"The old way of selling is already dead." - Mark Walker

In this episode of Tech Scenes, we sit down with Mark Walker, CEO of Nue.io, to talk about how the future of software, AI, and pricing is reshaping how go-to-market teams operate. Mark shares his lessons from leading SaaS and compliance companies, building execution-driven cultures, and navigating fast-moving tech cycles. From sales innovation to team alignment, we unpack how dynamic teams are winning in a world of rapid change.

Mark brings deep experience from his time leading Strongpoint, Blanketware, and other high-growth companies, where he’s helped teams scale through smarter systems and sharper focus. At Nue.io, he’s now tackling how RevOps can enable teams to adapt quickly, price creatively, and execute with confidence. Whether you're a founder, operator, or team lead, Mark’s playbook for managing complexity while staying customer-centric is worth taking notes on.

We also explore what it takes to build a culture that gets things done—where clarity, collaboration, and cadence replace chaos. From AI’s disruptive force to the very human elements of leadership, this episode cuts across strategy and mindset, giving you insight into the modern operating model of high-performance teams.

Chapters:

00:00 The Future of Software and AI

01:20 Introducing New: A Revolutionary System

02:33 Understanding User Personas and Use Cases

05:00 Navigating the Rate of Change in Pricing Models

08:13 The Evolution of Sales Strategies

10:02 Lessons from SaaS and System Integration

14:00 The Shift in Pricing Models

17:06 AI's Impact on Software Development

20:08 Running New: Interoperability and Flexibility

22:46 Adapting to Rapid Change in Organizations

25:59 Enabling Teams for Success

32:09 Cross-Functional Collaboration in Teams

35:13 The Importance of Pausing for Reflection

37:05 Focus and Clarity in Team Objectives

41:06 Leveraging Individual Strengths in Teams

46:54 The Seriousness of Project Management

50:55 Execution as a Core Principle

54:45 The Desert Island Album

Learn more about the book Peak Teams – Mastering the Habit of Unstoppable Venture-backed Companies https://a.co/d/hp5Jtnu

Visit Collective Genius™ to Build Your Venture-backed Team with the Peak Operating System™ https://www.collective-genius.com/

#collectivegenius #peakoperatingsystem #peakos #vbos #nueio #revops #startup #SaaS #ceo #leadership #techscenes #execution #pricingstrategy #teamalignment #growthcompany #venturebacked #jeffjamesmartin

"You can tell someone’s values when things go badly." - Donald Davidoff

In this episode, Donald Davidoff shares the journey of building REBA™, a modern analytics company changing how the rental housing industry uses data. From founding the industry-defining LRO system to launching REBA™, Donald brings a deep history of innovation, leadership, and strategic thinking. We talk about the role of core values in decision-making, building culture in growth-stage startups, and how REBA™ is creating clarity through better coordination, OKRs, and customer focus.

The conversation also dives into the rental housing industry's lag in adopting modern tech, how REBA™ helps leaders make better decisions faster, and the transition from startup mode to scale. Donald unpacks lessons on internal service, process design, team dynamics, and why reverse engineering objectives can unlock alignment across functions.

Takeaways:

• You can tell someone's values when things go badly.

• Strong leaders must balance zooming in and out.

• The rental housing industry is traditionally behind in technology.

• REBA™ aims to connect data systems for better decision-making.

• Cultural fit is crucial in hiring processes.

• Documenting goals helps teams stay on track.

• Organizational clarity supports cross-functional success.

• Process should serve the team, not hinder it.

• Internal customer service matters as much as external.

• Music matters: yes, he picked Meat Loaf.

Chapters:

00:00 Values Revealed in Adversity

02:50 The Transition from Startup to Growth

06:00 Revolutionizing the Rental Housing Industry

12:07 The Birth of REBA™: Timing and Vision

18:07 Building a Strong Company Culture

23:04 Setting the Vision and Objectives

26:34 The Importance of Coordination and Focus

28:25 Understanding Roles and Responsibilities

32:01 Creating Clarity in Organizational Structure

36:24 Balancing Process and Flexibility

41:05 Customer Success and Internal Service

44:44 Desert Island Album Choice

📘 Learn more about the book Peak Teams – Mastering the Habit of Unstoppable Venture-backed Companies™:

https://a.co/d/hp5Jtnu

🌐 Visit Collective Genius™ to build your venture-backed team with the Peak Operating System™:

https://www.collective-genius.com/

Music by Andrew Applepie – https://soundcloud.com/andrewapplepie

#collectivegenius #peakoperatingsystem #peakos #vbos #reba #donalddavidoff #analytics #startupgrowth #leadership #founder #ceo #rentals #multifamily #realestate #teamculture #kpi #okr #customerexperience #venturecapital #techscenes #jeffjamesmartin

"Get in front of a customer and talk to them." - Brian McMahonTech Scenes with Brian McMahon, CEO and Co-founder of Pickle.In this episode, we dive into the evolution of Pickle—from a social polling app to a fast-growing peer-to-peer rental marketplace. Brian shares what he and his co-founder learned the hard way, how they kept the product lean, and what it takes to build a marketplace with strong customer feedback loops, KPIs, and team culture.👉 Like the episode? Subscribe and drop a comment. We’d love to hear your take.Key Takeaways:Pickle is a rental marketplace, like Airbnb for clothes and goods.Their original concept was a social polling platform.Building a marketplace requires managing local dynamics.Bootstrapping helped them run lean and stay customer-focused.They prioritize fast feedback loops and in-person customer engagement.Scaling culture means communication has to be tight.Fundraising was challenging—but led to critical investor insights.KPIs and OKRs are essential to team alignment and growth.Chapters:00:00 – Founders' Journey and Early Mistakes01:12 – Introducing Pickle: The Rental Marketplace03:25 – Marketplace Dynamics and Expansion Strategy05:47 – Pivoting from Social Polling to Rental Marketplace07:31 – Bootstrapping and Lean Operations09:00 – Customer Engagement Through Direct Interaction12:26 – Feedback Loops and Product Iteration14:04 – Scaling the Team and Maintaining Culture18:19 – Fundraising Experience and Investor Relations24:22 – Learning from Experienced Investors30:26 – Establishing KPIs and OKRs for GrowthLearn more about the book Peak Teams – Mastering the Habit of Unstoppable Venture-backed Companies™: https://a.co/d/hp5JtnuVisit Collective Genius™ to Build Your Venture-backed Team with the Peak Operating System™: https://www.collective-genius.com/Music by Andrew Applepie – https://soundcloud.com/andrewapplepie#pickle #marketplace #founderjourney #startup #entrepreneurship #techscenes #venturebacked #kpis #okrs #collectivegenius #peakoperatingsystem #startupgrowth #founderstory #scalingstartups