Karen Kelly is a sales strategist, speaker, and founder of K2 Performance Consulting, where she helps B2B companies sell with confidence, clarity, and purpose. In this episode of Make It Happen Mondays, John Barrows sits down with Karen for a tactical and inspiring conversation that covers everything from her immigrant upbringing and biology backgr…

On today's episode, John Barrows sits down with Blair LaCorte—a transformational leader whose career has spanned aviation, AI, tech, entertainment, and aerospace. With multiple highly successful exits, Blair brings battle-tested wisdom to the table, but what sets him apart is his focus on people, purpose, and emotional intelligence. They explore ev…

In this episode of Make It Happen Mondays, John Barrows sits down with Kelly Cheng, CMO at Goldcast, for a wide-ranging and insightful conversation on sales, marketing, and the evolving buyer journey. From her early days as a self-proclaimed rebel growing up in Hong Kong to working with top brands like Adobe and Microsoft, Kelly brings a fresh, str…

In today's episode, John Barrows sits down with Dustin Crawford, VP of Sales at Otter.ai, for a deep dive into the intersection of sales, psychology, and modern leadership. While Otter.ai is a sponsor of the show, this conversation goes far beyond the product—it’s about the why behind how salespeople operate and how leaders can unlock their team’s …

In this episode, John Barrows is joined with with Alyssa Merwin, Global VP of LinkedIn Sales Solutions, to unpack the findings from LinkedIn’s brand-new ROI of AI Report—a first-of-its-kind look at how AI is truly impacting sales outcomes, not just activity metrics.With over $1 billion in revenue under her leadership and a rich career path shaped b…

John Barrows reconnects with longtime friend and Pavilion CEO, Sam Jacobs. Sam is the author of the bestselling book Kind Folks Finish First, and he’s on a mission to prove that building with integrity and empathy isn’t just good for the soul—it’s good for business.John and Sam dive into the hard lessons learned from the rollercoaster ride of 2023,…

Kevin Evers is a senior editor at Harvard Business Review and author of the upcoming book There’s Nothing Like This: The Strategic Genius of Taylor Swift. In this episode, Kevin and John break down what makes Taylor Swift one of the most brilliant business minds of our time. From reclaiming her masters to building an unbreakable bond with fans, Swi…

In this special debrief episode of Make It Happen Mondays, John Barrows sits down with Dale Dupree—founder of The Sales Rebellion and one of the standout voices from the recent Sales Play event in NYC. What starts as a post-event reflection quickly turns into a deep, unfiltered conversation on modern sales, personal transformation, and cultural shi…

In this special Make It Happen Mondays episode, John Barrows takes you inside an intimate, after-hours debrief unlike anything we’ve released before. After a full day of sales content, networking, and roundtable discussions in NYC with 18 of the top minds in sales and tech, the group capped the night with a viewing of the Broadway revival of Glenga…

In this special crossover episode, John Barrows is joined by Doug Landis and Jen Allen-Knuth for the one and only recorded session of a pilot project called Authenticated—a podcast experiment designed around unscripted, authentic conversations with inspiring leaders.The guest? None other than David Cancel, Founder and former CEO of Drift. David dro…

Steve Lucas is a seasoned enterprise software executive and the CEO of Boomi, leading AI-driven digital transformation. In this episode, he and John Barrows dive deep into the evolving role of AI in business, sales, and leadership.They explore insights from Steve’s book, Digital Impact: The Human Element of AI-Driven Tech Transformation, and discus…

Larry Kim is the founder and CEO of Customers.ai and the visionary behind WordStream, which he scaled to a $150M exit. In this episode, John and Larry dive into the battle between product-driven growth and go-to-market strategy, exploring why Larry believes a strong product trumps traditional sales tactics.Larry shares lessons from scaling two comp…

John Shulman is the Founder and President of Alignor, a negotiation expert with Harvard credentials, and a consultant to business leaders worldwide. This episode is all about the art of negotiation—from handling tough procurement conversations to defending price in a world of price-focused buyers.Learn about the interest-based negotiation approach,…

Elina Teboul is a leadership expert, former attorney, and author of Feminine Intelligence: How Visionary Leaders Can Reshape Business for Good. In this episode, Elina and John dive deep into the balance between logic and empathy in leadership, the flaws in modern capitalism, and how embracing feminine intelligence—not feminism—can drive business su…

Shari Dunn is a polymath—an accomplished journalist, attorney, CEO, news anchor, and university professor—who brings a wealth of experience to this powerful conversation. She joins John Barrows to discuss her book, QUALIFIED: How Competency Checking and Race Collide at Work. Shari explores the hidden biases in hiring and promotion, the concept of “…

Sydney Sloan is a seasoned marketing leader and the CMO at G2, the world’s largest software marketplace. In this episode John and Sydney discuss the evolving relationship between sales and marketing, the rise of AI, and how businesses can stay ahead. Sydney shares her personal experience with burnout, the importance of energy management, and how ta…

Alex Buckles is back! As the CEO of Forecastable, Alex helps sales teams drive more qualified leads by tapping into their partner networks. In this episode, John and Alex dive deep into the tactical strategies reps and sales leaders can use to activate their company’s ecosystem—partners, investors, advisors, and employees—to generate real revenue.J…

John Barrows is joined by Jonathan Lister, COO of Vidyard and former VP of Global Sales Solutions at LinkedIn. With over 25 years of experience in B2B tech and SaaS, Jonathan shares his journey of building billion-dollar organizations and explains the critical role of curiosity in leadership and hiring.Jonathan breaks down the evolving role of sale…

John Barrows sits down with Alex Newmann, founder and CEO of Newmann Consulting Group. Alex specializes in helping B2B companies transition from founder-led sales to scalable, repeatable sales systems. Together, they unpack the challenges founders face when building a sales team, share actionable strategies for avoiding common pitfalls, and discuss…

In this episode, John Barrows sits down with Fabiana Lacerca-Allen, a global compliance expert with over 30 years of experience leading Fortune 100 companies through complex challenges. Fabiana shares insights from her new book, Crisis Capable: Building Your Capacity to Survive and Succeed in Every Environment.They discuss practical strategies for …

In this episode, Geoff Coutts, SVP of Sales and Customer Operations at Unbounce, shares his unique journey from leading sales in global corporations like HP, Verizon, and Samsung to scaling startups through transformative growth. Geoff reveals what drove him to pivot to the startup world, the lessons he’s learned in hiring and scaling teams, and hi…

Happy New Year, and welcome to 2025! To kick off what promises to be a pivotal year for innovation, we’re revisiting John’s favorite episode of 2024—a conversation with none other than Guy Kawasaki. Guy is a legend in Silicon Valley, known for being Steve Jobs’ right-hand man at Apple, launching the iconic Macintosh, and writing 17 incredible books…

Topaz Adizes, founder and CEO of the Emmy award-winning experience design studio The Skin Deep, joins John Barrows for a thought-provoking discussion about the transformative power of human connection. As an expert in asking better questions, Topaz shares insights on how relationships are shifting in the digital age, the art of listening, and the i…

Adam Carroll, founder of Carroll Sales Consulting, specializes in helping clients adopt actionable sales playbooks and accelerate growth. With 12 years of leadership experience in SaaS sales, Adam has built sales teams from scratch, spearheaded international expansions, and driven revenue growth resulting in multiple successful exits. In this episo…

Christina Brady, CEO of Luster AI and former Chief Strategy Officer at Sales Assembly, brings a unique blend of artistry and strategy to this episode. Growing up immersed in the arts—learning piano at age two and majoring in theater—Christina shares how her creative foundation shaped her problem-solving, communication, and leadership skills. Tune i…

David Chevalier, CEO of Surfe.com, is at the forefront of revolutionizing sales with a tool that streamlines CRM data entry and enhances data quality. In this episode, David shares his journey from Germany to France, the rapid growth of his startup, and the lessons he’s learned about relationship-building in sales. Explore how to navigate early-sta…

Alexandria Ott is the Founder & CEO of Chrome City Creative Studio, Co-Founder/Producer of San Diego’s underground dinner series, “The Blank Table”, and Host of the Wild x Wise Podcast. Alexandria delves into her unique entrepreneurial journey, navigating male-dominated spaces, and the importance of authenticity. She also shares valuable tips on th…

Chris Bogue is a sketch comedy writer, improv trainer, and host of the “Chris Sells His Soul” podcast on Spotify. Chris coaches individuals to create concise, impactful video content for business and is the creator of the “Complete Guide to Selling on Video.” In this episode, discover the power of personalized storytelling, the nuances of video com…

In this episode, Jaime Diglio—TEDx speaker, high-performance coach, and top 1% seller at Gartner and Microsoft—dives into insights from her new book, "Moneyball Leadership". Discover transformative sales strategies, the impact of self-awareness, and how aligning personal values can redefine success. Jaime shares practical advice to enhance authenti…

Bryan Charlton, a sales leader with 20 years of experience at top firms like FICO and Salesforce, shares insights from his current role at Otter.ai. The conversation dives deep into understanding the importance of being a self-starter and having curiosity in sales, the significance of sticking to sales fundamentals, and strategies for effectively d…

Jen Igartua is the CEO of Go Nimbly, a RevOps consultancy partnering with high-growth SaaS companies like Zendesk, Twilio, Braze, and Superhuman. Jen and John Barrows delve into strategies for navigating mergers and acquisitions, building brand authority through content, and adapting to sustainable growth in tech. The conversation goes deep into th…

Vinnie Romano, co-founder and CMO of MySocial.ai, brings nearly two decades of creative advertising experience spanning Europe and Asia Pacific. In this episode, Vinnie explores the powerful synergy between sales and marketing, the growing role of AI in content creation, and the importance of personal branding. Packed with insights on maintaining a…

John Barrows sheds light on the future of sales in an AI-driven world, inspiring sales professionals to embrace change and seize new opportunities. With AI revolutionizing the way we work, John shares how to harness its power to eliminate mundane tasks, allowing you to focus on what truly matters: authentic human connections and meaningful client r…

Alex Buckles is the CEO of Forecastable and founder of Pathways for Autism. A Marine Corps veteran, Alex draws from his experiences to emphasize the importance of problem-solving and building meaningful relationships in sales. He offers valuable insights on prioritizing quality over quantity, leveraging robust partner networks, and driving more qua…

In this episode John Barrows welcomes Will Barron, renowned for his successful podcast "salesman.com," boasting over 700,000 downloads monthly. A disruptor in traditional sales training, Will discusses the importance of sales fundamentals over automation, ethical sales tactics, and the necessity of focusing on the buyer's journey. You will gain val…

Dan Balcauski is the founder and Chief Pricing Officer at Product Tranquility and expert in pricing and packaging for high-volume B2B SaaS companies. In this episode, we explore a variety of pricing strategies, uncover industry-specific practices, and discuss the growing influence of AI in pricing. Dan also shares valuable tips for sales reps and e…

Melanie Fellay, a trailblazing entrepreneur, has been at the forefront of transforming sales enablement through AI-driven solutions. She is is a Forbes 30 Under 30 recipient, Top 100 Female Entrepreneur to Watch and the CEO and co-founder of Spekit where she is on a mission to revolutionize workplace learning. John and Melanie unpack tons of value …

Everett Berry, Head of GTM Engineering at Clay.com, joins John Barrows to discuss AI's role in modern sales, the importance of curiosity and continuous learning, and the evolving landscape of sales development roles. With a background as a software engineer and former Head of Growth, Everett shares insights into balancing technology and sales, leve…

Rupal Patel is an ex-CIA officer, two-time CEO, international speaker, best-selling author, crisis leadership expert, executive advisor, investor, philanthropist, and one of the most influential women of 2023. Rupal shares her journey from CIA to CEO, emphasizing self-awareness, authentic leadership, and the significance of values in actions. She d…

John Barrows is joined by Elyse Archer, founder of Superhuman Selling and She Sells movements. Elyse, a 3X Salesforce Top Sales Influencer and thought leader featured in Forbes and Inc, shares her journey on developing self-worth, confidence in sales and how to embody the most successful version of yourself. The conversation dives deep into the imp…

In this episode, John Barrows sits down with Jeremy Hurewitz, an espionage expert, corporate intelligence agent, and author of “Sell Like a Spy.” Jeremy reveals the secret world of spycraft, offering insights on how techniques used by former CIA, FBI, and special forces operatives can revolutionize the way we build relationships and sell. You will …

John Barrows is joined by sales juggernauts Nick Cegelski and Armand Farrokh, founders of “30 Minutes to President’s Club,” and authors of the game-changing book, “Cold Calling Sucks (And That’s Why It Works).” Together, they unpack insights derived from over 300 million analyzed cold calls, revealing hard-hitting strategies that separate top perfo…

J. Ryan Williams, CEO of ANTEATER Media, helps founders build revenue pipeline through short-form video content. J. Ryan brings a wealth of experience, having built a $58M sales team at AdRoll, coached over 400 Startup CEOs, and seen the 0-$100M journey with three SaaS companies. John and J. Ryan discuss the importance of setting clear expectations…

John Barrows sits down with Ted McKenna, co-author of "The Jolt Effect" and an accomplished sales and customer experience researcher whose work has graced the Harvard Business Review. As a founding partner of DCM Insights, Ted delves into the evolving dynamics of buyer-seller interactions, the influence of AI on decision-making, and strategies for …

Todd Caponi—renowned sales historian, keynote speaker, sales & leadership trainer, and author of "The Transparency Sale" and "The Transparent Sales Leader" joins John Barrows as they dive deep into sales history, transparency, and problem-solving. They discuss the importance of authenticity, the impact of historical sales philosophies, and actionab…

Alex Lieberman, co-founder and former CEO of Morning Brew, shares his entrepreneurial journey, emphasizing creative thinking and storytelling as his superpowers. John and Alex dive deep into overcoming emotional challenges, discerning opportunities that resonate with the heart, and the importance of gratitude. They also discuss the scalability of s…

John Barrows welcomes Patrick “Pops” Garrett, the Founder and Chief Drinking Officer of DrinkCurious. John and Pops discuss virtual whiskey tastings, everything Bourbon, and the importance of human connection. With over 12 years of experience, “Pops” shares techniques for sensory evaluation, palate cleansing, and the art of creating memorable exper…

This week, John Barrows is joined by highly influential Silicon Valley venture capitalist, entrepreneur, and author, Guy Kawasaki. Known for his role in launching Apple’s Macintosh computer with Steve Jobs and Steve Wosniak, and authoring books like Wise Guy: Lessons from Life”, “The Art of the Start” and “Think Remarkable”, Kawasaki shares insight…

Eric Hamilton is an accomplished sales leader with 25 years of experience, including 15 in leadership roles. As Sr. Director of Sales at Everbridge and a successful author and real estate investor, Eric brings a wealth of knowledge. Discover how sales can fund your passions, the importance of mental energy, effective forecasting, and the secrets to…

Nina Sossamon-Pogue is a former USA Gymnast, Emmy-Winning News Anchor, successful Tech Exec, best-selling author, and serial overcomer. Nina shares her journey through life's setbacks, from missing the Olympic team to a traumatic accident, and how she turned them into triumphs. You will gain valuable insights on resilience, the lifespan of defining…