Challenging the CEO's Number

Joe (CRO) and Samantha (CEO) are meeting in a glass office in San Francisco to discuss the upcoming board presentation and revenue targets.

Challenging the CEO's Number

Listen and choose the right answer

What is Joe's main concern regarding the board target?

• It is too conservative for the market.
• It is an unrealistic quota that ignores pipeline realities.
• It does not include enough marketing spend.

Which phrase does Joe use to describe his refusal to back down?

• stake my credibility
• fall on my sword
• act like a yes-man

What surprising thing does Samantha admit near the end of the conversation?

• She is planning to resign next week.
• She already signed a contract with a new investor.
• She had already hinted at the high number and hoped Joe would push back.

How do Joe and Samantha decide to resolve the disagreement?

• By ignoring the board entirely
• By presenting a conservative base case alongside a stretched upside
• By firing the sales reps in the new vertical

Listen again and complete the sentences

• Joe: Actually, I'm glad you brought that up because I've been looking at the ____ on slide four.
• Joe: Frankly, it's not just aggressive; it's a completely ____ given our product-led growth metrics.
• Samantha: Tellingly, nobody else on the executive team has dared to challenge this ____ so far.
• Joe: Well, I'm not willing to stake my credibility on a ____ that ignores our self-serve motion.
• Joe: Technically speaking, we can't force a ____ onto reps without destroying morale in our new vertical.

Sources: photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels