The "Dear Future CRO" Podcast

<p>The "Dear Future CRO" Podcast is made for ambitious sales professionals with their eye on the C-Suite. The show uncovers the secrets of leadership and career success through the journeys of Sales Executives, Sales Leaders, and Sales High Performers who have navigated being the "only" in the room. Each episode dives into personal stories that give listeners the career navigation blueprint on the journey to the top sales job. <br> <br> With each episode, host and CEO of GrowthQ, Esther Iyamu brings listeners enlightening conversations with trailblazing B2B Enterprise Sales leaders across various sectors, examining the transformative power of mentorship, the importance of fostering passions, and the leadership qualities essential for navigating a successful career in this field. </p><p><br></p><p>Whether you're starting your career, aiming for the C-Suite, or simply seeking to sharpen your leadership skills, the “Dear Future CRO” Podcast promises to inspire, educate, and empower you to realize your potential and lead with intention.</p>

How to Drive Change and Build Trust with CRO Denise Walter

Welcome to the Dear Future CRO Podcast powered by GrowthQ! In this gripping episode, host Esther goes deep with Denise Walter, the dynamic Chief Revenue Officer at Darktrace. Denise, a seasoned leader with a storied career in tech and sales, opens up about her relentless travels, transformative strategies, and the fine balance she strikes between long-term planning and tactical execution for public companies.Denise takes us through her pivotal career moments, including her early misstep that ...

09-18
34:35

From Developer to Sales Leader: Lynne Doherty's Unconventional Path to Success

Welcome to another insightful episode of the "Dear Future CRO Podcast" powered by GrowthQ! Today, we're thrilled to host Lynne Doherty, a remarkable leader whose unconventional career journey took her from a math and computer science major to a powerhouse in sales leadership. Lynne's philosophy? "Disruption is not a dirty word." In technology, it means innovations that reinvent how we, as consumers, experience the world. Lynne is not only an advocate for this kind of creative disruption but a...

09-12
38:41

Aligning Career Choices with Personal Values: How to Lead Authentically with Sharon Martin

Welcome to the Dear Future CRO Podcast powered by GrowthQ! In this episode, our host and Founder of GrowthQ, Esther sits down with the inspiring Sharon Martin, a seasoned systems engineering leader, to delve into the challenges and mindset shifts one faces throughout their career journey.Sharon shares her personal story of growth and resilience, from her early days as an enthusiastic individual contributor to her current season of intentional leadership. She reflects on the values instilled b...

09-04
42:20

Mastering Overlay Sales Leadership: Garrett Claridge’s Guide to Building Trust and Managing Teams

Welcome to the "Dear Future CRO Podcast," powered by GrowthQ! In today's episode, we have the privilege of speaking with Garrett Claridge, the Regional Sales Leader of the West Coast for Cisco Webex, based in Seattle. Garrett shares his invaluable insights on understanding your business's impact on customers and bosses, the essence of curiosity, networking, and being open to change for ambitious leaders.Garrett delves into his diverse career journey, from starting in sales with a small teleco...

08-28
43:56

Leadership Lessons from Tony Colon: Diversity, Instinct, and Financial Wisdom

Welcome to the Dear Future CRO Podcast powered by GrowthQ! In this episode, our host and Founder of GrowthQ, Esther Ayorinde-Iyamu engages in a compelling conversation with Tony Colon, SVP for Customer Success at ServiceNow. Tony takes us through his diverse career journey from his early life in Chicago to pivotal roles at Salesforce and Cisco. He emphasizes decision-making using both data and instinct, the value of ideas from diverse perspectives, and the importance of innovation within comp...

08-21
51:16

Allison's Journey: Embracing Vulnerability and Authenticity in Leadership

GrowthQ Community, in this insightful session with the amazing Allison West Hughes, Corporate Vice President at Microsoft, Allison shares her transformative journey of embracing vulnerability and authenticity in her leadership style, thanks to the groundbreaking work of Brene Brown. We dove deep into the challenges and rewards of uncovering, the importancei of embracing your authentic self, being open about personal struggles, like disabilities, in the workplace and being intentional about wh...

08-14
38:23

Delivering Tomorrow’s Growth Today: Rhonda Henley’s Leadership Mission

GrowthQ Community, join us for an inspiring episode of the Dear Future CRO Podcast with Rhonda Henley, Vice President of America's Partner Sales at Cisco. Rhonda shares valuable insights from her remarkable career journey, discussing the importance of setting clear expectations, seeking feedback, and understanding what success looks like in a new role. She also delves into daily routines, productivity hacks, and the significance of accountability and staying true to oneself. Rhonda's candid r...

08-07
32:36

Kelly Wright on Driving Sales Success with Culture Driven Sales

Welcome to the Dear Future CRO Podcast powered by GrowthQ. In today's enlightening session with Kelly Breslin Wright, we dove deep into the heart of transformative sales and the power of a people-first approach. Kelly's journey, from door-to-door book sales to the pinnacle of tech industry disruption, highlights the essential blend of passion, perseverance, and people skills needed to excel in this ever-changing landscape. By championing a culture-driven sales strategy, Kelly reminds us that ...

05-22
39:33

Scaling Success: Insights from Mark Niemiec on Leadership and Revenue Growth

Welcome to the Dear Future CRO Podcast powered by GrowthQ. In this episode, we sit down with Mark Niemiec, Chief Revenue Officer at Salesloft, who dives deep into the challenges and strategies of aligning sales goals with customer needs. Mark shares invaluable insights from his journey—from his philosophy background to leading sales at a tech forefront, emphasizing the critical role of understanding customer adoption and the importance of values in sales success. We also explore the essential...

05-15
37:40

Mentorship, Motivation, and Moving Up in Sales with Travis Cox

Welcome to the "Dear Future CRO Podcast" powered by GrowthQ. In this episode, we delve into the compelling career journey of Travis Cox, Global Vice President of Sales at HeroDevs, detailing his transition from big corporations to medium-sized companies, and then to the vibrant world of startups, all driven by his goal to become a Chief Revenue Officer (CRO). Join us as Travis shares invaluable insights from his diverse experiences — from finance to sales leadership, and his strategic ro...

05-08
33:56

Winning in Sales with Heart: Lessons from Frederick DeWorken

Welcome to the "Dear Future CRO Podcast" powered by GrowthQ. In this episode, we are honored to have Frederick DeWorken as our guest. Frederick is an Investor and Co-Founder of a Data Services Company. In this episode, we uncovered the unconventional career path of a man who transitioned from the Peace Corps to becoming a trailblazing executive in tech. Frederick advises every future leader to believe in their potential and to embrace every setback as a stepping stone towards great...

05-01
30:57

The Power of Networking: Marjorie Martin's Key to Professional Advancement

Welcome to the "Dear Future CRO Podcast" powered by GrowthQ. In this episode, we are honored to have Marjorie Martin as our guest. Marjorie is an expert in technology sales, who started her career unexpectedly at VMware and is now the Area Vice President of Enterprise at Juniper.During this episode, we will learn about Marjorie's inspiring journey, and how she overcame challenges, led teams, and changed careers. Marjorie will share her experiences on how she leads, networks, and helps t...

04-17
35:18

Chris Richardson on the Power of Authenticity and Leading with Empathy

Hello and welcome to the "Dear Future CRO Podcast" powered by GrowthQ. In this episode, we’re honored to host Chris Richardson, Cloud Transformation Sales Leader at Google Cloud - a luminary in sales and go-to-market strategy. Renowned for his engaging personality, Chris is not only recognized within his professional sphere but also sought after as a speaker. He inspires others by sharing insights on how experiences, even the traumatic or difficult ones, can be the catalyst for success ...

04-10
36:40

Leadership and Learning with Umesh Lakshman: A Guide for Aspiring CROs

Welcome to Dear Future CRO Podcast powered by GrowthQ. In this episode, our exclusive guest Umesh Lakshman, Vice President, Solutions Architecture, National Mid-Markets and Channels at Lumen Technologies, dove deep into the transformative power of mentorship, continuous learning, and the art of delivering value by truly understanding customer needs. Umesh brings to the table a passion for mentorship and the extraordinary impact it has on shaping career paths. With an emphasis on continuo...

04-03
33:19

Kathy Saye’s Guide for Aspiring Leaders and Working Parents

Welcome to the Dear Future CRO Podcast powered by GrowthQ. In our latest episode, Kathy Saye, an exemplary leader from Cisco, shared profound insights on authentic relationship-building, cultivating a culture of continuous learning, and the art of balancing personal and professional life. She unveiled the secret behind transitioning from sales to leadership, emphasizing that it's not about the titles but the impact we create. Kathy's wisdom on mentorship, prioritizing life's glass balls over ...

03-27
34:32

Unlocking Your Potential: Strategies from Katharina Matsui's Rise to SVP of Sales

Welcome to the Dear Future CRO Podcast, where we unlock the secrets to career growth with industry experts in Sales. This episode is a compelling conversation with Katharina Matsui, a mastermind in the sales landscape and the global SVP of sales for One Trust. Against the conventional, Katharina proved doubters wrong about her ability to deliver professionally in leadership roles with her unconventional background. The episode highlights an honest conversation filled with anecdotes...

03-20
34:46

Marine to Meraki Americas Sales VP: Cedric Lockhart's Revenue Leadership Career Journey

Welcome to the Dear Future CRO Podcast powered by GrowthQ. I’m Esther, and in our latest episode, we sat down with the seasoned powerhouse - Cedric Lockhart. From his tactical beginnings in the Marine Corps to shaping sales strategies at Cisco Meraki, Cedric dives into the essence of scaling billion-dollar businesses and the significance of sales methodologies that derisk and amplify growth. We uncovered the rhythm of his success, from forecast calls to customer partnerships, and the power of...

03-13
44:42

Susan Rothwell: Embrace Change and Propel Your Career as a CRO

Welcome to the Dear Future CRO Podcast, where we unlock the secrets to career growth with industry experts in Sales. I'm Esther, and in this insightful episode, I dive deep with Susan Rothwell, a Go-To-Market luminary with nearly three decades of experience across tech, media, and healthcare. Susan shares her journey of evolution, shedding light on how staying ahead of the curve transformed her into the CRO at Epsilon. We discuss the importance of mentorship and the game-changing role of spon...

03-06
41:47

From Healthcare to Tech: A Chief Customer Officer's Take on Customer-Centric Leadership

Welcome to the Dear Future CRO Podcast. I'm your host Esther, and in this episode, we have the incredible Sandy Hogan, recently named Chief Customer Officer from SADA. Sandy took us through her inspiring career journey—from her roots in healthcare to her pivotal Tech career at companies like VMWare, Rackspace, HERE Technologies, and Cisco. She shared the importance of innovation in customer interactions and a customer-centric approach in the tech industry. Her insights on creating speci...

02-28
32:47

From Lawyer to Tech Sales Leader: Shannon Redd's Unique Career Journey

Welcome to the Dear Future CRO Podcast powered by GrowthQ, where we bring you insights from sales leaders who are shaping the future. I'm your host, Esther, and in today's episode, Shannon Redd takes the spotlight.Shannon's career has been a remarkable journey from advocating for social justice as an attorney in family law and criminal justice, to a sales leader revolutionizing the public sector. Today, she's here to share her story of transition, diving into how her law career provided a uni...

02-21
34:25

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