Sales Is King
by Dan Sixsmith
The podcast, Sales is King, features interviews with sales and marketingleaders who share their insights on the latest trends and challenges inthe B2B space. The podcast covers a wide range of topics, including AI,value selling, sales enablement, and personal branding. The guests offeractionable advice on how to succeed in today's competitive market. The podcast is popular with not only C-Level executives, but also thousands of sellers across multiple industries.
Episodes
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215: John Belle | CRO, Justworks
Dan Sixsmith sits down with John Belle, CRO of Justworks, to trace the unconventional path from accidental salesperson to Chief Revenue Officer. John shares hard-won lessons on leadership, hiring, and building a go-to-market engine — from his early days selling textiles to leading revenue at one…
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214: Jen McDonald | SVP, Americas | Talkdesk
Dan takes Sales Is King on the road to Del Mar Beach in San Diego for a conversation with Jen MacDonald, SVP of Americas at Talkdesk. Jen shares how she rebuilt Talkdesk's sales org for the shift to agentic AI, replacing 90% of leadership and 60% of AEs in 18 months and grew revenue anyway. They...
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213: Kevin Bognar | SVP, Stripe
Episode Summary Dan sits down with Kevin Bogner along the Chicago River for a candid conversation about his 30+ year sales career: from 18 years at Microsoft to Philips, a CRO stint at a Vista Equity portfolio company, leading global sales at Outreach, and now building the SMB and commercial…
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212: Tamara Adams | CRO, Octave
Tamara(Tamie) Adams, Chief Revenue Officer of Octave, joins host Dan Sixsmith in the New York studio during one of the most pivotal weeks of her career ,the day before Octave rings the bell on the NASDAQ. Tamie shares how she was recruited into a $1.6B carve-out from Swedish parent company…
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212: Twelve Steps To Closing The C-Suite(Dan Customer Podcast)
Taking a break from the CRO interviews and going back to the 'roots' of the podcast, Dan is publishing his appearance on a customer podcast to talk about selling higher and closing CXOs! Studio interviews will return in 2 weeks. Audio only.
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211: Rachel Roberts | President of Sales, Check Point Software
In this episode of Sales Is King, host Dan Sixsmith sits down in the New York City studio with Rachel “Rae” Roberts, President of Americas Sales at Check Point Software, a leading cybersecurity company. Rachel shares why she joined Check Point to help lead enterprise AI security, how the company...
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210: Craig Bowman | SVP, Trellix
In this episode of Sales Is King, Dan sits down in the new Midtown Manhattan studio with Craig Bowman, SVP of Public Sector at Trellix and author of the new book Craft: CIA Elite Selling. Craig brings a wild career arc to the mic—from clandestine work with the CIA and the intelligence community…
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209: Andrew Brown | CRO, RedHat
In this episode of Sales Is King, host Dan Sixsmith kicks off the show’s 10th year and the launch of a brand new studio with a powerhouse guest: Andrew Brown, Senior Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer at Red Hat. Andrew shares how Red Hat is driving double‑digit growth with its hybrid...
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208: Jon Addison | CRO, Okta
In this episode of Sales Is King, host Dan Sixsmith sits down with Jon Addison, Chief Revenue Officer at Okta, to unpack how identity is becoming mission-critical in a world of AI agents, distributed work, and rising security expectations. Jon shares how Okta is evolving from product to platform,...
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207: Marilee Bear | CRO, Gainsight
In this episode, host Dan Sixsmith interviews Marilee Bear the CRO at Gainsight. Marilee reflects on her first year at the helm, discussing the company’s impressive growth trajectory, recent strategic acquisitions, and the challenges and opportunities presented by a major leadership transition....
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206: Sam Jacobs| CEO + Founder of Pavilion
Summary In this episode, Dan Sixsmith interviews Sam Jacobs, CEO and founder of Pavilion, discussing his journey from working as a finance executive to building a thriving community for go-to-market executives. They explore the challenges faced by leaders in today's fast-paced environment, the...
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205: Leaning Into Discomfort | Stevie Case, CRO @Vanta
In this episode, Dan Sixsmith interviews Stevie Case, the CRO of Vanta, discussing her unique career journey, the current state of B2B sales, and the importance of customer retention and growth strategies. They explore how Vanta integrates AI into its solutions and the significance of building a...
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204: The CIO's Role In Modern Selling | FICO's Mike Trkay
In this episode of Sales is King, Dan Sixsmith interviews Mike Trkay, the Chief Information Officer at FICO. They discuss the evolving role of a CIO, the importance of customer engagement, and how technology decisions are made in a collaborative environment. Mike shares insights on…
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203: Revolutionizing Customer Success | Gainsight CMO Keith Pearce
In this episode of Sales is King, Dan Sixsmith interviews Keith Pearce, CMO of Gainsight, at the Gainsight Pulse Conference. They discuss the evolution of customer success, the impact of AI on the industry, and the importance of marketing in driving demand. Keith shares insights from his personal...
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202: Reshaping Walmart: Seth Dallaire(Part 2)
In Part 2 of their conversation, Seth Dallaire, Chief Growth Officer at Walmart joins Dan and reflects on his experiences in retail, technology, and leadership. He shares insights from the Consumer Electronics Show, discusses his career journey from Microsoft to Walmart, and emphasizes the...
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201: Unlocking Business Value @RedHat | Anurag Goel
Summary In this episode, Dan Sixsmith interviews Anurag Goel, the Global Head of Business Value and Realization at Red Hat and one of the highest profile experts in the value engineering world. They discuss the importance of shifting the conversation from product features to business outcomes…
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200: The Art and Science of Modern Marketing | Evanna Kearins
In this episode, Dan Sixsmith interviews Evanna Kearins, CMO for Europe at UiPath, discussing the evolving landscape of marketing, the integration of AI, and the importance of brand identity. Ivana shares insights on the dual nature of marketing as both an art and a science, the necessity of...
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199: Walmart's Chief Growth Officer | Seth Dallaire (Part 1)
In Part 1 of this conversation, Seth Dallaire, Chief Growth Officer at Walmart, discusses his new role and responsibilities, the importance of storytelling in business, and the challenges of meeting consumer expectations in a rapidly changing market. He shares insights on B2B selling, the...
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198: Branding and Storytelling | Bruno Bertini of 8x8
In this engaging conversation, Dan Sixsmith interviews Bruno Bertini, the CMO of 8x8, discussing the evolving role of the CMO in today's business landscape. Bruno shares insights on branding, storytelling in B2B, and the importance of customer experience. He emphasizes the need for CMOs to be...
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197: Salesforce.com's Patty Hager | 5 Keys To Success in 2025
In this engaging conversation, Dan Sixsmith interviews Patty Hager, the Vice President of Solutions for SMB at Salesforce. They discuss the evolving landscape of B2B sales, the importance of AI in enhancing sales processes, and the critical skills needed for success in sales. Patty shares her...
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196: Maranda Dziekonski | Creating A Customer Success Growth Engine
2025 Premiere Episode: Dan Sixsmith speaks with Maranda Dziekonski, VP of Customer Success at ID.me, about the challenges faced in the tech industry during 2024, her transition to a larger organization, and the evolving role of customer success. Maranda shares insights on implementing change,...
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195: The Year In Review
In this episode, Dan Sixsmith reflects on the significant growth and achievements of the Sales Is King podcast in 2024, introduces a new podcast called Power Fam focusing on the intersection of family and work life, and reviews key insights and guest highlights from the past year. He discusses…
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194: Say Goodbye To Marketing As We Know It | Christine Royston
In this episode, Christine Royston, CMO of Wrike, shares her insights on the evolving landscape of B2B marketing, the impact of AI, and innovative demand generation strategies. She discusses the importance of building a cohesive marketing team, aligning marketing with sales and customer success,...
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193: Relationships Or Process? | Andy Paul vs Frank Perkins
In this engaging 'debate', Dan Sixsmith hosts Andy Paul and Frank Perkins to explore the complexities of sales methodologies, the importance of individuality in sales, and the evolving landscape of buyer-seller interactions. They discuss the balance between following a sales process and allowing...
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192: SIK MashUp | Schneider Electric's Henry Cubillan
Introducing the SIK Gold episodes- A Mashup from the Vault. A quick fix of Sales advice from a past guest. Today, it is long time sales leader, Henry Cubillan.
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191: Product First | Alejandro Alvarez Correa's Journey Through Iconic Brands
Alejandro Alvarez Correa, Chief Marketing Officer for Grocery Outlet, discusses his first year at the company and the unique aspects of their business model. He highlights the importance of independent operators who have the freedom to choose the product selection for their market, resulting in...
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190: Microsoft's Black Belt | Miles Sovell
Summary In this conversation, Dan Sixsmith speaks with Miles Sovell, Director of Business Value Management at Microsoft, about the current state of B2B sales, the challenges faced by sales professionals, and the importance of delivering value to customers. They discuss the evolving landscape of...
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189: ZoomInfo CRO James Roth | Skills + Expectations For High Performers
Summary In this conversation, Dan Sixsmith speaks with James Roth, the CRO of ZoomInfo, about the evolving landscape of sales, particularly in the SaaS industry. They discuss the importance of understanding the buying committee, the challenges of longer sales cycles, and the need for sellers to…
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188: The New Sales Landscape | Datadog's Frank Perkins
In this conversation, Dan Sixsmith and(Chief Of Staff to) Datadog CRO Frank Perkins discuss the evolving landscape of sales, particularly in the tech industry. They explore the impact of COVID-19 on buyer behavior, the importance of emotional connections in sales, and the role of AI in enhancing...
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187: Verizon's Winning Mindset | CRO Aparna Khurjekar
Summary In this engaging conversation, Dan Sixsmith interviews Aparna Khurjekar, the Chief Revenue Officer of Verizon Business. They discuss the dynamic challenges and opportunities in the telecom market, the importance of innovation, and how to drive a positive culture within a large…
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186: The Only Way To Fix B2B Sales | Andy Paul
In this conversation, Dan Sixsmith interviews Andy Paul, a sales expert and author, about the state of affairs in sales and the key issues that sellers face. They discuss the impact of technology on building relationships, the importance of focusing on outcomes rather than pain, and the role of...
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185: Prepping Sellers Like Never Before | Christina Brady, CEO-Luster
Christina Brady, CEO and co-founder of AI start-up Luster, discusses the challenges in B2B selling and the need for a buyer-centric approach. She highlights the importance of leading indicators and the lack of measurement in sales processes. Brady emphasizes the changing buying behavior of...
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184: From Sales To CMO of a $16B Company | Dany Fleischmajer
Summary In this conversation, Daniela Fleischmajer, the US CMO at Kyndryl(an IBM spinoff), discusses the changes in B2B marketing over the past few years and the key challenges faced today. She highlights the shift towards data-driven strategies, increased use of AI and automation, and the…
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183: The CMO Whisperer | AI Pioneer, Nicole Leffer
Nicole Leffer, an AI advisor to CMOs, shares her journey and insights on AI in marketing. She started an e-commerce company in college and grew it to be one of the top 1,000 internet retail companies in the country. After discovering AI writing tools, she saw the immense impact it had on…
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182: Influencer Marketing | Zoe Hartsfield and Leandra Fishman
Summary In this episode of Sales is King, Dan Sixsmith interviews Leandra Fishman and Zoe Hartsfield from Apollo. They discuss the current state of B2B sales and the challenges faced by sellers today. They emphasize the importance of personalization and relevance in sales outreach, as well as the...
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181: Burn The Box | Top50 HR Leader Anthony Onesto
In this conversation, Dan Sixsmith interviews Anthony Onesto, Chief People Officer at Suzy, about the importance of personal branding and building a strong professional network. They discuss the concept of 'who knows you' and how it can impact career success. They also explore the changing…
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180: Are You Influential? | Keynote Speaker/Author, Stacey Hanke
In this conversation, Stacey Hanke discusses the challenges that executives face in the current business environment, particularly in terms of communication and personal branding. She emphasizes the importance of being consistently connected and influential in a world that is more connected but...
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179: Next Gen Email | Archie Hollingsworth of Fyxer.AI
Archie Hollingsworth, co-founder and CRO of Fyxer.ai, joins Dan and discusses the current state of B2B marketing and sales and the challenges faced by B2B executives. He emphasizes the importance of being selective and doubling down on what's working in marketing and sales strategies.…
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178: Unsticking Deals(New Book) | Sales Guru, James Muir
James Muir discusses the current challenges in B2B selling and the top issues for sellers today. He emphasizes the importance of preventing deals from getting stuck and provides five strategies to keep the momentum going. These strategies include securing executive sponsorship, throttling...
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177: Marketing + Sales Is Aligned And Well | Rhiannon Staples and Carrie Seifer
Dan is back with the CMO and CCO of GWI, Rhiannon Staples and Carrie Seifer. The conversation explores the current state of B2B marketing and sales alignment, as well as the trends and challenges in the industry. The guests discuss the need for personalized and targeted messaging in a noisy…
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176 Leandra Fishman's Road To The C-Suite
Summary The conversation between Dan Sixsmith and Leandra Fishman explores the challenges and changes in B2B sales and marketing. They discuss the importance of productivity and efficiency, the role of AI in sales, and the need for thoughtful solutions that provide value and ROI. They also touch…
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175: Mark Niemiec's First 150 Days as Salesloft CRO
Summary Mark Niemiec, Chief Revenue Officer at SalesLoft, discusses the challenges in B2B sales and the importance of delivering a compelling value proposition. He emphasizes the need for sellers to understand their customers' language, challenges, and context in order to rise above the noise and...
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174 The Modern CMO with David Keene
The conversation between Dan Sixsmith and David Keene explores the state of B2B marketing today and the challenges faced by marketers. They discuss the importance of aligning sales, marketing, and customer success to provide a cohesive and integrated experience for buyers. They also touch on the...
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173 Making It Rain with Henry Cubillan
[From a Linkedin Live Broadcast] Henry Cubillan, VP of Sales Strategy and Operations at Schneider Electric, discusses the challenges and changes in B2B sales today. He highlights the post-pandemic hangovers and macroeconomic challenges that have affected the sales industry. Cubillan emphasizes…
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172 Elite Selling with Omri Avdi
In this conversation, Dan Sixsmith interviews Omri Avdi, the Chief Sales Officer at Grant Thornton, about the current trends in B2B sales and the challenges faced by sellers. They discuss the increased scrutiny over spend, the involvement of CFOs and C-level executives in the purchasing process,...
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171 Thought Leadership's Influence on Brand and Revenue: Ophelie Janus
Ophelie Janus joins Dan. She is the Global Head of Thought Leadership at Siemens. The conversation explores the importance of trust and ROI in business decisions, the role of thought leadership in building trust, and the impact of thought leadership on buying decisions. It also delves into the...
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170 Jon Miller's Marketing Manifesto
Summary Jon Miller, pioneer, market maker, thought leader and the OG of MarTech joins Dan for over 60 minutes of engaging dialogue and new revelations. The conversation covers the journey of Marketo, the emergence of marketing automation solutions, the challenges faced, and the eventual merger…
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169 A Crisis Of Buyer Confidence: Tom Pisello and David Yockelson
Summary Tom Pisello, the ROI Guy and serial entrepreneur and David Yockelson, senior fellow at Gartner and Value Selling expert join Dan on this episode. The conversation covers a wide range of topics related to B2B marketing and sales, including the challenges of subscription fatigue, the impact...
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168 Decoding Human Buying Behavior with Usman Sheikh
Summary Usman Sheikh, CEO and founder of XIQ, discusses the changing dynamics of B2B sales and the impact of generative AI on sales productivity. He shares his journey from architecture to software and the founding of XIQ. The conversation delves into the core solution of XIQ, its target…
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167 Closing Deals and Tracking Results with Dan
Summary In this episode, Dan Sixsmith provides updates on recent articles and publications, introduces a new Facebook group, and discusses a HubSpot study on B2B sales in 2024. He highlights the importance of AI-related resources, self-service tools, customer referrals, customer education, and...
About this show
The podcast, Sales is King, features interviews with sales and marketingleaders who share their insights on the latest trends and challenges inthe B2B space. The podcast covers a wide range of topics, including AI,value selling, sales enablement, and personal branding. The guests offeractionable advice on how to succeed in today's competitive market. The podcast is popular with not only C-Level executives, but also thousands of sellers across multiple industries.
Hosted by
Dan Sixsmith
Categories