Nuggets from Behind Closed Doors

Inside every private Alliance meeting, there are hundreds of years of experience. While keeping confidentiality of the member who provided the challenge to their group, we’ve captured (with permission) just some of the insightful comments from a handful of members. Read what these members had to say to get a glimpse of what it is like to be an Alliance member.

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Sales - Search Results (42)

Member Darren Starr Speaks: A Simple 1-2-3 Approach to Assess Your Sales Opportunities

While forecasting sales opportunities, leaders can often struggle to assess the likelihood of a customer moving forward with their products or services. Darren Starr, CEO of StarrData, shares insight into how a simple 1-2-3 approach can help to gauge the probability of a positive outcome.

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Insight categories include: Sales   Strategy & Planning   

Member Craig Hinkley Speaks: Tempted to Turn Down Funds? Consider These Risks

When the financial markets are hot, business leaders are often faced with the question: should I fundraise or not – and what’s at stake if I don’t? Craig Hinkley, CEO of WhiteHat Security, offers insight into assessing competitor risk and staying on top of the market. 

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Insight categories include: Finance   Leadership   Marketing   Sales   Strategy & Planning   

Member Eric Billingsley Speaks: Different Selling Motions for Different Growth Strategies

As companies grow, leaders often find themselves at a familiar crossroads: is it better to pursue a new path or double down on the existing strategy? Eric Billingsley, CEO & Co-Founder of Calculi (creators of the Guide-Rails platform), offers his insight when considering the option of entering into new market segments.

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Insight categories include: Sales   Strategy & Planning   

Member Brian Sohmers Speaks: To Scale a Sales Team, Invest in Budding Talent

Many companies opt for exclusively hiring sales professionals with extensive experience, minding a strategy believed to save the organization money. While a veteran sales team may be successful, is it scalable? Brian Sohmers, Founder and Chief Product Officer of Propel, shares insight into building a team that can both perform and grow with the company’s revenue goals. 

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Insight categories include: Sales   Strategy & Planning   

Member Gabriel Fairman Speaks: Everyone Should Be Thinking Sales

It can be difficult to scale a company while having to depend on the limited resources of one sales team. Alliance member Gabriel Fairman, CEO of Bureau Works, suggests aligning the entire company with a sales mindset.

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Insight categories include: Culture   Sales   Strategy & Planning   

Member Sanjay Bonde Speaks: In Order to Scale, Delegate and Empower Key Players

Companies experiencing accelerated growth often face organizational bottlenecks created by founders who may not be eager to relinquish control of large accounts. Alliance member Sanjay Bonde, CEO of Wintec Industries, suggests delegating client accounts to a sales team led by a high-potential leader trusted by the company’s founders.

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Insight categories include: Culture   Sales   

Member Edmundo Costa Speaks: You Can “Win” While Holding Second Place in Your Market

Raising millions in a Series B funding round is an admirable accomplishment that any entrepreneur should be proud of — but what if your competitor raised four times more? Alliance member Edmundo Costa of Automation Anywhere shares some well-seasoned insight into making your dollars go further as a second place fundraiser in your market.

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Insight categories include: Finance   Leadership   Operations   Sales   Strategy & Planning   

Member Paul White Speaks: Instead of Diving In, Consider Zooming Out

More often than not, CEOs are hyper focused on the here and now. Paul White, Founder and CEO of Muir Services, advises that while it is hard to step outside and look down upon a business holistically, doing so can reveal transformational opportunities.

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Insight categories include: Entrepreneurship   Leadership   Operations   Sales   Strategy & Planning   

Member Sheeroy Desai Speaks: Don’t Forget The Troops. They Win The War.

CEOs spend a lot of time in the C-suite and sometimes that warps perspective on strategic priorities. Alliance member Sheeroy Desai, Co-Founder and former CEO of Gild, suggests paying more attention to employees on the ground as the company ramps up for serious growth.

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Insight categories include: Leadership   Operations   Organizational Design   Sales   Strategy & Planning   Technology   

Member Jason Petralia Speaks: You’re Sitting on a Gold Mine. Mine It!

CEOs are under constant pressure to increase revenue and profitability. Alliance member Jason Petralia of Raizlabs suggests that an established company could dramatically increase its revenue by prioritizing current accounts rather than finding new ones.

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Insight categories include: Leadership   Sales   Strategy & Planning   Technology   

Member Andy Barrons Speaks: Build on Your Reputation of Independence

No CEO likes lumpy revenue. Alliance member Andy Barrons of Navis offers a cautionary tale and intriguing idea for smoothing out revenue and opening new lines of business.

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Insight categories include: Sales   Strategy & Planning   Technology   

Member Jeff Antrim Speaks: Double Down on Quality and Accountability

It can’t always be the best of times. So how can a CEO manage revenue when cash flow is tight and profitability has declined? Jeff Antrim, President of Proforma Construction, shares a few battle-tested approaches to weathering the storm while keeping the dollars flowing.

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Insight categories include: Operations   Sales   Strategy & Planning   

Member Harmeet Bhatia Speaks: Don’t Just Report. Involve.

Many management teams are spread over great distances and among diverse cultures. Harmeet Bhatia of Jade Global emphasizes the importance of substantive dialogue and collaboration to forge a path to success.

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Insight categories include: Culture   Executive Development   Sales   Strategy & Planning   

Member Xiaodong Yang Speaks: Build Vertical and Horizontal Channels

Growing at breakneck speed? Xiaodong Yang, President & CEO of Apexigen, Inc., recommends implementing a matrix structure of project managers to maintain productivity and reinforce desirable company culture.

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Insight categories include: Culture   Operations   Sales   Strategy & Planning   

Member Sheeroy Desai Speaks: Cut Through The Noise

Interest in the service you are offering is a beautiful thing. But interest does not equate to action. Sheeroy Desai, Co-Founder & CEO of Gild Inc., shares a clever strategy to seal the deal.

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Insight categories include: Entrepreneurship   Marketing   Sales   

Member Glenda Anderson Speaks: License Back by Vertical

Does your company own intellectual property with a broad range of applications? Glenda Anderson, CEO & Founder of Farsight Genome Systems, shares a spin-off, license-back strategy to maximize overall IP value.

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Insight categories include: Finance   Organizational Design   Sales   Strategy & Planning   

Member John Dicconson Speaks: Get Beyond ROI with Your Investors

Strategic alignment between a CEO and his or her board is a primary driver of overall business success. John Dicconson, President of Tech Care Now Associates, lays out a vision that values operational success in addition to return on investment.

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Insight categories include: Boards   Executive Development   Finance   Leadership   Sales   

Member Paul White Speaks: Take that Downturn and Flip it Upside-Down

Your company’s in great shape - now use your financial and competitive strength as a strategic advantage should a downturn materialize. Paul White, Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Muir Equity, advocates capitalizing on strategic preparation as a competitive advantage to better position your company during and after the storm.

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Insight categories include: Entrepreneurship   Finance   Leadership   M&A   Operations   Sales   Strategy & Planning   Trends   

Member Anne Bisagno Speaks: Make Sure Your Customer is Winning, Too

CEOs often wish to move from an “hourly billable” to a “fixed monthly price” model for their business services. Anne Bisagno, President of Xantrion, speaks from experience about how it is done – and where the pitfalls lie.

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Insight categories include: Operations   Organizational Design   Sales   Strategy & Planning   

Member Navin Nagiah Speaks: You are not ready (yet) to make a decision.

Torn between being a market leader & IPO’ing or selling the company? Navin Nagiah, President & CEO of DNN Corporation, offers some considerations to help distill a smart decision.

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Insight categories include: Culture   Finance   M&A   Marketing   Operations   Sales   Strategy & Planning