Episode Summary: In this episode, Ben Reed sits down with Jay Bhandari, GTM Engineer at Clay, to unpack how one of the fastest-growing companies in sales tech helped create an entirely new category: GTM Engineering. Jay shares his journey from private equity and startups into the world of Clay, while Ben and Jay explore the rise of AI-powered revenue systems, the RevOps vs GTM Engineer debate, Clay’s explosive growth strategy, and the future of SaaS in an agentic AI world. They also discuss Claude Code, vibe coding, product complexity, and why having fun may be the most important career lesson of all. What you'll learn: - How Jay transitioned from Wall Street and private equity into GTM Engineering - What a GTM Engineer actually does and why the role is growing rapidly - The differences and similarities between GTM Engineers and RevOps professionals - How Clay built a category-defining brand and product-led community - Why orchestration and enrichment are transforming modern pipeline generation - The truth about Claude Code, vibe coding, and AI software hype cycles - Why building scalable software is harder than most people think - How AI should augment sales teams instead of replacing core systems - Why creativity is a competitive advantage in go-to-market strategy - Jay’s personal philosophy on career growth, fulfillment, and having fun Featured Guest:Jay Bhandari, GTM Engineer at Clay Host:Ben Reed, host of the Next Gen Sales Leaders Podcast Connect with Jay: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-bhandari-profile/ Follow Ben on Social: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-aaron-reed/ Love this episode? Subscribe to the Next Gen Sales Leaders Podcast for insights on B2B sales, RevOps, AI, and leadership. If you found value in today’s conversation, please leave a review.

I have a gift 🎁 waiting for you— get to "Level 2" (in the group), and you’ll unlock my exact B2B sales and marketing funnel... I've used this exact funnel to generate tens of millions in revenue. Here’s how to level up quickly: 1. Introduce yourself in the comments below. 2. Like and comment on at least one other member’s post. Every time you engage—by liking or commenting—you earn points and rise on the leaderboard. The higher you climb, the more modules you unlock in the Classroom Tab, and top members may be invited to our private Insiders Masterclasses. ⬇️ 𝐐𝐔𝐈𝐂𝐊 𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐏𝐒 ⬇️ - If you're new, book your free Clarity Call with a member of our team [Click to Book] 👈 - Go to the Calendar Tab and add the upcoming coaching call to your schedule (Every Thursday) - Download the Skool App to stay connected - Like and comment on someone else’s introduction to make a new connection - Visit the Classroom Tab and start exploring - Begin with the “Get Started” section to learn the platform - Access the $1 "Generate Leads | Getting Started" Master class - Ready to accelerate? Book your Fast Track Clarity Call - Mark each module complete as you work through them If you have questions, use the Search Bar first—try searching for topics like “Leads.” Still need help? Post your question in the group and we’ll support you. Let’s start selling! -Ben Reed

Kicking this off to get the discussion started. Would love to know (if you're new to the group): (1) Quick Wiki/intro on yourself (2) What are you working on now? (3) What is your superpower? (4) What are your primary interests in B2B Sales/Marketing or in General? (5) What do you hope to get out of the group? I'll go first! (1) My name is Ben Reed. I'm a multi-time VP of Sales, Founder, and Entrepreneur. Here's my LinkedIn (happy to connect there): https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-aaron-reed/ (2) I'm actively launching my personal brand at benjaminaaronreed.com. Meanwhile, I'm a full-time VP of Sales at wellsitenavigator.com. (3) My superpower is pivoting on a dime and rapidly iterating forward to working systems, methods, teams, products, etc. (4) I'm all eyes and ears focused on outbound ai email (Clay/SmartLead) and systems/stacks. (5) First and foremost, I want to meet awesome new friends and learn from super smart people that I enjoy spending time with. How about you? Looking forward to learning about you guys.

Episode Summary:In this episode, Ben Reed sits down with Alex Shartsis, Founder of Skyp.ai, to discuss the battle between SaaS and AI in modern GTM. They break down why mass outbound is declining, where AI SDR tools fall short, and how thoughtful automation is replacing spam. Alex also shares insights on vibe coding, software complexity, and why real expertise still matters in an AI-first world. What you'll learn: - How Alex built Skyp.ai from real outbound pain points - Why mass cold email is declining but still not dead - How thoughtful AI automation beats spammy AI SDR tactics - Why most people underestimate how hard real software is to build - The difference between vibe coding prototypes vs scalable SaaS products - Why product management and subject matter expertise still matter most - How AI can help individual sellers without replacing GTM systems - The hidden complexity behind CRMs, data infrastructure, and RevOps - Why many founders are chasing hype instead of solving real problems - What the future of SaaS may look like in an AI agentic world Featured Guest: Alex Shartsis, Founder of Skyp.ai Host: Ben Reed, host of the Next Gen Sales Leaders Podcast Connect with Alex: Website:https://skyp.ai/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shartsis/ Follow Ben on Social: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-aaron-reed/ Love this episode? Subscribe to the Next Gen Sales Leaders Podcast for insights on B2B sales, RevOps, AI, and leadership. If you found value in today’s conversation, please leave a review.

Join Ben Reed and the NextGen/RevyOps community on our weekly call: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84798758755 Time: 12 p.m. EST Day: Thursday, April 16th - Talk shop - Meet other GTM/Agency pros - Scale your business!