Topline

E104: Tariffs, Turbulence, and Tough Calls: Operating in an Era of Economic Whiplash


Listen Later

What should founders and operators prioritize when the market swings 6% in a day? In this episode, Sam, Asad and AJ break down the fallout from historic tariff whiplash, trillion-dollar market swings, and the signals that separate resilient companies from risky bets. They debate:

  • Defensive moves vs. offensive plays: When to cut costs, when to lean into growth, and why “profitable efficiency” is the new mantra.
  • Customer psychology in chaos: Why “delay” is the word of the year—and how to combat it.
  • The global ripple effect: How geopolitical instability impacts hiring, pricing, and even brand perception for U.S. companies abroad.
  • AI, offshoring, and variable costs: Tactics to future-proof your team and margins.

Plus, live data from Pavilion’s pulse survey reveals how 56% of companies are already adjusting 2025 forecasts—and why the CEOs argue volatility isn’t going away. Whether you’re debating layoffs, M&A, or just how to sleep at night, this episode is your survival guide."

Thanks for tuning in! Want more content from Pavilion? 

You're invited! Join the free Topline Slack channel to connect with 600+ revenue leaders, share insights, and keep the conversation going beyond the podcast!

Subscribe to the Topline Newsletter to get the latest industry developments and emerging go-to-market trends delivered to your inbox every Thursday.

Tune into The Revenue Leadership Podcast with Kyle Norton every Wednesday. Kyle dives deep into the strategies and tactics that drive success for revenue leaders like Jason Lemkins of SaaStr, Stevie Case of Vanta, and Ron Gabrisko of Databricks.

Key Moments:

[01:19] – Market Volatility & Whiplash

[07:07] – Defensive Strategies for Volatile Times

[31:36] – Customer Psychology: Fighting "Delay" Mindset

[47:01] – People Strategy: Building a Resilient Team

[57:52] – Offensive Plays: When to Attack

[01:05:41] – Wins & Fails

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

ToplineBy Pavilion

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

52 ratings


More shows like Topline

View all
This Week in Startups by Jason Calacanis

This Week in Startups

1,281 Listeners

a16z Podcast by Andreessen Horowitz

a16z Podcast

1,044 Listeners

The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch by Harry Stebbings

The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch

521 Listeners

Pivot by New York Magazine

Pivot

9,278 Listeners

The Official SaaStr Podcast: SaaS | Founders | Investors by SaaStr

The Official SaaStr Podcast: SaaS | Founders | Investors

177 Listeners

Invest Like the Best with Patrick O'Shaughnessy by Colossus | Investing & Business Podcasts

Invest Like the Best with Patrick O'Shaughnessy

2,289 Listeners

Masters of Scale by WaitWhat

Masters of Scale

3,990 Listeners

The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway by Vox Media Podcast Network

The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway

5,425 Listeners

All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg by All-In Podcast, LLC

All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg

9,255 Listeners

30 Minutes to President's Club | No-Nonsense Sales by Armand Farrokh & Nick Cegelski

30 Minutes to President's Club | No-Nonsense Sales

389 Listeners

Grit by Kleiner Perkins

Grit

187 Listeners

Revenue Builders by Force Management

Revenue Builders

154 Listeners

BG2Pod with Brad Gerstner and Bill Gurley by BG2Pod

BG2Pod with Brad Gerstner and Bill Gurley

465 Listeners

Prof G Markets by Vox Media Podcast Network

Prof G Markets

1,166 Listeners

The Revenue Leadership Podcast with Kyle Norton by Topline

The Revenue Leadership Podcast with Kyle Norton

11 Listeners