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In this episode of Taking the Lead, Christina Brady engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Laura Wheeler, owner and operator of Renegade Operations. Laura begins by sharing her journey from go-to-market leadership roles to founding her company. Renegade Operations stands out for its bold approach to redefining revenue operations with a human touch. Laura emphasizes humanizing revenue operations, focusing on process change, enablement, and understanding buyers' evolving behaviors. Laura dives into her unique professional background, which combines operating, enabling, and being an equity analyst. This diverse experience has given her a holistic view of the industry, allowing her to tackle challenges in revenue operations innovatively. Laura's approach is not just about operational change but also about fostering a fun and understanding environment for clients and their buyers. The episode explores Laura's philosophy of breaking down silos and building effective customer journeys. She discusses the importance of empathy and open communication between cross-functional teams. Laura believes in the power of collaboration, where stakeholders contribute to creating efficient processes and, ultimately, a seamless customer journey. This conversation offers valuable insights into modernizing revenue operations and enhancing customer experiences.

In a unique crossover episode, Elyse Archer welcomes Christina Brady, host of "Taking the Lead," to "She Sells Radio." Christina, with a background in music and improv, brings a fresh perspective to sales and leadership in the SaaS industry. Christina discusses her transition from an artistic career to B2B sales, emphasizing the importance of authentic human connections and listening in sales processes. She shares insights from her journey, highlighting the crucial role of intent and customer understanding in successful sales. Her approach combines creativity with a strategic mindset, demonstrating how sales are about more than just closing deals; they're about building genuine relationships and understanding customer needs. The episode is a deep dive into how soft skills, honed in non-traditional backgrounds, can significantly enhance sales techniques, making it a valuable listen for anyone in sales or customer-facing roles.

In this episode of Taking the Lead, host Christina Brady welcomes Jenny Floros from Advance Forward Consulting. Jenny, a seasoned professional with a career spanning three distinct chapters, shares her insights on leadership, career development, and the nuances of effective management. Starting with her early days in live entertainment ticketing, moving through a transformative period at Groupon, and culminating in her current role leading Advance Forward Consulting, Jenny’s journey is a testament to adaptability and growth. Jenny emphasizes the importance of authentic relationship-building and eliminating negative terminology like 'weakness' from professional vocabularies. Instead, she advocates for focusing on strengths and opportunities for growth. Throughout the discussion, the theme of trust and respect in professional relationships is recurrent. Jenny advises listeners on navigating difficult conversations with superiors and peers, highlighting the value of presenting alternative viewpoints with tact and respect. The episode also dives into the challenges faced by leaders in various organizational roles, from middle management to C-level executives. Jenny underscores the necessity of a diverse team where each member contributes unique strengths. The conversation culminates with a discussion on the emotional maturity required in leadership, the need for professional respect, and the value of knowing when to assert oneself and when to yield. This dialogue with Jenny Floros offers valuable insights for professionals at all levels, emphasizing the importance of authentic leadership, respect, and the continuous pursuit of personal and professional development.

In this episode of Taking the Lead, host Christina Brady welcomes Jennifer Igartua, CEO of Go Nimbly, to discuss the intricate balance between leadership and personal passions. Jen shares her journey, emphasizing the importance of a well-rounded life outside of one's professional role. She dives into the challenges and rewards of being a leader in a tech startup, offering insights on fostering a supportive and fair work environment. Jen's approach to leadership is innovative. She advocates for maintaining interests beyond the professional sphere, illustrating this with her own experiences in running a game company alongside her role at Go Nimbly. This dual engagement, she believes, enriches her contributions to her company. Her philosophy challenges the conventional notion that leaders must solely focus on their business. Lastly, the episode touches on the notion of overperformance in the workplace. Jen opposes the idea of burdening high performers with additional work, suggesting alternative approaches like diversifying their responsibilities and compensating them appropriately. This segment provides valuable perspectives for both leaders and employees on managing workloads and recognizing individual contributions effectively.

In this episode of Taking The Lead, host Christina Brady engages in a conversation with Jennifer Ryan, the Director of Global Sales and Pre Sales Enablement at BlackLine. Jennifer shares her unique professional journey, which demonstrates adaptability and seizing opportunities. Her career transition from procurement to IT, training, and eventually to sales enablement exemplifies her willingness to embrace change and diverse experiences. Jennifer discusses her approach to challenges and opportunities, underscoring the importance of saying "yes" and learning from failure. Her stories, including spontaneous moves into IT and sales enablement, showcase a career built on adaptability and a positive mindset. Her journey is a testament to the value of being open to new experiences and finding learning opportunities in every situation. The conversation also covers Jennifer's philosophy on personal growth and professional development. She advocates for having a personal "board of directors" – a support network for navigating career and life challenges. Jennifer's insights provide listeners with valuable lessons on career evolution, embracing change, and the significance of a proactive and positive approach in professional and personal realms.

In this episode of Taking The Lead, host Christina Brady welcomes Tara Ryan, CEO & Founder of InfiniDEI, for an insightful discussion on leadership and work-life integration. Tara shares her journey, highlighting the challenges and triumphs she experienced in her career. She emphasizes the importance of understanding one's own values and priorities to achieve a fulfilling work-life balance. Tara delves into her Fair Play Method, a unique approach to managing work and personal life. She explains how this method has helped her navigate the demands of her career while maintaining her well-being. The conversation also touches upon the evolving workplace culture and the role of leadership in fostering inclusive and supportive environments. The episode concludes with Tara offering valuable advice to aspiring leaders and entrepreneurs. She stresses the significance of resilience, adaptability, and the empowerment of women in the workplace. Tara's insights offer listeners practical strategies for personal and professional growth.

In this episode of Taking the Lead, host Christina Brady sits down with Sara Strope, the Chief Marketing Officer at Quotapath. Sara unveils her unique journey, transitioning from a lobbyist in Washington, D.C., to a pivotal figure in the tech industry. She emphasizes how her lobbying days laid the foundation for her marketing acumen, teaching her the art of understanding market landscapes and crafting compelling messaging. As the conversation progresses, Sara introduces the concept of being a "customer-led marketer." This approach prioritizes understanding the customer's entire lifecycle, from acquisition to retention. Sara believes in deeply knowing the customer, from their business metrics to their personal motivations and fears. Christina and Sara also touch upon the challenges and responsibilities of customer success teams. Sara's perspective on intertwining marketing with customer success offers a fresh take on building and maintaining strong client relationships.

In this episode of Taking the Lead, host Christina Brady engages in an insightful conversation with Stephanie Middaugh, a seasoned sales enablement professional from Pinecone. Throughout the discussion, Stephanie provides a wealth of expertise on the often-misunderstood world of sales enablement. Stephanie emphasizes the critical importance of aligning sales enablement initiatives with business objectives. Rather than relying solely on lagging indicators, she encourages a focus on leading indicators to predict outcomes effectively. By doing so, organizations can develop a clearer understanding of whether their enablement efforts are truly making an impact. Stephanie's approach is a refreshing departure from the conventional method of merely assessing outcomes and provides a valuable perspective on how to drive success proactively. The conversation dives into the multifaceted role of sales enablement, including its involvement in event planning and program management. Stephanie acknowledges that enablement often finds itself at the base of the organizational hierarchy, where various responsibilities accumulate. Despite this challenge, she underscores the need for enablement professionals to define their roles and impact clearly, ensuring they are recognized for their crucial contributions to a company's success.

In this insightful episode of Taking the Lead, host Christina Brady sits down with Stephanie Valenti, the dynamic COO & Head of Revenue at Vitalyc Medspa. Stephanie shares her unconventional journey to leadership, revealing how she navigated through various roles and industries, initially aspiring to be a doctor, and eventually finding her passion in operations. She discusses the challenges and learnings from leading a $300 million organization, emphasizing the importance of asking the right questions and adapting to different leadership styles. Stephanie delves into her experiences in operations, highlighting her ability to simplify complex problems and drive change. She reflects on her transition from being the "gas pedal" to learning how to be the "brake pedal," adapting her approach to meet the diverse needs of her roles. Stephanie’s story is a testament to her resilience, adaptability, and commitment to growth. Listeners will gain valuable insights from Stephanie’s masterclass on ramping in an executive new role, leading with empathy, and focusing on both hard and soft skills. Her approach to identifying trends and addressing organizational needs showcases her strategic thinking and people-first mentality. This episode is a treasure trove of wisdom for anyone looking to evolve their leadership skills and make a meaningful impact in their field.

In this episode of Taking the Lead, listen to a high-impact conversation between Christina Brady and Ravi Rajani, the host of The Influential Communicator. Christina's insights on sales leadership are both refreshing and actionable. She emphasizes the importance of proactive coaching, highlighting its pivotal role in sales team success. Christina's straightforward approach is clear: sales leaders must actively engage with their teams, fostering an environment of continuous learning and growth. The episode also explores the evolving landscape of sales technologies and how they're reshaping the sales process. Christina's emphasis on adaptability and data-driven decision-making offers a practical guide for sales professionals striving to stay ahead in this fast-paced industry. This episode of Taking the Lead is a must-listen for anyone looking to elevate their sales leadership skills and drive results in today's competitive marketplace.

In this episode of Taking the Lead, Christina Brady sits down with Alex Dillon, a seasoned expert from Intuit, to delve into her intriguing professional journey. Alex shares her transition from a sales role to a more focused path in training and coaching. Her experiences shed light on the challenges and rewards of navigating such shifts in one's career. A central theme of their conversation revolves around the undeniable power of connection. Alex emphasizes how building genuine relationships has been pivotal in her success, especially in the realm of training and coaching. She believes that fostering these connections can inspire and motivate individuals to reach their full potential. As they wrap up, both Christina and Alex highlight the importance of continuous learning and adaptability in today's fast-paced professional landscape. Their insightful discussion offers valuable takeaways for anyone looking to evolve in their career.

In the latest episode of Taking the Lead, Christina Brady welcomes Alexine Mudawar, a dynamic CEO and founder with a rich background in enterprise sales. Alexine talks about her professional beginnings, recounting her experiences in sales roles at various startups and painting a vivid picture of the challenges and rewards of the fast-paced startup environment. Transitioning from her sales roles, Alexine embarked on a new journey as a CEO, founding her own company. She shares the hurdles she faced, the lessons learned, and the growth she experienced in this leadership role. Her insights provide a unique perspective, bridging the gap between sales and executive leadership. Throughout the conversation, it becomes evident that Alexine's resilience, adaptability, and passion have been pivotal in her professional evolution. This episode offers valuable takeaways for anyone looking to navigate the complexities of startups and leadership.