C-Suite Strategies

Stacie Sussman
  • 5.0 (7)
  • MANAGEMENT
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

C-Suite Strategies is the podcast for revenue-minded leaders who know that sales and marketing aren't separate functions. They're one engine. No fluff. No theory. Just straight talk from people who've sat in the seat. Hosted by Stacie Sussman, Founder and CRO of RevUp Advisory and named a 2026 Women to Watch by both Thrive Global and Her Agenda — with 17 years leading sales teams in Manhattan, 100+ consulting projects, and a track record of scaling companies to exit — each episode digs into what growth actually looks like for mid-market operators, founders, CMOs, and CROs. Because growth isn't just about data and metrics — it's about mindset, showing up, and surrounding yourself with the right people. This is a space for the conversations that go beyond the dashboard. The ones about alignment, accountability, and what it really takes to build a revenue engine that lasts. If you're ready to stop treating sales and marketing as separate problems and start leading like they're one — this is your podcast. If you want to learn how to turn the chaos of growth into clarity and confidence, subscribe to C-Suite Strategies. Your next breakthrough is just a listen away.

  1. FEB 24

    S2E20: SEO is Dead. Long Live AEO. (What B2B Leaders Need to Know Before It's Too Late)

    What We Cover What SEO is — and why it’s no longer the whole game What AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) is and how it fundamentally differs from SEO How your buyers are already using AI tools (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Claude) to research before ever visiting your website Why you can have great SEO scores and still be completely invisible to an AI answer engine The “dark funnel” problem — and how AI makes it even harder to track buyer intent Why this is a revenue strategy conversation, not just a marketing or technical SEO conversation Three immediate actions B2B leaders can take right now Key Concepts Explained SEO — Search Engine Optimization The practice of making your website content discoverable by search engines like Google and Bing. The playbook centers on keywords, backlinks, site speed, technical structure, and domain authority — all with the goal of getting a human to click through to your website from a search results page. AEO — Answer Engine Optimization Optimizing your content so that AI-powered tools — ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Claude, and others — pull from your content to generate direct, synthesized answers. There’s no click, no scroll, no website visit. If your brand isn’t showing up in those answers, you don’t exist in that buyer’s world. What Answer Engines Look For Clarity — Is your content answering questions directly and in a structured way? Authority & Trust — Are credible sources referencing your content? Is your brand seen as a subject matter expert? Schema Markup & Structured Data — Is your content technically formatted so AI can parse it? Freshness — Is your content current and regularly updated? Key Takeaways for B2B Leaders Your buyers are already using AI to research. Your ICP is typing questions into LLMs before they ever book a demo. If you’re not showing up there, you’re not in the consideration set. This is an attribution problem you need to get ahead of. The dark funnel is already hard to track. AI-assisted research makes it darker. If you’re not monitoring AI-driven brand mentions and traffic, you’re flying blind on a critical part of the buyer journey. SEO and AEO are not either/or — they’re both/and. Don’t abandon your SEO strategy. Build a content ecosystem that works for search engines and answer engines simultaneously. This is a strategy conversation, not just a technical one. AEO requires thinking about what questions your buyers are asking and whether your content answers them directly and authoritatively. A disconnected content strategy will not cut it in an AI-first research environment. 3 Things You Can Do Right Now 1. Audit your existing content for answer readiness. Review your top content pieces. Are they answering specific questions directly? Do they have clear headers that map to what someone would actually ask an AI? Can an AI pull a clean, accurate answer from them? If not — that’s your starting point. 2. Test AI research behavior in your category. Use ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, or Gemini to ask the questions your buyers ask. See who’s showing up, what language is being used, and where you stand. This is free competitive intelligence that will change how you think about content. 3. Get your technical foundation in order. If your website has messy structure, outdated schema markup, or poorly organized content — fix it. Don’t scale chaos. Fix the foundation first. Connect with Stacie: Book a free growth consult LinkedIn Website

    15 min

  2. FEB 10

    S2E19: The Invisible Architecture of Success

    What does it actually take to build an Inc 5000 business without letting it eat you alive? That's exactly what we dig into with Brittany Fox. Brittany and her husband bootstrapped Focus Global Talent Solutions from their second bedroom in Miami — no outside funding, no playbook — and hit $2M in revenue their first year. Last year, they made the Inc 5000 list. But here's the thing: Brittany didn't just build a successful business. She built a sustainable one. And that distinction? It changes everything. In this episode, we get into the real stuff. The psychology behind why high achievers burn out, what it actually took for Brittany to go from "grinding and hiding" to building a community of ambitious women who are done with surface-level conversations. We talk about morning routines that aren't just checklists, the power of doing hard things before they're trendy, and why showing up to one room can completely change the trajectory of your life. This one's for the founders, the co-founders, the C-suite leaders who are crushing it professionally but quietly wondering: is this pace actually sustainable? Key Takeaways: 80% of business is psychology. The other 20% is strategy. Brittany learned this early — and it became the foundation of how she runs everything.Brittany bootstrapped Focus Global from a condo in Miami with two dogs and hit $2M revenue in year one. No VC. No safety net. Just her, her husband Dave, and a whole lot of hustle — done intentionally.The Inc 5000 recognition in 2025 wasn't the goal. It was a byproduct of building something real, something sustainable, and something that actually worked.Brittany's 75 Hard story (before it was an Instagram trend) is one of the best "proof that you can do hard things" stories I've heard. She didn't think she could do it. She did it. And it rewired how she thinks about what's possible.Meditation isn't just a buzzword for Brittany — it's a practice she's had to actively protect. She actually stopped meditating for a while because it became a checklist item. That level of self-awareness is rare.She Created — her community for high-achieving women — was born from a very real frustration: the networking events that are all "tell me what you do" and zero depth. Brittany built the alternative.The advice that stuck with me: Don't make it so overwhelming. Start with one. One room. One book. One action. The compound effect does the rest.About the Guest: Brittany Fox is the CEO and Co-Founder of Focus Global Talent Solutions, an Inc 5000 AI and Martech staffing firm based in Miami. Before staffing, she was part of one of the top 10 real estate teams in Manhattan — her team closed $600M in sales, just the three of them. Brittany and her husband Dave bootstrapped Focus Global from scratch and built it into one of the fastest-growing private companies in the country. In 2024, Brittany founded She Created — a community for high-achieving women who want to go deeper than business. Through curated dinners, intentional social events, and immersive retreats, She Created creates the space for women to have the real conversations that most networking events never get to. Find Brittany: Website: shecreated.coInstagram: @BEFoxyResources & Links Mentioned: Focus Global Talent Solutions Tony Robbins Business Mastery Connect with Stacie: Book a free growth consult LinkedIn Website

    41 min

  3. JAN 13

    S2E18: Financial Truths CMOs and CROs Can't Ignore

    Season Two opens with a necessary reset for growth leaders. In this episode, Stacie sits down with Jennifer Yousem, Founder of iHeartEBITDA, to unpack the financial realities behind marketing and sales performance—and why CMOs are often asked to defend results without being given the right financial context. They explore why top-line growth is a vanity metric, how margin degradation creeps into service businesses, and why honesty in forecasting matters more than aggressive targets. This conversation bridges the gap between marketing strategy and financial truth. If you’re a CMO expected to drive growth, justify spend, and align with finance—this episode is required listening. Key topics covered • Why top-line growth is a vanity metric • What CMOs need to understand about margins • How margin degradation happens quietly over time • Why “not all revenue is good revenue” • Forecasting honesty vs. hockey-stick storytelling • Cost control as the only true lever of certainty • How marketing, sales, and finance should align around truth Who this episode is for • CMOs responsible for growth and budget accountability • CROs managing optimistic pipelines • Founders scaling through the messy middle • CFOs pushing for financial rigor • Operators tired of growth theater About the guest Jennifer Yousem is the Founder and CEO of iHeartEBITDA, a fractional CFO, controller, and bookkeeping firm serving mid-market companies. After years leading finance inside large media organizations, she now helps founders and leadership teams turn messy numbers into clear growth decisions—without the BS. Links & resources • iHeartEBITDA: https://iheartibda.com • Learn more about Stacie Sussman & RevUp Advisory: https://www.linkedin.com/in/staciesussman/ Connect with Stacie: Book a free growth consult LinkedIn Website

    42 min

  4. 12/09/2025

    S1E18: From CMO Confidence Gaps to AI Wake-Up Calls: My 2026 Predictions

    In this solo episode of C-Suite Strategies, Stacie Sussman breaks down the five biggest trends she’s seeing as we head into 2026—starting with a surprising pattern: CMOs at $30M companies quietly fearing their next board meeting. Stacie shares why brilliant marketing leaders are losing confidence in the C-suite, what’s driving the rising demand for clean attribution, and why most companies are wildly overestimating their AI maturity. She also unpacks how leaner teams will depend on stronger processes, and how consulting roles will evolve as AI becomes a core operating system rather than a shiny add-on. If you’re a CMO, CRO, founder, or executive trying to scale without chaos, this episode offers a sharp, unfiltered look at what’s coming—and what it will take to stay ahead. You’ll learn:  • Why the CMO confidence gap is widening  • The revenue language every marketing leader must master  • Why attribution is no longer optional  • The coming AI reality check for mid-market companies  • How lean operations and process excellence will drive growth  • The new consulting model: human expertise powered by AI If you’re ready to build real capabilities instead of patching cracks, this episode is your roadmap for 2026. Connect with Stacie: Book a free growth consult LinkedIn Website

    14 min

  5. 11/11/2025

    S1E17: The C-Suite Network Strategy: How to Land Your Next Role Before It’s Even Posted

    Networking isn’t a nice-to-have — it’s a leadership strategy. In this episode, Stacie Sussman sits down with Rachel Rozen, a former hospitality executive turned connection strategist, to break down how high-performing leaders can turn authentic relationships into career-defining opportunities before they ever start job-hunting. Rachel shares how meeting 300 people in one year reshaped her career and how you can apply the same mindset to build a future-proof professional network. Key Topics Covered: How to reframe networking from transactional to transformationalThe Three I’s Framework — Introduction, Invitation, Information — that keeps your network aliveWhy your dormant connections might open your next doorHow CMOs, CROs, and Founders can strengthen internal trust across teamsThe right time to leave professional communities that no longer serve youPractical outreach scripts to reconnect without the awkwardnessThis conversation is a masterclass in turning “icky” networking into sticky, strategic relationship-building. The kind that gets you the meeting, the opportunity, or even the next C-Suite role. Guest Links: LinkedIn: Rachel RozenWebsite: Connection CatalystApply to attend her NYC Executive & Entrepreneur DinnersConnect with Stacie: Book a free growth consult LinkedIn Website

    43 min

  6. 10/14/2025

    S1E16: When the Math Isn't Mathing: Building Sales Teams That Actually Scale

    In this episode of C-Suite Strategies, host Stacie Sussman sits down with Matt Austin, a seasoned sales leader with deep expertise in B2B growth and operational excellence. Together, they unpack what it truly takes to scale a business—from navigating the transition to a recurring revenue model to ensuring alignment across leadership and sales teams. Matt shares lessons learned from years of leading global sales organizations, highlighting the importance of validating product-market fit, implementing structured sales processes, and embedding sales training into company culture. The conversation also explores team dynamics, leadership alignment, and how understanding the context behind every sales strategy can make or break growth efforts. Whether you’re a CRO, CMO, or founder seeking clarity on how to scale sustainably, this episode delivers practical, grounded insights for driving consistent revenue and organizational alignment. Key Takeaways  → B2B leaders often feel stuck in their growth journey.  → Scaling requires a deep understanding of team dynamics.  → Validating product-market fit is crucial before scaling.  → Implementing structured processes enhances sales effectiveness.  → Sales training matters—for both new and experienced sellers.  → Context behind sales strategies drives better execution.  → Operational challenges can hinder growth if not addressed early.  → Leadership alignment is the backbone of successful scaling.  → Customer feedback should guide product development.  → Revenue goals must be grounded in realistic math. Chapters  00:00 Introduction to C-Suite Strategies  02:16 Meet Matt Austin: A Sales Leader’s Journey  04:58 Scaling a Global Company: Insights from Experience  10:09 Understanding Team Dynamics and Initial Steps  12:03 Validating Product-Market Fit  17:15 Implementing Structure and Processes  21:11 Teaching Sales Methodologies: The Importance of Training  26:03 The Context of Sales Strategies  30:51 Navigating Operational Challenges  36:07 Key Takeaways and Lessons Learned Connect with Stacie: Book a free growth consult LinkedIn Website

    43 min

  7. 09/09/2025

    S1E15: Your Broken Foundations Is Killing Your AI Dreams

    What if AI isn’t failing you—your broken business foundations are? In this solo episode of C-Suite Strategies, Stacie Sussman, founder of RevUp Advisory, shares raw stories from the boardroom about why companies struggle to see real ROI from AI. Here’s what you’ll hear:  • The $37M company with a marketing team stuck in Excel chaos for board reporting  • The “12-step content circus” that keeps marketing in approval purgatory  • The sales shuffle—bad data, fake leads, and wasted hours in Salesforce  • Why AI is an amplifier, not a savior (and what it can never fix)  • How RevUp Advisory maps workflows, patches the pipes, and builds real operational alignment  • What it takes for agentic AI to actually accelerate sales, marketing, and growth  • Why fixing workflows is the first step to successful AI implementation The truth? AI can’t fix bad data hygiene, broken workflows, or toxic culture. It only makes the noise louder. But when your systems are aligned, strategies are clear, and teams are working on solid foundations—that’s when AI shifts from hype to becoming a true growth engine. RevUp Advisory is trusted by growth-stage companies who’ve outgrown “good enough.”  We’re the team you call when sales is stuck, marketing isn’t converting, and ops can’t keep up. Led by Stacie Sussman and a team of experts you wish you called six months ago, RevUp realigns your go-to-market engine so growth stops feeling like a grind—and starts feeling like momentum.  Email Stacie: stacie@revupadvisory.com   Connect with Stacie: Book a free growth consult LinkedIn Website

    18 min

  8. 08/12/2025

    S1E14: Fix the Friction: How C-Suite Leaders Unlock Productivity and Profitability

    What’s slowing your C-Suite down? Sometimes it’s not lack of ideas—it’s friction in your systems, people, and processes. Episode Summary: In this episode of C-Suite Strategies, host Stacie Sussman sits down with Jen Goldman, Founder of My Virtual COO, to explore how leaders can identify and fix the friction points holding back productivity and profitability. From rethinking team structure to visualizing organizational changes, Jen shares practical, neuroscience-backed tools for creating clarity, accountability, and momentum at the top levels of business. What You’ll Learn: Why most growth stalls aren’t about sales—they’re about operational cracks. How visual tools help leaders make big changes without triggering fear. The “parking lot” method for prioritizing initiatives without losing ideas. How to set boundaries and manage energy for peak performance. Why sustainable scaling means caring for your people through change. Listen if you’re: A C-Suite leader feeling bogged down by inefficiencies. A founder ready to scale but facing resistance. A leader who wants more flow, less chaos. Referenced Apps & Tools Fabulous App — habit-building app from Duke and Stanford research. Lucid (Lucidchart) — for visual org design, flow mapping, and brainstorming. Canva — for visual diagrams and creative layouts. Brain.fm — focus music for deep work. Gamma — presentation/proposal creation tool you use. Books & Authors Joe Dispenza — meditations (you specifically mentioned his guided meditations). Robin Sharma — The 5 AM Club (mentioned as inspiration even though you’re a “6 AM-ish club” person). Mel Robbins — Let Them (boundaries) and general coaching influence. Greg McKeown — Essentialism (one focus line vs. many squiggles). Gino Wickman — parking lot/Traction concepts (if you want to link to Traction by Gino Wickman). Connect with Jen Goldman: Website: My Virtual COO Email: jenniferg@myvirtualcoo.comConnect with Stacie: Book a free growth consult LinkedIn Website

    40 min
See All (22)

Trailer

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

C-Suite Strategies is the podcast for revenue-minded leaders who know that sales and marketing aren't separate functions. They're one engine. No fluff. No theory. Just straight talk from people who've sat in the seat. Hosted by Stacie Sussman, Founder and CRO of RevUp Advisory and named a 2026 Women to Watch by both Thrive Global and Her Agenda — with 17 years leading sales teams in Manhattan, 100+ consulting projects, and a track record of scaling companies to exit — each episode digs into what growth actually looks like for mid-market operators, founders, CMOs, and CROs. Because growth isn't just about data and metrics — it's about mindset, showing up, and surrounding yourself with the right people. This is a space for the conversations that go beyond the dashboard. The ones about alignment, accountability, and what it really takes to build a revenue engine that lasts. If you're ready to stop treating sales and marketing as separate problems and start leading like they're one — this is your podcast. If you want to learn how to turn the chaos of growth into clarity and confidence, subscribe to C-Suite Strategies. Your next breakthrough is just a listen away.

Information

  • Creator
    Stacie Sussman
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 C-Suite Strategies
  • Show Website
    C-Suite Strategies