Front Porch Confidential

What do golf course design, yoga-at-lunch job interviews, and Excel wizardry have in common?

They all led us to pre-sales. 😉

In this episode of Front Porch Confidential, we’re sharing the real stories behind how we each pivoted into tech — from corporate finance and supply chain planning to retail and entrepreneurship — and what surprised us most about life in pre-sales.

We get into:
✨ The messy, non-linear career paths that got us here
✨ The expectations vs. reality of working in tech
✨ Imposter syndrome (yep, it’s real)
✨ Why pre-sales is the best-kept secret in technology
✨ And whether we’d ever go back to industry… or jump into sales

If you’ve ever wondered how to break into pre-sales — or you’re quietly plotting your own career pivot — this one’s for you.

Pour a glass (wine, coffee, or water 😉) and come sit with us on the porch. Cheers.

We’re officially in the matchmaking business. This Valentine’s Day episode of Front Porch Confidential leans into the idea that presales isn’t about demos first—it’s about connection, chemistry, and knowing when something just isn’t a fit.

Jess, Dani, and Emily unpack what makes women especially strong matchmakers in presales: emotional intelligence, curiosity, situational awareness, and the ability to read what’s not being said. They talk red flags (AI unicorns, demo-first requests, and zero urgency), the difference between prospect lust and real deal love, and how to handle breakups, recycled opportunities, and champions who actually have influence.

Along the way, things get delightfully off the rails with dating metaphors, toxic ex-solutions, discovery as the real first date, and a bonus segment on Valentine’s traditions—featuring French pastries, pizza rituals, chalky candy hearts, and the infamous French hotel sleeping arrangements.

If you work in presales, sales, or just love a good analogy-driven conversation about business and relationships, this one’s for you. Cheers, and happy Valentine’s Day. 💕

It’s happy hour on the Front Porch, and that means the rules are loose, the drinks are poured, and the questions are… dangerous. In this lighter, laugh-out-loud episode, Dani, Jess, and Emily play a game of Would You Rather—professionally appropriate(ish), occasionally existential, and absolutely unhinged in the best way.

From four-day workweeks vs. months off, to confidence vs. patience, to talking to animals (pandas included) or speaking every language in the world, the conversation quickly veers from work-life philosophy into deep life questions, ridiculous hypotheticals, and a surprising amount of self-reflection. There’s banter about airplanes, middle seats, hot toddies, retirement dreams, emotions, regret, memory, creativity, and what you’d do with ten lifetimes (or one very long one).

Expect:

• Zero structure, maximum chaos

• Thoughtful answers followed by immediate side quests

• Gentle roasting, big feelings, and very strong opinions

• Proof that “Would You Rather” reveals way more about people than intended

This episode is pure Front Porch energy: candid, funny, slightly inappropriate, and deeply human. Perfect for a commute, a walk, or your own happy hour—just don’t be surprised if your cheeks hurt from laughing.

Pull up a chair, grab a drink, and play along. Cheers! 🥂

Storytelling isn’t just a “nice to have” in pre-sales — it’s the difference between clicking through features and actually moving people. In this episode of Front Porch Confidential, Emily, Jess, and Dani dig into the how of storytelling: what it looks like in real demos, how to structure it, and why the best stories make the customer the hero (not the product).

Building on last week’s conversation about why storytelling works, FPC gets practical and honest. They break down frameworks like Problem–Action–Result (PAR) loops, Tell–Show–Tell, and callbacks to discovery, share tips for pivoting when a demo goes sideways, and explain how to keep stories flexible enough to survive interruptions, curveballs, and that one person who always derails the meeting.

Along the way, they cover:

• Why scripted demos can backfire (and when they help)

• How Olympic commentators are secretly great storytellers

• The Wizard of Oz as a masterclass in narrative structure

• Making customers the hero — and why that creates real champions

• How to talk about AI without dropping it like a glitter bomb

It’s candid, practical, and full of real-world examples from women who live this work every day. Whether you’re in pre-sales, sales, or just want to be more persuasive in the room, this episode will help you turn demos into stories people actually remember.

Grab your coffee (or hot toddy), pull up a chair, and join us on the Front Porch. 🥂

In this episode of Front Porch Confidential, we dig into one of the most important, and most overlooked, skills in presales: storytelling. Why does it matter so much? Why do some demos stick while others completely fall flat? And how does a good story turn a product walkthrough into a moment where buyers can actually see themselves using your solution?

Jess, Dani, and Emily break down what storytelling really means in the context of software demos, sales conversations, and everyday communication. Drawing from real buyer experiences, awkward demos gone wrong, and plenty of laughs, they explore how moving beyond feature-and-function click paths creates connection, trust, and memorability.

You’ll hear:

• Why traditional “click-by-click” demos fail (and what works instead)

• How storytelling helps buyers become the hero of their own journey

• The neuroscience behind storytelling (let's get science-y)

• Why emotion drives decisions, and logic just backs them up

• How stories help champions sell internally and stand out in crowded vendor bake-offs

• Why great storytelling keeps people engaged (especially on Zoom)

Plus, they touch on customer success stories, discovery-driven narratives, objection pivots, and how storytelling shows buyers you truly understand their pain.

Whether you’re in presales, sales, tech, or just trying to communicate more effectively, this episode makes the case that storytelling isn’t fluff, it’s a superpower.

Grab a drink, pull up a chair on the porch, and join us. Part two on how to tell better stories is coming next.

AI is everywhere—from customer conversations to RFPs to social media—and it’s raising a big question in presales and tech: is it coming for our jobs, or making us better at them?

In this episode of Front Porch Confidential, Jess, Dani, and Emily dig into the real, day-to-day impact of AI on presales roles and beyond. They talk honestly about fear vs. opportunity, job displacement vs. job evolution, and why empathy, storytelling, and human judgment still matter more than ever.

You’ll hear:

• Whether AI is actually replacing presales and sales roles (or just changing them)

• How they’re really using AI at work today: RFPs, demo prep, discovery summaries, and more

• The risks of over-reliance on AI (hello, critical thinking skills)

• What “vibe coding” is and why it matters

• Concerns about junior roles, career pipelines, and company culture

• Fun real-life uses of AI, from baking science to DIY bookshelf plans

Pull up a chair on the porch and join the conversation.

Kick off the new year with the Front Porch Confidential crew as Dani, Jess, and Emily get real about goals, growth, and gratitude—in work and in life. From debating New Year’s resolutions vs. meaningful goals to sharing what they’re thankful for in their presales careers, this episode is equal parts reflective, funny, and honest. The trio talks leadership lessons, accountability (including a shared learning goal 👀), navigating overwhelm during the holidays, and designing a life that actually works for you. Plus, expect some classic Front Porch banter: weather envy, introvert corners, holiday drink choices, and a spirited debate about The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Grab a glass, pull up a chair, and join us on the porch as we close out one year and look ahead to what’s next—for women in tech, presales, and beyond. Cheers to the journey and happy new year! 🎉

In this episode, Dani, Jess, and Emily explore the idea of “job hugging”—staying in a role because it feels safe, even when it’s no longer serving your growth. We break down how to recognize the signs, why so many women in tech fall into this pattern, and practical steps to move forward with confidence.

Pull up a chair and pour yourself something festive, it’s our Holiday Happy Hour! In this laid-back episode, we swap stories about favorite holiday cookies, cherished (and chaotic) family traditions, and the very real stress that tends to sneak in this time of year.

Whether you’re wrapping gifts, baking one more batch of cookies, or stressing about holiday meals, this episode is your reminder that you’re not alone, and it’s okay if the holidays aren’t perfect.

In this episode, Dani, Jess, and Emily dive into McKinsey’s Women in the Workplace 2025 report and unpack what the data reveals about ambition, burnout, leadership, and stalled progress toward equity. We explore how traditional definitions of success often fail women, why many are rethinking promotions and leadership paths, and what success truly means to us. Join us as we challenge outdated norms, reflect on lived experiences, and redefine what thriving at work can look like for women today.