This is Growth!

This episode is here to help CS folks understand how product organisations work and how to collaborate for optimal results. We dive deep into the intersection of product and CS to help you: 🚀 Learn how product roadmaps work 🚀 Better champion your customers with Product Managers 🚀 Handle tough conversations on unmet feature requests 🚀 Get advice on transitioning from CS to Product roles. Join me as I sit down with Laura Kassapakis, Product Manager at Front, and Lauren Salanitro, CS Leader at Cascade. These Aussie trailblazers are the brains behind Women of Customer Success, a thriving community with over 9,000 members! Get your headphones on, and gear up for a knowledge-packed episode!

In the world of Customer Success Management, delivering impactful Enterprise Business Review (EBR) presentations is often a time-consuming and labour-intensive task. But what if we told you that it's possible to revolutionize this process by completely automating the creation of the decks? In this episode, we dive deep into the realm of EBR automation with not one but two seasoned experts who have transformed the game for Customer Success Managers (CSMs). Our first guest is none other than Nikola Mijic. He is the CEO of Matik, a groundbreaking tool that has redefined the way CS assets are crafted. In our conversation, we dive deep into how they are simplifying this time-consuming process into a one-click wonder, saving CSMs valuable time and resources. And that's not all! Our second guest is Brian Savage. He is a Senior Automation Analyst with a knack for building bespoke solutions. He shares how his team is harnessing Workato, an Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS), to create tailor-made EBR automation solutions from the ground up. You'll learn about the strategic approach, technical know-how, and the endless possibilities for customizing your EBR process. Whether you're a CS Leader looking to streamline your EBR workflow or a tech enthusiast eager to understand the automation magic, this episode promises valuable insights and inspiration. Don't miss out on discovering the future of EBR presentations – it's all just a click away!

What does Customer Success look like in a company that uses a product-led growth strategy? So many people seem to think that you're either product-led or human-led. But the reality is that most businesses land somewhere in the middle. Ryan Seams, Senior Director of Customer Success and Services at Mixpanel is here to help us understand how a CS team works when a business is largely product-led. He has spent the last 9 years building the CS business in Mixpanel and has learned a ton of lessons that he is sharing with us, so we don’t have to make the same mistakes as we scale Whether your business is exploring a digital segment or considering going full PLG, this podcast will give you some insights on how some of the best in the industry are doing it! Music: Workday by Scott Dugdale

From startups to industry titans, most companies still haven't cracked the nut of delivering a highly proactive Customer Success service at scale. That's why it's important for us to talk about these challenges openly! In our very first solo episode, your host Daphne Lopes, tackles 3 burning questions about scaling Customer Success. If you are curious about the secret steps to transform your CS approach from 100% human-powered to turbocharged scalability, this episode is for you! Get ready to ignite your CS strategy and amplify your business impact! 🔥 Music: Workday by Scott Dugdale

This month we are sitting down with Mickey Powell, the CS visionary behind UpdateAI, to explore a revolutionary development that's changing the landscape of customer success – the integration of generative AI, specifically ChatGPT, into the daily lives of Customer Success Professionals. In an era where customer interactions are paramount, harnessing the power of AI has become more than just a trend; it's a necessity. Imagine having a virtual assistant that not only understands customer queries but can also craft personalized responses that resonate deeply with each individual. That's the promise of generative AI. Today, we're going to uncover the practical ways in which Customer Success Professionals can leverage Update.ai and ChatGPT to streamline their workflows and ultimately drive business growth. So whether you're a seasoned customer success veteran looking to adapt to the digital age or a newcomer curious about the possibilities, get ready to be inspired by the insights and experiences shared by Mickey Powell. Music: Workday by Scott Dugdale

The lines between Marketing and Customer Success blur when we start scaling the CS team. Many of the skills and tools needed to help drive and understand customer engagement and communication at scale are traditionally owned by marketing. But that doesn't mean marketing should own the Digital CS strategy. To help us unpack this topic I am joined by Jeff Breunsbach⁠, a leader that lives in the intersection of Marketing, CS and Community. In this episode, we delve into the transformative power of leveraging content and community to drive customer success to new heights. Jeff shares his wealth of experience and expertise, offering invaluable insights on how to effectively expand customer success initiatives while maintaining a personal touch. Discover the key strategies, tools, and techniques that have propelled Jeff's community Gain, Grow, Retain and learn how you can apply them to your own organization. Whether you're a seasoned CS professional or just starting your journey, this episode is packed with actionable advice that will empower you to build thriving customer success teams in today's dynamic business landscape. Tune in now and unlock the secrets to scalable growth and exceptional customer experiences! Music: Workday by Scott Dugdale

"The only constant is change." Get ready for a mind-shifting episode with senior Customer Success leader and Change Management expert, Margaret Harrison. As CS professionals we operate at the intersection of the vision our customers have for their organisations and their current reality. And we do that while navigating the waves of change inside our organisations. But change is not easy. In fact, change can be exhausting. In this episode, we discuss the psychology of change and why it can be so difficult to navigate it. We dive into simple and effective approaches to driving transformative change for your team and customers alike. And we leave you with 3 proven tactics to achieve successful change outcomes. Don't miss this captivating opportunity to ignite change and create a lasting impact in your organisation. Resources: Book - Switch Music: Workday by Scott Dugdale

Jan Young is a Customer Success Consultant at The Success League and an advisor to some of the most beloved CS brands and communities like Catalyst, Gain Grow Retain and CS Insider. A leader in Customer Success for over 13 years, Jan is a great person to help us answer the question "What does it take to be a great Customer Success Leader?". By blending the purpose of CS leadership with agile methodologies, business acumen and emotional intelligence, she brings a powerful and fresh perspective to the discussion of the role of a CS leader. We covered a multitude of topics: the power of storytelling, why you should have a pragmatic customer journey and the importance of creating a roadmap for your CS organisation. You will leave this session inspired to approach your every day as a CS leader differently. Music: Workday by Scott Dugdale

For the first episode of this season, I am joined by Marija Skobe Pilley. For some, Marija needs no introduction, she is a pillar of the CS community. But, if you are hearing your name for the first time, make sure to check her out on LinkedIn. She is the Director of Customer Success at Click up and the founder of Women in Customer Success. She hosts an incredible podcast interviewing the amazing women in CS and also runs a great mentoring programme called Power Up, where established success women including myself, mentor the next generation of CS professionals. Marija has built an incredible career in CS and we dive a little into her story during our conversation. But the meat of the podcast is really on how to scale basic CS approaches, Marija shares with us how she is helping Clickup scale its success function and has a lot of insights on what it takes to build CS from scratch. We cover tips on how to scale effectively, what roles are most important, building communities and more. You will leave this session with a ton of golden nuggets that you can apply immediately to your teams. Music: Workday by Scott Dugdale

Welcome to season 2 of the This is Growth Podcast! In Season 1 we got to know 9 people that built successful careers in Customer Success. For Season 2 we are shifting gears. The goal of season 2 is to help Customer Success leaders unlock the next level of performance of their Customer Success organisation. I want to help you go from Customer Success to Efficient Customer Success and then reach the holy grail of a truly Scaled CS organisation. These will be a series of conversations with the experts, the people who have been there and done that. Each episode will be packed with tips, honest discussions, and best practices that will take your team to the next level. And we want to help you do that while focusing on the most important aspect of CS: delivering customer outcomes. Get the latest podcast in your inbox by signing up for the This is Growth! newsletter at https://www.daphnelopes.com/ Music: Workday by Scott Dugdale

In this episode of the podcast, we are joined by Padraic McMahon Senior Manager of Customer Success at Hubspot and former guitarist/bassist in the platinum-selling band The Thrills, to answer 4 listeners' career dilemmas: Padraic and Daphne discuss each dilemma, share personal experiences and offer advice on how to get unstuck if you are experiencing any of these situations. If any of these questions resonate, you will love this episode. Grab your headphones and find some headspace because this episode is packed with practical stuff you can start implementing today. Music: Workday by Scott Dugdale

When life throws us a punch, it hurts. There are no two ways about it. But it also presents us with an opportunity to get off the hamster wheel, pause, and reflect. It gives us space to explore interests, and relaunch with intentionality. Shane Stenson, Team Lead and Principal Customer Success Manager at HubSpot, shows us that a growth mindset is not just about climbing the career ladder, but a way to approach life. In this episode, we talk about the roadblocks and hiccups in our careers, and about landing on our feet. Shane shares stories about being part of a company that was acquired, feeling burned out and taking a career break, going for roles that didn’t feel right, failing interviews and the amazing feeling of knowing what your next step is. In his own words, “A lot of people think ‘I’ve worked so hard over the last 6 months to get into the particular role that I am in, I’ve grown so much’. But there is equally as much to be learned from scenarios where it didn’t work out in the way you would have hoped. It’s that old cliche, you learn more from the losses.” In midst of layoffs and uncertainty, this is a great episode to ground us. Music: Workday by Scott Dugdale

Forget the corporate ladder, let’s talk about entrepreneurship. Brian Mackey, Co-Founder of the technology agency Baskey, is living proof that you can pursue your ambition to work for yourself, even if you don’t have a safety net. In this episode, we explore how he went from busking in the streets of Dublin to support himself during college, to landing roles in Support and Customer Success and more recently, becoming his own boss. We get an insight into how business ideas come about and how to pursue an opportunity you are passionate about. In his own words, “Take risks that will help you grow, that will expose you to new things. You are going to make mistakes and learn from them. But make sure your risks are calculated, don’t rush into anything.” I feel like we only scratched the surface of this conversation with Brian. Grab your notebook and your pen, and let’s get inspired! Music: Workday by Scott Dugdale

It’s easier to excel when we do the things we are passionate about. For the final episode of the year, I interviewed Phil McHugh, Senior Director of Customer Success at Hubspot, a.k.a my boss. From the outside Phil’s career looks like a supersonic rocket, starting out as an Account Manager and going straight up to the moon. But through this chat, we are reminded that no success story is devoid of challenges. On the path from computer science drop-out to advertising and then technology, Phil reflects on the importance of knowing what you don’t want, how he discovered a passion for advertising, moving to the U.S., saying “yes” to a weird proposition and more. Phil is a storyteller, you won’t want this one to end. In his own words, “Never be afraid of saying yes to something. We need to make big and bold decisions to continue growing.” Tune in, buckle up and get ready for a journey! Music: Workday by Scott Dugdale

You are the CEO of your life. So why aren’t you managing your career as a business? Maggie Bomze, Senior Manager of Customer Success at Hubspot, started her professional journey by breaking the job-hunting mould and tweeting the CEO of an agency she admired and later convincing them to create a role for her. In this episode, we discuss how to best market and sell yourself, and talk through strategies to help you frame your career as a series of investments you make into your future self. In her own words, “At the end of the day, the competition with myself is all that matters. The game is always changing, the rules may or may not be fair, and situationally there might be other things going on. I march to the beat of my own drum, I care about what I am doing, what I can control. And I find that the results just follow.” Maggie is unlike any other guest. She is in a league of her own. Tune in and soak up her passion! Music: Workday by Scott Dugdale

You don’t have to choose between growing your career and your personal priorities. Seona Tully, Director of Sales at Hubspot talks about the importance of goal orientation, a growth mindset, and a coaching environment to build a successful career. In her own words “I was always a huge goal-setter. When I started I was very financially driven because I wanted to buy a house. So I lived by my spreadsheet with every dollar of commission I would make. That really helped motivate me.” She shares the story of how she fell in love with sales, talks candidly about her transition from an individual contributor into management, and sheds a light on what it looks like to be a highly effective leader and also a mum. Tune in, it’s a fantastic conversation! Music: Workday by Scott Dugdale

Breaking into management can seem like an impossible task. Finbar O’Grady climbed the Customer Success ladder all the way from Services Specialist to Principal Manager at Hubspot, and we got to learn how he did it! This episode is filled with sound advice and practical tips from one of the best in the business. If your goal is to grow into management or get inspired to bring your performance a notch up, this podcast is for you. In his own words, “Watching someone in real time having an A-Ha moment is super satisfying and special. As my career developed, I knew I wanted to have more intimate relationships with the people I worked with, and that is what brought me to people management”. Excited to share this one with the world!

If you think a successful career is linear, think again. This month’s guest, Kelsey Balimtas, has built an impressive career that spans PR, Customer Success, Employee Enablement and Customer Experience. But was it all strategically laid out? Absolutely not. It was a discovery journey. In her own words, “Career journeys are not ladders they are lattices. You sorta have to move sideways, take small steps, and sometimes you need to take a step back. But ultimately, if everything you are doing is ins service of building more positive habits, more positive behaviours, you are growing”. Kelsey shares vulnerably about imposter syndrome, the difficulties of juggling an MBA and work at the same time, and the impact of remote work in her life. Tune in, this one is an absolute must!

How does a Channel Consultant become a Product Manager? In this month’s episode of This is Growth, I had a conversation with Robbie McFarlane, an Associate Product Manager at Hubspot. Believe it or not, there was a time when Robbie didn’t even know what a Product Manager was. In this episode, we will chat through his journey from Channel Consultant, working with Hubspot's EMEA partners, to Program Manager, and now, Product Manager. Even if Product Management isn’t in the cards for you, I recommend you listen to this episode. Robbie is a modern-day philosopher and has some incredible tips on how to develop your skills and find your purpose. Music: Workday by Scott Dugdale

Ever looked at someone's career and wondered 'how did they get there?'. This podcast is here to shine a light on the unseen parts of career development. Guests will share their failures and lessons, the mindset that helped them succeed and how they think about work-life harmony when leading demanding careers. Music: Workday by Scott Dugdale