#323 Kelley Hippler - Why CROs Lose Trust Before Executing Their Growth Plan
Most CROs reach for the growth plan first, but the real work starts with earning trust and understanding the people behind the numbers. In this episode, the conversation examines how transparency, buyer empathy, peer proof, and disciplined listening shape revenue leadership in high-risk markets. The conversation focused on how CROs can prepare before day one, listen beyond the data, and build a go-to-market plan around real customer and team insight. What your audience will learn: a) Why data alone can't explain sales performance b) How discovery beats scripted product pitches c) Why peer proof matters when buyers face serious risk Today's conversation features Kelly Hippler, CRO at IANS, a practitioner-sourced intelligent engine helping CISOs and security teams make faster, better-informed decisions. Previously, Kelly led revenue at Briefly Legal and served five years as Chief Sales Officer at Forrester, where revenue grew 51% to a company-high $538 million. Timestamps: 03:57 Building Trust with Sales Team 09:33 Assessing individual strengths in teams 11:06 Understanding individual differences 14:57 Understanding Client Pain Points 18:02 Improving client relationships 20:45 Buyer decision process and budgeting 26:38 Balancing AI benefits and risks 29:47 People-centered leadership and agility 34:12 Strategic growth and innovation challenges Connect with Kelley Hippler LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelley-hippler/ Connect with Janice Book Janice to speak at your next sales or leadership event: https://janicebgordon.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/janice-b-gordon/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janicebgordon Scale Your Sales Podcast: https://scaleyoursales.co.uk/podcast Enjoy the episode? Share your takeaway in the comments and leave a review on Apple Podcasts to help more leaders discover the show.






