30 Minutes to President's Club | No-Nonsense Sales

High velocity sales isn’t about rushing… it’s about precision, urgency, and clarity. In this episode, Mallika Sahay breaks down how to build a lightning-fast sales motion without sacrificing quality, trust, or control. 🎙 ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS: Use a product story early — Instead of saving the demo, introduce a product story on the first call to create momentum and shorten deal cycles. Track funnel-stage metrics — In high-velocity sales, monitor top, middle, and bottom funnel metrics closely to iterate quickly and stay on course. Rethink your sales motion — Don’t copy-paste your current process. Start from first principles and align every step with the buyer’s decision journey. Simplify pipeline reviews — Use just two key questions to assess deals: is there a real problem solver, and is there a clear path to closing? MALLIKA’S PATH TO PRESIDENTS CLUB: Sales Development Lead & Founder of SMB Sales @ Segment Head of Sales @ Census Startup Sales Lead @ Apollo Chief of Staff & Product Manager RESOURCES DISCUSSED: Sales Process Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal Save $50 on any 30MPC course with code “PODCAST” Free Sales Templates, Scripts and Guides

Stop demoing on the first call. Instead, run a 60-second product tour that grabs attention, triggers discovery questions, and opens the door to multi-threading—all before you even show a single slide. Mallika Sahay (Fomer Sales Leader @ Apollo, Segment, Census) shares why a Product Tour on Call #1 is far more effective than a full demo—and how it transforms the sales conversation. In this video, you’ll learn: Why product tours work better than slide decks or full demos on call #1 How to use quick visual storytelling to spark curiosity When and how to pause, ask questions, and uncover new use cases How this approach leads to faster discovery and more stakeholders involved in deal #2 RESOURCES DISCUSSED: ⁠⁠Join our weekly newsletter⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Things you can steal⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Save $50 on any 30MPC course⁠⁠ with code “PODCAST” ⁠⁠Free Sales Templates, Scripts and Guides

Bryan Charlton joins the show to break down how great reps spot deal risks early and keep momentum all the way to close. He shares real examples, practical tactics, and the mindset his team uses to win complex deals. 🎙 ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS: The contract isn’t the finish line. It’s the start. Set the tone for what happens in the first 30, 60, and 90 days so the buyer knows exactly what to expect. If a buyer says they’re looking for a tool, don’t stop there. Dig into the real problems that made them start searching in the first place. Your story has to make sense to everyone. The champion, the leaders, and the end users all need to believe this will actually work. If you’re blocked from talking to power, that’s okay. Just ask what would need to be true for them to feel comfortable making the intro next time. BRYAN’S PATH TO PRESIDENTS CLUB: Spent more than 12 years in sales @ Salesforce and FICO before joining Otter.ai Consistently hit quota by finding high-value deals in unexpected places—selling large software deals to banks in Hawaii, Credit unions, and even AI into tightly regulated financial services firms, while others focused on big brand name accounts RESOURCES DISCUSSED: Bryan’s LinkedIn Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal Save $50 on any 30MPC course with code “PODCAST” Free Sales Templates, Scripts and Guides

Are you losing deals and not even realizing why? Bryan Charleton (Sales Manager @ Otter.ai) shares the two most critical moments in the sales process where deals are either won—or fall apart: 1️⃣ The first discovery call: Learn how elite reps build trust from the first question and become indispensable to buyers. 2️⃣ Stakeholder coverage: Stop going single-threaded. We show you how to cover all the right personas—IT, business leaders, and end users—to close airtight deals. RESOURCES DISCUSSED: ⁠⁠Join our weekly newsletter⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Things you can steal⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Save $50 on any 30MPC course⁠⁠ with code “PODCAST” ⁠⁠Free Sales Templates, Scripts and Guides

Three top sales leaders go deep on the tough stuff: getting promoted, standing out, coaching reps at scale, and whether commission is dead. If you're trying to grow your career or your team, this episode is a goldmine! 🎙 QUESTIONS ANSWERED: How can a sales leader grow fast enough to keep pace with a hyper-growth company? What is the most unconventional or controversial trait to hire for in a sales rep? What part of the sales process should never be automated? How can an SDR stand out among 30+ other applicants? What are three books every modern sales rep and leader should read? How can someone in a leadership role shift out of 90% IC work and into true leadership? RESOURCES DISCUSSED: Cold Calling Sucks (And That’s Why It Works) 30MPC Instagram Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal Save $50 on any 30MPC course with code “PODCAST”

Struggling to land your first SDR job? 3 top sales leaders break down what actually gets you hired for an entry-level sales role in 2025. From cold calling a hiring manager at 5:45am to the unconventional traits that will get you hired, this video is packed with tips that go way beyond generic resume advice. RESOURCES DISCUSSED: ⁠⁠Join our weekly newsletter⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Things you can steal⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Save $50 on any 30MPC course⁠⁠ with code “PODCAST” ⁠⁠Free Sales Templates, Scripts and Guides

Anthony Firenzi reveals the overlooked power of same-day follow-ups and how this one tactical shift can speed up your sales cycle, build trust, and close deals faster. 🎙 ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS: After big team meetings, send a group recap email, personalized 1:1 emails to each attendee, and a quick check-in message to your champion. In executive meetings, come in with a clear agenda, focus on their priorities, and skip small talk to maximize limited time. Compress the time between next steps by scheduling key follow-up calls as early as possible to maintain momentum. Create internal urgency by using internal dynamics or “bad guys” instead of relying solely on external deadlines. ANTHONY’S PATH TO PRESIDENTS CLUB: Revenue Leader @ Unify Corporate AE @ Lattice RESOURCES DISCUSSED: 30MPC Episode 23 Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal Save $50 on any 30MPC course with code “PODCAST”

Struggling with slow deals and stalled follow-ups? Anthony Firenzi (Founding Revenue Leader @ Unify) shares a simple, proven tactic he uses to drive deal velocity: setting same-day next steps. RESOURCES DISCUSSED: ⁠⁠Join our weekly newsletter⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Things you can steal⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Save $50 on any 30MPC course⁠⁠ with code “PODCAST” ⁠⁠Free Sales Templates, Scripts and Guides

Jordan Chavez shares a proven coaching framework to unlock what motivates your reps, build targeted skill plans, and dig deep with the ‘5 Whys’ to fix what’s really holding them back. 🎙 ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS: Use the Five Whys in both discovery and coaching to uncover the real root cause behind problems and drive meaningful change. Ask questions in a way that leads reps on a journey of self-discovery rather than making them feel judged or defensive. Create a quarterly PDP by having reps rate themselves in core areas, then use that to identify gaps, assign KPIs, and set weekly action steps. Role play repeatedly to improve discovery skills, and build trust by going first if the rep isn’t comfortable yet. JORDAN’S PATH TO PRESIDENTS CLUB: Building the Enterprise GTM at Actively.ai 3x Club - IC & Leader @ Navan 8 promotions in 6 years @ Navn RESOURCES DISCUSSED: Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal Save $50 on any 30MPC course with code “PODCAST” How to Run 1-on-1s Free Sales Templates, Scripts and Guides

Struggling to diagnose why your sales rep isn’t converting? Jordan Chavez (Head of Enterprise GTM @ ActivelyAI) breaks down his “5 Whys” sales coaching framework—a simple, proven method to uncover the real reason behind poor performance. Instead of jumping to surface-level fixes (like “just sell the value”), we’ll show you how to ask layered “why” questions that reveal what’s actually holding your reps back—whether it’s low confidence, weak discovery, or lack of preparation. Whether you're a sales manager, team lead, or AE looking to self-diagnose, this framework will help you stop treating symptoms—and start solving the real problem. RESOURCES DISCUSSED: ⁠Join our weekly newsletter⁠ ⁠Things you can steal⁠ ⁠Save $50 on any 30MPC course⁠ with code “PODCAST” ⁠How to Run 1-on-1s⁠ ⁠Free Sales Templates, Scripts and Guides

Nate’s Business Case Template Nate Nasralla shares how to craft a one-page business case that your champion can run with. By presenting it early, keeping it simple, and making it feel like an internal doc that earns buy-in from decision-makers. 🎙 ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS: Share an unfinished draft of your business case early to encourage collaboration and build alignment using Cunningham's Law. Present your business case in a simple, memo-style format limited to one page without flashy visuals or excessive content. Structure the one-pager with a priority-driven headline, problem statement, recommended approach, target outcomes, and required investment. Make the document feel like an internal memo by avoiding company branding and marketing polish. NATE’S PATH TO PRESIDENTS CLUB: Co-Founder @ Fluint Chief Growth Office @ Global Venture Network RESOURCES DISCUSSED Nate's One Page Business Case Template Join our weekly newsletter⁠ Things you can steal Save $50 on any 30MPC course with code “PODCAST” Free Sales Templates, Scripts, and Guides

Nate’s Business Case Template One of the largest deals Nate (Co-Founder @ Fluint & Chief Growth Office @ Global Venture Network) ever closed—$30M—was won with a single, unbranded page. No logos. No design. Just black text on white paper. Why? Because it felt internal to the customer—not like a vendor pitch. The structure? Just 5 parts: 1. Priority-Driven Headline – Use the exec’s own language 2. Problem Statement – Frame the problem in a way that aligns with what you uniquely solve 3. Recommended Approach – Highlight 3 key things only you can do differently 4. Target Outcomes – Flip the problem into clear, metric-driven results 5. Required Investment – Be honest about time, money, and effort—don’t minimize it The key? Anchor the entire narrative in what the executive already cares about. If it sounds like an internal initiative, it gets bought in like one. RESOURCES DISCUSSED ⁠⁠⁠Join our weekly newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Things you can steal⁠⁠⁠ Save $50 on any 30MPC course⁠⁠⁠ with code “PODCAST” Nate's Business Case

If your first cold email asks for a meeting—you’re doing it wrong. In this video, Mark Kosoglow (Co-Founder/CEO @ OperatorChief + Revenue Officer @ Catalyst Software) breaks down a smarter outbound strategy: how to warm up buyers by educating them instead of pitching them. Whether you're an SDR, AE, or founder doing founder-led sales, this framework will help you increase reply rates and book more qualified meetings. RESOURCES DISCUSSED: ⁠Join our weekly newsletter⁠ ⁠Things you can steal⁠ ⁠Save $50 on any 30MPC course⁠ with code “PODCAST”

Mark Kosoglow reveals why most outbound fails before it even starts and how identifying the pain chain can radically improve your team’s results. 🎙 ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS: Define your ICP by real problems, not just data, to find the right prospects. Understand where prospects are in the buyer’s journey before asking for meetings. Use a “pain chain” of educational messages to move prospects from unaware to aware. Offer valuable insights or audits instead of just asking for meetings. MARK’S PATH TO PRESIDENTS CLUB: Co-Founder/CEO @ Operator Chief Revenue Officer @ Catalyst Software RESOURCES DISCUSSED: Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal Save $50 on any 30MPC course with code “PODCAST”

This is a 30 minute masterclass on the 10 lessons every rep needs to know when it comes to cold calling. Armand and Nick walk you through five lessons each that will leave you feeling ready to put in the work and pick up the phones! ✅ Inside this episode: You learn how to navigate rejection from a single person and find an alternative route through other people in the company to close the deal How to improve your script when you’re struggling Handling rude responses and understanding they’re going to happen regardless, you’re doing nothing wrong! How to get someone’s attention (Hint: It’s not, “How’s your day going?” You get to say silly things on cold calls, as long as you do it with confidence! RESOURCES DISCUSSED: Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal Save $50 on any 30MPC course with code “PODCAST” Benchmark yourself against baseline cold call metrics

Alex Kremer shares tactical leadership strategies to help sales managers build engaged teams by using breath work for presence, empowering reps, and structuring effective 1:1s that drive results. 🎙 ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS: Your vision shapes who you become today and guides the actions you take right now. Regularly asking your reps why they are at the company helps uncover their true motivations and commitment. Effective team meetings follow a clear structure: start with breathwork, then focus on vision, shoutouts, revenue tracking, and finish with pipeline and KPIs. Assigning “black belts” to lead skill trainings boosts engagement, helps reps learn better, and frees up leaders to focus on leading. ALEX’S PATH TO PRESIDENTS CLUB: Founder & CEO @ Alluviance Host @ Rising Leader Podcast Head of Sales @ Catalyst Software RESOURCES DISCUSSED: Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal Save $50 on any 30MPC course with code “PODCAST”

Most leaders treat team meetings like a routine checklist, but they’re one of the few moments you have everyone’s full attention each week. Here’s how Alex Kremer (founder & CEO @ Alluviance) keeps his team motivated each time they meet: Start with Presence Get Your Team Involved Connect the Dots to a Bigger Impact The goal isn’t just to share numbers but to create a culture where your team feels valued and invested. Make your meetings a place for growth, not just updates. Watch the full episode TOMORROW ALEX’S PATH TO PRESIDENTS CLUB: Founder & CEO @ Alluviance Host @ Rising Leader Podcast Head of Sales @ Catalyst Software RESOURCES DISCUSSED: ⁠Join our weekly newsletter⁠ ⁠Things you can steal⁠ ⁠Save $50 on any 30MPC course⁠ with code “PODCAST”

Learn how Max Licht wins complex 6 and 7-figure enterprise deals by shadowing his prospects’ workflows, de-risking every technical blocker, and turning IT stakeholders into deal accelerators. 🎙 ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS: Map five business or technical processes for shadow discovery and make sure a few showcase your product’s unique strengths. If a technical eval is dragging, call it out to trigger clarity on what’s needed for a business case and shorten the timeline. Look for pain points or questions about flexibility as triggers to ask for a shadow session where the prospect demos their workflow. Always balance the give-get in shadow sessions by offering specificity, implementation plans, or business case inputs in return. MAX’S PATH TO PRESIDENTS CLUB: Enterprise AE @ MaestroQA #1 ACV & TCV @ Productiv #1 SDR @ Zuora RESOURCES DISCUSSED: Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal Save $50 on any 30MPC course with code “PODCAST”

Max Licht (Enterprise AE @ MaestroQA) breaks down his shadow-based discovery process. This technique goes beyond typical discovery calls, allowing you to witness firsthand where inefficiencies and bottlenecks are happening. 1. Identify the Painful Process - Research the customer's current workflow and tools (e.g., Excel, Salesforce) to understand the manual, time-consuming steps involved. - This reveals where inefficiencies exist, giving you a clear picture of the pain your solution can alleviate. It also helps you identify the "drag them through the glass" moments where the pain is most acute, which is critical for building urgency. 2. Set Up the Shadowing Session - Frame the shadow as a collaborative step to fully understand their process. Instead of just making claims, say something like, *“Before I make any promises, I want to fully understand your current reporting process to see where we can add the most value.”* - This approach shifts the focus from selling to problem-solving, making you a trusted partner rather than just a vendor. It also sets the stage for a more meaningful business case. 3. Conduct the Shadow - Watch the prospect use their current tools and processes. Take notes, capture screenshots, and pay attention to friction points, inefficiencies, and workarounds they rely on. - Seeing the workflow in action often reveals unspoken pain points and limitations that even the prospect might not articulate in a standard discovery call. This firsthand observation helps you tailor your pitch to the reality of their day-to-day work. 4. Use Shadows to Build a Business Case - Use the insights gathered to frame your solution as a direct response to the pain points you observed. For example, highlight how your tool eliminates specific inefficiencies, reduces manual steps, or streamlines complex reporting. - This concrete evidence makes your pitch more credible and aligns your solution directly with their business goals, increasing the likelihood of internal buy-in. 5. Follow Up Strategically - After the shadow, summarize your findings in a follow-up email or meeting, highlighting specific pain points you observed and how your solution can address them. Use this to drive urgency and move the deal forward. - This reinforces your credibility as a problem-solver and keeps the conversation anchored in real, observed issues, rather than hypothetical value propositions. 6. Use the Shadow as a Catalyst for Future Conversations - Reference specific pain points in later stages of the sales cycle, using them to frame your solution as a clear, tangible fix for their current frustrations. - This approach keeps the focus on solving their problems, reducing friction in the decision-making process and increasing the likelihood of a successful close. RESOURCES DISCUSSED: ⁠Join our weekly newsletter⁠ ⁠Things you can steal⁠ ⁠Save $50 on any 30MPC course with code “PODCAST”

Mark Nietzel returns with the exact systems he used to lead his team to 110% of quota and earn a President’s Club trip to Barcelona. This episode is a tactical blueprint for pipeline accountability, deal progression, and how leaders can maximize the impact of onsites. 🎙 ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS: Use the Lightning Pipeline Review to pressure-test deals with binary yes/no answers on key criteria. Enforce weekly pipeline trackers so reps forecast and explain exactly how they’ll build and progress pipe. Role play every critical conversation—even if it’s five minutes before the call—to eliminate flubs. Prioritize onsite visits between discovery and proposal to accelerate cycles or revive stalled deals. MARK NIETZEL’S PATH TO PRESIDENT’S CLUB: Commercial Sales Manager @ Procore Mid-Market Sales Manager @ Procore Senior Account Executive @ Procore Account Executive @ Procore RESOURCES DISCUSSED: Join our weekly newsletter Mark Nietzel's Lightning Pipeline Review Format Things you can steal Save $50 on any 30MPC course with code “PODCAST”