Ceilings Together 18:17 Shifting Career Aspirations and Values 21:26 Generational Shift in Risk Tolerance 24:28 Experiencing Global Traditions Journey 27:54 Curiosity: Key Sales Tool 31:14 Finding a Safe Community Transformed Me   https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesliebdouglas/ https://www.instagram.com/itslesliedouglas/     Janice B Gordon is the award-winning Customer Growth Expert and Scale Your Sales Framework founder. She is by LinkedIn Sales 15 Innovating Sales Influencers to Follow 2021, the Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Customer Experience Nov 2020 and 150 Women B2B Thought Leaders You Should Follow in 2021. Janice helps companies worldwide to reimagine revenue growth thought customer experience and sales.   Book Janice to speak virtually at your next event: https://janicebgordon.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/janice-b-gordon/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/JaniceBGordon Scale Your Sales Podcast: https://scaleyoursales.co.uk/podcast More on the blog: https://scaleyoursales.co.uk/blog Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janicebgordon Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ScaleYourSales And more! Visit our podcast website https://scaleyoursales.co.uk/podcast/ to watch or listen.

In this weeks’ Scale Your Sales Podcast episode, my guest is Jacques Sciammas.   Large company CFO (Charles Schwab, McGraw-Hill) who chaired the Capital Committee responsible for the decisions on strategic and large investments. He shares his real-life experience to help sales teams better understand the Executive Buyer’s perspective, to help them win deals with the C-suite and develop strong relationships.   In today’s episode of Scale Your Sales podcast, Jacques shares insights into the evolving dynamics of the C-suite and how sales teams can build meaningful relationships with top executives. He explores the growing importance of empathy, communication, and strategic alignment in high-level sales conversations, offering valuable guidance for sales professionals and leaders aiming to elevate their boardroom impact.   Welcome to Scale Your Sales Podcast, Jacques Sciammas.     Timestamps: 00:00 CFO Leads Capital Investment Committee 05:16 Evolving C-Suite Dynamics and Decisions 08:34 Expanded C-Suite Roles 11:35 Evolving KPIs: Beyond Profitability 15:01 Empathy Key to Sales Success 18:45 Corporate-Political Balance and Responsibility 23:26 Efficient Meetings and Value Focus 26:23 C-Suite Misalignment in Sales Meetings 27:42 Sales Success: Beyond Basic Preparation   https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacques-sciammas/     Janice B Gordon is the award-winning Customer Growth Expert and Scale Your Sales Framework founder. She is by LinkedIn Sales 15 Innovating Sales Influencers to Follow 2021, the Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Customer Experience Nov 2020 and 150 Women B2B Thought Leaders You Should Follow in 2021. Janice helps companies worldwide to reimagine revenue growth thought customer experience and sales.   Book Janice to speak virtually at your next event: https://janicebgordon.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/janice-b-gordon/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/JaniceBGordon Scale Your Sales Podcast: https://scaleyoursales.co.uk/podcast More on the blog: https://scaleyoursales.co.uk/blog Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janicebgordon Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ScaleYourSales And more!   Visit our podcast website https://scaleyoursales.co.uk/podcast/ to watch or listen.

In this weeks’ Scale Your Sales Podcast episode, my guest is Manoj Ramnani.   Manoj is the Founder and CEO of SalesIntel, a company committed to providing the highest quality B2B contact data on the market. SalesIntel’s research team hand-verifies every contact to ensure 95% accuracy on data. As the CEO, Manoj drives the strategic vision of SalesIntel, establishes and fosters key partnerships, and is building out the executive team that will make SalesIntel the leader of the data sector.   In today’s episode of Scale Your Sales podcast, Manoj brings extensive expertise in B2B data and entrepreneurship, with experience in both bootstrapped and venture-backed ventures. In this episode, he shares insights on selecting the right financial path for startups, optimizing the tech stack, and navigating evolving go-to-market strategies. Manoj also explores the shifting role of sales teams in response to economic and technological changes, highlighting how Sales Intel leverages human-verified data and AI to drive accurate pipeline generation.   Welcome to Scale Your Sales Podcast, Manoj Ramnani.     Timestamps: 00:00 Bootstrapping vs. VC Insights 04:08 Startup Challenges and Lessons Learned 08:22 Strategic Fundraising and Sales Optimization 11:19 Consolidation of Tech Platforms 16:14 GTM Product Innovation Challenges 17:06 Empowering Buyers, Shifting Sales Strategy 20:23 Innovative Products Need Customer Feedback 24:36 Prioritizing Quality in Data Service 28:11 Optimizing Go-To-Market Strategy 30:16 From Engineering to Sales Intel 34:10 Focus on Events, Community, Partnerships 36:29 Empowering High-Performance Teams   https://www.linkedin.com/in/manojramnani/     Janice B Gordon is the award-winning Customer Growth Expert and Scale Your Sales Framework founder. She is by LinkedIn Sales 15 Innovating Sales Influencers to Follow 2021, the Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Customer Experience Nov 2020 and 150 Women B2B Thought Leaders You Should Follow in 2021. Janice helps companies worldwide to reimagine revenue growth thought customer experience and sales.   Book Janice to speak virtually at your next event: https://janicebgordon.com   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/janice-b-gordon/   Twitter: https://twitter.com/JaniceBGordon   Scale Your Sales Podcast: https://scaleyoursales.co.uk/podcast   More on the blog: https://scaleyoursales.co.uk/blog   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janicebgordon   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ScaleYourSales   And more! Visit our podcast website https://scaleyoursales.co.uk/podcast/ to watch or listen.

In this weeks’ Scale Your Sales Podcast episode, my guest is Jan Young.   Jan Young is the founder of JanYoungCX consultancy & coaching, StepUpXchange CS executive courses with private community & CxXchange community for CS professionals. She is an award-winning CS leader of 2 successfully exited startups. She brings her cross-disciplinary approach to SaaS B2B tech and Customer Led Growth. Jan is on a mission to transform CS Leaders into Business Leaders and align GTM teams.   In today’s episode of Scale Your Sales podcast, Jan shares expertise in transforming customer success leadership and aligning go-to-market strategies for business growth. This discussion covers the critical role of CS leaders in market alignment, the impact of data integration and AI on revenue operations, and the importance of breaking down organizational silos. Jan provides insights on driving profitability in customer interactions and creating a seamless customer journey.   Welcome to Scale Your Sales Podcast, Jan Young.     Timestamps: 00:00 Aligning GTM for Customer Experience 05:16 Balancing Customer Value and Profitability 09:34 Fostering Success Through Collaboration 13:42 Shifting to Profitable, Efficient Growth 15:03 Rethinking Customer Engagement Strategies 18:42 Optimizing Customer Success Milestones 22:47 Earning Trust in Sales Delivery 26:51 Sales vs. Customer Success Gender Dynamics 28:52 CS Careers Foster Customer Relationships 31:27 Embracing AI for Business Efficiency 35:07 Adapting to Industry Transformation 38:00 Community and Courage     https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-young-cx/ https://x.com/janyoungcx     Janice B Gordon is the award-winning Customer Growth Expert and Scale Your Sales Framework founder. She is by LinkedIn Sales 15 Innovating Sales Influencers to Follow 2021, the Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Customer Experience Nov 2020 and 150 Women B2B Thought Leaders You Should Follow in 2021. Janice helps companies worldwide to reimagine revenue growth thought customer experience and sales.   Book Janice to speak virtually at your next event: https://janicebgordon.com   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/janice-b-gordon/   Twitter: https://twitter.com/JaniceBGordon   Scale Your Sales Podcast: https://scaleyoursales.co.uk/podcast   More on the blog: https://scaleyoursales.co.uk/blog   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janicebgordon   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ScaleYourSales   And more! Visit our podcast website https://scaleyoursales.co.uk/podcast/ to watch or listen.

In this weeks’ Scale Your Sales Podcast episode, my guest is Elizabeth Blass.   I am a two-time Chief Customer Officer with over 15 years of global leadership experience in technology. I specialize in building and scaling high-performing customer-facing teams, aligning cross-functional initiatives, and driving revenue growth through customer success. I’m a passionate advocate for diversity, actively coaching and mentoring women in tech.   In today’s episode of Scale Your Sales podcast, Elizabeth explores the evolving role of customer success as a key revenue driver. Elizabeth shares insights on breaking down silos, ensuring cross-functional alignment, and maintaining momentum year-round. The discussion highlights the impact of customer centricity on sustainable growth and the role of change management in driving success.   Welcome to Scale Your Sales Podcast, Elizabeth Blass.     Timestamps: 00:00 Scale Your Sales: Customer Success 05:48 Biweekly Check-In Meetings Benefits 07:19 Importance of Visibility in Revenue Operations 12:13 Customer-Centric Growth Strategies 14:02 Evaluating Product Value Perception 19:05 Understanding Customer Usage Trends 21:17 Customer Success Drives Revenue Growth 24:51 Aligning Success Metrics 28:29 Master Your Numbers   https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethblass/     Janice B Gordon is the award-winning Customer Growth Expert and Scale Your Sales Framework founder. She is by LinkedIn Sales 15 Innovating Sales Influencers to Follow 2021, the Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Customer Experience Nov 2020 and 150 Women B2B Thought Leaders You Should Follow in 2021. Janice helps companies worldwide to reimagine revenue growth thought customer experience and sales.   Book Janice to speak virtually at your next event: https://janicebgordon.com   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/janice-b-gordon/   Twitter: https://twitter.com/JaniceBGordon   Scale Your Sales Podcast: https://scaleyoursales.co.uk/podcast   More on the blog: https://scaleyoursales.co.uk/blog   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janicebgordon   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ScaleYourSales   And more! Visit our podcast website https://scaleyoursales.co.uk/podcast/ to watch or listen.

In this weeks’ Scale Your Sales Podcast episode, my guest is Ejieme Eromosele.   I’m a customer-led growth expert passionate about driving retention, expansion, and customer advocacy. I’m also the Founder of Success in Black, where I champion DEIB in Customer Success. With experience at Accenture, PwC, and The New York Times, I’ve built on delivering exceptional customer outcomes and business value.   In today’s episode of Scale Your Sales podcast, Ejieme explores customer-led growth as a key driver of sustainable revenue expansion, emphasizing the alignment of sales, marketing, and customer success for exponential impact. She introduces the concept of assumptive advocacy and the role of data in driving transformative customer insights. Committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, Ejieme shares her journey in founding Success in Black, a community supporting Black professionals in customer success.   Welcome to Scale Your Sales Podcast, Ejieme Eromosele.     Timestamps: 00:00 Elevating Sales with Customer Led Growth and Community Insights 06:22 Leading EMEA Growth 09:57 Align Leadership for Customer Growth 11:42 Aligning Customer Goals with AI Tools 15:11 Seeding Future Customer Advocacy 20:37 Leveraging Data for Customer Solutions 21:35 Becoming a Trusted Customer Advisor 24:43 Compelling Vision and Customer Focus 30:19 Human-First Approach in Business   https://www.linkedin.com/in/ejieme/     Janice B Gordon is the award-winning Customer Growth Expert and Scale Your Sales Framework founder. She is by LinkedIn Sales 15 Innovating Sales Influencers to Follow 2021, the Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Customer Experience Nov 2020 and 150 Women B2B Thought Leaders You Should Follow in 2021. Janice helps companies worldwide to reimagine revenue growth thought customer experience and sales.   Book Janice to speak virtually at your next event: https://janicebgordon.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/janice-b-gordon/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/JaniceBGordon Scale Your Sales Podcast: https://scaleyoursales.co.uk/podcast More on the blog: https://scaleyoursales.co.uk/blog Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janicebgordon Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ScaleYourSales   And more! Visit our podcast website https://scaleyoursales.co.uk/podcast/ to watch or listen.

In this weeks’ Scale Your Sales Podcast episode, my guest is Priya Lakshmi.   Experienced consulting sales leader with a passion for transforming financial services with the power of technology. Currently the UK CRO for GFT Group and leading the sales, partnerships and marketing and driving growth strategies for the UK business. Have a track record of delivering sustained revenue growth through deep customer relationships and driving innovative solutions.   In today’s episode of Scale Your Sales podcast, Priya shares how uniting sales, partnerships, and marketing under her leadership drove GFT’s record year, with partnerships generating a significant share of leads. In conversation with Janice, they discuss diversity in sales, fostering empowerment, and understanding individual motivators within teams. This episode offers actionable insights on optimizing performance, managing internal processes, and prioritizing customer obsession in the tech industry, along with personal leadership experiences in a traditionally male-dominated field.   Welcome to Scale Your Sales Podcast, Priya Lakshmi.     Timestamps: 00:00 Power of Three: Sales Strategy 04:47 Navigating Partner Mindset Shifts 09:45 Sales Team Integration Challenges 13:05 "Be Bold in Tech Sales" 16:42 Diversity in Sales Leadership Lacking 18:34 Empowering Women Leaders in Organizations 21:43 Empowerment and Role Models 26:00 Introverts Excel in Sales Careers 29:39 Tailored Coaching for Sales Success 33:33 Empowerment and Ownership Culture 34:22 Empowered Sales Through Agile Operations 38:26 Balancing Family and Career Challenges     https://www.linkedin.com/in/priya-lakshmi-09ab004/     Janice B Gordon is the award-winning Customer Growth Expert and Scale Your Sales Framework founder. She is by LinkedIn Sales 15 Innovating Sales Influencers to Follow 2021, the Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Customer Experience Nov 2020 and 150 Women B2B Thought Leaders You Should Follow in 2021. Janice helps companies worldwide to reimagine revenue growth thought customer experience and sales.   Book Janice to speak virtually at your next event: https://janicebgordon.com   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/janice-b-gordon/   Twitter: https://twitter.com/JaniceBGordon   Scale Your Sales Podcast: https://scaleyoursales.co.uk/podcast   More on the blog: https://scaleyoursales.co.uk/blog   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janicebgordon   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ScaleYourSales   And more! Visit our podcast website https://scaleyoursales.co.uk/podcast/ to watch or listen.

In this weeks’ Scale Your Sales Podcast episode, my guest is Brandi Starr.   Brandi Starr is a marketing powerhouse with over 20 years of experience shaking up B2B and B2B2C companies. As COO at Tegrita, a consultancy that unlocks the power of email, she's all about transforming processes, enhancing go-to-market strategies, and ensuring smooth customer experiences. Named one of the Top 50 Women in MarTech, Brandi blends strategic vision with operational savvy. She's also the coauthor of "CMO to CRO" and the host of the Revenue Rehab podcast, known for turning ideas into action and inspiring others in the marketing world.   In today’s episode of Scale Your Sales podcast, Brandi Starr has transformed B2B and B2B2C organizations through her expertise in optimizing email strategies within the sales funnel. A leading voice in Martech, she explores the role of technology in sales and marketing, the importance of team alignment, and the untapped potential of mid-funnel insights. Brandi shares actionable strategies for revenue growth and high-performing sales teams, offering a forward-looking perspective on customer excellence and sustainable success. Welcome to Scale Your Sales Podcast, Brandi Starr.     Timestamps: 00:00 Maximizing Middle Funnel Opportunities 03:39 Modern Phone Intrusiveness 06:49 Integrated Marketing Insights 10:33 Mastering Middle Funnel Strategy 14:14 Data & Tech: Insightful Integration 16:28 CMO: Future Revenue Leader 20:25 Reassess Tech Use, Don't Replace 24:11 Misaligned Strategy Limits Business Success 28:43 Hiring for Talent, Not Experience 32:21 Role-Specific Assessment Benefits 33:30 Unlocking Success Through Predictive Tools 36:44 Authenticity Drives Success     https://a.co/d/6jKShUC https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandistarr/ https://www.instagram.com/revenuerehab/     Janice B Gordon is the award-winning Customer Growth Expert and Scale Your Sales Framework founder. She is by LinkedIn Sales 15 Innovating Sales Influencers to Follow 2021, the Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Customer Experience Nov 2020 and 150 Women B2B Thought Leaders You Should Follow in 2021. Janice helps companies worldwide to reimagine revenue growth thought customer experience and sales.   Book Janice to speak virtually at your next event: https://janicebgordon.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/janice-b-gordon/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/JaniceBGordon Scale Your Sales Podcast: https://scaleyoursales.co.uk/podcast More on the blog: https://scaleyoursales.co.uk/blog Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janicebgordon Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ScaleYourSales   And more! Visit our podcast website https://scaleyoursales.co.uk/podcast/ to watch or listen.

In this weeks’ Scale Your Sales Podcast episode, my guest is Alina Vandenberghe.   Alina is the co-founder and co-CEO of Demand Gen Conversion Platform Chili Piper. Her company is used by GTM teams at Monday.com, Rippling, Home Depot, and more. In 2022 her company reached a Billion-dollar valuation. She also runs a foundation focused on non-Violence, co-chairs a woman organized focused on electing Harris as the next president and is a mom of two boys.   In today’s episode of Scale Your Sales podcast, Alina shares her expertise on the evolving sales landscape, highlighting data-driven decision-making, cultural diversity, and the impact of remote work on achieving work-life balance. She discusses the challenges sales leaders face in balancing quotas with genuine customer relationships and reflects on her inspiring journey from Ukraine to becoming an industry leader. Alina’s story showcases resilience, a drive for financial stability, and a vision for inclusivity. Welcome to Scale Your Sales Podcast, Alina Vandenberghe.     Timestamps: 00:00 Revolutionizing Sales Culture and Embracing AI Challenges 05:11 Resilience and failures are underappreciated in success. 07:20 Hiring focus: drive to change, not victim mentality. 12:58 Remote work pros/cons; desires transparency, social impact. 15:03 Employees diverse, motivated by financial stability, impact. 18:51 Eastern Europeans valued for strong work ethic. 23:39 AI complicates sales, demands trust-building partnerships. 28:12 Train sales team to meet ICP needs effectively. 31:00 CEO feels lonely, disappointed, seeks local wisdom. 35:29 Nonviolent Communication transformed introversion to extroversion. 37:55 Inspired by diversity, self-expression, and environment.     https://www.linkedin.com/in/alinav/ https://x.com/alinutzav   Janice B Gordon is the award-winning Customer Growth Expert and Scale Your Sales Framework founder. She is by LinkedIn Sales 15 Innovating Sales Influencers to Follow 2021, the Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Customer Experience Nov 2020 and 150 Women B2B Thought Leaders You Should Follow in 2021. Janice helps companies worldwide to reimagine revenue growth thought customer experience and sales.   Book Janice to speak virtually at your next event: https://janicebgordon.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/janice-b-gordon/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/JaniceBGordon Scale Your Sales Podcast: https://scaleyoursales.co.uk/podcast More on the blog: https://scaleyoursales.co.uk/blog Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janicebgordon Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ScaleYourSales   And more! Visit our podcast website https://scaleyoursales.co.uk/podcast/ to watch or listen.

In this special episode, we embark on a heartfelt exploration of the profound influence that heroes and sheroes have on our lives. From family members and mentors to global icons, our esteemed guests share personal stories of the individuals who have shaped their journeys and inspired them to achieve greatness. Whether it's the steadfast support of a loved one or the trailblazing example of renowned figures, these accounts highlight the transformative power of guidance, inspiration, and leadership. Their stories serve as a reminder that we all possess the potential to make a meaningful impact in the lives of others. We hope you enjoy this inspiring episode!     Timestamps: 00:00 Celebrating people who inspired and shaped us. 03:27 Sharing session about Heroes & Sheroes of Scale Your Sales Podcast Guests     Janice B Gordon is the award-winning Customer Growth Expert and Scale Your Sales Framework founder. She is by LinkedIn Sales 15 Innovating Sales Influencers to Follow 2021, the Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Customer Experience Nov 2020 and 150 Women B2B Thought Leaders You Should Follow in 2021. Janice helps companies worldwide to reimagine revenue growth thought customer experience and sales.   Book Janice to speak virtually at your next event: https://janicebgordon.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/janice-b-gordon/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/JaniceBGordon Scale Your Sales Podcast: https://scaleyoursales.co.uk/podcast More on the blog: https://scaleyoursales.co.uk/blog Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janicebgordon Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ScaleYourSales   And more! Visit our podcast website https://scaleyoursales.co.uk/podcast/ to watch or listen.