If you thought all keynotes were just a bunch of slides and serious faces, you clearly haven't seen our CEO in action! At SAAS North 2024, Kicker’s Renae Farough delivered a keynote that was part TED Talk, part dance routine, and 100% unforgettable. Here’s a recap of the highlights that had the audience laughing, learning, and rethinking their sales strategy.
The Grand Entrance: Surprise! She’s pregnant.
Renae kicked things off with a bang (and a shimmy), dancing her way to the center stage—seven months pregnant with her third child! She quickly connected with the audience by comparing the reactions she gets about her third pregnancy to those of founders announcing they’re leaving their comfy day jobs to dive into the startup world. Spoiler alert: both get a mix of excitement and “Are you crazy?”
The Takeaways You Need:
- ✨ Magic Trick Alert!: Renae revealed how to snag five perfectly matched leads INSTANTLY. Missed the magic live? No worries — just visit https://getkicker.ai/go
- Sell Value, Not Features: If your sales convo starts with features, it’ll stay there. Shift the focus to value and watch your sales strategy transform!
- Interview Like a Pro: Want to see how candidates really shine? Have them pitch your product during the interview! It’s a fantastic way to gauge their skills and see if they fit your vibe.
- Ditch the Busywork: Did you know that 70% of salespeople’s time is spent on non-selling tasks? Time to unleash AI to handle the grunt work so your team can do what they do best—SELL!
- Know When to Cut Bait: Renae shared her “sales cycle + 90 days” rule. If your new hires aren’t pulling their weight by then, it’s time to part ways and find the right fit. No more waiting around for people to surprise you.
SAAS North 2024 Fast Facts:
- Canada's Biggest SaaS Conference: This isn’t just any conference; it’s THE place for SaaS!
- Speaker Diversity: SAAS North nailed it with a perfect 50-50 split between male and female speakers.
- Who Was There?: Founders, execs, investors, SaaS leaders, and industry experts.
- Speaker Highlights:
- Neil Patel, Co-Founder of Neil Patel Digital
- Stephany LaPierre, Founder & CEO of Tealbook
- Andrew McLeod, CEO of Certn
- Kevin Kliman, CEO of Humi
- Special Programs Highlights:
- The Masked Investor: An incognito investor spills industry secrets—who doesn’t love a little mystery?
- Founders Feud: A Family Feud-style showdown for early-stage SaaS companies. Let the games begin!
- Firehood Angel Camp: A golden opportunity for women entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas to angel investors.
- SAAS North Pitchfest: Congrats to Bruce Ford from Celestra Health Systems for taking home the top spot!
Renae’s keynote at SAAS North 2024 was an absolute showstopper! With her infectious energy, relatable stories, and a treasure trove of actionable insights, she had the audience buzzing with excitement and new ideas. If you missed her keynote, not to fret! Renae will be back on stage soon–stay tuned!
