Interview with Jay Thayer
Jay Thayer, founder of Jay Thayer Consulting, dives into the intricacies of building strategic executive relationships and their critical role in driving business success. With a backdrop of experiences ranging from Salesforce to working with high-profile leaders like Mark Benioff and George W. Bush, Jay shares his insights on the importance of authentic human connections in an increasingly automated world.
Learn how to navigate the balance between scaling operations and maintaining meaningful engagements, transforming customers into passionate advocates, and embracing hard truths to foster long-term growth and loyalty.
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Part 1: Strategic Executive Relationships: Your Secret Growth Weapon
Randy Wootton dives deep into how strategic executive relationships can spur business growth with guest Jay Thayer, founder of Jay Thayer Consulting. Jay shares his experience in executive engagement and strategic communications, offering invaluable insights for early-stage founders.
Part 2: Is AI Personalization Overused?
Is AI an essential tool or just another buzzword? Jay Thayer of Jay Thayer Consulting joins Randy Wootton to discuss the role of AI in executive interactions and whether it represents a meaningful trend or is just another overhyped distraction. Together, they delve into the nuances of AI’s application in personalizing executive engagements and the ongoing necessity for human connection.
Part 3: Future Forecast: Rehumanizing Executive Engagement?
What’s the next big innovation in executive engagement? Jay Thayer from Jay Thayer Consulting joins Randy Wootton to discuss the future of executive engagement and why human interaction will play a crucial role.
Part 4: Scale or Fail? The Secret to Successful Executive Engagement
Should executive engagement programs focus on high-touch personalized experiences or scalable automated solutions for long-term success? In this lightning round, Randy Wootton and Jay Thayer dive into:
- Why scaling executive engagement programs can lead to failure.
- The importance of personal invites and purposeful convening.
- Sharing scaled insights from executive engagements.
- Amplifying insights through content without compromising candor.
- The balance between closed-door conversations and public insights.
Part 5: Why CFOs Ignore Your Pitches (And How to Fix It)
Jay Thayer from Jay Thayer Consulting joins Randy Wootton to discuss the secret sauce behind creating successful executive engagement programs. Key topics include:
- The importance of relevance in creating executive engagement programs.
- How to make a conversation relevant for C-level executives, such as CFOs.
- The distinction between leading and facilitating a conversation.
- Tips for making executive engagements feel like an interesting dinner party.
Part 6: Exclusive Executive Networks: Essential or Overhyped? (Buy or Sell)
Randy Wootton and Jay Thayer discuss the value of exclusive executive networks and peer events for fostering meaningful relationships. They debate whether these networks are essential or if they’re overrated.
About the Guest
Jay Thayer, founder of Jay Thayer Consulting, is an expert in executive engagement and strategic communications with over 25 years of experience building authentic, high-impact relationships that drive growth.
During his 20-year tenure at Salesforce, he led initiatives that helped scale the company from 500 to over 70,000 employees, designing executive-focused programs that foster loyalty and enhance customer foresight. A passionate philanthropist, Jay spearheaded Salesforce’s largest grassroots campaign, raising over $4 million for the National MS Society.
