Belkins Podcast

Hosted by Michael Maximoff

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Aug 2026

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About the show

The Belkins Podcast tells the stories most business shows leave out. Hosted by Michael Maximoff (Co-Founder at Belkins), our podcast explores the messy middle of building and scaling B2B companies. You'll hear honest conversations with sales, marketing leaders and founders from some of the biggest names in B2B on tough calls, go-to-market pivots, and strategies that shape their approach to revenue growth. The Belkins Podcast doesn't follow a script.We're known for asking real questions and having the kind of conversations that make you rethink how you lead—whether you're building your first sales team or scaling to new markets. Especially now, as AI reshapes how we sell, market, and make decisions. So if you've ever wondered: What does it really take to grow a B2B business today? We ask the people doing it. 🎧 Follow the Belkins Podcast – the B2B podcast for sales and marketing leaders ⭐ Liked an episode? Share or leave a review—it helps more people find us

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August 12, 20261 hr 16 min

10 Years of Building an Agency: The Lessons Nobody Sees | Belkins Podcast Episode #24

If you work with an agency, there are a few things you usually only learn once the campaign is already running. In this special in-person episode, Michael sits down with Belkins Managing Director Alex Sribnyi to talk about what actually happens behind the scenes of B2B lead generation: why some agency-client relationships work, why others fall apart, what companies often misunderstand about outbound, and how the role of an SDR is changing. Alex has spent more than 10 years in the industry, managed hundreds of SDRs and Account Managers, and worked across thousands of B2B client strategies. So this conversation goes well beyond theory. Michael and Alex get into: 🔹 Why B2B outbound can fail before outreach even starts — and why more leads, emails, or meetings won’t fix a weak offer, unclear positioning, or poor market fit. As Alex puts it: “Outreach just amplifies what you have.” 🔹 What to know before hiring a lead generation or appointment-setting agency — including why “you’re the experts, just book us meetings” is often a bad starting point. 🔹 Why booked meetings don’t always turn into pipeline or revenue, and why outbound leads shouldn’t be sold the same way as inbound leads or referrals. 🔹 What makes a great SDR today — when AI can already write the email, but can’t replace timing, targeting, buyer understanding, judgment, and real conversations with the market. 🔹 Where AI actually helps sales teams — from research and objection handling to campaign analysis — and where Alex still wouldn’t trust it for high-value ABM and complex B2B sales. 🔹 How agencies are changing from outsourced execution teams into much closer partners across outbound sales, GTM strategy, AI, marketing, RevOps, and growth. If you’re growing an agency, choosing an outsourced SDR partner, or trying to get more revenue from outbound, this is the part of agency work worth understanding before something goes wrong. About our guest Alex Sribnyi is the Managing Director at Belkins and over the past decade, he has managed hundreds of SDRs and Account Managers, helped shape strategies for thousands of B2B clients, and led Belkins’ delivery organization. Today, he focuses on retaining clients, growing accounts, and turning strong delivery into long-term revenue. Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction: Alex , Managing Director at Belkins 03:02 - C-Level Personal Branding: Why You Need to Start Earlier 07:30 - What Sets Belkins Apart: Curiosity, Team, and Timing 09:54 - Uncomfortable Truth #1: Agencies Don't Always Know What Will Work 14:15 - Client Experience: Balancing Startup Chaos and Bureaucracy 22:42 - Uncomfortable Truth #2: The Client May Not Be Ready for Outbound 26:54 - Why Meetings Don't Convert: Sales Process, Feedback Loops, and 35:56 - What Still Drives Alex - and the 10-Year Delivery Playbook 43:14 - The Modern SDR: What's Overrated and What Has Become Strategic 46:51 - Two SDR Case Studies: AI Automation vs. Deep Audience Knowledge 52:56 - From AI Skepticism to an Everyday Tool 01:05:14 - The Future of Lead Generation, SDRs, and the Consulting Model 01:12:46 - Belkins in 10 Years - and the Belkins Home Reveal 01:15:36 - Thank You and Closing About the Show What does it really take to grow a B2B business today? We ask the people doing it. The Belkins Podcast dives deep into the strategies, decisions, and behind-the-scenes insights driving real growth at top B2B companies. Each episode features candid conversations with industry heavyweights—CROs, CMOs, founders, and seasoned operators—who've navigated market downturns, scaled teams, and mastered the realities of revenue growth. You'll hear hard truths, unfiltered insights, and actionable tactics directly from leaders who've actually done the work. 🔔 Subscribe to never miss an episode. 💬 Enjoyed the conversation? Share it with your network and help spread real insights. ⭐ Leave a review—your feedback helps us keep bringing you valuable conversations. About the Host Michael Maximoff is the Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer of Belkins, the #1 ranked B2B appointment-setting agency, recognized by Clutch, G2, and Inc. Over the past decade, Michael has built Belkins into one of the most respected voices in B2B sales and marketing, helping over 1,000 companies across 50+ industries achieve predictable, scalable growth. Known for his straightforward style, Michael hosts the Belkins Podcast to speak directly with top growth leaders and uncover what truly moves the needle today.

April 10, 20261 hr 27 min

Becoming the Brand Everyone Talks About, ex-CMO of Gong ($300M ARR)| Belkins Podcast Episode #23

What does it take to build a brand in B2B that people actually talk about? Udi Ledergor has a word for it. Courage. He was employee #13 at Gong. The first, and for a long time, only marketer. He joined when nobody had heard of them, with 11 paying customers and zero brand presence. By the time he stepped back, Gong was doing $300M ARR, had five of the Fortune 10 as clients, and had become one of the most recognisable names in B2B. He did it by building what he calls courageous marketing — the belief that attention only goes to brands willing to do something genuinely different. Not different for the sake of it. Different because playing it safe, copying competitors, and following the same templates everyone else follows is the surest way to be completely invisible. We sat down with Udi live in London, and the conversation went places we didn't expect. 🔑 What we get into: 🔹 The science behind great sales — why the best salespeople talk less than half the time, and what Gong's research revealed about the difference between winning and losing deals 🔹 How buyers actually decide today — 85% of the journey is done before they contact you. What that means for where you spend your marketing time and budget 🔹 Courageous marketing in practice — not as a concept, but as a series of real decisions Udi made at Gong that most marketers wouldn't have had the nerve to make 🔹 Creative teams and real results — why psychological safety without process accountability produces great ideas that go nowhere 🔹 Navigating uncertainty without losing focus — Udi has been through the dot-com crash, 2008, COVID, and the current cycle. His perspective on what you can and can't control is genuinely useful "I never really understood why B2B defaults to boring." — Udi Ledergor In this episode, we get into exactly how he built a $300M company by doing something about it. 00:00 - Intro: Udi Ledergor: The Marketing Mind Behind Gong 10:32 - Why Best Practices Produce Average Results 13:59 - Personalization, Relevance and What Buyers Actually Respond To 18:47 - Storytelling as a Business Weapon 39:42 - How to Build a Culture of Creative Experimentation 51:15 - Decision Making, Hiring and What to Build In-House 01:08:20 - Marketing Through Uncertainty, AI Disruption and Finding Balance 01:20:31 - What's next for Udi & Priorities About the Show What does it really take to grow a B2B business today? We ask the people doing it. The Belkins Podcast dives deep into the strategies, decisions, and behind-the-scenes insights driving real growth at top B2B companies. Each episode features candid conversations with industry heavyweights—CROs, CMOs, founders, and seasoned operators—who've navigated market downturns, scaled teams, and mastered the realities of revenue growth. You'll hear hard truths, unfiltered insights, and actionable tactics directly from leaders who've actually done the work. 🔔 Subscribe to never miss an episode. 💬 Enjoyed the conversation? Share it with your network and help spread real insights. ⭐ Leave a review—your feedback helps us keep bringing you valuable conversations. About our Guest Udi Ledergor is the Chief Evangelist at Gong, where he helped define and dominate the revenue intelligence category, taking the company from zero to hundreds of millions in revenue and achieving a multi-billion-dollar valuation. A five-time marketing leader at B2B startups, Udi is known for his bold, human-centric approach to branding and storytelling. An author, speaker, mentor, angel investor, and board member, Udi is also a passionate advocate for startups, storytelling, and creating unforgettable brand experiences. Udi joined Gong in 2016 as employee #13 and was the first of what is now a team of 60 talented marketers. Along the way, he contributed to taking Gong from a couple hundred thousand in revenue into a business making hundreds of millions of dollars in annual revenue. And so, you can imagine that Udi has a couple of priceless pieces of advice to share - advice you can implement to grow your own business. About the Host Michael Maximoff is the Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer of Belkins, the #1 ranked B2B appointment-setting agency, recognized by Clutch, G2, and Inc. Over the past decade, Michael has built Belkins into one of the most respected voices in B2B sales and marketing, helping over 1,000 companies across 50+ industries achieve predictable, scalable growth. Known for his straightforward style, Michael hosts the Belkins Podcast to speak directly with top growth leaders and uncover what truly moves the needle today. 🔗 Connect with Michael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-maximoff/ 🔗 Learn more about Belkins: https://belkins.io 🔗 Learn more about Gong: https://www.gong.io 🔗 Connect with Udi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/udiledergor/

February 23, 20261 hr 17 min

The "Upmarket" Trap: What Actually Moves Enterprise Deals | Belkins Podcast Episode #22

Companies go upmarket, hit three slow months, and decide the strategy “doesn’t work.” In this live episode, Yann (co-founder of Userled, former Salesforce enterprise seller) breaks down what enterprise deals actually look like up close: long stretches of silence that aren’t rejection, stakeholders who shape the decision without ever joining a call, and why “activity” can feel busy while the deal goes nowhere. You’ll also hear the less glamorous side: what founder life feels like when momentum disappears, why some teams survive the hard quarters (and others don’t), and how hiring for energy changes everything. Yann shares how Userled changed their ICP, survived two brutal quarters — then closed more in October–November than the rest of the year combined. We enjoyed this conversation. Hope you will too. 🔑 WHAT WE COVER The enterprise sales playbook Salesforce actually uses — deep discovery, the "holodeck" method, and why the best reps never feel like they're selling Going upmarket in B2B: the real timeline — and 4 things you're probably not charging for (professional services alone adds 33% to deal value) What ABM really is — the one question you must answer before spending a dollar on account-based marketing The LinkedIn ABM tactic that drops ad costs from $10 to $2–3 per engagement — how to target 300 people inside a single account with messaging built around what's happening at that company right now AI in ABM: where it cuts content creation time by 70% — and where it's still mostly hype Hiring for energy, not just skills — why endurance and energy are harder to find than any technical skill, and the story that changed how Yann builds teams "Startups are built on momentum. And sometimes there is none. So what do you rely on?" — Yann About the Show What does it really take to grow a B2B business today? We ask the people doing it. The Belkins Podcast dives deep into the strategies, decisions, and behind-the-scenes insights driving real growth at top B2B companies. Each episode features candid conversations with industry heavyweights—CROs, CMOs, founders, and seasoned operators—who've navigated market downturns, scaled teams, and mastered the realities of revenue growth. You'll hear hard truths, unfiltered insights, and actionable tactics directly from leaders who've actually done the work. 🔔 Subscribe to never miss an episode. 💬 Enjoyed the conversation? Share it with your network and help spread real insights. ⭐ Leave a review—your feedback helps us keep bringing you valuable conversations. About the Host Michael Maximoff is the Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer of Belkins, the #1 ranked B2B appointment-setting agency, recognized by Clutch, G2, and Inc. Over the past decade, Michael has built Belkins into one of the most respected voices in B2B sales and marketing, helping over 1,000 companies across 50+ industries achieve predictable, scalable growth. Known for his straightforward style, Michael hosts the Belkins Podcast to speak directly with top growth leaders and uncover what truly moves the needle today. 🔗 Connect with Michael: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/michael-maximoff 🔗 Learn more about Belkins: https://belkins.io 🔗 Learn more about Userled: https://www.userled.io 🔗 Connect with Yann: https://www.linkedin.com/in/userled/

December 31, 20251 hr 22 min

Belkins’ Founders Open Up: Confronting Their Mistakes, Wins, and Regrets | Belkins Podcast Episode #21

For 10 years, Belkins’ founders never sat down on camera to talk honestly about what building this company has really cost them. Michael Maximoff and Vlad Podoliako have spent a decade building together. They took Belkins from zero to one of the world’s leading B2B lead generation agencies, built Folderly, and managed a portfolio of joint investments. On paper, the story looks perfect. But a portfolio of companies doesn’t show what it feels like to live through it. To close out one of the hardest years they’ve ever had, Michael and Vlad finally sit down — in person — to break the silence. This special episode isn’t about “how we scaled an agency.” It’s about what happens to two people when they spend a decade in hardcore mode: carrying a 300-person team, making painful decisions, holding impossible targets, and trying not to lose themselves (or each other) in the process. They talk about optimism turning into realism, when caring too much starts holding the company back, and why 2025 felt like a loss even with “good numbers.” If you’ve ever felt the weight of responsibility as a founder, co-founder, agency owner, or someone building ambitious things inside a B2B company, this conversation will hit home. In this episode, we unpack: 🔹 Co-founder dynamics in real life — how Michael and Vlad actually work together, where they clash, and how they’ve stayed partners through years that didn’t feel like “wins.” 🔹 Naivety, loyalty, and letting go — when believing in people becomes a liability, how many second chances are too many, and what they’ve learned about making hard calls faster. 🔹 The cost of being “#1” — what it really took to build and keep a leading B2B agency while launching a product company in a crowded market. 🔹 Living in “hard-mode entrepreneurship” — why they see business like a video game with one life, bosses, grinding, side quests — and why they still choose to play it this way. 🔹 Seeing a whole year as a “loss” — why Vlad calls 2025 a losing year, why Michael still sees it as a foundation, and how that tension keeps the company moving. 🔹 Identity, ego, and who you become — the versions of themselves they had to let go over the last 10 years, what they miss, and why they still believe this journey is worth it. If you’re tired of polished “success stories” and want to hear what this life actually feels like from the inside, start here. Chapters: 00:00 — Intro: Building Belkins & What Success Really Cost Us 07:20 — The "Street MBA": Lessons We Learned the Hard Way 11:55 — Optimism vs. Realism: How Leadership Changes You Over Time 24:03 — Business on Hard Mode: Stress, Pressure, and Staying in the Game 33:47 — One Company, One Bet: Choosing Between Belkins and Folderly 36:29 — Trust, Expectations, and the Realities of Co-Founder Leadership 49:48 — Rapid-Fire: Bootstrapping, VCs, Tools, and Startup Tradeoffs 59:10 — The “Walk-Away” Question — What If It All Collapsed? 01:07:00 — Was 2025 a Failure? Conflict, Perspective, and Resilience 01:17:59 — Good CEO vs. Great CEO — Responsibility, Identity, and What Comes Next About the Show What does it really take to grow a B2B business today? We ask the people doing it. The Belkins Podcast dives deep into the strategies, decisions, and behind-the-scenes insights driving real growth at top B2B companies. Each episode features candid conversations with industry heavyweights—CROs, CMOs, founders, and seasoned operators—who've navigated market downturns, scaled teams, and mastered the realities of revenue growth. You'll hear hard truths, unfiltered insights, and actionable tactics directly from leaders who've actually done the work. 🔔 Subscribe to never miss an episode. 💬 Enjoyed the conversation? Share it with your network and help spread real insights. ⭐ Leave a review—your feedback helps us keep bringing you valuable conversations. About the Host Michael Maximoff is the Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer of Belkins, the #1 ranked B2B appointment-setting agency, recognized by Clutch, G2, and Inc. Over the past decade, Michael has built Belkins into one of the most respected voices in B2B sales and marketing, helping over 1,000 companies across 50+ industries achieve predictable, scalable growth. Known for his straightforward style, Michael hosts the Belkins Podcast to speak directly with top growth leaders and uncover what truly moves the needle today. Connect with Vlad: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chiefdata/ Connect with Michael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-maximoff/ Check us out: https://belkins.io/

December 22, 20251 hr 27 min

Why RevOps Is Having a Moment (with Jen Igartua) | Belkins Podcast Episode #20

Revenue teams are dealing with more tools, more data, more automation - and more pressure - than ever before. Growth isn’t just about selling better anymore. It’s about how the entire revenue engine actually works. For the first time, RevOps isn’t a background function — it’s shaping how companies grow, scale, and make decisions. In this episode of the Belkins Podcast, Michael Maximoff sits down with Jen Igartua, Founder & CEO of Go Nimbly, to unpack what’s really happening inside modern revenue organizations — and why RevOps is suddenly at the center of it all. Jen has helped architect revenue systems for some of the most respected SaaS companies in the world, including Twilio, Zendesk, Snowflake, Intercom, and Superhuman. But this conversation isn’t about theory or frameworks. It’s about what breaks when companies scale, where AI actually helps (and where it creates chaos), and why the future of sales, marketing, and RevOps looks very different than most teams expect. What you’ll learn in this episode: Why RevOps is having a moment — and how rising complexity, AI adoption, and executive pressure have pushed RevOps into a strategic role What Revenue Operations actually does beyond automation, reporting, and tooling — including enablement, strategy, and protecting the customer experience How AI is changing RevOps teams — from workflow automation and data architecture to the risks of agent and automation sprawl The real future of sales roles — why junior SDR roles are disappearing, and why business development is becoming more senior, not automated away How to know when your company needs RevOps — including revenue thresholds, organizational signals, and common mistakes founders make too early What strong RevOps teams get right — clean data, shared definitions, cross-functional trust, and decision-making that actually sticks Throughout the episode, Jen and Michael go deep on the messy, human side of scaling revenue — misaligned incentives, broken handoffs, over-engineered stacks, and the uncomfortable truth that most companies don’t actually have a single view of the customer. This isn’t a hype conversation about tools. It’s a grounded look at how modern revenue organizations are being rebuilt — and why RevOps is now one of the most critical functions inside growing B2B companies. Chapters: 00:00- Intro: Who is Jen Igartua 03:17- What is RevOps? 09:25- AI Changed RevOps: AIOps, When to Hire RevOps, Build vs Outsource 17:25- Workflow Automation Is Getting Out of Control 24:02- What’s Next: Platform Consolidation in RevOps 27:46- Clay, HubSpot, and the Reality of the Modern RevOps Stack 33:48- The Limits of AI in Sales & Marketing 39:25- How SDRs, Marketing, and Social Selling Are Merging 49:50- RevFest: Building Real RevOps Community 01:00:49- Go Nibly's Evolution and Strategy 01:12:44- Curated Dinners as Acquisition Strategies 01:21:26- Creativity, Leadership, and “Follow the Fun” About the Show What does it really take to grow a B2B business today? We ask the people doing it. The Belkins Podcast dives deep into the strategies, decisions, and behind-the-scenes insights driving real growth at top B2B companies. Each episode features candid conversations with industry heavyweights — CROs, CMOs, founders, and seasoned operators — who’ve navigated market downturns, scaled teams, and dealt with the realities of modern revenue growth. You’ll hear hard truths, unfiltered insights, and actionable perspectives from leaders who’ve actually built and operated revenue engines at scale. 🔔 Subscribe to never miss an episode 💬 Enjoyed the conversation? Share it with your network ⭐ Leave a review — it helps others find the show About the Host Michael Maximoff is the Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer of Belkins, the #1 ranked B2B appointment-setting agency, recognized by Clutch, G2, and Inc. Over the past decade, Michael has helped more than 1,000 companies across 50+ industries build predictable, scalable growth engines. Known for his direct, operator-first approach, he hosts the Belkins Podcast to explore what actually works in B2B sales, marketing, and revenue leadership today.

December 1, 20251 hr 20 min

Why Companies Force AI: Zapier’s CEO Wade Foster Explains | Belkins Podcast Episode #19

Behind every well-known tech company is a leader navigating pressure, uncertainty, and constant change. That’s what makes this conversation with Wade Foster — Co-Founder and CEO of Zapier — stand out. Wade doesn’t show up with clichés or polished CEO lines. He talks about the decisions that actually shape a $5B company: how he manages his time, how he thinks about hiring and org structure, what AI really means for Zapier, and why leadership gets harder — not easier — as the company scales. This is one of those episodes you watch if you care about real leadership, decision-making under pressure, and what it takes to build a product people depend on every day. It’s grounded, tactical, and surprisingly honest. 👇 What you’ll learn: • How a CEO actually spends their time — the systems, guardrails, and rituals Wade uses to stay clear and focused • The leadership pivots that changed Zapier — adding layers of management, hiring execs, correcting mis-hires, building around strengths • How Zapier approaches AI without the hype — what’s useful, what isn’t, and why they’re not chasing trends for the sake of it • Why “small teams ship faster” — and how Zapier thinks about efficiency, headcount, and org design at 750+ employees • How Wade deals with imposter syndrome — and why founders who grow with their company have an advantage outsiders don’t • What inspired “Agents of Scale” — Zapier’s AI podcast focused on real business use cases versus the drama dominating mainstream AI talk • The habits and routines that keep him steady — from fitness to sleep to managing mental load • A rare look at the pressure behind the scenes — how he handles nonstop decisions, fires, expectations, and scaling pains • Why the future of work is “despecialization” — and what that means for teams learning to work with AI • Whether a one-person, AI-powered billion-dollar company is actually possible Wade Foster is one of the most respected builders in SaaS. This episode shows why — not through big statements, but through clarity, discipline, and how he thinks about problems that only show up at massive scale. 00:00 — Introduction: Who Is Wade Foster, Zapier CEO? 03:37 — Inside a CEO’s Daily Workflow 06:45 — How Leadership Changes at Scale 12:20 — The Mindset Behind Big Decisions 18:40 — How Zapier Really Uses AI Today 27:59 — Should Zapier Build Its Own Model? 32:17 — Why Wade Started Agents of Scale (and What Leaders Miss) 41:37 — Would Wade Be a Billionaire? 48:06 — Could Zapier Run With 100 People? 54:10 — Cut Deep or Scale Smart? 59:00 — How AI Reshapes Team Skills 01:05:06 — The Future of Hiring in AI 01:09:22 — Are Solo Billion-Dollar Firms Next? 01:16:40 — Final Thoughts + This or That About the Show What does it really take to grow a B2B business today? We ask the people doing it. The Belkins Podcast dives deep into the strategies, decisions, and behind-the-scenes insights driving real growth at top B2B companies. Each episode features candid conversations with industry heavyweights—CROs, CMOs, founders, and seasoned operators—who've navigated market downturns, scaled teams, and mastered the realities of revenue growth. You'll hear hard truths, unfiltered insights, and actionable tactics directly from leaders who've actually done the work. 🔔 Subscribe to never miss an episode. 💬 Enjoyed the conversation? Share it with your network and help spread real insights. ⭐ Leave a review—your feedback helps us keep bringing you valuable conversations. About the Host Michael Maximoff is the Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer of Belkins, the #1 ranked B2B appointment-setting agency, recognized by Clutch, G2, and Inc. Over the past decade, Michael has built Belkins into one of the most respected voices in B2B sales and marketing, helping over 1,000 companies across 50+ industries achieve predictable, scalable growth. Known for his straightforward style, Michael hosts the Belkins Podcast to speak directly with top growth leaders and uncover what truly moves the needle today. Connect with Wade Foster: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wadefoster/ Zapier: https://zapier.com Listen to Agents of Scale Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4O7eFPtxPBSrdsO2KwY6Ko Connect with Michael Maximoff: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/michael-maximoff Learn more about Belkins: https://belkins.io

November 4, 20251 hr 18 min

What Marketers Lost When AI Took Over | Belkins Podcast Episode #18

AI has changed how B2B marketers work — and how they connect. In this episode, Dr. Amy Cook, Co-Founder and CMO at Fullcast, joins Michael to explore what happens when automation starts replacing authenticity, and how today’s most effective marketers are rebuilding the human side of their craft. Her framework is simple: use AI for knowledge. Leave relationships to humans. Amy brings an unusual perspective to this conversation. She has a PhD in organizational rhetoric (how companies actually persuade people), ran her own agency for 15 years, and spent her early career as a professional violinist performing with the Osmond family. That last credential matters: she learned on stage that audiences always know when something feels rehearsed instead of real. That's exactly what's happening in B2B marketing right now. Join us, as we explore where AI actually makes marketers better versus where it destroys the trust that drives revenue. You'll get frameworks you can apply immediately, data from Fullcast's State of RevOps 2025 research, and the expensive lessons that come from getting this balance wrong. What we cover 🔹 Where AI adds value, and where it breaks trust 🔹 The PASSF Framework for Campaign Planning 🔹 How Belkins spent 20% of revenue creating thousands of posts. Zero conversions. Then deleted 80% and ranked #1. 🔹 State of RevOps 2025: Companies have 3 AI tools, 13 total tools, and 100% say their data is terrible. 🔹 The metrics and roles that sustain revenue: Revenue per employee, marketing ops hiring, and how to split pipeline between marketing and sales. Chapters 00:00- Introduction: Marketing in the Age of AI 02:52- The PASSF Framework - Marketing as Science and Art 06:24- Use AI for Research, Not Relationships 11:32- Marketing Fundamentals vs. AI Shortcuts 16:00- How AI Does Market Research in 2 Hours vs. 2 Weeks 24:10- Where AI Works in Marketing (Press Releases, Blogs, Images) 29:13- Content Quality Over Quantity: Deleting 80% to Rank Higher 38:20- Ethos, Pathos, Logos: How to Persuade in B2B Marketing 42:10- Marketing Patience: When to Wait vs. When to Move Fast 49:00- Founder-Led Marketing When You're Outfunded 56:48- What's Driving B2B Pipeline in 2025 1:07:52- Lead Scoring, Revenue Per Employee, and Marketing Ops Hiring 1:18:09- State of RevOps 2025: The Data Quality Problem About our guest Dr. Amy Cook is the Co-Founder and CMO at Fullcast, an AI go-to-market platform built on Salesforce. Before Fullcast, Amy helped scale and exit multiple high-growth companies, founded Stage Marketing and has guided several teams from Series A through acquisition. She’s also the co-author of The Rev Ops Advantage, which reveals why RevOps is more than just a supporting function; it’s your organization’s ultimate competitive edge. This book offers a step-by-step roadmap to align your teams, streamline your processes, and harness the power of automation to outpace the competition. Whether you’re a CEO, RevOps leader, sales executive, or investor, this is the RevOps guide you’ve been waiting for. About the Show What does it really take to grow a B2B business today? We ask the people doing it. The Belkins Podcast dives deep into the strategies, decisions, and behind-the-scenes insights driving real growth at top B2B companies. Each episode features candid conversations with industry heavyweights—CROs, CMOs, founders, and seasoned operators—who’ve navigated market downturns, scaled teams, and mastered the realities of revenue growth. You’ll hear hard truths, unfiltered insights, and actionable tactics directly from leaders who’ve actually done the work. 🔔 Subscribe to never miss an episode. 💬 Enjoyed the conversation? Share it with your network and help spread real insights. ⭐ Leave a review—your feedback helps us keep bringing you valuable conversations. Connect with Amy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyosmondcook Get your copy of "The Rev Ops Advantage" book: https://www.fullcast.com/the-revops-advantage/ Connect with Michael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-maximoff/

September 15, 20251 hr 13 min

The Evolution of BDRs: Salesloft CRO Explains Why | Belkins Podcast Episode #17

Should you hire BDRs or full cycle sales reps? Mark Niemiec, CRO of Salesloft thinks companies are shifting budgets away from BDR teams. At Salesloft, they already made the switch from sales engagement platform to what they call revenue orchestration. Mark's perspective: AE-generated pipeline converts 3-4x better than BDR pipeline. He predicts the BDR role that became popular around 2012 may not exist by 2026. The economics that created the BDR boom - cheap money and abundant VC funding - are gone. Mark runs revenue for a company that serves 5,000+ customers. Salesloft has captured 5-6 billion sales data points over time. When he talks about fundamental changes in B2B sales process, you listen. Mark answers the questions sales leaders are asking: Should you cut your BDR team? How does AI account planning actually work? What's the difference between sales engagement platforms and revenue orchestration? And why do most cold pitches to CROs fail? What Mark covers: 👉🏻 "What's replacing BDR teams?" - The Office of Pipeline Management strategy that sits between sales and marketing 👉🏻 "Do AI sales tools actually work?" - Salesloft's AI account planning software that writes emails, finds buyers, and creates dynamic sales cadences 👉🏻 "How do you sell to enterprise CROs?" - Mark's executive dinner strategy that builds relationships, not pitches 👉🏻 "Why is full cycle sales more effective?" - The pipeline generation strategies that actually convert in demand-neutral markets 👉🏻 "Which AI features are overhyped?" - Real talk on AI SDR tools vs human-in-the-loop sales automation 👉🏻 "How do you transition from VP Sales to CRO?" - What changes when you move from managing reps to running all revenue operations Mark shares practical details about why he almost never takes cold calls, how Salesloft eliminated their BDR function, and his thoughts on sales team structure in 2025. This conversation covers the changes he's seeing in B2B sales methodology. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro: The State of Sales Tech in 2025 06:01 - The Death of the BDR Function 13:15 - Why Full-Cycle Sales is the Future 21:06 - CRMs vs. Action Platforms 25:11 - What's Overhyped vs. What Works in Sales Tech 35:17 - Salesloft's Real AI Breakthrough 38:01 - The Future of AI in Sales 57:17 - How to Sell to Enterprise CROs 1:10:23 - This or That: CRO Quick Takes 1:12:02 - Final Thoughts: From VP to CRO About our guest: Mark Niemiec is the Chief Revenue Officer at Salesloft. Salesloft’s industry-leading Revenue Orchestration Platform uses purpose-built AI to help market-facing teams prioritize and take action on what matters most, from first touch to upsell and renewal. With 5,000+ customers, Salesloft’s most recent public valuation was $2.3 billion. Before joining Salesloft in early 2024, Mark spent 7 years at Salesforce, ultimately serving as Senior Vice President of Sales, and a decade at Cisco, where he steered the company's Financial Services and Collaboration software segments through double digit expansion. About the Show What does it really take to grow a B2B business today? We ask the people doing it. The Belkins Podcast dives deep into the strategies, decisions, and behind-the-scenes insights driving real growth at top B2B companies. Each episode features candid conversations with industry heavyweights—CROs, CMOs, founders, and seasoned operators—who've navigated market downturns, scaled teams, and mastered the realities of revenue growth. You'll hear hard truths, unfiltered insights, and actionable tactics directly from leaders who've actually done the work. 🔔 Subscribe to never miss an episode. 💬 Enjoyed the conversation? Share it with your network and help spread real insights. ⭐ Leave a review—your feedback helps us keep bringing you valuable conversations. About the Host Michael Maximoff is the Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer of Belkins, the #1 ranked B2B appointment-setting agency, recognized by Clutch, G2, and Inc. Over the past decade, Michael has built Belkins into one of the most respected voices in B2B sales and marketing, helping over 1,000 companies across 50+ industries achieve predictable, scalable growth. Known for his straightforward style, Michael hosts the Belkins Podcast to speak directly with top growth leaders and uncover what truly moves the needle today.

August 18, 20251 hr 17 min

HubSpot Elite Partner Secrets: How We Reached the Top 1% | Belkins Podcast Episode #16

Only 1% of HubSpot's 6,500+ partners ever reach elite status. So what do the top 1% do differently? Brendan Walsh built his agency into that exclusive group, but the path had its challenges. He went 7 months without paying himself during a cash crunch and learned when to say no to clients - and crucially, when it's too early to start saying no. In this first-ever Belkins episode recorded LIVE, Michael and Brendan sit face to face to go through the hardest lessons, biggest mistakes, and key decisions that turned Mole Street into a successful consultancy. They dig into what it really takes to build lasting partnerships - both in business and with co-founders - and the expensive lessons most founders learn the hard way. What we cover: 🔹 HubSpot elite partnership requirements - What it takes to reach the top 1% and the benefits you get 🔹 Cash flow mistakes - Going 7 months without founder pay and when to listen to advisors 🔹 When to say no vs say yes - The business stage framework that prevents pipeline disasters 🔹 Executive search ROI - Why paying serious recruiting fees beats DIY hiring 🔹Strategic partnership tactics - How working from HubSpot's office built real business relationships 🔹14-year co-founder relationship - Values alignment and what makes business partnerships last Brendan doesn't skip over what didn't work, and Michael asks the questions that get to how decisions actually get made. If you're ready to hear how the top 1% actually think about growth, this conversation delivers. About our guest: Brendan Walsh is the Principal and Co-founder of Mole Street, an Elite HubSpot Solutions Partner that helps mid-market and enterprise organizations unify complex tech stacks on HubSpot. About the Show: What does it really take to grow a B2B business today? We ask the people doing it. The Belkins Podcast dives deep into the strategies, decisions, and behind-the-scenes insights driving real growth at top B2B companies. Each episode features candid conversations with industry heavyweights: CROs, CMOs, founders, and seasoned operators who've navigated market downturns, scaled teams, and mastered the realities of revenue growth. You'll hear hard truths, unfiltered insights, and actionable tactics directly from leaders who've actually done the work. Chapters 00:00- Intro: Brendan Walsh 02:48- How Do You Transform a Scattered Business into Focused Growth? 06:29- The Hardest Lesson - Learning to Say No for Growth 15:00- Why Copying Competitors Destroys Your Competitive Advantage 20:05- The $500K Founder Mistake ((Going 7 Months Without Pay) 25:24- Why Hiring Finance Advisors Was Our Best Decision 32:25- How to Scale from Lifestyle Business to $10M+ Company 36:24 - HubSpot Partnership Strategy: Elite Benefits and Tactics 52:03 - What Makes Co-Founder Partnerships Last 14+ Years? 01:03:30 - Why Successful Leaders Need Hobbies Outside Work 01:09:24- What Can Polo Teach You About Business Strategy? 01:13:45 - This or That: Polo vs Marketing 🔔 Subscribe to never miss an episode. 💬 Enjoyed the conversation? Share it with your network and help spread real insights. ⭐ Leave a review—your feedback helps us keep bringing you valuable conversations. About the Host: Michael Maximoff is the Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer of Belkins, the #1 ranked B2B appointment-setting agency, recognized by Clutch, G2, and Inc. Over the past decade, Michael has built Belkins into one of the most respected voices in B2B sales and marketing, helping over 1,000 companies across 50+ industries achieve predictable, scalable growth. Known for his straightforward style, Michael hosts the Belkins Podcast to speak directly with top growth leaders and uncover what truly moves the needle today. Let's stay connected: 👉 Brendan Walsh - https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendan-walsh-940563a/ 👉 Michael Maximoff - https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-maximoff 👉 Michael’s newsletter “From Zero To Agency Hero” - https://www.fromzerotoagencyhero.com/ 👉 Belkins - https://www.linkedin.com/company/belkins

July 21, 20251 hr 23 min

From SEO to GEO: How G2 Is Redefining Their Growth Strategy | Belkins Podcast Episode #15

Building software today? Easy. But standing out in a saturated SaaS market—with 40,000+ new apps launching each year—is a whole different game. In this can't-miss episode, Godard Abel—Co-Founder and CEO of G2—breaks down exactly how G2 thrives amidst the AI explosion shaking up the B2B software industry. With 50 new AI software categories emerging in the past year alone, discover how the industry's top platform stays ahead. Tune in to uncover: How G2 navigates an app marketplace flooded by AI startups (and how you can, too). The surprising shifts in buyer behavior that are transforming B2B sales. G2’s unique strategy for embedding their platform into leading AI tools like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot. Practical tactics for positioning your software as the go-to choice in an overcrowded market. Why brands leveraging authentic, human-driven content dominate AI-powered discovery platforms. "AI won't replace humans, but humans with AI will replace humans without AI," Godard warns. If you're serious about staying ahead in sales, marketing, or RevOps, this conversation will equip you with actionable strategies you can use right now. About Godard Abel: Godard has built and sold three software companies. His first two exits—BigMachines and SteelBrick—went to Oracle and Salesforce for a combined $760 million. Now he's running G2, which became the world's largest software marketplace and trains the AI tools your prospects use to research vendors. About the Show: What does it really take to grow a B2B business today? We ask the people doing it. The Belkins Podcast dives deep into the strategies, decisions, and behind-the-scenes insights driving real growth at top B2B companies. Each episode features candid conversations with industry heavyweights—CROs, CMOs, founders, and seasoned operators—who've navigated market downturns, scaled teams, and mastered the realities of revenue growth. You'll hear hard truths, unfiltered insights, and actionable tactics directly from leaders who've actually done the work. Chapters: 00:00 - Introducing Godard Abel 02:30 - Why Building Software is Easy But B2B Marketing is 10x Harder in 2025 04:14- 40,000 New Apps Launched on G2 in One Year: Software Market Saturation 05:42 - Should Your SaaS Company Pivot to AI or Add AI Features? 09:01- Multi-Product Strategy: How to Compete in Multiple Software Categories 16:13- HubSpot's API Integration Strategy: How to Build on Existing Platforms 19:54- AI Categories See 100% Traffic Growth While Traditional SaaS Declines 23:29- Personal Branding vs Corporate Marketing: Why CEO Posts Get 10x More Engagement 39:16 - How to Rank in ChatGPT and Claude: Building Authority for AI Training Data (Tips for writers) 48:13- How G2 Competes with ChatGPT: Partnership Strategy vs Fighting AI Search 53:49 - AI Buying Agents: The Future of B2B Software Purchasing (G2AI Demo) 01:15:01- From Single-Function BDRs to Full-Stack Revenue Professionals 01:17:24 - From Hiring More to Revenue Per Employee: The New Growth Metric 01:23:01 - Thanks for watching! 🔔 Subscribe to never miss an episode. 💬 Enjoyed the conversation? Share it with your network and help spread real insights. ⭐ Leave a review—your feedback helps us keep bringing you valuable conversations. About the Host: Michael Maximoff is the Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer of Belkins, the #1 ranked B2B appointment-setting agency, recognized by Clutch, G2, and Inc. Over the past decade, Michael has built Belkins into one of the most respected voices in B2B sales and marketing, helping over 1,000 companies across 50+ industries achieve predictable, scalable growth. Known for his straightforward style, Michael hosts the Belkins Podcast to speak directly with top growth leaders and uncover what truly moves the needle today. Let's stay connected: 👉 Godard Abel - https://www.linkedin.com/in/godardabel/ 👉 Michael Maximoff - https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-maximoff 👉 Michael’s newsletter “From Zero To Agency Hero” - https://www.fromzerotoagencyhero.com/ 👉 Belkins - https://www.linkedin.com/company/belkins #B2BSaaS #AIStrategy #SoftwareMarketing #RevenueGrowth #G2 #SaaSMarketing #GenerativeSEO