Dan Stevens (HubSpot): Why Bad Data Breaks AI — And How to Fix It Before You Scale

Dan Stevens (HubSpot): Why Bad Data Breaks AI — And How to Fix It Before You Scale

What separates the businesses that will win with AI from the ones that'll just burn time and money on it? In this episode of Before We Get Started, host Simon Gould sits down with Dan Stevens, Partner Development Manager at HubSpot, for an honest conversation about what's really happening in the SME tech stack right now, and what most "AI experts" are getting wrong. Dan has a front-row seat to how Australian businesses are adopting CRM, sales, marketing and AI tools, and he doesn't sugarcoat it: bad data plus AI equals more bad, faster. Before you bolt agents and automations onto your business, you have to get the fundamentals right. In this episode, Simon and Dan cover: Why CRM deployments fail, and why it's almost never the technology The shift from CRM as a "database" to an AI-native customer platform Why context is king when it comes to AI, and how to actually build it The rise of Answer Engine Optimisation (AEO) and what it means for your brand visibility HubSpot's new AI capabilities: the AEO grader and agent, smart deal progression, prospecting agents, customer agents, and the Breeze assistant What "AI agents" actually are (hint: they're not chatbots) A practical 90-day plan for SMEs starting their AI journey without creating chaos What CRM will look like in 2029, and what will separate the winners from the dabblers Whether you're considering a CRM, already running HubSpot, or just trying to figure out where AI fits into your business, this conversation will save you time, money and a lot of false starts. About the guest: Dan Stevens is a Partner Development Manager at HubSpot, working with partners across the Australian market. Find him on LinkedIn (search "Dan Stevens HubSpot"). He's the one with the Viking beard. About the host: Simon Gould is the Founder of Sydney Digital Marketing Agency (SDM), a HubSpot Gold Partner helping service-based businesses generate more leads, increase revenue and get AI-ready. 🎧 Subscribe to Before We Get Started for more conversations with the people shaping marketing, sales, and tech for growing businesses.

Matty Greene - The Psychological Pillar - How One Shift In Perspective Freed Up 80% Of My Mental Energy

What if a single shift in perspective could free up 80% of the mental energy you didn't even know you were losing? In this episode of "Before We Get Started," Simon Gould sits down with Matty Green for their 3rd and most personal conversation yet — diving deep into the psychological pillar of Matty's four-pillar framework. This time, the roles are reversed: Matty coaches Simon live, unpacking real stories and real breakthroughs from their six months working together. Matty is a registered psychologist and executive coach with over 30 years of experience transforming leaders at the highest levels of business. His unique approach blends psychology, somatic practices, neuroscience, and quantum-based leadership into something truly transformative. What You'll Discover: Why your first 7 years built the "window panes" you still see the world through today — and how to clean them. The story of how one workplace resentment consumed 80% of Simon's emotional bandwidth for months — and how a single conversation made it vanish. Why we have 60–70,000 thoughts a day and 95% are identical to yesterday's The difference between "wounded" and "wise" — and how catching yourself with kindness bridges the gap. How changing two words in your self-talk ("have to" → "choose to") rewires your subconscious response. The marble jar: why cold showers might be costing you more than they're worth Real Transformation: Simon shares how a perspective shift — described as "taking a needle to a balloon" — instantly dissolved months of frustration, resentment, and silent storytelling that was affecting his health, his business, his team culture, and his family. The Takeaway: Just find one thing. Don't write a list of lofty resolutions. Find one small practice that resonates, do it consistently, and watch the mirror start smiling back. Perfect for: Anyone stuck in their own story, running the same mental loop on repeat, and ready to step into the front seat of the consciousness car. Warning: Once you feel that first deep diaphragmatic breath, you can't unfeel it. Connect with Matthew Greene on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-greene-06145a/ Connect with Simon Gould https://www.linkedin.com/in/speaktosimon/ #Leadership #Psychology #ExecutiveCoaching #Consciousness #Transformation #MindsetShift #IntentionalLiving

Matty Greene - How To Turn An Interview Into A Winning Conversation. And Create The Dream Role You Deserve

Are you tired of surface-level advice and generic self-improvement hacks? In this episode of "Before We Get Started," host Simon Gould welcomes back renowned psychologist Matty Green for a deep dive into the art of authentic connection and the rarely discussed truths about high performance. With over 30 years spent navigating the worlds of executive search and psychological mastery, Matty strips away the usual interview clichés and reveals the secrets behind genuine conversations. showing you how the best leaders transcend transactional interactions to co-create magic in business, life, and relationships. **Why listen?** - Discover how to transform the way you approach interviews, networking, and leadership - unlocking powerful results by shifting from selling yourself to building real human rapport. - Hear Matty’s personal stories and breakthrough moments from working with global CEOs, revealing the habits and mindsets that set elite performers apart. - Get actionable tips you won’t hear anywhere else—from overcoming the imposter syndrome to building trust in high-stakes environments. Tune in for thought-provoking insights, practical strategies, and candid laughs—and walk away better equipped for your next big leap, whether it’s a meeting, interview, or the next bold pivot in your career. This episode is your invitation to step out of the box, and into real conversations that spark genuine growth. In this episode we compress 27 years of executive search, coaching and psychology into a frame to help you to take a meaningful step to become intentional about both your career and your life. Connect With Matthew Greene On LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-greene-06145a/ Connect With Simon Gould https://www.linkedin.com/in/speaktosimon/

Matty Greene - Executive & Wholistic Wellness Coach - The Four Pillars Of Living With Intention

From Reactive to Intentional: Transforming Leadership from the Front Seat of Consciousness What if you're trapped in the "back seat of your consciousness car" - reacting to life instead of creating it? Join me with Matty Greene, a registered psychologist and executive coach who's transformed C-suite leaders for 25+ years. Matty strips away complexity to make profound transformation beautifully accessible through his unique approach combining psychology, somatic practices, neuroscience, and quantum-based leadership. **What You'll Discover:** • The consciousness car analogy that changes how you show up everywhere • Why your first 7 years create the "window panes" you still look through today • How one breath technique can shift your energy in seconds (real-time demo) • The science behind quantum energy and why your frequency changes reality • Why successful executives can have everything but feel completely disconnected **Real Transformation:** We share breakthrough moments including the executive who hadn't spoken to his son for 6 years until 3 weeks of working with Matty, plus personal stories of synchronicities and unexpected life shifts. Matty brings 30 + years of commercial experience (M&A, private equity, global executive search) so he truly understands leadership pressures. **Perfect for:** Leaders ready to stop being passengers in their own lives. **Warning:** These insights can't be "unknown" once you feel them. *Connect with Matthew Greene on LinkedIn* #Leadership #Consciousness #ExecutiveCoaching #Transformation

Steve Tolen talks Sales and Soul - Blending hard-nosed sales tactics with mindset and humility

In this episode of Before We Get Started, I sit down with UK-born sales and recruitment veteran Steve Tolan (of Pinpoint Talent & Stolen & Co). Over a lively conversation, we explore: • Mindset Mastery: How early lessons selling fish with his dad taught Steve resilience, humility and the importance of human connection—skills no university can replicate. • Cultural Differences in Sales: Contrasting the cut-throat, transactional UK market with Australia’s relationship-driven approach and why tenure and authenticity matter in a small ecosystem. • Personal Branding & LinkedIn: Steve’s “20 videos in January” experiment that drove 100K views, and the six pillars of modern sales success: personal brand, LinkedIn mastery, AI literacy, video, in-person networking, and the smart cold call. • AI in Recruitment & Sales: Why AI won’t replace people who leverage it—only those who ignore it—and how to map your process, identify pain points, and harness automation to free up time for high-value human interaction. • Work-Life Balance & the Future of Work: The rise of hybrid models, the value of flexibility, and the constant tension between entrepreneurial drive and making time for family. Throughout, Steve’s energy, wit and real-world stories (like wearing a sharp pinstripe suit in Sydney!) underscore one clear message: be authentically you, lean into discomfort, and use every tool—digital or human—to amplify your impact.