Revenue Remix - Inspiring Visionary Leaders – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Your first global step probably isn’t opening an office in London or Singapore. For most North American growth-stage companies, it’s something simpler:

👉 A fantastic candidate in Toronto
👉 A customer in New York who wants local support
👉 A test market just across the border

In this panel, I’m joined by Toronto-based leaders Eric Hachmer and Komal to unpack what it really takes to operate across the US–Canada border — beyond “just add a worker” in your payroll platform.

We talk about why Canada is often the first global footprint for US businesses (and vice versa), and how to do it in a way that supports long-term growth instead of creating messy cleanup work for future you.

Why “just hire someone in Canada/the U.S.” is not a global strategy We start with the common story: a key employee moves to Toronto, or a US founder decides “Canada seems easy enough.” Eric and Komal walk through the gap between employing someone cross-border and actually doing business in another country.

Structure before headcount: what to decide before you hire Eric shares why hiring is the easy part — and why your go-to-market model, sales design, and leadership attention matter far more than how quickly you can add someone in your payroll tool.

Incorporation, tax, and comp 101 (without putting you to sleep)
Komal breaks down:

• Why you should think about incorporation in Canada
• How federal vs provincial tax structures work
• Why Canadian taxes and cost of living factors into comp strategy

Benefits aren’t “copy/paste” across the border We talk through subtle but important differences, including:

• Maternity/parental leave expectations
• How stock options are taxed and perceived in each country
• Why your benefits need to be right-sized for each country

Culture, trust, and risk tolerance: the stuff the setup guide doesn’t tell you
This is the part you won’t get from your EOR or payroll provider:

• Importance and challenge of building trust
• Why Canadian teams often put more emphasis on relationship and intention before diving into numbers
• How risk appetite differs

Tech, fintech, and cross-border payments
We touch on the reality of:

• Why data residency, AML, and server location matter if you’re a SaaS or fintech selling into Canada
• How upcoming open banking in Canada (2026) could unlock new ways to move money and serve customers cross-border

A more hopeful take on “messy times” We close on why business leaders are often the ones quietly building bridges while politics gets loud — and how thoughtful, generous leadership and clear decision-making can make cross-border work a growth engine, not a headache.

If you’re a founder, CRO, CMO, or finance/ops leader thinking:

“Canada feels like the logical first place to go global… but I don’t want to step on a landmine.”

…this episode will help you see what’s really involved, what’s easier than you think, and where it pays to slow down and set things up right.

👉 Connect with Eric
👉 Connect with Komal

You don’t have a “lead problem.” You have a go-to-market alignment problem that’s quietly capping your growth.

In this mini-panel, we dig into why revenue plateaus at growth-stage B2B companies usually aren’t about “more pipeline” – they’re about sales, marketing, customer success, product, and finance all pulling in slightly different directions.

No scolding. No “you’re doing it wrong.” Just four operators and advisors comparing notes on what actually works when you want healthy, scalable revenue, not just a noisy top of funnel.

• Why “sales & marketing alignment” is table stakes now
  And why the real unlock is treating CS, product, and finance as part of one revenue team, not downstream order takers.
• The KPI trap that keeps teams stuck in silos Marketing measures activity, sales measures outcomes, CS measures retention—and almost no one agrees on what a qualified lead actually is.
• Customer success as your GTM secret weapon How involving CS before the sale changes who you sell, what you promise, and how long customers stay—without adding more headcount.
• Product is not your feature factory What happens when sales keeps asking for “one more feature to close this deal” and product’s roadmap gets held hostage by short-term revenue.
• Finance as a growth partner (not the ‘no’ department) How to get your CFO to trust your forecast so they’ll actually support your GTM investments instead of blocking every new idea.
• Practical ways to build internal bridges (starting this week) From “bridge coffees” to shared rituals, internal problem statements, and walking a mile in each other’s roles.

This conversation will land especially well if you’re:

• A B2B founder / CEO stuck at a revenue plateau and wondering if it’s really “just pipeline.”
• A CRO / VP Sales / VP Marketing tired of attribution fights and ready to build one revenue system instead of parallel empires.
• A Head of CS, Product, or Finance who knows you impact revenue but keeps getting brought in too late.
• Any GTM leader who wants to turn internal friction into a real competitive advantage.

By the end, you’ll have:

• A more honest way to talk about GTM misalignment without blaming people or departments.
• A simple starting point for shared KPIs that don’t trigger instant defensiveness.
• Language you can use with your CFO, CMO, CPO, and Head of CS to shift from “that’s your problem” to “this is our system.”
• A few stealable rituals (like bridge coffees and cross-functional problem statements) to start stitching teams together without a giant reorg.

Jay Brandon Daniel Shimon

Follow Summer on LinkedIn

You put in the effort to hire the right salesperson—so why do so many new hires struggle to succeed?

Most sales onboarding programs are broken. Companies hire experienced reps and expect them to "figure it out," only to see slow ramp-up times, high turnover, and missed revenue targets.

In this episode of Revenue Remix, Summer Poletti dives into why traditional sales onboarding fails—and what to do instead. You’ll learn:

✅ The biggest gaps in most onboarding programs (and how they cost you revenue)
✅ Why the classic “90-day ramp” doesn’t work for B2B sales
✅ How to align sales onboarding with your business goals for faster success
✅ The essential elements of a structured onboarding plan that sets reps up to win

PLUS: Get access to a free list of smart sales interview questions in our subscriber forum—so you can hire smarter AND onboard better.

If you're hiring sales reps, leading a team, or looking to fix your onboarding process, this episode is packed with actionable insights you can use right away.

Related Resources & Links:
This Week’s Blog: How to Hire the Right Salesperson
Free Resource: Guide to Smart Sales Interview Questions (Subscribe for free to download!)
Related Podcast Episode: How to Find a Good B2B Salesperson - Steal 6 Tips From Me

Related Podcast Episode: Grow Your Revenue Without Hiring More Salespeople - Leverage the Power of AI

Related Podcast Episode: Forget AI, These 6 Old School Sales Techniques Will Never Go Out of Style
Book a Free 15-Minute Sales Onboarding Consultation (Let’s assess your process & find quick wins!)

Show notes:

• Connect with Summer on LinkedIn
• Visit Rise of Us for more information about Summer's services or to guest on the show and share your insights
• Episode recorded and edited using Descript
• Repurposed content, such as this description created using CastMagic

Welcome to the first episode of Revenue Remix! Formerly known as C-Suite Sidekick, this podcast has a new name and an evolved mission: helping CEOs and senior leaders transform their revenue strategies through actionable insights and inspiring stories.

In this inaugural episode, Summer Poletti sits down with Judy Brower, a seasoned entrepreneur who bootstrapped her way to success, grew her business into a national PR firm, and orchestrated a seamless exit strategy. Judy shares her journey, from taking bold risks to secure her first clients, to building a culture of excellence, and finally transitioning her company to new leadership.

Whether you’re starting out, scaling, or preparing for your next chapter, Judy’s story is full of practical wisdom and relatable moments. Tune in for valuable lessons on entrepreneurship, client relationships, and why planning ahead for growth and exit strategies is the ultimate key to long-term success.

Show notes:

• Connect with Summer on LinkedIn
• Visit Rise of Us for more information about Summer's services
• Episode recorded and edited using Descript
• Repurposed content, such as this description created using CastMagic

This holiday season, give yourself a gift that keeps on giving: the gift of knowledge. In this episode of C-Suite Sidekick, we dive into 8 practical, wallet-friendly ways to upskill during the holiday slowdown. Whether you're a business owner, a senior leader, or an aspiring executive, this mini-guide will help you maximize your downtime without sacrificing fun with family or friends. 

These strategies are designed to fit into your busy life and help you stay ahead of the curve in 2025. Don’t let ChatGPT or changing buyer behaviors leave you behind. Tune in and start your year-end learning journey today! 

Companion content:

• 6 Things Future-Focused Business Owners Will Master in 2025 
• AI Upskilling Done Right
• When B2B Selling is Slow, 4 People You Can Call
• Maybe You Need a Break Too
• Harvard Business Review on Strategy
• McKinsey Podcast
• The Insightful Leader

Show notes:

• Connect with Summer on LinkedIn
• Visit Rise of Us for more information about Summer's services
• Episode recorded and edited using Descript
• Repurposed content, such as this description created using CastMagic

How do you compete in a world where everyone claims to give better service? In this revisited episode of C-Suite Sidekick, Summer Poletti dives into why "better service" is no longer a differentiator—and what you can do instead.

Learn how to uncover your true differentiators by understanding your clients' biggest challenges, leveraging research, and aligning your internal strategies with buyer preferences. Whether you’re battling against industry giants or refining your unique value proposition, this episode offers actionable insights to help you stand out.

With fresh reflections for 2025, Summer explores how alignment—between teams and buyer expectations—is the ultimate secret weapon in today’s competitive market. Tune in to discover how to build a sales strategy that resonates with clients, retains their loyalty, and avoids the dreaded race to the bottom.

Companion content:

• 6 Things Future-Focused Business Owners Will Master in 2025 
• Protect Your Clients from Poaching 

Show notes:

• Connect with Summer on LinkedIn
• Visit Rise of Us for more information about Summer's services
• Episode recorded and edited using Descript
• Repurposed content, such as this description created using CastMagic

In today’s competitive landscape, retaining clients isn’t just a goal—it’s survival. As competitors ramp up their efforts to lure away your hard-earned clients, how do you protect the relationships you’ve worked so hard to build? In this episode of C-Suite Sidekick, I revisit one of my most impactful topics: protecting your clients from poaching.

Drawing on real-world insights and actionable strategies, we’ll explore how to:

• Strengthen client relationships through proactive engagement.
• Align internal teams to prevent cracks in client experience.
• Use business reviews and referrals to deepen loyalty and drive growth.
• Leverage client success stories as powerful marketing assets.

Stick around for my fresh perspectives on how alignment and client success will be your best tools for navigating 2025 and beyond.

Companion content:

• 6 Things Future-Focused Business Owners Will Master in 2025 
• Why Strategic Partnerships Fail and How to Fix Them

Show notes:

• Connect with Summer on LinkedIn
• Visit Rise of Us for more information about Summer's services
• Episode recorded and edited using Descript
• Repurposed content, such as this description created using CastMagic

It’s the biggest travel week of the year—and it feels like everyone except you has already clocked out for Thanksgiving. But your goals don’t take a holiday. So what do you do when it seems like no one else is working?

In this mini-pod, I’m sharing practical and tactical advice for owners and business leaders to stay productive during a slow week, without burning out. You’ll learn:

• Who’s still picking up the phone (hint: it might not be who you think!)
• How to give yourself a little grace while still making progress

If you’re feeling frustrated by the pace this week, this episode will inspire you to shift your focus, take action, and set yourself up for success—not just for this week but for the months ahead.

Companion content:

• Podcast episode: How to move your deals along when everyone's in holiday mode.
• Podcast episode: Strategies for finishing your year strong
• Podcast episode: AI-powered strategies to close deals and ill up your 2025 pipeline

Show notes:

• Episode recorded and edited using Descript
• Repurposed content, such as this description created using CastMagic
• Visit Rise of Us for more information about Summer's services
• Connect with Summer on LinkedIn

In this episode of C-Suite Sidekick, host Summer Poletti tackles a controversial topic in sales: “Is Outbound Dead?” While you might have heard that outbound sales efforts are no longer effective, Summer breaks down why that’s simply not true—bad outbound is dead. She explores common outbound mistakes, like weak messaging and lack of persistence, and offers practical tips for revamping your strategy. From leveraging AI tools the right way to maintaining a balance between automation and human connection, this episode is packed with actionable insights. Whether you’re struggling with low response rates or wondering how to stand out in a crowded market, you’ll learn how to optimize your outbound efforts and fill your pipeline with the right clients.

• Episode recorded and edited using Descript
• Repurposed content, such as this description created using CastMagic
• Visit Rise of Us for more information about Summer's services
• Connect with Summer on LinkedIn

"Protecting Your Clients: How to Build Loyalty and Drive Growth"

In this episode of C-Suite Sidekick, host Summer Poletti discusses one of the most overlooked aspects of business growth: protecting the clients you already have. With competitors eager to lure your clients away, especially in fourth quarter, it's crucial to strengthen relationships and be seen as a trusted partner, not just a vendor. Summer shares actionable strategies like conducting regular business reviews, aligning goals for 2025, asking for referrals, and leveraging social proof to retain clients and drive growth. Tune in for insights that will help you retain your most valuable assets and close more deals before the year ends.

• Episode recorded and edited using Descript
• Repurposed content, such as this description created using CastMagic
• Visit Rise of Us for more information about Summer's services
• Connect with Summer on LinkedIn