B2B Sales Trends

Global Performance Group

This podcast is dedicated to sales leaders in the B2B space, where we share conversations about innovative and successful sales transformations to keep you up to date on the latest trends that will help you to effectively tackle the challenge of constructing and executing a profitable and sustainable sales process.

  1. 2d ago

    166. GE Vernova’s Global Accounts Leader on Influencing Customer Decisions w/ Stefan Hartge

    Outcome based selling starts before customers have fully defined what they need. In this episode of the B2B Sales Trends Podcast, host Harry Kendlbacher speaks with Stefan Hartge, Global Head of Strategic Accounts Management at GE Vernova, about how sales teams can engage earlier, influence customer requirements, and build strategic partnerships instead of simply responding to requests. How can sales teams earn access to customers before a buying decision has been made? And how can sales leaders turn early engagement into profitable growth? ⏱️Timestamps: 00:00 | Why responding to tenders is no longer enough 01:41 | Outcome based selling: From equipment supplier to strategic advisor 03:44 | Enterprise sales and the hidden cost of reactive selling 06:49 | Three ways to influence a customer before the tender 09:25 | Customer engagement beyond the immediate opportunity 12:51 | Sales leadership: Changing the routines that shape selling behavior 16:40 | Key account management and measuring real business impact 20:12 | The three skills every B2B salesperson needs 💡 What You’ll Learn • Why the buying process starts before the tender: Influence customer thinking before requirements are defined. • How to earn customer access: Use technical expertise and relevant insights to build credibility. • How to make proactive selling work: Change sales routines to prioritize strategic customer engagement. • How to connect account strategy to growth: Use business cases, share of wallet, and engineering feedback to focus resources. • The three skills modern B2B salespeople need: Strategic fluency, influential leadership, and systems integration. 👤 About Stefan Hartge Stefan Hartge leads Strategic Accounts Management at GE Vernova. With over two decades of experience, he works across strategic decision making, large infrastructure investment projects, product leadership, and global growth. His work focuses on enabling the reliable integration of renewable and distributed energy resources into the grid and advancing cost effective solutions for the energy transition. Connect with Stefan Hartge on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefan-hartge/ 📃 Resources 🔗 Explore more at: https://globalperformancegroup.com/ 🔗 Download "Beyond Discovery" and discover how forward thinking sales leaders are closing the gap between what’s talked about and what’s actually happening inside high performing teams: https://globalperformancegroup.com/white-papers/beyond-discovery-great-needs-arent-stated-they-are-generated 🔗 Try the Revenue Accelerator: https://revenueaccelerator.globalperformancegroup.com 🎥 Watch the Full Conversation 👉 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@b2bsalestrendspodcast 🎙️ Want to Be a Guest on B2B Sales Trends? B2B Sales Trends brings together the world's leading CROs, sales leaders, and commercial executives to share the strategies shaping modern B2B selling. If that's you, or someone you recommend, submit a short application here: 👉 https://globalperformancegroup.com/guest-submission/ 🎧 Subscribe for weekly conversations with leading CROs, sales leaders, and commercial executives shaping the future of B2B sales. #B2BSales #SalesLeadership #OutcomeBasedSelling

    166. GE Vernova’s Global Accounts Leader on Influencing Customer Decisions w/ Stefan Hartge

  2. 4d ago

    165. Simpli.fi SVP of Sales on Getting More From a Smaller BDR Team w/ Adam Roberts

    Outbound sales is not always a headcount problem. In this episode, Harry Kendlbacher speaks with Adam Roberts, SVP of Sales at Simpli.fi, about how a smaller BDR team can outperform a much larger one through better targeting, tools, processes, and AI. The conversation explores what makes an outbound engine actually work, how to identify the right customers through a stronger ideal customer profile, and why BDRs should be developed as salespeople rather than appointment setters. If your team is focused on generating more outbound activity, the bigger question may be whether you are reaching the right prospects in the first place. ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 Why more outbound activity is not the answer 03:46 The tools and systems behind a stronger outbound engine 05:53 Why a smaller BDR team outperformed 30 offshore reps 08:27 Building an ideal customer profile around “sticky deals” 10:04 How AI is changing outbound prospecting 14:36 The ICP question most sales leaders overcomplicate 17:53 Why BDRs should be trained like sales reps 23:03 The three skills every B2B salesperson needs today You’ll hear Adam’s perspective on: • Why sales productivity can improve without increasing headcount • How AI can score prospects against your ideal customer profile and prioritize the highest potential accounts • Why solving the right customer problem matters more than simply targeting a specific company size or vertical • How sales enablement can turn BDRs into stronger contributors to the entire sales process About Adam Roberts Adam Roberts is SVP of Sales at Simpli.fi, where he works with partners and customers to build growth strategies that align media investment with real business goals. He is focused on helping businesses grow through smarter, more accountable media strategies, building long term partnerships rooted in trust, service, and results, and helping organizations move beyond clicks and impressions toward measurable business impact. Connect with Adam Roberts on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjroberts/ 📃 Resources 🔗 Explore more at: https://globalperformancegroup.com/ 🔗 Download "Beyond Discovery" and discover how forward thinking sales leaders are closing the gap between what’s talked about and what’s actually happening inside high performing teams: https://globalperformancegroup.com/white-papers/beyond-discovery-great-needs-arent-stated-they-are-generated 🔗 Try the Revenue Accelerator: https://revenueaccelerator.globalperformancegroup.com 🎥 Watch the Full Conversation 👉 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@b2bsalestrendspodcast 🎙️ Want to Be a Guest on B2B Sales Trends? B2B Sales Trends brings together the world's leading CROs, sales leaders, and commercial executives to share the strategies shaping modern B2B selling. If that's you, or someone you recommend, submit a short application here: 👉 https://globalperformancegroup.com/guest-submission/ 🎧 Subscribe for weekly conversations with leading CROs, sales leaders, and commercial executives shaping the future of B2B sales. #B2BSales #SalesLeadership #OutboundSales

    165. Simpli.fi SVP of Sales on Getting More From a Smaller BDR Team w/ Adam Roberts

  3. Oct 8

    164. On MedTech Sales and Finding Growth Inside Existing Accounts w/ Ryan Carpentier

    A strong go to market strategy starts with how customers buy, not how your company is organized. Ryan Carpentier, Chief Commercial Officer at NAMSA, shares how he's rethinking Medtech sales, unlocking growth within existing accounts, and building a more strategic commercial model. ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 – Why Medtech needs a new go to market strategy 01:51 – When OEMs start buying innovation instead of building it 03:57 – Organizing sales around how customers buy, not geography 07:08 – The untapped growth opportunity inside existing accounts 08:50 – Why B2B sellers should act like orchestra conductors 10:44 – From individual services to value based selling 13:16 – Making a complex commercial organization easier to buy from 15:45 – Ryan's 3 skills every B2B seller needs today What you’ll hear about • Why NAMSA is moving beyond a traditional territory based model and toward a GTM structure built around customer buying behavior • How existing accounts can reveal cross selling opportunities that sellers may be overlooking • Why technical expertise alone is not enough to grow a strategic account • How bundling services and multi year contracts can create longer term value without relying on discounting About Ryan Carpentier Ryan Carpentier is Chief Commercial Officer at NAMSA and a global sales and operations executive focused on scaling high growth companies, transforming commercial strategy, and building high performing teams. He has led revenue growth from $10M to $350M+ across life sciences, compliance, and education. Connect with Ryan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-carpentier-25b820/ 📃 Resources 🔗 Explore more at: https://globalperformancegroup.com/ 🔗 Download "Beyond Discovery" and discover how forward thinking sales leaders are closing the gap between what’s talked about and what’s actually happening inside high performing teams: https://globalperformancegroup.com/white-papers/beyond-discovery-great-needs-arent-stated-they-are-generated 🔗 Try the Revenue Accelerator: https://revenueaccelerator.globalperformancegroup.com 🎥 Watch the Full Conversation 👉 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@b2bsalestrendspodcast 🎙️ Want to Be a Guest on B2B Sales Trends? B2B Sales Trends brings together the world's leading CROs, sales leaders, and commercial executives to share the strategies shaping modern B2B selling. If that's you, or someone you recommend, submit a short application here: 👉 https://globalperformancegroup.com/guest-submission/ 🎧 Subscribe for weekly conversations with leading CROs, sales leaders, and commercial executives shaping the future of B2B sales. #B2BSales #SalesLeadership #MedtechSales

    164. On MedTech Sales and Finding Growth Inside Existing Accounts w/ Ryan Carpentier

  4. Oct 6

    163. Armstrong World Industries Sales Leader on Why Transactional Selling Makes You Replaceable w/ Jelani Rucker

    Relationship selling starts with understanding your customer beyond the transaction. Jelani Rucker, General Manager of Commercial Sales at Armstrong World Industries, explains why becoming a trusted advisor requires more than virtual meetings, and why meaningful time with customers can change the relationship. ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 – Why transactional B2B selling makes you replaceable 01:34 – Becoming the trusted advisor, not another vendor 04:33 – “Belly to belly selling” and the insights you miss virtually 07:16 – Why four plus hours can change a customer relationship 13:11 – Plant the seed, don't turn relationship building into a sales pitch 16:33 – “How can we be the better partner for you?” 20:20 – Scaling relationship selling through sales training and mentoring 23:23 – Hustle, social intelligence and coachability This episode explores: • Why being physically present can uncover hidden sales opportunities and customer insights • How four plus hours with a customer can deepen the relationship and create stronger partnerships • Why the best customer conversations may require resisting the urge to sell • How sales leaders can use cross-training, mentoring and buddy systems to make relationship building repeatable About Jelani Rucker Jelani Rucker is General Manager of Commercial Sales at Armstrong World Industries, where he leads commercial sales teams across the U.S. and Latin America. With 30+ years of experience across sales, marketing, business development, and leadership, he brings a strong focus on strategic relationships, customer experience, and high-performing teams. Connect with Jelani Rucker on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jelani-rucker-3177304/ 📃 Resources 🔗 Explore more at: https://globalperformancegroup.com/ 🔗 Download "Beyond Discovery" and discover how forward thinking sales leaders are closing the gap between what’s talked about and what’s actually happening inside high performing teams: https://globalperformancegroup.com/white-papers/beyond-discovery-great-needs-arent-stated-they-are-generated 🔗 Try the Revenue Accelerator: https://revenueaccelerator.globalperformancegroup.com 🎥 Watch the Full Conversation 👉 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@b2bsalestrendspodcast 🎙️ Want to Be a Guest on B2B Sales Trends? B2B Sales Trends brings together the world's leading CROs, sales leaders, and commercial executives to share the strategies shaping modern B2B selling. If that's you, or someone you recommend, submit a short application here: 👉 https://globalperformancegroup.com/guest-submission/ 🎧 Subscribe for weekly conversations with leading CROs, sales leaders, and commercial executives shaping the future of B2B sales. #B2BSales #SalesLeadership #RelationshipSelling

    163. Armstrong World Industries Sales Leader on Why Transactional Selling Makes You Replaceable w/ Jelani Rucker

  5. Oct 1

    162. Bentley Systems SVP on Why Salespeople Should Think Like Investors w/ Nathan Marsh

    Value-based selling starts with thinking like an investor, not just selling a product. What changes when enterprise sales teams stop leading with features and start focusing on business outcomes, value, and long-term impact? Nathan Marsh, EMEA Regional Executive and Senior Vice President at Bentley Systems (https://www.bentley.com), joins Harry Kendlbacher to explore how sellers can move from transactional conversations toward value-based partnerships. ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 – Why enterprise sales is moving beyond features and functionality 02:04 – Value-based selling: Why the conversation should start with impact, not the product 06:45 – Think like an investor: A new sales mindset for enterprise sales 10:20 – From consultative selling to business fluency: Changing how sellers prepare 14:06 – Why tools cannot fix the wrong sales mindset 15:56 – Strategic partnerships: Moving from supplier to trusted business partner 18:42 – Sales leadership: Why value-based selling is a cultural change, not a sales initiative 21:31 – The 3 capabilities of elite B2B sales teams You’ll hear Nathan explore: • Why enterprise buyers are investing in outcomes, risk reduction, and confidence rather than functionality alone • How thinking like an investor can change the way sellers approach complex opportunities • Why business context, empathy, and customer research matter before product conversations begin • How commercial curiosity, value articulation, and executive credibility can change the level of the sales conversation About Nathan Marsh Nathan Marsh is Regional Executive Leader and Senior Vice President at Bentley Systems, with 25 years of experience across industry, technology and consulting. He focuses on creating economic, social and environmental value through digitally connected infrastructure and helping organizations deliver better business outcomes. Connect with Nathan Marsh on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-marsh-6320539/ Learn more about Bentley Systems: https://www.bentley.com/ 📃 Resources 🔗 Explore more at: https://globalperformancegroup.com/ 🔗 Download "Beyond Discovery" and discover how forward thinking sales leaders are closing the gap between what’s talked about and what’s actually happening inside high performing teams: https://globalperformancegroup.com/white-papers/beyond-discovery-great-needs-arent-stated-they-are-generated 🔗 Try the Revenue Accelerator: https://revenueaccelerator.globalperformancegroup.com 🎥 Watch the Full Conversation 👉 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@b2bsalestrendspodcast 🎙️ Want to Be a Guest on B2B Sales Trends? B2B Sales Trends brings together the world's leading CROs, sales leaders, and commercial executives to share the strategies shaping modern B2B selling. If that's you, or someone you recommend, submit a short application here: 👉 https://globalperformancegroup.com/guest-submission/ 🎧 Subscribe for weekly conversations with leading CROs, sales leaders, and commercial executives shaping the future of B2B sales. #B2BSales #SalesLeadership #ValueBasedSelling

    162. Bentley Systems SVP on Why Salespeople Should Think Like Investors w/ Nathan Marsh

  6. Sep 24

    161. Why Asking Better Questions Isn’t Enough in B2B Sales

    B2B sales discovery is not about asking more questions. It is about helping buyers see what they cannot see yet. When buyers arrive with a preferred vendor, established assumptions, and AI assisted research, traditional discovery can become a confirmation exercise. In this solo episode, Harry Kendlbacher explores sales discovery, striker questions, stakeholder alignment, and the shift from information gathering to insight driven discovery. 🔗 Download the full whitepaper "Beyond Discovery" and discover how forward thinking sales leaders are closing the gap between what’s talked about and what’s actually happening inside high performing teams: https://globalperformancegroup.com/white-papers/beyond-discovery-great-needs-arent-stated-they-are-generated ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro 02:24 – What’s Really Beneath the Buyer’s Stated Needs 04:46 – When Discovery Becomes a Confirmation Exercise 07:10 – The Need Behind the Need 09:37 – Why Better Questions Aren’t Enough 11:57 – The Five Activities of Modern Discovery 14:19 – Why Buyers Need Judgment, Not More Information 16:41 – Is Discovery Creating Movement or Just Notes? 19:07 – Great Needs Aren’t Always Stated What you’ll hear about: • Why the buyer’s stated need may only be the visible part of the decision • Why better questions alone are not enough • How striker questions challenge assumptions and create insight • Why stakeholder discovery and ongoing discovery matter beyond the first call 📃 Resources 🔗 Explore more at: https://globalperformancegroup.com/ 🔗 Download "Beyond Discovery" and discover how forward thinking sales leaders are closing the gap between what’s talked about and what’s actually happening inside high performing teams: https://globalperformancegroup.com/white-papers/beyond-discovery-great-needs-arent-stated-they-are-generated 🔗 Try the Revenue Accelerator: https://revenueaccelerator.globalperformancegroup.com 🎥 Watch the Full Conversation 👉 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@b2bsalestrendspodcast 🎙️ Want to Be a Guest on B2B Sales Trends? B2B Sales Trends brings together the world's leading CROs, sales leaders, and commercial executives to share the strategies shaping modern B2B selling. If that's you, or someone you recommend, submit a short application here: 👉 https://globalperformancegroup.com/guest-submission/ 🎧 Subscribe for weekly conversations with leading CROs, sales leaders, and commercial executives shaping the future of B2B sales. #B2BSales #SalesLeadership #SalesDiscovery

    161. Why Asking Better Questions Isn’t Enough in B2B Sales

  7. Sep 17

    160. Grid Dynamics CRO on How to Scale B2B Sales Without Losing Customer Intimacy w/ Vasily Sizov

    B2B sales strategy changes when a company gets bigger. But can one salesperson really maintain customer intimacy and deep industry expertise at the same time? Vasily Sizov, Chief Revenue Officer at Grid Dynamics, thinks there is a better way. In this B2B sales strategy podcast episode, he explains why Grid Dynamics pairs client partners with practice sales specialists instead of expecting one person to do everything. The result? One person stays close to the customer while the other brings deep knowledge of the industry. And that combination can change how you create opportunities, grow existing accounts, and become a strategic partner. But there is a catch. Vasily also explains why the model creates its own challenges, what he looks for when sales hiring, and why even 30 years of experience does not necessarily make someone the right B2B salesperson. ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 | Intro 01:18 | Why enterprise sales makes the generalist model harder 03:39 | Combining customer intimacy with vertical expertise 06:47 | Scaling the sales model as the company grows 09:40 | The three traits Vasily hires for 12:34 | How great salespeople create opportunities proactively 16:13 | Why practice sales changes the game 19:19 | What the best B2B salespeople have in common 🔎 What Vasily gets into: • Why customer intimacy and vertical expertise can be difficult to combine in one sales role • How practice sales can create business development opportunities instead of simply responding to customer requests • Why becoming a strategic partner requires more than a good customer relationship • The three traits Vasily believes separate great B2B salespeople from the rest • Why years of experience may not tell you what you really need to know when hiring salespeople This episode is for B2B sales leaders, sales enablement leaders, go to market teams, and enterprise revenue professionals looking to improve sales strategy, account growth, business development, and strategic customer relationships. About Vasily Sizov Vasily Sizov is Chief Revenue Officer and Head of Americas at Grid Dynamics. Since joining Grid Dynamics in 2016, he has helped build enterprise accounts and shape the company's sales and account management functions. Connect with Vasily Sizov on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vasilysizov/ 📃 Resources 🔗 Explore more at: https://globalperformancegroup.com/ 🔗 Download "Beyond Discovery" and discover how forward thinking sales leaders are closing the gap between what’s talked about and what’s actually happening inside high performing teams: https://globalperformancegroup.com/white-papers/beyond-discovery-great-needs-arent-stated-they-are-generated 🔗 Try the Revenue Accelerator: https://revenueaccelerator.globalperformancegroup.com 🎥 Watch the Full Conversation 👉 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@b2bsalestrendspodcast 🎙️ Want to Be a Guest on B2B Sales Trends? B2B Sales Trends brings together the world's leading CROs, sales leaders, and commercial executives to share the strategies shaping modern B2B selling. If that's you, or someone you recommend, submit a short application here: 👉 https://globalperformancegroup.com/guest-submission/ 🎧 Subscribe for weekly conversations with leading CROs, sales leaders, and commercial executives shaping the future of B2B sales. #B2BSales #SalesLeadership #B2BSalesStrategy

    160. Grid Dynamics CRO on How to Scale B2B Sales Without Losing Customer Intimacy w/ Vasily Sizov

  8. Sep 15

    159. Labcorp SVP on the Sales Pipeline Question Most Teams Aren’t Asking w/ Andrew Fleming

    A B2B sales strategy built around a bigger sales pipeline sounds logical. But is more pipeline actually better? Andrew Fleming, SVP, Global Head of Sales and Enterprise Client Solutions at Labcorp, has a different way of looking at it: which opportunities are actually worth pursuing? In this conversation with Harry Kendlbacher, Andrew shares how he thinks about pipeline health, the customers worth focusing on, and why sales teams sometimes need to be comfortable walking away. ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro 01:44 – Why a bigger sales pipeline can be misleading 03:54 – Can AI help build a better pipeline? 05:42 – Building an ideal customer profile 08:29 – What does “right to win” actually mean? 10:04 – Shifting the customer conversation beyond price 14:13 – Why sales teams need permission to say no 17:36 – The two levels of opportunity selection 20:51 – The three qualities of great B2B sellers 💡 In this episode: • Why pipeline volume can create a false sense of confidence • How Andrew's ideal customer profile helps his teams decide where to focus • Why qualifying the customer is only half the job • How saying no to the wrong opportunities can improve sales forecasting and win rates • Why the best B2B sellers act as problem solvers, not product pushers About Andrew Fleming Andrew Fleming is SVP, Global Head of Sales and Enterprise Client Solutions at Labcorp, where he leads the global commercial organization. With more than 25 years of experience in B2B sales leadership, Andrew has focused on transforming how sales teams build pipeline, prioritize opportunities and allocate commercial resources. His approach centers on targeted customer profiling, disciplined qualification and creating value for customers rather than simply pursuing more opportunities. Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-fleming-commercial-leader/ 📃 Resources 🔗 Explore more at: https://globalperformancegroup.com/ 🔗 Download "Beyond Discovery" and discover how forward thinking sales leaders are closing the gap between what’s talked about and what’s actually happening inside high performing teams: https://globalperformancegroup.com/white-papers/beyond-discovery-great-needs-arent-stated-they-are-generated 🔗 Try the Revenue Accelerator: https://revenueaccelerator.globalperformancegroup.com 🎥 Watch the Full Conversation 👉 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@b2bsalestrendspodcast 🎙️ Want to Be a Guest on B2B Sales Trends? B2B Sales Trends brings together the world's leading CROs, sales leaders, and commercial executives to share the strategies shaping modern B2B selling. If that's you, or someone you recommend, submit a short application here: https://globalperformancegroup.com/guest-submission/ 🎧 Subscribe for weekly conversations with leading CROs, sales leaders, and commercial executives shaping the future of B2B sales. #b2bsales #salesleadership #salespipeline

    159. Labcorp SVP on the Sales Pipeline Question Most Teams Aren’t Asking w/ Andrew Fleming
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

This podcast is dedicated to sales leaders in the B2B space, where we share conversations about innovative and successful sales transformations to keep you up to date on the latest trends that will help you to effectively tackle the challenge of constructing and executing a profitable and sustainable sales process.

Information

  • Creator
    Global Performance Group
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    167
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    B2B Sales Trends

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