What does it take to build a successful sales career across multiple industries, step into leadership, return to work after motherhood, and still lead with authenticity?

In this episode of Battle Scars of a SaaS Leader, James Bergl sits down with Lauren, Sales Director at ClickView, to unpack her journey from entering SaaS sales at 22 to leading sales teams in edtech.

Lauren shares honest lessons on switching industries, building go-to-market systems, hiring for hunger and resilience, navigating maternity leave, and why great leadership comes down to clarity, empathy, and choosing your words carefully.

In this episode you’ll learn:

🔥 Why psychometric tests don’t always reveal true sales potential
💡 How to enter a new industry and quickly understand your customer
🎯 What traits matter most when hiring salespeople and sales leaders
👩‍💼 The reality of returning to work after maternity leave
🧠 Why authenticity, radical candor, and kindness matter in leadership
🚀 How to lead through change without losing your team

Chapters:
0:00 Introduction and Lauren’s early SaaS career
4:18 Building confidence and moving into leadership
5:42 Why ClickView became the right fit
10:20 Entering a new industry and learning the customer
13:47 Sales lessons from edtech
16:39 Hiring traits that matter in sales
20:48 Motherhood, maternity leave, and career identity
26:22 How companies can better support working parents
34:30 Lauren’s definition of great leadership
38:31 Leadership mistakes and extreme ownership
40:26 How leadership has changed post-Covid
42:50 The top traits Lauren looks for in leaders
46:25 Life philosophy, impact, and legacy

Have a thought about this episode? Let's chat

If you’ve ever wondered how a vertical SaaS company decides where to go next, this conversation offers a rare, inside look. 
James Bergl sat down with Ronnie Gurion, Clio’s COO, to map the choices behind global expansion, from why Australia became the APAC beachhead to how legal market nuance reshapes the usual “copy-paste” playbook. 

🎯 Our mission here at Bluebird Recruitment is to help connect talented professionals with thriving SaaS companies in Sales, Marketing, Customer Success, IT, and development.

🎙 Battle Scars of a Sales Leader Podcast:
https://www.youtube.com/@Bluebird-APAC/podcasts

🔥 Join this channel to never miss out
https://www.youtube.com/@Bluebird-APAC/featured

🔥 Shorts Playlist: 
https://www.youtube.com/@Bluebird-APAC/shorts

💡 A new approach to SaaS recruitment
https://bluebirdtalent.com.au

💡Thinking of expanding your SaaS business into the Australian?

📚 Download the Guide here
➡︎ https://bluebirdtalent.com.au/resources

Connect with James
➡︎ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbergl/
Connect with Ronnie
➡︎ https://www.linkedin.com/in/rgurion 
Host & Guest
➡︎ James Bergl (The Gentle Giant)
➡︎ Ronnie Gurion 
Videographers/Editors: Romain Pondard/Klippable
➡︎ https://www.linkedin.com/in/romain-pondard
➡︎ https://www.klippable.com/

Have a thought about this episode? Let's chat

We unpack how Asian startups use Australia as a Western test bed, the cultural signals that make or break sales, and a repeatable path to validate markets fast. We also explore investor perspectives, AI reality versus hype, and why commitment on the ground beats fly-in fly-out.

• why Australia appeals for first Western expansion
• how to read Australian sales language and build trust
• reverse‑engineering competitor playbooks for fast intel
• when Australia’s TAM is too small and what to do
• hiring locally and supporting the first operator
• localizing business model, brand and sales process
• investors on Australian founders’ realism and capital efficiency
• AI’s real role in GTM and where it falls short
• profit for purpose and how Haymarket HQ gives back
• where to find and meet incoming Asia startups

🎯 Our mission here at Bluebird Recruitment is to help connect talented professionals with thriving SaaS companies in Sales, Marketing, Customer Success, IT, and development.

🎙 Battle Scars of a Sales Leader Podcast:
https://www.youtube.com/@Bluebird-APAC/podcasts

🔥 Join this channel to never miss out
https://www.youtube.com/@Bluebird-APAC/featured

🔥 Shorts Playlist: 
https://www.youtube.com/@Bluebird-APAC/shorts

💡 A new approach to SaaS recruitment
https://bluebirdtalent.com.au

💡Thinking of expanding your SaaS business into the Australian?

📚 Download the Guide here
➡︎ https://bluebirdtalent.com.au/resources

Connect with James
➡︎ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbergl/
Connect with Duco
➡︎ https://au.linkedin.com/in/ducovanbreemen
Host & Guest
➡︎ James Bergl (The Gentle Giant)
➡︎ Duco Van Breemen
Videographers/Editors: Romain Pondard/Klippable
➡︎ https://www.linkedin.com/in/romain-pondard
➡︎ https://www.klippable.com/

https://au.linkedin.com/in/ducovanbreemen

Have a thought about this episode? Let's chat

Adam shares what relocating to the UK to launch Squiz taught about first‑principles GTM, why partnerships beat cold starts, and how revenue flipped once distribution clicked.

He breaks down his whiteboard interview test, the red flags he screens for, and why resilience, values alignment, and coachability trump paper‑perfect CVs.

Now at SugarCRM, he explains why he hires builders over big‑brand sellers, how GTM can shape product, and the role networks play in attracting top talent and sustaining culture.

🎯 Our mission here at Bluebird Recruitment is to help connect talented professionals with thriving SaaS companies in Sales, Marketing, Customer Success, IT, and development.

🎙 Battle Scars of a Sales Leader Podcast:
https://www.youtube.com/@Bluebird-APAC/podcasts

🔥 Join this channel to never miss out
https://www.youtube.com/@Bluebird-APAC/featured

🔥 Shorts Playlist: 
https://www.youtube.com/@Bluebird-APAC/shorts

💡 A new approach to SaaS recruitment
https://bluebirdtalent.com.au

💡Thinking of expanding your SaaS business into the Australian?

📚 Download the Guide here
➡︎ https://bluebirdtalent.com.au/resources

Connect with James
➡︎ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbergl/
Connect with Adam
➡︎ https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamthefrank 
Host & Guest
➡︎ James Bergl (The Gentle Giant)
➡︎ Adam Frank 
Videographers/Editors: Romain Pondard/Klippable
➡︎ https://www.linkedin.com/in/romain-pondard
➡︎ https://www.klippable.com/

Have a thought about this episode? Let's chat

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of SaaS sales leadership in Australia with industry veteran Jamie Deveaux. 

With over 15 years of experience and multiple leadership roles, Jamie shares the principles that have allowed him to build a strong reputation and sustained success in a competitive market. 

"customer first, company second" and how this approach impacts sales success and employee happiness. 

Discover the critical need for a strong work ethic, the dangers of becoming a "commodity" in a market with over 3,500 vendors, and the three key metrics Jamie inspects to litmus test a business.

Whether you're an individual contributor or a seasoned sales leader, this episode provides invaluable lessons on navigating career growth, handling difficult situations, and what separates top talent from the rest.

Have a thought about this episode? Let's chat

In this insightful episode, we dive deep into the Australian SaaS market with Alex Wilson, author of a new paper for SaaS companies looking to expand into Australia. Alex shares his journey from London to Australia, highlighting the unique "barbell effect" of the Australian market, where 95% of companies are SMBs, while a small oligopoly of 5,000-6,000 enterprises drive 60% of SaaS revenue.

Learn about different sales motions for market entry, the importance of localization (especially regarding data sovereignty ), and why Australia is often a more accessible entry point into APAC compared to other regions. Discover the critical need for long-term commitment and local expertise , as Australia is a highly relationship-driven market where burning bridges can be detrimental.

Whether you're an international SaaS leader eyeing APAC or an Australian startup, this episode provides invaluable intelligence to define your go-to-market strategy.

🎯 Our mission here at Bluebird Recruitment is to help connect talented professionals with thriving SaaS companies in Sales, Marketing, Customer Success, IT, and development.

💡 A new approach to SaaS recruitment
https://bluebirdtalent.com.au

💡Thinking of expanding your SaaS business into the Australian?

📚 Download the Guide here
➡︎ https://bluebirdtalent.com.au/resources

Connect with James
➡︎ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbergl/
Connect with Alex
➡︎https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-wilson-69021945 
Host & Guest
➡︎ James Bergl (The Gentle Giant)
➡︎ Alex Wilson 
Videographers/Editors: Romain Pondard/Klippable
➡︎ https://www.linkedin.com/in/romain-pondard
➡︎ https://www.klippable.com/

Have a thought about this episode? Let's chat

James Bergl is join by Rosh Singh from Relevance AI, revealing how their "AI workforce" is empowring sales teams . Discover insights on building adaptable, resilient, and curious sales talent. 
A must-watch for leaders aiming to redefine growth through intelligent automation, scaling with the quality of ideas, not just headcount.

Have a thought about this episode? Let's chat

A masterclass in personal growth and sales leadership!

Alex Haddon shares her extraordinary journey from equine sciences to leading APAC sales for a billion tech unicorn. 

In this captivating episode, she reveals how her entrepreneurial spirit and adaptability propelled her through diverse industries to become a top performer in SaaS sales.

Learn how Alex leveraged her unique background to excel in the fast-paced world of tech startups.

#TechSales #CareerTransition #salesleadership 

🔍 In this episode you'll learn:
🔥 Career Pivoting: How to leverage diverse experiences for success in tech sales
💪 Scaling Teams: Insights on building and managing high-performing sales teams
💡 Global Expansion: Strategies for successfully entering and dominating APAC markets

Have a thought about this episode? Let's chat

Brian Swift is a dynamic tech leader who transitioned from hardware engineering at Samsung to influential product and go-to-market roles at major tech companies including Twitter, Atlassian, Safetyculture and Dovetail. 

He is now the CEO and co-founder of Twine, a SaaS business that connects the dots across customer calls, CRM, and roadmap to deliver crucial information to the right people when they need it most.

In this insightful conversation, Brian shares his evolution from engineering to product management and entrepreneurship, offering valuable perspectives on building successful tech products and teams.

Connect with James
➡︎ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbergl/
Connect with Brian Swift
➡︎ https://www.linkedin.com/in/brswift/

💡 Looking for a New Approach to SaaS Recruitment
➡︎ https://bluebirdrecruitment.com

Have a thought about this episode? Let's chat

James sits down with Andrew Morton to learn about his journey from a Nova Scotia farm to a cybersecurity sales leader, showing that success often comes from unexpected places. Starting with technical roles, he quickly discovered his talent for sales in the early 2000s.
Now as VP of Global Sales at DefenseX, Andrew has consistently turned difficult situations into opportunities for growth.
What makes Andrew's story special is his ability to adapt and grow in the fast-changing tech world. 
He's successfully moved from selling hardware to modern cloud services, always focusing on building genuine relationships with customers and partners. 
His approach combines old-fashioned values of honesty and hard work with modern business strategies.

Key Lessons:

• Success comes from being adaptable and willing to learn
• Technical knowledge combined with people skills creates unique advantages
• Authentic relationships matter more than fancy sales techniques
• Challenges can become opportunities with the right mindset
• Understanding both business and technology is valuable in today's market

Have a thought about this episode? Let's chat