The Disruptive Leader

The Disruptive Leader

By Ranya B ✨BusinessEntrepreneurship
Download on the App Store

The Disruptive Leader episodes

  • Unlocking Growth with Kieran Krohn

    In this episode of The Disruptive Leader podcast, host Ranya sits down with Kieran Krohn, ex-HubSpot Heavy Hitter and current Head of Growth at ScaleStation.

    Kieran shares his journey from top-performing sales champion to systems optimization guru, offering invaluable insights on scaling businesses, leveraging AI, and bridging the gap between sales and service delivery.

    Key Topics:

    1. Kieran's transition from HubSpot to ScaleStation
    2. The secrets behind becoming a top sales performer
    3. The "50% potential gap" in business operations
    4. Leveraging AI in sales and business processes
    5. Insights from hosting the Growth Unlocked podcast
    6. Common mistakes in HubSpot implementation
    7. The future of CRM systems and potential disruptions

      8. Notable Quotes:

      • "Sales is just human-to-human conversations." - Kieran Krohn
      • "Spend time with your people... sit with them for a day and just observe." - Kieran Krohn on identifying wasted resources
      • "AI is an assistant that doesn't take sick leave, never complains, works for you 24/7, doesn't ask for a pay rise." - Kieran Krohn

        • Key Takeaways:

        1. Understand your entire revenue cycle and identify friction points
        2. Invest in building a solid brand for long-term success
        3. Focus on delivering value quickly to maintain customer satisfaction and prevent churn

          4. Listener Challenge:

          Spend time observing your customer-facing teams to identify potential inefficiencies and opportunities for improvement in your business processes.

          Resources Mentioned:

          • HubSpot
          • ScaleStation
          • Fireflies (call recording software)
          • Growth Unlocked podcast

            • Connect with Kieran on LinkedIn

            We hope you enjoyed this episode of The Disruptive Leader podcast.

            Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review to help others find our show!

            29 min
          • From Introverted Engineer to Sales Powerhouse: Jose's Unlikely Journey

            In this eye-opening episode, host Ranya sits down with Jose, a former top 1% sales performer at HubSpot and current Sales Manager at Datadog. Jose shares his remarkable journey from an introverted engineer to a sales powerhouse, offering valuable insights for introverts in extroverted fields and anyone looking to excel in a competitive sales environment.

            Key Topics Covered:

            1. Jose's background as an introverted engineer and his transition to business and sales
            2. The challenges of leaving comfort zones and making significant career changes
            3. Strategies for excelling in competitive sales environments
            4. Coaching extroverted salespeople as an introvert
            5. Self-care techniques for introverts in high-energy professions

              6. Key Takeaways:

              1. The importance of minimizing future regret when making big career decisions
              2. The three levels of sales performance: standard, top 20%, and top 1%
              3. How breaking the playbook and doing something different can lead to exceptional results
              4. The power of coaching and empowering others to multiply your impact
              5. Practical self-care strategies for introverts, including short meditation breaks

                6. Memorable Quotes:

                "To be like a standard performer at a company... you have to do the things that are in the playbook, and you have to do them well." - Jose

                "1% requires doing something different. So you break the playbook a little bit, and you do something that no one else is doing." - Jose

                "Now I know it's something that I need. I'm taking care of myself, and it's going to help me be more effective and productive in my job." - Jose on his self-care strategies

                Resources Mentioned:

                1. "Quiet" by Susan Cain (book on introversion)
                2. Calm app for meditation

                  3. Listener Challenge:

                  Try incorporating short meditation breaks into your workday, even if it's just 2-3 minutes of focused breathing. Notice how it affects your energy and performance.

                  Connect with Jose on LinkedIn

                  25 min
                3. From Sales Strategies to Self-Discovery: A Raw Conversation with Mauricio

                  In this candid and deeply personal episode, host Ranya sits down with Mauricio, a tech industry veteran with experience at HubSpot and various startups.

                  The conversation takes an unexpected turn, diving into topics ranging from go-to-market strategies to mental health, offering listeners a rare glimpse into the human side of entrepreneurship and personal growth.

                  Key Points:

                  1. Mauricio's current focus is on advising startups and his new venture, SaaS Murray
                  2. The importance of purpose-driven leadership in today's business landscape
                  3. Insights on effective go-to-market strategies and the concept of "grow the market."
                  4. The role of AI in modern business operations and decision-making
                  5. A raw discussion on mental health challenges in the tech industry
                  6. The need for a more human-centric approach in business relationships

                    7. Quotes:

                    • "Don't let your ego blindside you. Because it will kick you in the butt." - Mauricio
                    • "I think that from a productive standpoint... it's all of these things automating and taking care of all of these operational things that surround the conversation that is not the conversation itself." - Mauricio on AI in business

                      • Timestamps:

                      [00:00] Introduction and catching up with Mauricio
                      [05:30] Discussion on go-to-market strategies and ego in business
                      [12:45] The role of AI in modern business operations
                      [18:20] Exploring the human element in tech and startups
                      [25:30] Maurizio's personal story and mental health discussion
                      [35:00] The importance of therapy and self-discovery
                      [40:15] Closing thoughts and future episode teaser

                      Resources Mentioned:

                      • Book: "The Five Levels of Leadership"
                      • Book: "The Innovator's Dilemma"

                        • If you're struggling with mental health issues, remember you're not alone.

                        If you want to connect with Contact Mauricio, you can reach out through LinkedIn

                        Stay tuned for our follow-up conversation with Mauricio, in which we'll explore the concept of a human-centric approach to business and relationships.

                        44 min
                      • The Global Tech Nomad: Embracing Neurodiversity with Izzy

                        In this episode of "The Disruptive Leader," Ranya sits down with Izzy, a globally seasoned entrepreneur and software engineer, to discuss his unique journey across the tech world and his recent ADHD and autism diagnosis at age 52.

                        Key topics covered:

                        1. Izzy's global work experience spans multiple continents and cultures
                        2. The transition from software engineering to entrepreneurship
                        3. Managing a distributed team across three continents and 11 time zones
                        4. Transforming businesses with customer-centric CRM solutions
                        5. Izzy's late-in-life neurodiversity diagnosis and its impact on his career
                        6. The challenges and advantages of being a neurodivergent leader
                        7. The future of remote work and distributed teams
                        8. The importance of AI tools in modern business efficiency
                        9. Self-awareness and personal growth in entrepreneurship

                          10. Notable quotes:

                          • "CRM is not a technology. It's not a platform. I see CRM as a business process."
                          • "Finding out [about being neurodivergent] was more like finding a missing piece in a puzzle."
                          • "Your business can only grow as much as you. So if you stop growing, your business won't grow."

                            • Izzy shares valuable insights on adapting to different cultural approaches to problem-solving, the benefits and challenges of managing a global team, and how his neurodivergent perspective has shaped his entrepreneurial journey. He also advises maintaining self-awareness and the importance of continuous learning and adaptation in the ever-changing business landscape.

                            This episode provides a unique perspective on global entrepreneurship, neurodiversity in leadership, and the future of work in the tech industry.

                            49 min
                          • The Inbound Revolution 2.0: Purpose-Driven Profits with Dan Tyre

                            Join us for an energetic and insightful conversation with Dan Tyre, a 17-year veteran of HubSpot and co-author of "Inbound Organization."

                            In this episode, Dan shares his wealth of experience and passion for the inbound methodology, exploring how it has transformed business practices and customer relationships.

                            Key highlights include:

                            1. The evolution of inbound marketing to a holistic inbound organization approach
                            2. The importance of treating people as humans in business interactions
                            3. Why helping before selling is crucial in today's market
                            4. The power of finding your niche and excelling in it
                            5. How customer experience has become the ultimate differentiator
                            6. Insights on purpose-driven business and servant leadership

                              7. Dan peppers the conversation with entertaining anecdotes from his extensive career, from cold-calling days to speaking engagements worldwide.

                              He also touches on the impact of emerging technologies like self-driving cars and AI on business and society.

                              Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur, a marketing professional, or someone interested in the future of business, this episode offers valuable takeaways on creating more human-centric, purposeful, and successful organizations.

                              Dan's infectious enthusiasm and commitment to "doing more good for the universe" will inspire you to implement these principles in your work.

                              Don't miss this engaging discussion, which blends practical business advice with a heartfelt approach to positively impacting the world.

                              27 min
                            7. From Detained to Doctor: Empowering Voices in Leadership with Dr. V

                              In this compelling episode, we dive deep into the extraordinary journey of Dr. V, a leadership expert and author who defied all odds to transform her life from incarceration to empowerment.

                              Dr. V shares her raw, authentic story of resilience, from her experiences as a single mother and former stripper to becoming a respected doctor and advocating for workplace diversity.

                              Listen as Dr. V challenges conventional wisdom on hiring practices, team building, and workplace culture. She offers eye-opening insights on the value of diverse perspectives in driving innovation and boosting company profits.

                              With a blend of personal anecdotes and data-driven observations, Dr. V makes a powerful case for inclusivity as a key driver of business success.

                              Highlights include:

                              • The unexpected leadership lessons learned from unlikely experiences
                              • The critical role of social support in career advancement
                              • Practical strategies for creating more equitable and productive workplaces
                              • The importance of authenticity and "keeping it real" in professional settings
                              • How companies can rethink employee benefits to truly support work-life balance

                                • Whether you're a business leader looking to build more effective teams or an individual seeking to navigate your career path, this episode offers valuable takeaways on harnessing diversity, overcoming adversity, and redefining success on your terms.

                                Join us for an inspiring conversation that will challenge your perspectives and motivate you to embrace your unique journey.


                                For more insights from Dr. V, check out her new book "Fix Your Face and Watch Your Tone: Women Know What's Needed" available on Amazon. In this compelling guide, Dr. V tackles equity challenges faced by marginalized communities, offering practical solutions for career success and personal fulfillment.

                                35 min

                              About The Disruptive Leader

                              From the publisher's feed

                              From braiding hair to breaking barriers, felonies to PhDs, and neurodivergent innovators crushing it - these aren't your typical success stories. Join Ranya for raw, unfiltered conversations with rebels redefining leadership on their terms.