Revenue Remix - Inspiring Visionary Leaders

In this episode of Revenue Remix, hosted by Summer Poletti, Founder and CRO of Rise of Us, we are joined by Danny Bicknell—educator, international activist, and author of The Restorative Rebel. Together, they delve into Danny's experiences as the founder of Dab Colab, her work advocating at UN organizations, and her dedication to fostering more inclusive, sustainable workplaces. The discussion covers the evolving landscape of leadership, the influence of internalized capitalism, and the benefits of empathetic leadership in driving sustainable growth. Danny shares insights from her book, strategic undervalued leadership, and the importance of radical empathy in business. Tune in for practical strategies that challenge traditional metrics of success and promote a more holistic approach to revenue growth.

Find Dani...everywhere!

* Website

* Linkedin

* Read her newsletter

* Check out her book

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome01:45 Early Career and Surprising Jobs03:08 Challenging Traditional Leadership03:30 The Restorative Rebel: Book Insights08:43 Empathy and Inclusive Leadership19:32 Sustainable Business Practices33:24 Measuring Success Beyond Profit38:20 Self-Care and Work-Life Balance40:59 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Join Summer Poletti as she hosts John Mason-Smith (JMS) on Revenue Remix. JMS is a serial entrepreneur and he shares insights into his diverse entrepreneurial journey, from his early days and discover the lessons learned from his various ventures, including creative projects like the 'Half Suit,' the challenges faced in the payroll industry, and his successful launch of HireWith. Tune in to explore how JMS navigates the entrepreneurial landscape, adapts to market changes, and continually seeks new opportunities for growth.

• Connect with JMS on LinkedIn
• Check out his companies

Related Resources & Links:

• Blog Post: Secret to B2B Revenue Growth: Identifying Client Needs and Serving Them Better Than Anyone Else
• AI-powered Sales Playbook: RiseAI Sales Accelerator

Show notes:

• Connect with Summer on LinkedIn
• Visit Rise of Us for more information about Summer's services or to guest on the show and share your insights
• Episode recorded and edited using Descript
• Repurposed content, such as this description created using CastMagic

00:00 Introduction to Revenue Remix
01:06 Meet John Mason Smith
01:20 John's Early Career and Fun Jobs
03:43 Journey into Entrepreneurship
04:56 The Birth of Frankenstein PC Repair
06:03 From College to Tampa, Florida
06:51 Challenges and Lessons in Sales
11:07 The Half Suit and Other Ventures
16:51 Starting a Payroll Company
23:25 The Rise of HireWith
27:44 Transition to National Account Sales
28:03 The Glue of Astro Acquisitions
28:54 Challenges in Talent Acquisition
30:17 Preserving Industry Knowledge
31:59 The Caché Experience
33:11 Specialized Skills in Payroll
34:56 Summer's Entrepreneurial Journey
36:32 Fractional Sales Leadership
42:04 Work-Life Balance Debate
48:58 The Importance of Job Satisfaction
51:43 Recruitment Realities
55:22 Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit summerpoletti.substack.com

Bridging the AI Gap in B2B Sales: A New Program Unveiled

In this episode of Revenue Remix, host Summer introduces a new program designed to address common business challenges, particularly in the realm of AI and sales. Summer shares insights into the inspiration behind the program, emphasizing the importance of partnerships, personalization, and strategic use of AI tools. Key issues such as administrative burdens on salespeople, the need for dynamic sales playbooks, and the pitfalls of generic AI-generated content are discussed. The episode provides a sneak peek into how the program can make sales processes more efficient and accessible, with Summer offering beta seats for early adopters. Tune in to explore the intersection of AI and sales and see how it can solve real business challenges.

Learn More

Show notes:

• Connect with Summer on LinkedIn
• Episode recorded and edited using Descript
• Repurposed content, such as this description created using CastMagic

00:00 Welcome to Revenue Remix
00:16 Introducing the New Program
01:45 The AI Gap in Business
02:37 Salespeople and Administrative Work
04:19 Challenges with Generic Outreach
06:54 The Problem with Sales Playbooks
12:38 Balancing AI and Human Touch
15:58 Making Sales Training Accessible
17:14 Conclusion and Next Steps

In this episode of the Revenue Remix podcast, hosted by Summer Poletti, we delve into the impact of AI on the future of work. Summer is joined by Fleur Prince, co-founder of the AI Insights podcast and AI community builder, who shares her unique journey from the army to AI and her role in fostering young AI leaders. The episode explores the importance of adapting to technological advancements, ethical AI usage, and the evolving work environment, especially from a Gen Z perspective. Fleur emphasizes the need for human-AI collaboration and continuous learning to stay relevant in the rapidly changing job market. The discussion also highlights the significance of ethical considerations and the necessity of upskilling workers to ensure they remain valuable contributors in an AI-driven world.

• Connect with Fleur on LinkedIn
• Check out AI Insights podcast

Related Resources & Links:

• Blog Post: Leveraging AI to accelerate B2B sales
• AI-powered smart sales playbook program

Show notes:

• Connect with Summer on LinkedIn
• Visit Rise of Us for more information about Summer's services or to guest on the show and share your insights
• Episode recorded and edited using Descript
• Repurposed content, such as this description created using CastMagic

00:00 Introduction to Revenue Remix
00:58 Meet Fleur Prince: AI Enthusiast and Community Builder
01:55 Summer's Journey into AI
03:20 Fleur's Unexpected Path from Army to AI
08:24 The Future of Work and AI
14:20 Responsible AI Use and Ethical Considerations
24:43 Fleur's Podcast and Community Work
27:58 Balancing Work and Life: Fleur's Passion for Travel
29:57 Conclusion and How to Connect with Fleur

Customer Success: Protecting Your Value During Tight Budgets

In this bonus mini pod, we discuss the importance of maintaining value in customer relationships, especially when clients are looking to cut costs. Learn how customer success strategies can prevent your services from being replaced by cheaper alternatives and ensure you are not simply viewed as a line item in a budget.

And learn how companies of any size, with any budget, can incorporate a customer success strategy.

Related Resources & Links:

• 2025 Predictions - what the future-focused CEO will master
• Podcast: Turning Client Success into a Competitive Advantage

Show notes:

• Connect with Summer on LinkedIn
• Visit Rise of Us for more information about Summer's services or to guest on the show and share your insights
• Episode recorded and edited using Descript
• Repurposed content, such as this description created using CastMagic

The economy is shifting—so what does that mean for business leaders? In this episode of Revenue Remix, I revisit my 2025 predictions and reflect on what’s changed in just a few months. If you’re a future-focused CEO, now isn’t the time to retreat—it’s time to pivot. I’ll break down the three key adjustments leaders should make in sales, marketing, and customer success to protect revenue and gain market share while competitors pull back.

We’re not here to panic—we’re here to play smarter. Tune in to hear how top business leaders are navigating uncertainty, plus actionable strategies you can implement today.

🎧 Listen now to get ahead of the curve and future-proof your revenue!

Related Resources & Links:

• 2025 Predictions - what the future-focused CEO will master
• Organizational Alignment - 6 hacks to unlock growth in 2025

Show notes:

• Connect with Summer on LinkedIn
• Visit Rise of Us for more information about Summer's services or to guest on the show and share your insights
• Episode recorded and edited using Descript
• Repurposed content, such as this description created using CastMagic

How do small businesses cover payroll when cash flow gets tight?

In this episode of Revenue Remix, I sit down with Morris Reichman, Founder of Payro, and Greg Javins, Director of Strategic Partnerships, to unpack a common but rarely discussed challenge: businesses struggling to make payroll—and how Payro is solving it.

We cover:
 ✅ How Morris stumbled onto this problem and built a company around it
 ✅ Why many payroll service providers resist change (and how Payro overcomes it)
 ✅ The psychology behind cash flow management and payroll stress
 ✅ How Payro partners with payroll bureaus to ensure businesses never miss payroll
 ✅ Smart funding strategies for businesses looking to stay ahead

If you’re a business owner, financial services pro, or just someone who loves a great founder story, you won’t want to miss this one.

🔗 Listen now and learn how to keep your payroll running—no stress required.

Related Resources & Links:

• Follow Morris and Greg on Linkedin
• Learn more about Payro's payroll funding for small businesses.

Show notes:

• Connect with Summer on LinkedIn
• Visit Rise of Us for more information about Summer's services or to guest on the show and share your insights
• Episode recorded and edited using Descript
• Repurposed content, such as this description created using CastMagic

🎙️ "AI Won’t Close the Deal for You—But Here’s How It Can Help"

AI is everywhere in sales—automating emails, tracking engagement, and surfacing leads. But let’s be clear: AI doesn’t close deals. Humans do.

In this episode of Revenue Remix, I break down:
🚀 Where AI helps—and where it backfires.
🚨 The biggest AI sales mistakes I’ve seen firsthand.
✅ 5 AI + HI plays that top sales teams are using to win more deals.

💡 The truth? AI should be your thought partner, not your sales rep. The best sales teams aren’t just using AI to move faster—they’re using it to work smarter.

If you’re not testing AI + HI in your sales process, you’re already behind.

Related Resources & Links:

• Mini Pod: Is Outbound Dead? Why you might think so and what you can do to fix it
• Get the complete AI+HI B2B Sales Guide
• Be the first to read a case study exploring a recent client success
• Apply for early access to our Smart Sales Playbook program - available to the public for the first time!

Show notes:

• Connect with Summer on LinkedIn
• Visit Rise of Us for more information about Summer's services or to guest on the show and share your insights
• Episode recorded and edited using Descript
• Repurposed content, such as this description created using CastMagic

AI is transforming marketing and sales—but how do you use it effectively without losing the human touch? In this episode of Revenue Remix, I sit down with Jenny Kay Pollock, fractional CMO and founder of Women X AI, to dive into the power of AI in revenue growth, marketing strategy, and business scaling.

We explore:
✅ How AI is revolutionizing pricing strategies & go-to-market plans
✅ Why business leaders hesitate to adopt AI—and how to start
✅ The biggest mistakes companies make when trying to scale
✅ Where AI stops and human intuition takes over

Plus, Jenny shares how Women X AI is helping leaders upskill and navigate the AI revolution. Tune in for an insightful, practical, and fun conversation!

Related Resources & Links:

• Connect with Jenny Kay Pollock on LinkedIn
• Learn about Women X AI

Show notes:

• Connect with Summer on LinkedIn
• Visit Rise of Us for more information about Summer's services or to guest on the show and share your insights
• Episode recorded and edited using Descript
• Repurposed content, such as this description created using CastMagic

Maximizing Trade Show ROI: How to Align Sales & Marketing for Conference Success

Trade shows can be a huge investment—flights, booths, sponsorships, team expenses—but are you getting the ROI you expect? Too often, companies walk away with a pile of business cards and no real results.

In this episode of Revenue Remix, I sit down with Amy Silberman from Do What Works to break down a smarter approach. We talk about:
✔ Why trade show planning should start 6-12 months in advance
✔ How to create a seamless pre-, mid-, and post-show marketing strategy
✔ What most companies get wrong about sales follow-up (and how to fix it)
✔ The role of landing pages, email sequences, and content in your conference strategy
✔ Practical steps to align sales and marketing to turn event leads into actual revenue

If you’re attending conferences this year and want to make sure they drive real business outcomes, this episode is for you.

Related Resources & Links:

• Related Blog: 8 Conference Season Tactics That Will Drive Higher ROI
• Book a Free 15-Minute Consultation (Let’s assess your process & find quick wins!)

Show notes:

• Connect with Summer on LinkedIn
• Visit Rise of Us for more information about Summer's services or to guest on the show and share your insights
• Episode recorded and edited using Descript
• Repurposed content, such as this description created using CastMagic