Shows
The Growth SignalThe Signal Goldmine You’re Ignoring with Kevin WhiteWe’re drowning in data but starving for insight and according to Kevin White, most go-to-market teams are sitting on a goldmine of buying signals they don’t even realize exist.In this episode, Kevin, Head of Marketing at Common Room, makes a bold claim: signals are becoming a commodity. Everyone has access to the same job change alerts, website visits, and intent scores. What separates teams that win? The ability to resolve identity, unify fragmented data, and act with relevance, not just personalization.We dig into:Signals don’t matter if you don’t know w...2025-07-2424 min
The Growth SignalEvery Customer Wants a Digital-First Customer Experience with Andrew CarothersIn this episode of The Growth Signal, Andrew Carothers joins Alyssa Nolte to challenge one of the most stubborn assumptions in customer success: that digital-first experiences are only for low-value customers. Drawing on 17+ years of experience building Cisco’s customer experience org, Andrew makes the case that all customers - large and small - now expect seamless, personalized, and self-serve digital experiences.Key Takeaways:Why digital isn’t a budget solution—it’s a strategic advantageThe duck-on-the-water analogy and what leaders miss below the surfaceHow legacy org structures and siloed data sabotage CXWhat Webex got wrong (and Zoom...2025-07-2328 min
The Growth SignalCustomer Success Isn’t a Department...It’s the Whole Company with Christine LawtherIn this episode of The Growth Signal, Alyssa Nolte sits down with Christine Lawther to challenge the traditional role of Customer Success. Together, they explore why retention can’t be owned by one team and how companies need to reframe CS as a company-wide operating system. Christine shares her perspective on internal misalignment, the emotional drivers behind B2B buying decisions, and what it really takes to create customer value. This is a conversation for anyone tired of seeing CS play defense in a game that should be won company-wide.Key Takeaways:Retention isn’t a CS p...2025-07-2225 min
The Growth SignalStop Rewarding the Wrong Work in CS with Katie YagodnikCustomer Success doesn’t need a rebrand—it needs clarity.In this episode, Alyssa Nolte talks with Katie Yagodnik about the credibility gap facing CS teams and how to fix it from the inside out. They unpack the disconnect between CS’s actual impact and how it’s perceived across the business, then get tactical about how to prove value without sacrificing trust.We cover:Why CS has a branding problem (and how that’s hurting internal influence)The difference between CSQOs and CSQLs, and how to start tracking them todayHow t...2025-07-1729 min
The Growth SignalDon't Assume Your Map is the Journey with Emily GarzaCustomer journey maps can be a powerful tool, but only if they reflect reality... not just your internal strategy. In this episode, Emily Garza joins Alyssa to unpack the risks of assuming your neatly mapped journey matches what customers actually experience. Drawing from years of experience in CX strategy and post-sale growth, Emily explains why listening beats labeling, and why real retention starts with real relevance.Together, they explore what it takes to build a living, breathing customer experience strategy that adapts, evolves, and actually works.3 Key Takeaways:Most journey maps reflect internal org...2025-07-1626 min
The Growth SignalAgree to Grow Together: Reclaiming Humanity in CS with Renu AhluwaliaIn a world obsessed with speed, automation, and scale, what happens to the human side of Customer Success?In this episode, Alyssa Nolte sits down with longtime CS leader Renu Ahluwalia to unpack what we lose when efficiency takes priority over empathy... and how the best teams are reclaiming trust, honesty, and real connection.From rethinking “value” to navigating conflict without escalation, Renu shares hard-won lessons about building sustainable relationships in high-pressure environments. They explore why the strongest CS strategies start with alignment, not appeasement—and how to scale without losing your soul.2025-07-1521 min
The Growth SignalAgree to Grow Together: Reclaiming Humanity in CS with Renu AhluwaliaIn this episode of The Growth Signal, Alyssa Nolte sits down with Renu Ahluwalia, a longtime CS leader and relationship-first strategist, to explore what customer success is really about in a world overrun by automation and scale. They dig into what it means to “agree to grow together,” why speed and responsiveness aren’t the same as true customer value, and how the most impactful CS teams are doubling down on trust and intentionality, not just data.Whether you’re feeling disconnected from your customers or wondering how to humanize CS in a digital-first world, Renu bri...2025-07-1521 min
The Growth SignalWhy CX Will Never Exceed EX with Rachel ProvanIn this episode of The Growth Signal, Alyssa Nolte sits down with Rachel Provan—leadership coach, CS expert, and psychology nerd—to explore why the human element is vanishing from modern business and what we can do about it. Rachel argues that corporate culture has become emotionally abusive, treating employees like disposable cogs instead of people with real needs, fears, and ambitions.They unpack the psychological roots of fear-based leadership, how our brains are wired to resist change, and why logic often takes a back seat to emotion, even in B2B. Rachel shares practical frameworks for coac...2025-07-1030 min
The Growth SignalEverything Is Dead. Now What? with Cinthia SilvaCSMs are dead. AEs are dead. Account managers? Also dead. At least, that’s what your LinkedIn feed would have you believe. In this episode, Cinthia Silva breaks down why these roles are collapsing—and what’s replacing them. We dig into AI’s role in the chaos, the myth of clean CRMs, and why automating a broken process just speeds up the failure. From full-cycle sales to the future of service desks, Cinthia doesn’t hold back.3 Key Takeaways:Role consolidation is coming – BDRs, AEs, CSMs, and AMs are merging into fewer, full-cycle roles driven by AI, cost...2025-07-0925 min
The Growth SignalStop Giving Your Customers Homework: Rethinking Success Plans with Dan EnnisWhat if your customer feedback loop is actually making you miss the point? In this episode, Dan Ennis joins Alyssa to unpack why “listening at scale” has become a crutch for B2B teams...and what’s really getting lost in translation. From building customer-led programs at ServiceNow and SAP to advising startups on growth strategy, Dan shares why most organizations don’t have a listening problem - they have a thinking problem. If you’ve ever wondered why your voice-of-customer efforts feel like noise instead of insight, this one’s for you.Key Takeaway...2025-07-0831 min
The Growth SignalWhy Good Girls Don’t Get the Promotion with Kristi StrawIn this episode, Kristi Straw calls out the invisible forces holding mid-career women back...namely, corporate good girl conditioning and the culture of performative allyship. She shares how emotional intelligence can be learned (and why it’s often misunderstood), the red flags she watches for in coaching engagements, and the cost of building systems that serve companies instead of customers. Kristi also explains why your executive brand needs to sound like you, not like a brochure, especially in the age of AI. This is a no-BS conversation about power, perception, and the courage to lead differently....2025-07-0225 min
The Growth SignalStop Building for the 5% with Mary MigianoWhen your product is only built for the loudest customers, you're not serving the business - you're reacting to noise. In this episode, Mary Migiano unpacks what it really means to build for scale, not exception. From her years in enterprise sales and operations, she’s seen how the wrong customer signals (and the wrong internal incentives) can derail even the best teams.We talk about how to move past internal politicking and shiny object syndrome, what it actually looks like to center your culture around outcomes, and the surprising leadership lessons you can learn from watching a...2025-07-0128 min
The Growth SignalLoyalty Is Earned in the Moments That Don’t Go Viral with Christina GarnettWhat if the loudest signals your brand chases are the least valuable ones?In this episode, Christina Garnett—advisor, strategist, and community champion—joins Alyssa to unpack why brand loyalty isn’t built in campaign launches or viral moments. It’s built in quiet, consistent signals: how you show up when no one’s watching, how you treat the people already cheering for you, and whether your actions match your values.They dive into the emotional side of marketing, the misuse of community as a buzzword, and the dangerous gap between how brands want to be seen an...2025-06-2629 min
The Growth SignalAI Won’t Save You, but Curiosity Might with Shelby GarlockAI can handle the busy work, but it can’t replace your brain.In this episode, Shelby Garlock joins Alyssa to talk about what customer success teams actually need: more curiosity, better boundaries, and the courage to stop playing order taker. They break down how to earn trust, show up as a strategic partner, and build real relationships even in high-volume, remote environments.Key Takeaways:AI is a tool, not a substitute – Use it to eliminate busy work, not to replace critical thinking.Stop taking orders – Asking good questions earns more trust than fast respon...2025-06-2527 min
The Growth SignalIs It Time to Kill the Health Score? - Roundtable ReplayThis roundtable originally aired live on Thursday, June 12th. Let’s be honest—most customer health scores are useless. They’re lagging, biased, and based on signals that don’t actually predict renewals.In this roundtable, we ask the question out loud: should we kill the health score altogether?Guests LeeRon Yahalomi, Alyssa Opella, and Brian Hansen don’t hold back. They challenge the industry’s obsession with login data, expose how internal politics distort scoring models, and offer a smarter alternative—measuring outcomes, not check-ins.🔥 You’ll hear:Why “logins” are the weake...2025-06-2455 min
The Growth SignalThe Real Sale Happens at Renewal with Matt GreenThe sale doesn’t end at close...it starts at renewal.Matt Green joins Alyssa to talk about why teams need to own revenue or risk being replaced. They dig into what leaders are getting wrong about post-sales, how to upskill your team for the new reality, and why authentic relationships (not aggressive tactics) are the key to driving growth.Listen in if you're ready to build a revenue team that closes deals, not just tickets.Key Takeaways:Customer Success is shifting from a support function to a revenue driver. Teams that do...2025-06-1825 min
The Growth SignalYour AI Product Sucks and Nobody Cares with Sam ChandlerAI isn’t a strategy, it’s a tool. And too many companies are slapping it on products no one asked for. In this episode, customer experience strategist Sam Chandler joins Alyssa to call out the echo chamber of half-baked AI rollouts and explore what customers (actually) want. They dive into the difference between artificial and augmented intelligence, how to avoid automating your way out of your own differentiator, and why empathy, not efficiency, is still your best competitive edge.If you’ve ever rolled your eyes at another “AI-powered” pitch, this one’s for you.Key Moment...2025-06-1830 min
The Growth SignalHow to Turn CX from Lip Service to Real Strategy with Emma SopadjievaEveryone says they care about customer experience but most companies stop at the annual survey. In this episode, Emma Sopadjieva joins Alyssa Nolte to break down what it really takes to turn customer experience into a revenue-driving strategy. They talk about why CX is a team sport, how to move past vanity metrics, and what happens when sales, legal, finance, and product finally get on the same page. Emma shares how she builds CX strategy teams from the ground up, what most companies get wrong about incentives, and why "fixing the ow" isn’t enough...you also need to br...2025-06-1230 min
The Growth SignalWhat Top CSMs Know That You Don’t (Yet) with Chad HorenfeldtCustomer Success isn’t what it used to be and that’s a good thing.In this episode of The Growth Signal, host Alyssa Nolte sits down with Chad Horenfeldt to unpack how the best CSMs are evolving their approach. From ditching the “firefighter” mentality to mastering internal politics and asking tougher questions, Chad reveals the mindset shifts and practical habits that separate strategic CS leaders from the rest.If you’re still leading with adoption metrics and hoping for renewals, you’re already behind. Chad shares how top-performing teams build trust, deliver real business value, and c...2025-06-1130 min
The Growth SignalNo Surprises: The Secret to Trust, Retention, and Real CX Impact with Gary MarraWhen your customer doesn’t get their retirement check on time, “oops” doesn’t cut it. In this episode, Gary Marra, a financial services veteran and host of Your Customer, Your Success, joins Alyssa Nolte to unpack what it really takes to build trust in high-stakes, high-compliance industries.They explore why “no surprises” is more than a nice-to-have...it’s a core operating principle that separates trusted advisors from transactional vendors. From the myth of the perfect KPI to the power of early transparency, this conversation goes deep on how to create experiences your customers (and employees) can actually c...2025-06-0532 min
The Growth SignalStop Pretending You’re Customer-First with Brad DavisBrad Davis joins Alyssa Nolte to call out the gap between customer-first talk and customer-first action. From wearing a panda head at conferences to redefining what success looks like in early-stage startups, Brad shares how bold moves (and humility) can reshape customer relationships. He unpacks how tiered offerings, human KPIs, and free leadership habits drive real growth. This episode is a must-listen for anyone tired of lip service and ready to build companies that actually serve.About Brad: Brad Davis is a customer success executive and founder of Success Panda, a one-stop platform for C...2025-06-0437 min
The Growth SignalAI Won’t Replace You But Mediocrity Might with Maria TryslaWhat if the real threat to your job isn’t AI...it’s apathy?In this episode of The Growth Signal, Alyssa Nolte sits down with Maria Trysla - two-time SaaS CEO and brand strategy powerhouse - to unpack what it actually takes to grow in the age of automation. From launching mobile data at Sprint to advising today’s fastest-growing startups, Maria shares why curiosity, courage, and critical thinking still matter more than ever.They explore the difference between slapping "AI" on a slide and building something that lasts, how to define your ideal custom...2025-05-2928 min
The Growth SignalThe One Question That Defines Real Customer Centricity with Laura PattersonWhat does success look like—for your customer?In this episode, Alyssa Nolte sits down with Laura Patterson, co-founder of VisionEdge Marketing and a pioneer in customer-centric growth strategy. Together, they unpack the one question too many companies overlook—and why answering it could be the difference between transactional sales and long-term loyalty.Laura shares what decades of working with complex B2B organizations have taught her about value, trust, and why most customer experience strategies fail to deliver. If you're tired of vague talk about “putting customers first” and ready for a concrete framework that dri...2025-05-2829 min
The Growth SignalThe Real Work Starts After the Sale: Why Adoption Needs a Human Strategy with Shannon GreggWhat if the biggest barrier to adoption isn’t the tech but the humans using it? In this episode, Shannon Gregg joins Alyssa Nolte to break down why so many software implementations fail after the deal is closed. They unpack the generational dynamics at play, the importance of building around actual user behavior, and how to rescue a rollout that’s gone off the rails. Guest Bio:Shannon Gregg is a sales productivity expert, Salesforce evangelist, and professor with a PhD focused on CRM adoption. She brings a rare blend of academic insight and h...2025-05-2224 min
The Growth SignalStop Walking Around the Mountain: Build What Matters with Titus JordanWhat if the thing holding your business back isn’t strategy - it’s self-awareness? In this episode, Titus Jordan joins Alyssa to explore the messy middle of personal growth, branding, and building authentic customer relationships. They dive into the danger of shiny object syndrome, the power of daily discipline, and why clarity beats complexity every time. If you’ve ever struggled to align who you are with what you sell, this one’s for you.About the Guest:+Titus Jordan is a business strategist, leadership coach, and host of a podcast dedicated to unlocking real bus...2025-05-2125 min
The Growth Signal15 Minutes to Win the Renewal: Reinventing the QBR with Andrea BumsteadWhat if your most dreaded meeting could become your most powerful? In this episode of The Growth Signal, Andrea Bumstead shares how one off-the-cuff comment turned into a viral framework that’s transforming customer success teams. We break down the "15-Minute QBR" - a radical approach that prioritizes emotional impact, renewals, and executive attention over bloated slide decks and low-value metrics.Andrea explains why traditional QBRs are broken, how to create high-impact conversations that actually get executive buy-in, and what every CS leader needs to understand about delivering value that feels valuable. Whether you’re a CSM, VP...2025-05-1528 min
The Growth SignalLet the Customer Define Value with Brian HansenWhat if your most well-intentioned outreach is actually turning customers off? In this episode, Brian Hansen joins Alyssa to unpack the blind spots in post-sale relationships—and why so many Customer Success teams are stuck delivering “value” that no one asked for. They explore how to stop checking boxes and start building trust, with real talk on AI, authenticity, and the metrics that actually matter. If you’ve ever been ghosted by a customer, this one’s for you.Brian Hansen is the founder of Brian Hansen Consulting, where he helps companies tighten their post-sale revenue strategies. His work f...2025-05-1434 min
The Growth SignalWho Owns Revenue After the Deal? - Roundtable ReplayThis roundtable originally aired live on Thursday, May 8th. Customer Success. Sales. RevOps. Everyone’s in the revenue pool, but no one agrees who’s swimming where. Join us for a real conversation (no slides, no fluff) about the messy overlap of post-sale ownership. What’s working? What’s broken? And where do we go from here?Connect with Alyssa on LinkedInConnect with Amber on LinkedInApply to be a Guest at TheGrowthSignal.com2025-05-1353 min
The Growth SignalStop Segmenting by Spend: How to Truly Tailor Your CX with Kristen HayerCustomer segmentation isn’t just a spreadsheet exercise—it’s the foundation of your entire customer success strategy. In this episode, Alyssa sits down with Kristen Hayer, CEO of The Success League, to unpack what most companies get wrong about segmentation, how investor pressure is reshaping CS priorities, and why B2B needs to finally catch up to the B2C approach to customer value. From behavior-based segmentation to the untapped potential of AI, Kristen shares the mindset and methods that separate reactive CS from strategic growth engines.Kristen Hayer is the founder and CEO of The Succes...2025-05-0825 min
The Growth SignalGreat CABs Are Conversations, Not Decks with Irene YamIf your Customer Advisory Board feels like a presentation, you’re doing it wrong. Irene Yam joins Alyssa to explain why the most effective CABs ditch the slide deck and prioritize real conversation. Drawing from 20+ years of experience leading executive programs, Irene shares what makes CABs work—from building trust to making room for off-script moments that change the game.Whether you’re mid-market or enterprise, you’ll walk away with a clearer blueprint for turning your CAB into a strategic growth lever—not a checkbox.Irene Yam is the author of How to Build a...2025-05-0121 min
The Growth SignalHigh-Consequence Leadership: How Growth Leaders Can Make Faster, Smarter Decisions with Charles BrowneWhen the pressure’s on, most leaders default to speed—but moving fast without thinking clearly is what gets companies stuck. In this episode of The Growth Signal, Alyssa Nolte talks with Charles Browne, a seasoned executive and leadership coach, about the overlooked cost of rushing to solutions. Drawing from decades in the Navy, nuclear ops, and national labs, Charles shares a framework for slowing down strategically, aligning your values, and empowering your team to make better calls—faster. If you're leading a growth-stage org, this is your playbook for sustainable scale.Guest Bio:Charle...2025-04-2436 min
The Growth SignalThis Is Not a Drill: How CS Burnout Became the Norm (and What to Do About It) with Bob MathersIn this episode of The Growth Signal, we sit down with Bob Mathers—customer success coach, keynote speaker, and host of The Growth Mixtape—to explore the emotional toll of working in high-pressure CS environments. What starts with a conversation about trauma, perspective shifts, and boundary-setting quickly evolves into a deep dive on why CS professionals are hitting peak stress younger than ever, how our work habits are reinforcing the burnout cycle, and what it really takes to reclaim our energy and impact.If you’ve ever found yourself answering Slack messages at 9PM or wondering why your “...2025-04-1725 min
The Growth SignalTrusted Advisors Drive Revenue Too: The Human Side of CS with Sabina PonsIn this episode of The Growth Signal, host Alyssa Nolte welcomes Sabina Pons, CEO & Chief Customer Officer at Growth Molecules, for a real, human conversation on the evolution of customer success—and why being a trusted advisor doesn’t mean avoiding revenue.Sabina shares her unconventional journey from PR to SaaS leadership, the gut-punch of getting laid off during the 2008 recession, and how that moment sparked a career grounded in empathy, adaptability, and operational rigor. From scaling CS orgs to building a million-dollar consultancy, Sabina brings the receipts.You’ll hear:Why “Customer Success is Dead”...2025-04-1024 min
The Growth SignalStop Treading Water: The One Thing That Sets Strategic CSMs Apart with Alex TurkovicIn this episode of The Growth Signal, host Alyssa Nolte is joined by Alex Turkovic—customer success leader, podcast host, and the mind behind the Digital CS Maturity Model—for a hands-on conversation about how CSMs can stop running in circles and start making meaningful progress.They dig into:Why the most strategic CSMs don’t work harder—they work smarterHow templatizing repetitive tasks creates long-term leverageThe compounding power of small systems (and how to start building yours)How to think about AI as augmented intelligence—and why CSMs who treat it that way are pulling aheadWhy i...2025-04-0322 min
The Growth SignalCX Starts With EX: Why Happy Teams Build Better Customer Experiences with JP DumasIn this episode of The Growth Signal, host Alyssa Nolte sits down with Jean Pierre (JP) Dumas, a seasoned sales and CX leader with a track record of turning chaos into best-in-class teams. From his childhood selling seeds door-to-door in LA to leading massive CX transformations across telecom and travel industries, JP shares the pivotal leadership lessons that shaped his philosophy: take care of your people first, and everything else follows.They dive into:The wild experiment that taught JP the true cost of ignoring employee experienceHow one employee writing “Union” on a whiteboard sparked a cult...2025-03-2734 min
The Growth SignalIntroducing The Growth Signal PodcastIntroducing The Growth Signal: The Podcast for Revenue Leaders Who Play to Win. Hosted by Alyssa Nolte and Amber Moore and designed for customer-facing teams, this podcast tackles the challenges of reactive growth strategies and offers proactive solutions. Each episode features insights from top experts who are transforming customer-facing teams into effective revenue generators. Join us as we cut through the noise with practical, tactical advice to help you drive real change and growth in your organization.00:00 Welcome to the Growth Signal Podcast00:05 The Need for a New Playbook00:26 Introducing the Growth Signal A...2025-03-2400 min