Mike Cardona

Hidden Levers AI

Empowering creative solopreneurs to save time and money by optimizing and streamlining their operations for maximum efficiency.

Digital Architect | Automation Alchemist | Writer

CS Insider

Help build our automation infrastructure, systems and processes, and work alongside Brandon Cestrone to create a community-driven newsletter for Customer Success professionals all around the globe. 

Key Contributions
• Overhauled website, implemented. SEO data, Google Analytics, Email Marketing and automation campaigns. Manage initiative had held full redesign of the website with findings from customer segmentation and competitive research.

Business Operations | Digital Marketing Manager

Technically

Growth and Operations

Technically breaks down software engineering in simple language so you can impress your boss. Join 40K+ people getting more technical.

Growth and Operations

Digital Ops | Automation Alchemist

Online Elite Goods

Founder

Shane Co.

Collaborated closely with management and team members to enhance sales and customer support experiences while assisting in the onboarding of over 8 employees.

Key Contributions
• Played a crucial role in designing streamlined workflows, resulting in a 17% increase in customer feedback.
• Delivered exceptional performance, generating $1.7M in sales and earning the Salesperson of the Year award in 2016, followed by a promotion from Sales Representative to Client Account Manager.

Sales Support Representative | Client Account Manager

Central Payment

Addressed 60+ tech support calls and resolved 40+ support tickets daily, providing comprehensive assistance to a diverse clientele.

Key Contributions
• Surpassed monthly target by 155%, ranking in the top 2 among 15 team members for new account activations.
• Enhanced productivity by 22% and elevated customer satisfaction scores to 100% in under eight months through the development and implementation of innovative systems.

Technical Support Specialist

Optum

• Devised a system that lowered ACH by 30%, ranking 1st among 18 team members for relevant call metrics.
• Handled 60+ customer support calls daily, addressed inquiries via email and phone, resolved billing issues, and delivered consistent customer resolutions.
• Continually ranked within the top three on the team for customer satisfaction, thanks to outstanding problem-solving skills and exceptional customer service.

Customer Support | Intake Coordinator

Helping busy solo entrepreneurs save 30+ hours per month | Automate the tasks you hate, so you can spend more time doing what you love | Automation Alchemist 🧪

Are you working around the clock to keep your business afloat? From marketing to writing, accounting to customer service, you're juggling it all. It's exhausting.

You're not alone. This is a common struggle for solo-entrepreneurs and digital creators. The demands of your business often sideline the need for strategic focus and direction, leading to a vicious cycle of low-value tasks.

Don't blame yourself. When you're in the thick of running a business, finding time for growth planning can feel like a luxury. But what if it didn't have to be?

Imagine having:

• Simple but powerful automations.
• Streamlined workflows and systems.
• Time dedicated to strategic growth planning.

This is the promise of Hidden Levers. As a fellow solopreneur, I've walked in your shoes. Nine years ago, I was where you are now.

Today, I'm on a mission to help creative solopreneurs like you:

• Grow a profitable business without burning out.
• Do the work you love and enjoy.
• Achieve time-freedom.

Every Tuesday, I share actionable frameworks, resources, and tips that leverage AI/Tech tools so you can reclaim your time and do the work you enjoy—all in five minutes or less.

Ready to redefine your solopreneur journey? Click here: https://bit.ly/3PhJ8Vi

___

Follow me as well for content on:

• AI
• Zapier
• Airtable
• Systems
• No-Code
• Automation
• Solopreneurship

Operations | Automation Alchemist | Writer

Jeremy Donaldson

LifeLoop

The Sr. Director of Customer Success is responsible for driving strategic cross-functional initiatives to ensure exceptional customer experiences and outcomes. Success of this role and team is measure upon the following accomplishments and metrics:

#1 Customer Retention & Growth: Designed and implemented data-driven strategies that improved GRR and NRR, exceeding company targets and setting benchmarks for sustained growth.  FY24 results: 85% GRR and 104% NRR

#2 Value Realization: Partnered with cross-functional teams to create and deliver tailored success plans that aligned customer objectives with measurable outcomes, resulting in higher satisfaction and loyalty.

#3 Strategic Adoption Initiatives: Led efforts to enhance product adoption through education, onboarding optimization, and proactive customer engagement, increasing overall platform utilization.

#4 Data-Driven Insights: Established a robust framework for tracking and analyzing customer feedback, leveraging insights to refine services, enhance the customer journey, and boost NPS.

#5 Pipeline Development: Generated a consistent stream of CSQLs by identifying and cultivating expansion opportunities, contributing to revenue growth. FY24 results: $5.8m in generation & $2m closed won (158% to plan)

#6 Renewals management and forecasting:  Maintained 99% YoY renewals reporting, implemented bi-weekly CSM, AM, and renewals touchpoints to review the largest upcoming renewals 120+ days out

#6 Leadership & Coaching Team Leadership: Led a team of Customer Success Managers across Strategic, Enterprise, MM, and SMB customers.

Sr. Director, Customer Success

CS in the Valley

CS in the Valley is no longer in business.

CS in the Valley is on mission to serve customer success professionals in growing their businesses and careers.

- Career coaching for customer success managers
- Job seeker support
- Executive consulting for CS teams
- Customer Success technology optimization (Totango & Gainsight)

Founder & CEO

Gain Grow Retain

Board Member

PowerSchool

- Led two (2) teams of customer success professionals including 2 Managers and 10 CSMs
- Joined the Gainsight steering committee to help build the 2023 account health modeling
- Owned $70+ million in revenue with the 2022 performance of 94% gross revenue retention (GRR) and 108% net revenue retention (NRR)
- Managed to the 2023 goals of: 95% GRR & 109% NRR

Senior Manager, Customer Success

Totango

Hired to build Totango's "Small Enterprise" team for our hybrid digital + assigned Customer Success Management accounts

Key accomplishments:

- Improved customer health from 72/100 to 85/100
- Improved NPS from +7 to +26 (highest of all CS teams at Totango)
- Net revenue retention of 119% (against $6 million in revenue)
- Grew a team from 0 to 3 CSMs (internal promotions and external hires)
- Introduced new engagement models for both Premium CS and non-Premium CS customers

Manager, Customer Success

NTT Application Security

Promoted to lead the "Land and Expand" (scaled CS) team.

Key Accomplishments:

- Delivered 110% net revenue retention against $12 million in revenue (highest in the org)
- Reduced churn by 18%
- Team NPS of 45
- Built entirely new scaled customer success engagement model for our land & expand customers 
- Revamped and introduced one to many programs such as office hours, product trainings, auto-renewal campaigns, and digital QBRs
- Hired 4 CS Associates including to promotions within 6 months as Team Manager

Team Lead, Customer Success

The Customer Success Manager (CSM) is responsible for driving customer growth, adoption and success with WhiteHat. It is the responsibility of the CSM to be able to articulate the value of WhiteHat to inspire and support customer adoption and expansion. The Customer Success Manager (CSM) position is the customer’s navigational guide throughout each phase of the customer’s journey from onboarding to renewal. The CSM works with customer contacts up to the CXO level, as well as, internal department contacts to provide a high-touch experience for strategic customers.

FY20 Performance: 110% Net / 95% gross retention
FY19 Performance: 103% Net / 96% gross retention

Principle Customer Success Manager

SumTotal Systems, LLC

Responsible for leading the Strategic Accounts CSM team.

Key Accomplishments:

- Net revenue retention of 126% against $77 million in revenue (highest in the org)
- Team NPS of +60 (highest in the org)
- Created the voice of the customer playbook increasing increased logo participation from 20% to 70% + overall referencability from 15% to 70%
- Co-authored the Skillsoft + SumTotal account planning and executive briefing process for the top 50 accounts program

Senior Customer Success Manager, Strategic Accounts

As a Sales Director, it is my responsibility for ensure the growth of SumTotal with existing customer and new prospects where organizations are headquartered within North America. My team manages the relationships with organizations that have more than 6,000+ employees including to some of the largest manufacturing, hospitality, retail, and aerospace organizations in the world.

My team is primarily responsible for selling HR and Talent Management solutions by building relationships and trust with key decision makers and contacts throughout various business units within large and complex organizations. Furthermore, we are proactively managing our relationships by utilizing a Challenger Sales methodology to change their minds on the status quo of business.

Achievements:
• FY2017 Quota Attainment: 100%
• FY2017 Net Retention: 201.5%

Enterprise Sales Director

As an Enterprise Account Manager, I am the day-to-day point of contact for all customer satisfaction and all sales responsibilities. It is my duty to handle the maturing process of Talent Expansion within my customer base along with proactively manage customer relationships by utilizing a Challenger Sales methodology while handling contract renewals, up-selling additional product lines and services, and escalating customer/technical support cases. 

My particular role manages a wide range of North American based customers that are all 10,000+ employees including to some of the largest manufacturing, hospitality, retail, and aerospace organizations in the world. These customers are a combination of on-premise, private hosted, and SaaS.

Responsibilities of a Sales Account Manager:

• Over the last year, I have been personally responsible for being the point of contact for 125 high-touch relationships.
• I manage the successful renewal, up-sell, and cross-sell of $3 million+ in annual revenue territory.
• It is my responsibility to partner with my customers and lead internal resources to create highly satisfied and referenceable customers.
• I utilize a combination of Challenger Sales and Solution Selling methodology to fully develop an understanding of my customers' needs.
• Throughout all phases of the sales negotiation lifecycle, I executed on ensuring customer compliance with contractual terms, preparing business quotations/proposals, and negotiating mutually favorable contract terms.

FY2016 Achievements:
• Quota Attainment: 97% (Net retention: 131.5% FY16)
• Net Retention: 116%

FY2015 Achievements:
• Quota: 100% (Net retention: 118% FY15)
• President's Club winner

Enterprise Customer Success Account Manager

As a Business Manager for SumTotal Systems, I manage a multi-million dollar portfolio of non-contracted customer renewals to ultimately ensure high customer retention. I partner with customers throughout the contract negotiation lifecycle, and focus on account penetration, increasing recurring revenue, and finding creative solutions for our customers' unique challenges.

• Managed and renewed over 110 accounts during Q4-2014.
• Partnered with the field sales and management teams to provide seamless customer interaction.
• Use a consultative selling approach to fully develop an understanding of our customers' needs.
• Execute all phases of the contract renewal lifecycle, including preparing quotations, calculating renewal rates, and negotiating mutually favorable contract terms.

Achievements: Quota / Net Retention : 111%

Business Manager, Enterprise Renewals

Recruiter

Hello! My name is Jeremy Donaldson.

I am a Top 25 Customer Success Influencer and Leader with over 10 years of experience helping organizations solve their biggest challenge: Retaining and Growing customers.

I work to solve retention and growth by leading teams in 4 areas:

1) Serving my teams.  I work for them, not the other way around
2) Understanding my customers and their goals
3) Working collaboratively to build trust with our cross-functional partners
4) Using data to drive decision making

I have managed teams of up to 12 CSMs across multiple segments including digital CS, enterprise, and strategic accounts.

My teams have consistently delivered over 120% NRR, 95% GRR, 50+ NPS, and 70%+ product adoption all while growing $100+ million dollars in arr collectively.

I am the type of customer success leader who will serve our teams, challenge the status quo, and create revenue opportunities for our business. 

---

My "why" revolves around being there for his wife, 3 kids, and faith in Jesus.

Success to me looks like:

🔹 Transparency: Speak your mind
🔸 Authenticity: Be the real you
🔹 Vulnerability: Let people in
🔸 Conscious listener: Allow people to be heard
🔹 Celebrator: Show people they are valued
🔸 Giver: Always give more than you receive 

“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me'." - Erma Bombeck

Fun facts:  I've traveled to where J.R.R. Tolkien found his inspiration for Rivendale in the Fellowship of the Ring (Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland).

CS in the Valley is on mission to serve customer success professionals in growing their businesses and careers.

- Career coaching for customer success managers
- Job seeker support
- Executive consulting for CS teams
- Customer Success technology optimization (Totango & Gainsight)

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The Battle

Mike Cardona

Jeremy Donaldson 🤝

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