Ep. 17. Tough Love & Revenue Fixes - with Summer Poletti, Founder of The Rise of Us

In this episode of Her Path to Revenue, Janelle sits down with Summer Poletti. A revenue consultant, former corporate leader, and system-building strategist to unpack what it really takes to scale revenue without breaking your team, your pipeline, or yourself. Summer’s journey didn’t follow a straight line. From navigating multiple functions across marketing, customer success, and sales to climbing the corporate ladder while raising her kids, she built her career through grit, adaptability, and a refusal to turn down opportunities to learn. Today, she brings that full-picture perspective to help companies fix what’s actually holding them back from growth. But what stands out most isn’t just her experience—it’s her unapologetic focus on truth: most companies don’t have a pipeline problem… they have a system problem. In this episode, we cover: • Why most companies don’t have a pipeline problem—they have a system problem • The biggest revenue killer: misalignment across marketing, sales, and customer success • How to define what a “good lead” actually looks like (and why it matters) • The real reason sales teams fail to convert—and how to fix it • What founders get wrong when hiring their first salesperson • When (and how) to build systems as you scale • The role of accountability in eliminating team friction and finger-pointing • Why sales is a foundational skill—regardless of your role • The importance of building your personal brand before you need it • Summer’s journey balancing motherhood, leadership, and entrepreneurship Follow Summer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/summer-poletti-rhymes-with-spaghetti-27207812/ Summer's Podcast Link References: Increasing revenue without adding headcount:https://www.theriseofus.com/podcast/episode/1f5b3a41/6-strategies-to-increase-revenue-without-increasing-headcount What to have in place before you ire:https://www.theriseofus.com/podcast/episode/1d8500f2/hiring-your-first-salesperson-part-2-how-to-avoid-an-expensive-lesson