82: Maranda Dziekonski - When selling never ends - CS in 2024 and beyond
Customer success and it's shifting role to be closer to revenue
Maranda Dziekonski on the evolving landscape of customer success, the importance of driving value for customers, and owning revenue outcomes for a function that traditionally never has. Like product.
Why the traditional role of it is shifting to a more integrated approach, and how this works when “the sale never ends.”
We discuss the complexities of customer success, the impact of budget constraints on customer retention, and the importance of understanding customer churn.
What it means to build around mission-critical services and having the correct timing to introduce customer success to a company. How does sales compensation integrate with customer success actions, and how can we transition customers smoothly between sales and customer success?
What do “Head of” titles mean if anything?
Without a doubt, it is one of my favorite episodes I have ever recorded.
takeaways
The role of customer success is evolving to include revenue ownership.
Customer success can be seen as an extension of sales but with a different approach.
The sale never truly ends; it's an ongoing relationship.
Customer success leaders need to demonstrate their impact on revenue.
Customer success should be integrated into product development.
Sales compensation should align with customer success goals.
Sound Bites
"Own revenue outcomes."
"The sale never ends."
"A ‘head of’ is a lawyer for their function."
Chapters
06:46 The Evolution of Customer Success
13:48 Revenue Ownership in Customer Success
19:57 The NPS Debate: Metrics and Insights
28:21 Understanding Customer Churn and Budget Constraints
31:08 The Role of Customer Success in B2B SaaS
33:59 When to Introduce Customer Success Management
36:14 Sales Compensation and Customer Success Integration
39:37 The Importance of Smooth Handoffs in Customer Success
40:34 Connecting Product Usage Data to Sales
45:22 Navigating Titles: Head of vs. VP in Organizations
Audio:
Youtube:
Connect!
Leah’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahtharin/
Maranda’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marandaanndziekonski/
Season 4 of the Product Tea
We spill the tea on how to Go to Market through Product-led Sales and Product-led Growth in B2B and the realities of senior leadership.