Closing Conversations

Dave Sifry is the definition of a serial entrepreneur—founder of nine tech companies, from Technorati to Warm Start, and a former exec at Lyft and Reddit.

Dave’s built category-defining companies, worked inside some of tech’s biggest names, and now he’s helping others rediscover the power of their own networks—with the help of AI. Whether you’re a founder looking for your first 10 customers or a seller trying to hit quota without burning out, this one hits home.

 In this episode, we talk about:

* Why cold email is broken—and how to fix it

* Using AI to reawaken relationships, not replace them

* What most people get wrong about “being of service”

* How great sales still comes down to sincerity and timing

* The difference between outreach that’s clever and outreach that connects

🎙 Hosted by Max Notis | Learn more at comissionsales.com

Connect with us:

Dave Sifry: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dsifry/

Max Notis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxnotis/

CoMission: https://www.linkedin.com/company/comissionsales/

What happens when you let go of pressure, stop chasing the next thing, and start really living the work you’re doing?

Amos Schwartzfarb has led six companies, authored two books, advised hundreds of founders—and somehow still found the time to release a new indie rock single. He’s someone who’s learned (and earned) perspective, and in this episode, we get deep into it.

We talk about:

* Letting go of outcome obsession

* Why “being in sales” doesn’t mean selling

* The self-imposed pressure that sabotages performance

* Why sucking for a while is actually a superpower

* The mental habits that top performers build on purpose

This one’s for every founder, seller, or leader trying to stop white-knuckling their way through the journey and actually enjoy it.

🎙 Hosted by Max Notis | Learn more at comissionsales.com

Connect with us:

Amos Schwartzfarb: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amosschwartzfarb/

Max Notis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxnotis/

CoMission: https://www.linkedin.com/company/comissionsales/

In this episode of Closing Conversations, Max sits down with Yusuf Ongel, founder of XDRhub and self-proclaimed cold calling beast. With over 140,000 dials under his belt, Yusuf shares what most teams get wrong about sales development—and how to fix it.

They dig into:

* Why most SDRs fail (and what real enablement looks like)
* What’s changed in outbound over the past 5 years
* Why coaching is the job of sales leadership
* How cold calling is still the #1 channel—if you know how to use it

If you're hiring SDRs, building pipeline, or coaching reps—this one’s for you.

🎙 Hosted by Max Notis | Learn more at comissionsales.com

Connect with us:

Yusuf Ongel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yusufongel/

Max Notis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxnotis/

CoMission: https://www.linkedin.com/company/comissionsales/

Kristen Habacht has done it all—CSM, CRO, COO, and now CEO of Elly.ai. In this episode, we talk about:

• How product-led growth really works
• Why most hiring processes are totally broken
• The art of simple, honest marketing
• How great sellers don’t all come from Salesforce
• What it takes to scale a product that actually sells itself

Whether you’re a founder trying to build GTM from scratch or a seller figuring out where the industry’s headed, Kristen brings clarity, humor, and no-BS insight to all of it.

🎙 Hosted by Max Notis | Learn more at comissionsales.com

Connect with us:

Kristen Habacht: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-habacht-80288780/

Max Notis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxnotis/

CoMission: https://www.linkedin.com/company/comissionsales/

Ken Pouliot has led enterprise sales teams at Box, Gigya, Percolate, and SheerID—scaling revenue from $10M to $75M. In this episode, he joins Max to break down why most teams stall, what real enablement looks like, and how the best sellers stay relevant while the rest rely on shortcuts. No fluff. Just what it takes to win.

In this episode, we cover:
 – How AI is changing sales roles and startup strategy
 – Why real enablement (not onboarding theater) drives performance
 – The rise of RevOps and what great sales training actually looks like
 – How to cut through noise with personalization and active listening
 – What sales leaders are getting wrong about buyer behavior and churn
 – And why the best sellers still thrive—even in a world of shortcuts and confusion

Whether you’re launching a company or scaling one, this is a must-listen for anyone selling into uncertainty.

Connect with us:

Ken Pouliot: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-pouliot-244b7b1/

Max Notis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxnotis/

CoMission: https://www.linkedin.com/company/comissionsales/

Bryan Lemster has advised hundreds of startups across AI, blockchain, wearable tech, and beyond. But he’s not interested in buzzwords—he backs companies solving real problems for real people.

In this episode, we cover:

•  How to succeed in founder-led sales
• Why social proof should be your GTM backbone
• What happens when startups chase the wrong ICP
• When to flex your roadmap for big-name clients—and when to walk
• How macro-economic conditions shape product success
• And Bryan’s wild (but deeply practical) vision for MirrorNet, a hyper-personalized hotel experience powered by biodata.

Whether you’re launching a company or scaling one, this is a must-listen for anyone selling into uncertainty.

Connect with us:

Bryan Lemster: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-lemster-5252b41/

Max Notis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxnotis/

CoMission: https://www.linkedin.com/company/comissionsales/

In this no-BS conversation, host Max Notis sits down with Deepak Srivastava, co-founder of Sunrise AI, to unpack the art—and the necessity—of founder-led sales. Dive into the “Wild West” of scaling where your first round of funding means nothing without real market validation. Learn how to:

🔥 Presell before you code – use customer conversations as your R&D lab.

🤫 Listen 70% of the time – measure airtime, not buzzwords, to unearth raw pain points.

🤝 Be a missionary, not a mercenary – build trust with brutal transparency, not fake-it-’til-you-make-it hype.

Whether you’re pre-product or plotting your next growth leap, Deepak’s battle stories from Dropbox to Porter & Sale will show you why the heartbeat of every startup is in the founder’s own sales pitch—and why outsourcing that relationship is a death knell. Tune in for candid tactics on turning your vision into revenue—and keeping the magic alive as you scale.

Linkedin:

Deepak Shrivastava: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deepak-shrivastava-3baa12/

Connect with me:
Max Notis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxnotis/

CoMission: https://www.linkedin.com/company/comissionsales/

In this episode of Closing Conversations, Max Notis is joined by Josh Epstein, who has scaled revenue to over $200M across roles at VMware, HashiCorp, and now as CRO at Coder — but what makes him stand out isn’t just the numbers. It’s how he leads. Josh deepdives on what great revenue leadership really looks like: from gut-check accountability tools (“If I get defensive, they’re probably right”), to hiring with integrity, to creating a culture where sellers feel safe to speak up and motivated to win. They cover the red weddings, the rebuilds, and the reality of running a GTM org that doesn’t implode under pressure.

If you lead sales, want to lead sales, or are hiring someone who does — this one’s for you.

Linkedin:

Josh Epstein: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-epstein-5783aa/

Connect with me:
Max Notis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxnotis/

CoMission: https://www.linkedin.com/company/comissionsales/

In this episode of Closing Conversations, Max Notis is joined by Rob Gibbons, a seasoned sales leader who remains deeply involved in the day-to-day sales processes. Rob shares insights from his journey scaling teams, leading companies through transformational growth, and coaching sales reps. They discuss the importance of leading from the front, the nuances of effective coaching at scale, and the crucial 'pipeline gut check' that ensures deal closings. With practical advice on building relationships, handling enterprise sales, and fostering a loyal, high-performing sales team, this conversation is a must-listen for founders, sales leaders, and reps alike. 

Linkedin:
Rob Gibbons: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertgibbonsonline/

Connect with me:
Max Notis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxnotis/
CoMission: https://www.linkedin.com/company/comissionsales/

In this episode of Closing Conversations, Max Notice sits down with Tiffany Slowinski, CEO of Team Spark Advisors, to discuss the keys to hiring and leading top-performing sales teams. Tiffany shares her expertise on using data-driven tools like Culture Index to ensure the right hires, and emphasizes the importance of personalized management styles to retain and empower employees. The discussion covers practical strategies for effective sales leadership, including persistence, coaching, and fostering a collaborative team environment. If you’re building a team—or trying to join the right one—this one’s for you.

Linkedins:

Tiffany Slowinski: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffanyslowinski/

Connect with me:
Max Notis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxnotis/

CoMission: https://www.linkedin.com/company/comissionsales/