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Listen "CS Skills: Presenting to leadership with Kristen Hayer, CEO @Success League"
Episode Synopsis
Welcome to Season 4 of SaaS Therapy. In this episode of SaaS Therapy, Todd Kirk and Casey Trujillo welcome Kristen Hayer, founder and CEO of Success League. Listen to explore Kristen's entrepreneurial journey, the importance of leadership and ownership in customer success, the role of influence and accountability in leadership, and best practices for presenting to executives.
Kristen shares her insights on how to effectively lead without formal authority and the skills necessary for influencing others in a business environment.
Takeaways
Ownership is crucial for effective leadership.
Influence can be learned and developed over time.
Accountability is essential for leaders to achieve results.
Being your own PR department is important for visibility.
Understanding your audience is key to effective presentations.
Visual clarity in presentations helps convey the message.
Preparing for tough questions is vital for success in meetings.
Prepare for board meetings by anticipating questions.
Practice presentations with a friendly coworker.
Executives appreciate clear, actionable ideas.
Curiosity helps manage defensiveness in discussions.
Understanding your audience is crucial for effective communication.
Listening to podcasts can enhance understanding of different roles.
Identify and nurture potential leaders within your team.
Content
00:00 Introduction
02:47 Kristen Hayer's Entrepreneurial Journey
05:56 Leadership and Ownership in Customer Success
11:52 Influence and Accountability in Leadership
18:00 Effective Presentations for Executives
23:32 Preparing for Board Meetings
28:08 The Importance of Curiosity in Conversations
30:37 Managing Emotions During Presentations
34:27 Understanding Your Audience
39:03 Developing Leadership Skills in Customer Success
Resources
Connect with Casey
Connect with Todd
Visit the show page
Get to know BrainStorm
Credits
Show direction: Debra Wilson
Show design: Kensie Smith
Show manager: Angela Allred
Kristen shares her insights on how to effectively lead without formal authority and the skills necessary for influencing others in a business environment.
Takeaways
Ownership is crucial for effective leadership.
Influence can be learned and developed over time.
Accountability is essential for leaders to achieve results.
Being your own PR department is important for visibility.
Understanding your audience is key to effective presentations.
Visual clarity in presentations helps convey the message.
Preparing for tough questions is vital for success in meetings.
Prepare for board meetings by anticipating questions.
Practice presentations with a friendly coworker.
Executives appreciate clear, actionable ideas.
Curiosity helps manage defensiveness in discussions.
Understanding your audience is crucial for effective communication.
Listening to podcasts can enhance understanding of different roles.
Identify and nurture potential leaders within your team.
Content
00:00 Introduction
02:47 Kristen Hayer's Entrepreneurial Journey
05:56 Leadership and Ownership in Customer Success
11:52 Influence and Accountability in Leadership
18:00 Effective Presentations for Executives
23:32 Preparing for Board Meetings
28:08 The Importance of Curiosity in Conversations
30:37 Managing Emotions During Presentations
34:27 Understanding Your Audience
39:03 Developing Leadership Skills in Customer Success
Resources
Connect with Casey
Connect with Todd
Visit the show page
Get to know BrainStorm
Credits
Show direction: Debra Wilson
Show design: Kensie Smith
Show manager: Angela Allred
More episodes of the podcast SaaS Therapy
The Quality of Your Questions: CS Secrets from the Trenches with Todd Kirk and Casey Trujillo
18/11/2025
Establishing New Success Metrics for Customer Education with Todd Kirk and Casey Trujillo
04/11/2025
The Evolution of Customer Success Strategies with Dan Steinman, Director @ Colson Fellows
28/10/2025
Your Network is Your Net Worth with Carson Heady, Managing Director of Americas @ Microsoft
21/10/2025
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