The Lift: Smart Conversations about SaaS Growth

Hosted by Nue

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Latest episode

Feb 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Welcome to The Lift , the podcast from Nue — the quote-to-cash platform built for the omnichannel economy. Each episode explores how B2B SaaS leaders are reinventing their revenue lifecycles — from pricing agility to product-led growth, from replacing legacy CPQ and billing systems to scaling across every sales channel. Join RevOps, finance and sales leaders for bold takes, practical strategies, and stories from the companies driving revenue growth. If you’re ready to future-proof your revenue operations, you’re ready for The Lift .

Listen to episodes

8 recent

February 23, 202632 min

Beyond Seats: Why AI Is Forcing a New Era of SaaS Pricing

AI is fundamentally reshaping how SaaS companies price, sell, and scale. In this episode of The Lift from Nue , Mark Evans sits down with Jonathan Kvarfordt , GTM Strategy VP at Momentum.io and founder of GTM AI Academy, to unpack what AI really means for revenue teams heading into 2026 . Jonathan shares his unconventional journey into AI, from translating early AI systems before ChatGPT existed to teaching AI strategy and advising companies on revenue orchestration today. Together, they explore: Why the traditional seat-based pricing model is no longer the default How AI is accelerating the shift to usage-, credit-, and outcome-based pricing What’s overwhelming GTM leaders right now — and how to cut through the noise Why most teams are using AI incorrectly (and what to do instead) The real opportunity for companies willing to rethink pricing and workflows

February 6, 202634 min

The SKU Trap: Why Product Sprawl Is Strangling Your Revenue

In this episode of The Lift, Mark Evans and James McArthur delve into modern revenue operations with Mat Rodriguez, the VP of RevOps at Yugabyte. Mat shares insights on his role, including daily tasks like forecasting and deal support, and the challenges of standardizing pricing across deals. He discusses how his background in consulting shapes his strategic approach at Yugabyte. The conversation also covers how Yugabyte is integrating AI to improve operations, from pricing analysis to deal preparation. Mat highlights the importance of simplicity and flexibility in RevOps, sharing his experiences with tools like Google Sheets and AI for driving efficiencies. Mat also talks about his belief that companies should streamline their product SKUs to avoid complexity.

December 19, 202534 min

Stop Drowning in Systems: How to Build a High-Growth GTM Engine with Anne Pao

In this episode of The Lift, hosts Mark Evans and James MacArthur are joined by RevOps leader Anne Pao, founder of Ignite Consulting. With over 20 years of experience in shaping go-to-market strategies, Anne shares her journey in scaling businesses and her recent achievements, including co-leading the Women of Pavilion Group and preparing for a major summit. She delves into vital topics like sales and marketing alignment, forecasting accuracy, and the nuances of fractional RevOps work. The discussion extends to best practices and the importance of storytelling and strategic thinking in maintaining relevance in the evolving landscape of RevOps. Anne also offers practical advice for RevOps professionals looking to future-proof their careers.

November 3, 2025Episode 545 min

AI and the Future of SaaS Pricing: Dan Balcauski

Pricing isn’t just about numbers — it’s about agility, storytelling, and survival in an AI-driven world. In this episode of The Lift by Nue , host Mark Evans sits down with Dan Balcauski , founder of Product Tranquility and one of SaaS’s top pricing experts. Together, they unpack how AI, hybrid go-to-market motions, and volatile costs are transforming how software companies price, package, and scale. From the death of static seat-based pricing to the rise of hybrid and API-driven models, this episode explores: Why AI is rewriting the economics of SaaS How pricing agility becomes the new growth engine What smart companies are doing to align value, cost, and customer perception Why communication and transparency matter more than ever If you’re rethinking your pricing model or wondering how to monetize AI-era products responsibly — this one’s for you.

September 25, 2025Episode 331 min

The Modern CFO: Navigating SaaS Finance, Tech Stacks, and Revenue Agility: The Lift

In this episode of The Lift , host Mark Evans sits down with Nue CFO Brian Keare and Ben Murray , widely known as The SaaS CFO . Together, they dive into the evolving role of the CFO in today’s complex SaaS landscape, where usage-based pricing, PLG, and hybrid revenue models are rewriting the playbook. Ben shares lessons from building one of the most trusted SaaS finance communities, with over 90K subscribers, while Brian brings an operator’s perspective on how finance leaders can modernize their tech stack, reduce revenue leakage, and align with GTM teams. They also explore how CFOs can balance the pressures of efficiency and growth, the rise of AI in back-office systems, and the importance of unifying sales, finance, and operations around a single source of truth. From practical frameworks for evaluating SaaS metrics to the cultural role of the CFO as a growth enabler, this discussion highlights what it takes to thrive as a finance leader in the modern era of SaaS.

August 27, 2025Episode 233 min

Leadership in the Age of AI: Zapier's Brad Smith on Hiring, Team Building, and Data Security

In this episode, Zapier's Brad Smith shares his candid perspective on leadership and the realities of building teams in today’s fast-changing world. From why not every business challenge needs an AI solution, to the traits he looks for when hiring, Brad offers a refreshing take on pragmatism in tech. He also discusses how to foster trust and connection in a remote-first culture, the human side of building resilient teams, and the growing importance of data security in modern workflows. Packed with insights on management, innovation, and navigating change, this conversation is a playbook for leaders looking to balance people, technology, and strategy.

August 12, 2025Episode 136 min

What Great Ops Leaders Get Right About Automation & AI: Rachal Nazhand

In this episode of the Nue Podcast, we sit down with Rachel Nazhand , VP & Chief of Staff to the CMO at Zelis , to talk about how operators can harness AI and automation without creating chaos. Rachel shares her framework for spotting “meaningful automation” versus “toxic automation,” why problem articulation is the hidden skill every ops leader needs, and how to keep priorities straight when the pace of change is relentless. If you lead in RevOps, BizOps, or GTM and you’re feeling the promise and the pressure of AI—this is your playbook for staying strategic, sane, and impactful. Timestamps: 0:00 – Introduction 3:15 – The big “P” of prioritization 7:45 – AI’s complexity trap (and how to avoid it) 12:30 – Building rails for innovation 18:00 – Hidden time savers and the “assembly line” effect 25:15 – Meaningful vs. toxic automation 33:00 – Why simplicity is the ultimate sophistication

March 20, 202444 min

A Successful Hybrid PLG + SLG Motion is a Spectrum, Not a Dichotomy

As customer preferences change, we’re seeing a push for product-led growth. But this “push” often comes in the form of executives demanding a shift to PLG — and soon after realizing the transition was ill-conceived, and taking back the change. Perhaps the best way forward is to acknowledge that there are many possible ways to integrate product-led and sales-led growth motions together — and the sales “stack” is less about a linear “stack” and more about a “blend” of technologies and strategies that work for your customers. Sam Levan, CEO of MadKudu , spoke about the state of product-led growth and other key sales motions with Kate McCollough, Nue.io co-founder. They discuss why every company needs to strike a unique balance between hybrid PLG + SLG motions, and what it actually takes to make that happen.