Ground Truth

Welcome to GroundTruth by Dogpatch Advisors, a podcast about company builders, leadership, and how operators use data to build the future of sales. To learn more, check out www.groundtruthpod.com [http://www.groundtruthpod.com] for other Ground Truth episodes and a deeper dive into each story. In this episode, we talk to Ash Fontana, technology investor and author of the book The AI-First Company. Growing up in Australia, Ash began his path studying law and finance, then quickly turned into the tech space in Silicon Valley. His learnings from investing, building and selling his own startup and being early at Angelist, are distilled into his practical book The AI-First Company. In this book, Ash presents a completely new form of competitive advantage through AI for any kind of business. Learn all about Ash’s book, his inspiration, the process behind it, and what he foresees for companies who adopt the AI-First model. Podcast Summary: 01:01 -  Who is Ash Fontana? Growing up in Australia with Jesuit education and public speaking as his foundation. 03:15 - Ash’s first tech companies: What he learned about handling data and how he went from law to full-time AI. 07:52 - The inspiration behind the book: How to put a completely new form of competitive advantage into actionable words, checklists, frameworks, and illustrations. 15:41 -  Data Leaning Effects and how to observe things at scale: Is there a potential for impactful dailies in this business model? 22:23 - Involving different experts in the process: How to build a culture and a feedback loop around the AI-First Model. 30:17 - What Ash hopes the book brings to people: Giving people the power of competitive advantage + Ash’s next book. Episode Resource: Find Ash on Twitter [https://twitter.com/ashfontana?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor]and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashfontana/?originalSubdomain=ch] The AI-First Company [https://www.theaifirstcompany.com/] The AI-First Company by Ash Fontana [https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Ash-Fontana/dp/0593330315/ref=sr_1_1?__mk_es_US=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=10TMVI6W40X7T&dchild=1&keywords=the+ai+first+company&qid=1632519033&sprefix=the+ai+first%2Caps%2C200&sr=8-1] Credits GroundTruth is a production of Dogpatch Advisors [https://www.dogpatchadvisors.com/]. This episode was written by Jack Buehrer from Campfire Labs, [https://campfirelabs.co/] sound engineering and studio space provided by TJ Bonaventura and Julian Lewis from StudioPod [https://studiopodsf.com/], editing and mixing by Nodalab, [http://www.nodalab.com] and video production by Nick Shaheen from Above Treeline Studios [https://www.abovetreelinestudios.com/].

Welcome to GroundTruth by Dogpatch Advisors, a podcast about company builders, leadership, and how operators use data to build the future of sales. To learn more, check out www.groundtruthpod.com [http://www.groundtruthpod.com] for other Ground Truth episodes and a deeper dive into each story. In this episode, we talk to Jeff Ma, current General Manager of Microsoft for Startups, to talk about his multidisciplinary background, his business journey, and his passion for startups and innovation. With a formation influenced by the pursuit of excellence, along with his natural gifts for math and science, Jeff has always managed to stay ahead of the curve, and has found a spot inside groundbreaking projects and startups time and time again. A legendary gambler and a role model for entrepreneurs, Jeff shares his success story. Listen now to learn how following your passion and making meaningful connections will always add up to the building of your own legacy. Podcast Summary: 0:44 - Jeff’s academic journey, multidisciplinary background, and his toe dip in the entrepreneurial waters. 8:30 - Bonding over blackjack, transforming a casino into a “working office”, and becoming a gambling superstar. 18:38 - A professional breakthrough: Jeff’s involvement in an ambitious sports business model, and the birth, “fail” and rebirth of PROTRADE. 28:55 - The cool kid in the company: On TenXer, the Twitter experience and why networking is invaluable. 33:10 - Jeff’s migration to Microsoft, the importance of taking “once in a lifetime” opportunities, and how to get rid of the Impostor Syndrome. 36:22 - On data innovation, the future of sales and how Microsoft serves startups. 39:53 - Jeff’s regrets, thoughts on his legacy and his hopes for the future. 40:50 - A brief discussion on Microsoft for Startups. Resources The House Advantage [https://www.amazon.com/House-Advantage-Playing-Odds-Business-ebook/dp/B003UES8U2/ref=sr_1_1?crid=28YHDU12AWSNC&dchild=1&keywords=the+house+advantage&qid=1604449901&sprefix=the+house+ad%2Caps%2C329&sr=8-1] by Jeff Ma Range [https://www.amazon.com/Range-David-Epstein-audiobook/dp/B07N6MPWLS/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=range+book&qid=1604449938&sr=8-1] by David Epstein Outliers [https://www.amazon.com/Outliers-Malcolm-Gladwell-audiobook/dp/B001LNK9C4/ref=sr_1_1?crid=AA1V7WC4FJWF&dchild=1&keywords=malcolm+gladwell+10000+hours&qid=1604450994&sprefix=malcom+gladwell+100%2Caps%2C209&sr=8-1] by Malcolm Gladwell Moneyball [https://www.amazon.com/Moneyball-Michael-Lewis-audiobook/dp/B005FFRQYS/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2B0H2Z3GMJCFN&dchild=1&keywords=moneyball&qid=1604451053&s=audible&sprefix=moneyball%2Caudible%2C231&sr=1-1] by Michael Lewis Smart People Podcast [https://www.smartpeoplepodcast.com/] with Marty Cagan Credits GroundTruth is a production of Dogpatch Advisors [https://www.dogpatchadvisors.com/]. This episode was written by Campfire Labs, [https://campfirelabs.co/] sound engineering and studio space provided by StudioPod [https://studiopodsf.com/] Media, editing and mixing by Nodalab, [http://www.nodalab.com]

Welcome to Ground Truth by Dogpatch Advisors, a podcast about company builders, leadership, and how operators use data to build the future of sales. Ground Truth is hosted by Mercy Bell alongside Kyle Williams and Ben Salzman. To learn more, check out www.groundtruthpod.com [http://www.groundtruthpod.com/] or dogpatch.com/podcast for other Ground Truth episodes and a deeper dive into each story. In this episode, we talk to Manny Medina, CEO at the leading sales engagement platform, Outreach. Once a young fisherman, Manny was always a curious kid, a passionate learner and big dreamer. As he fell in love with the USA, he knew this was the perfect destination for his entrepreneurial heart. Hired by Amazon, Microsoft, and by starting his own company from scratch, Manny has learned important business and personal lessons throughout his journey. To him, failure and mistakes are key for professional development and personal growth. Podcast Summary: 00:56 - A man with big ideas and his pursuit of the American Dream. 06:07 - The importance of thinking big and Amazon’s secret sauce to success. 12:58 - How to quit from the most influential companies on the planet and still rock the world of tech business. 16:41 - The unstoppable pitcher: How relationship building is an entrepreneur's best tool. 20:05 - Everything in sales starts with a meeting: the birth, struggles and awaited success of Outreach. 25:59 - On the human bias and the exciting future ahead for automation in the tech world. 30:40 - How the Coronavirus and the Black Lives Matter movement have impacted sellers and how Manny and his team plan to take a leadership role 34:38 - How embracing the journey in its entirety is the real key to success. Credits Ground Truth is a production of Dogpatch Advisors [https://www.dogpatchadvisors.com/]. This episode was written by Jack Buehrer from Campfire Labs, [https://campfirelabs.co/] sound engineering and studio space provided by TJ Bonaventura and Julian Lewis from StudioPod [https://studiopodsf.com/], editing and mixing by Nodalab, [http://www.nodalab.com/] video production by Nick Shaheen from Above Treeline Studios [https://www.abovetreelinestudios.com/] and cover art by Eric Miller [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericmiller00/].

Welcome to Ground Truth by Dogpatch Advisors, a podcast about company builders, leadership, and how operators use data to build the future of sales. Mercy Bell hosts Ground Truth alongside Kyle Williams and Ben Salzman. To learn more, check out www.groundtruthpod.com [http://www.groundtruthpod.com] for other Ground Truth episodes and dive deeper into each story. In this episode, we talk to Kyle Porter, co-founder, and CEO of SalesLoft. Kyle shares with us how he’s managed to evolve and re-chart his course time and time again, to become one of the most influential voices in the sales world. What first started as an ambitious but demanding video-game business eventually transformed into a groundbreaking application of data. Kyle never stopped pouring his heart into his dreams to create his own business. A natural entrepreneur, he has helped numerous companies shift their attention to their customers, and — by enabling the human side of sales with data-based automation — he was lucky enough to find the equilibrium he’s been seeking for years. Podcast Summary: 00:54 - Kyle’s fighter mentality, the pursuit of an authentic college experience, and embracing the entrepreneurship tingle. 06:44 - Kyle’s unstoppable selling genius, teaming up with an entrepreneurship veteran, and the birth of SalesLoft. 19:50 - The awaited launch of Cadence and how organizational health led SalesLoft to exponential growth. 22:59 - The acquisition of Noteninja and the explosion of conversation intelligence to add value to the customers’ experience. 26:02 - On Cadence’s exceptionally personalized sales experience for their customers, and how they have built trust among their network. 30:31 - Did the “data” really say that?: the “noise on LinkedIn” and Kyle’s predictions on the future of sales. Credits GroundTruth is a production of Dogpatch Advisors [https://www.dogpatchadvisors.com/]. This episode was written by Jack Buehrer from Campfire Labs, [https://campfirelabs.co/] sound engineering and studio space provided by TJ Bonaventura and Julian Lewis from StudioPod [https://studiopodsf.com/], editing and mixing by Nodalab [http://www.nodalab.com], and video production by Nick Shaheen from Above Treeline Studios [https://www.abovetreelinestudios.com/].

Welcome to Ground Truth by Dogpatch Advisors, a podcast about company builders, leadership, and how operators use data to build the future of sales. Ground Truth is hosted by Mercy Bell alongside Kyle Williams and Ben Salzman. To learn more, check out www.groundtruthpod.com [http://www.groundtruthpod.com] or dogpatch.com/podcast for other Ground Truth episodes and a deeper dive into each story. The guest for Episode 3 is Christine Trodella, a Director at Facebook and head of the Americas for their Workplace division. We loved chatting with her as she shared her journey from rural Iowa all the way to Silicon Valley, where over her nearly two-decade career as a sales leader, she’s found herself at the tip of the spear of just about every pivotal shift in the tech industry. Podcast Summary: 01:29 - On Christine’s childhood, her parents and her move to California for college. 04:50 - How she switched to tech after working as an economist 07:33 - Her first corporate development role and how they adapted their rudimentary tools to the arrival of the Internet. 09:44 - Christine’s biggest career leap to Yahoo! building out the advertising industry 15:40 - A new life: motherhood, working from home and her role at WebMD 17:31 - How Christine’s quiet life took a 180º turn as she joined Facebook in 2010 19:43 - Looking back at customer acquisition ten years ago 22:58 - How Christine, Workplace’s biggest fan, ended up leading the Americas for Workplace 27:19 - An insider look at Workplace’s go to market strategy 32:34 - How Workplace has responded to the COVID-19 crisis 38:21 - On her team’s strategies to find and use data to measure impact Credits Ground Truth is a production of Dogpatch Advisors [https://www.dogpatchadvisors.com/]. This episode was written by Jack Buehrer from Campfire Labs, [https://campfirelabs.co/] sound engineering and studio space provided by TJ Bonaventura and Julian Lewis from StudioPod [https://studiopodsf.com/], editing and mixing by Jorge Gonzalez from Nodalab, [http://www.nodalab.com/] video production by Nick Shaheen from Above Treeline Studios [https://www.abovetreelinestudios.com/] and and cover art by Eric Miller [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericmiller00/].