The RevOps Loop

Mission-driven organizations deserve better systems. ❤️ In Episode 18 of the RevOps Loop podcast, Maarten and Stjepan sit down with Jeremy Donovan, Senior Marketing Operations Manager at Family First, to talk about RevOps, operational alignment, and why disconnected data creates unnecessary friction for growing organizations. From siloed teams to scattered customer data, we unpack what it takes to build operations that help people work smarter, collaborate better, and stay focused on impact.

Operational excellence in museums is messy, complex, and way more challenging than it looks. 🏛️ In Episode 17 of the RevOps Loop podcast, Maarten and Stjepan sit down with Tiaan Loots (Head of Solutions Delivery & Strategy at Digital Reach) to unpack what’s really going on behind the scenes. Museums operate as a network of 15+ departments, from ticketing and gift shops to donor advancement, all working with the same constituent data. That complexity leads to siloed systems, gatekept data, and legacy tech from the 90s that quietly drains thousands of hours. We dig into where things break down and how we’re solving it with our purpose-built solution, MuseumHub.

For years, attribution has been treated like the ultimate source of truth in marketing and RevOps. But what if most of it is… wrong? 📊 In this episode, Maarten and Stjepan dig into one of the most misunderstood (and misused) areas in RevOps: attribution. From misleading dashboards to overengineered models, they break down why attribution often tells an incomplete story, and what you should actually do with it.

For a long time, the myth was that HubSpot was "so easy you didn't need an admin." But today, we know that couldn't be further from the truth. 🛠️ In this special episode, Maarten and Stjepan sit down with the legendary HubSpot Evangelist, Kyle Jepson. We dive deep into the evolution of the HubSpot Admin, the shift toward strategic RevOps, and how AI is fundamentally changing how we learn and build within the platform. What we cover: ✔️ The Myth of the ""Easy"" CRM: Why every company needs a dedicated owner to turn a simple tool into a strategic engine. ✔️ Certifications vs. Experience: Do HubSpot certifications still matter in 2026, and how AI is making ""multiple choice"" testing obsolete. ✔️ The Future of Learning: A look at HubSpot Academy’s shift toward simulations and how AI-driven sandboxes will train the next generation of Admins. ✔️ Breeze AI Evolution: How HubSpot’s AI has moved from ""disappointing"" to a powerful co-pilot that can build entire data models from a simple chat. ✔️ Escaping the ""Order Taker"" Trap: Practical advice for Admins to move away from just fixing broken reports and toward a seat at the C-suite table. ✔️ The Power of Community: Why you shouldn't be a RevOps pro ""on an island"" and how networking solves problems faster than Google. As always, we wrap things up with our signature drink review! This week, Kyle breaks our ""beer-only"" streak with a surprisingly wholesome choice: a thick, rich cup of hot chocolate (and a lot of water). ☕💧 Who should listen: RevOps Practitioners • HubSpot Admins • Revenue Leaders • Sales & Marketing Ops • Anyone looking to leverage AI to automate their CRM governance. Have a HubSpot or RevOps topic you want us to cover? Share it with us on LinkedIn: Maarten → https://www.linkedin.com/in/maarten-bovendaerde/ Stjepan → https://www.linkedin.com/in/stjepangrcic/ 🔗 HubSpot User Groups Connect with other HubSpot users in our community-led HubSpot User Groups. LGBTQIA+ HUG - Come connect, share, and grow with fellow #HubCurious LGBTQIA+ pros & allies → https://hubspot-academy-community-programs.us.hivebrite.com/topics/47532/events Nonprofit HUG - Join our HubSpot User Group for mission → https://hubspot-academy-community-programs.us.hivebrite.com/topics/47512/events 🔗 Resources Digital Reach — Helping for-profit teams grow smarter → digitalreachos.com LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/digitalreachos Facebook: https://facebook.com/digitalreachopm Nonprofit Tech Shop — HubSpot for mission-driven orgs → nonprofittechshop.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nonprofit-tech-shop Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nonprofittechshop

We’ve seen a lot of CRM setups over the years. Some great. Some… not so much. In this episode, Maarten and Stjepan break down some of the worst RevOps and CRM setups they’ve seen in the wild, plus the setups that actually work and why. What we cover: ✔️ How CRMs fall apart when everyone can create properties, workflows, and imports without guardrails ✔️ Why duplicate properties, inconsistent imports, and random fields make reporting and segmentation unreliable ✔️ What happens when you connect 30+ tools and no one knows what data is syncing or why ✔️ Why adding another platform for one feature can create more problems than it solves ✔️ How clean pipelines, focused integrations, and the right signals help teams take action ✔️ Clear documentation, team training, defined lifecycle stages, and systems people actually use ✔️ Smarter lead scoring: Why account-level scoring gives you a better picture than relying on individual contacts Have a HubSpot or RevOps topic you want us to cover? Share it with us on LinkedIn: Maarten → https://www.linkedin.com/in/maarten-bovendaerde/ Stjepan → https://www.linkedin.com/in/stjepangrcic/ HubSpot User Groups Connect with other HubSpot users in our community-led HubSpot User Groups. 🔗 Resources Digital Reach — Helping for-profit teams grow smarter → digitalreachos.com LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/digitalreachos Facebook: https://facebook.com/digitalreachopm Nonprofit Tech Shop — HubSpot for mission-driven orgs → nonprofittechshop.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nonprofit-tech-shop Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nonprofittechshop

If your RevOps team has become the company catch-all for unstructured requests, burnout is inevitable. In Episode 13 of The RevOps Loop, Maarten and Stjepan share how to stop playing whack-a-mole and start building real governance. We talk about defining ownership, using AI to speed up documentation, and how to stop relying on "tribal knowledge." Tune in to discover practical tips for navigating RevOps challenges and avoiding burnout in today’s fast-paced environment. Have a HubSpot or RevOps topic you want us to cover? Share it with us on LinkedIn: Maarten → https://www.linkedin.com/in/maarten-bovendaerde/ Stjepan → https://www.linkedin.com/in/stjepangrcic/ 🔗 HubSpot User Groups Connect with other HubSpot users in our community-led HubSpot User Groups. 🔗 Resources Digital Reach — Helping for-profit teams grow smarter → digitalreachos.com LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/digitalreachos Facebook: https://facebook.com/digitalreachopm Nonprofit Tech Shop — HubSpot for mission-driven orgs → nonprofittechshop.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nonprofit-tech-shop Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nonprofittechshop

Most HubSpot portals do not fall apart all at once. They just get harder to manage over time. In this 12th episode, Maarten and Stjepan walk through how to audit a HubSpot portal without disrupting what’s already working. They start with revenue motion and data structure, then move into reviewing workflows, integrations, and system setup in a more deliberate way. The focus is on making cleanup safer, clearer, and a lot less overwhelming. Listen now! Have a HubSpot or RevOps topic you want us to cover? Share it with us on LinkedIn: Maarten → https://www.linkedin.com/in/maarten-bovendaerde/ Stjepan → https://www.linkedin.com/in/stjepangrcic/

Revenue operations wasn’t built with nonprofits in mind, but nonprofits are quietly doing some of the most complex RevOps work out there. 💯 In Episode 11 of the RevOps Loop, Maarten and Stjepan break down how RevOps actually works in nonprofit organizations, and why donor-driven, event-based, and grant-funded models force teams to rethink funnels, lifecycle stages, reporting, and automation from the ground up. What we cover: ✔️ Why “revenue” means something very different in nonprofits ✔️ How donor, volunteer, event, and grant journeys break the traditional funnel ✔️ Why nonprofit RevOps is more dynamic, layered, and harder to report on ✔️ The hidden cost of legacy tools, locked-in systems, and data silos ✔️ Why a central source of truth CRM matters more for nonprofits than most teams realize ✔️ Practical RevOps lessons nonprofits can borrow from for-profit teams, and vice versa We also dig into reporting complexity, change management, personalization at scale, and how to avoid getting stuck in tech decisions that limit growth for years. As always, we wrap with a beer review, featuring a BrewDog Hazy Jane and a Belgian Golden Dragon. 🍻 Who should listen: Nonprofit leaders • RevOps practitioners • HubSpot admins • Marketing & ops teams • Anyone working with donor, event, or membership data Have a HubSpot or RevOps topic you want us to cover? Share it with us on LinkedIn: Maarten → https://www.linkedin.com/in/maarten-bovendaerde/ Stjepan → https://www.linkedin.com/in/stjepangrcic/ 🔗 HubSpot User Groups Connect with other HubSpot users in our community-led HubSpot User Groups. 🔗 Resources Digital Reach — Helping for-profit teams grow smarter → digitalreachos.com LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/digitalreachos Facebook: https://facebook.com/digitalreachopm Nonprofit Tech Shop — HubSpot for mission-driven orgs → nonprofittechshop.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nonprofit-tech-shop Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nonprofittechshop

In this milestone episode of The RevOps Loop, we celebrate our tenth installment by reflecting on the transformative year of 2025 in revenue operations and marketing. Join Stjepan and Maarten me as they get into the challenges and changes we've witnessed, particularly the integration of AI in everyday workflows. We'll explore how AI has shifted from a novel tool to a crucial part of our processes, impacting everything from meeting notes to customer service interactions. Looking ahead to 2026, the guys share insights on the evolving landscape, including the growing expectation for seamless integration of tools and the importance of full-funnel marketing strategies. Tune in for a compelling discussion that combines real-world examples with practical advice for navigating the future of RevOps. Share what topics you're interested in, your wins and potholes, and connect with your hosts Stjepan & Maarten. Join the Nonprofit HUG or find them on LinkedIn! Nonprofit HUG: https://events.hubspot.com/nonprofit Stjepan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stjepangrcic/ Maarten: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maarten-bovendaerde/ Brought to you by; Digital Reach Online Solutions https://www.digitalreachos.com/ Nonprofit Tech Shop https://nonprofittechshop.com/

Community-led growth and becoming a community champion for HubSpot - are you ready to dive in? In this episode of The RevOps Loop, Stjepan and Maarten sit down with Dan Moyle, a HubSpot Community Champion, to explore what a typical day looks like for someone in this role. Your hosts ask Dan about the responsibilities of a community champion, from answering user questions to providing feedback on product features. Dan shares his journey with HubSpot, highlighting the importance of authenticity and consistency in community engagement. He emphasizes the benefits of being a community champion, including networking opportunities, exclusive access to beta features, and the joy of helping others navigate the platform. Join the guys as they unpack the pros and cons of this unique position and discuss how you can get involved in the HubSpot community. Share what topics you're interested in, your wins and potholes, and connect with your hosts Stjepan & Maarten. Join the Nonprofit HUG or find them on LinkedIn! Nonprofit HUG: https://events.hubspot.com/nonprofit Stjepan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stjepangrcic/ Maarten: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maarten-bovendaerde/ Brought to you by; Digital Reach Online Solutions https://www.digitalreachos.com/ Nonprofit Tech Shop https://nonprofittechshop.com/

What actually works, what breaks, and what we learned building outside client work. In this episode of The RevOps Loop, Maarten and Stjepan explore building RevOps tools as side projects. The guys get into the benefits and challenges of creating custom tools using platforms like Replit and Lovable. Learn how these tools can be hyper-personalized to solve specific problems, offering insights into the process of building and learning along the way. Discover why RevOps professionals are uniquely positioned to innovate, bridging gaps across departments and enhancing operational efficiency. As always, they also share personal experiences and lessons learned, highlighting the importance of avoiding unnecessary complexities and focusing on solving real problems. Hit play to learn how these side projects can transform internal processes and potentially lead to commercial opportunities. Share what topics you're interested in, your wins and potholes, and connect with your hosts Stjepan & Maarten. Join the Nonprofit HUG or find them on LinkedIn! Nonprofit HUG: https://events.hubspot.com/nonprofit Stjepan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stjepangrcic/ Maarten: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maarten-bovendaerde/ Brought to you by; Digital Reach Online Solutions https://www.digitalreachos.com/ Nonprofit Tech Shop https://nonprofittechshop.com/

Project management sits at the center of every RevOps initiative, yet it is often the least understood role on the team. In episode 7 here, Maarten and Stjepan talk with Paige Farquhar, Project Coordination Lead at Digital Reach, about how RevOps projects actually run. Paige breaks down the three project types, how scoping works behind the scenes, why client transparency matters, and what it takes to keep consultants, engineers, and stakeholders aligned from kickoff to launch. She also shares practical tips on managing expectations, preventing scope creep, and building project hygiene that saves hours down the line. A candid look at the human, operational, and technical sides of making RevOps projects work. Also: an unexpected Turkish-delight frosé recommendation. Share what topics you're interested in, your wins and potholes, and connect with your hosts Stjepan & Maarten. Join the Nonprofit HUG or find them on LinkedIn! Nonprofit HUG: https://events.hubspot.com/nonprofit Stjepan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stjepangrcic/ Maarten: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maarten-bovendaerde/ Brought to you by; Digital Reach Online Solutions https://www.digitalreachos.com/ Nonprofit Tech Shop https://nonprofittechshop.com/

In Episode 6 of the RevOps Loop, Maarten and Stjepan ask a simple question: if you were starting out in Marketing or RevOps today, what should you really focus on? They share how they got started, why small real projects beat endless theory, and how to combine free courses with tiny problems so the learning sticks. They talk through the basics of data structures, integrations, and APIs, how to tell a story with a dashboard, why curiosity and tool testing are career multipliers, and what it means to debug humans instead of just systems. The episode is a practical guide for junior marketers, aspiring RevOps pros, and anyone looking to build a modern, AI aware skill set without getting overwhelmed.

In Episode 5 of the RevOps Loop, Maarten and Stjepan look back at their week and share real stories from the RevOps trenches. They cover what it takes to explain technical work to non-technical teams, how to prioritize when everything lands at once, and why B2C and nonprofit data hygiene depends on strong first-party data. They also talk through the reality of vibe coding with AI tools, when to involve a real developer, and how to keep up with constant HubSpot updates. The episode closes with quick tool reflections and a beer review, offering a practical look at the day-to-day life of RevOps consultants.

In this episode of The RevOps Loop, we dive deep into the essentials of training teams on revenue operations processes using HubSpot. Maarten and Stjepan explore the nuances of enablement, discussing best practices for both in-person and online training sessions. You'll get insights on gathering contextual information to tailor training effectively, the importance of user stories, and strategies to keep teams engaged post-training. Additionally, we highlight how to identify and empower internal champions to facilitate ongoing learning and adoption. Join us for a practical discussion aimed at helping organizations streamline their RevOps processes and maximize the potential of HubSpot. Tune in for actionable strategies and valuable insights!

What are the key components of a clean, scalable contact management strategy? In this episode, Maarten and Stjepan take a deep dive into building a clean, scalable contact management strategy with key pillars including data model definition, standardizing data entry, property organization, and data hygiene. Plus, hear their insights on useful CRM tools and a fun beer review to close.

In this episode of The RevOps Loop, the guys get into the intricacies of operationalizing handoffs between marketing, sales, and service teams using HubSpot. They explore the importance of cross-team alignment workshops to address the human element in handoffs, ensuring everyone speaks the same language. They also discuss the value of implementing structured feedback loops and grading systems to evaluate handoff effectiveness, which can guide meaningful discussions during workshops. Need more? Stjepan and Maarten highlight the need for automated notifications and escalation triggers to maintain momentum in the handoff process. And of course they touch on the balance between providing essential information and avoiding information overload during handoffs. By utilizing HubSpot playbooks and AI summaries, teams can streamline data transfer, making handoffs more efficient and effective. Join Maarten and Stjepan as they unpack these strategies to enhance team collaboration and improve handoff processes.

In this episode of The RevOps Loop, we tackle the burning question: Do You Need a CRM? Join us as we explore the scenarios where a CRM might not be necessary, especially for solo consultants or small teams who can manage with simple spreadsheets. We discuss the complexity trap of adopting a CRM too early and the importance of timing and team size in making this decision. We also provide a practical checklist to help you determine when a CRM becomes essential for your business. Plus, we review monday.com CRM, weighing its strengths and limitations for growing teams. Tune in for insights and practical tips on optimizing your revenue operations.