• 114. From Senior CSM to People Leader: How to Bridge the Experience Gap
    Apr 1 2026

    What actually separates a great Senior CSM from someone who’s ready to lead a team, and why does that jump feel so much harder than it should?

    In this episode, I’m breaking down the real gap no one talks about when stepping into people leadership and why being exceptional at your role isn’t the same as being ready to manage others. I’ll walk you through the mindset shifts, skill gaps, and behind-the-scenes expectations that quietly determine whether you get promoted or passed over.

    If you’re ready to stop feeling overlooked and start positioning yourself like a future leader, this will show you what to focus on next. Hit play and let’s dive in.

    And if you’re ready to bridge the gap and position yourself as the obvious next leader, apply for coaching HERE and let’s map out your next move together.

    01:33 – Why Moving from Senior IC to Leadership Feels Impossible and Why It Isn’t Your Fault

    03:16 – Why Waiting For An Internal Promotion Can Keep You Stuck

    05:16 – How Targeting Early-Stage Or Founding CSM Roles At Startups Can Be Your Ticket To Player-Coach and Leadership Positions (If You Find The Right Fit)

    07:41 – How to Identify Real Player-Coach Opportunities (and Avoid the Trap Roles)

    14:37 – The Must-Have Experiences to Compete for Startup CS Leadership Roles

    17:19 – How to Position Yourself as the Solution Startups Are Actually Searching For

    FREEBIES & RESOURCES:

    🛎️ Actively looking for a job in Customer Success or plan to in the near future? Apply for 1:1 Coaching with me HERE

    🛎️ Optimize your resume for Customer Success jobs to land consistent interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/resume

    🛎️ Learn how to sell yourself as the best candidate & walk into your next Customer Success job interview with confidence with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/sellyourself

    🛎️ Learn how to Master Behavioral Interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/behavioral

    CONNECT WITH ME:

    ❤️ Let's be LinkedIn friends: www.linkedin.com/in/carly-agar/

    💭 Got any questions? Send me an email at support@carlyagar.com

    HEAD TO THE SHOW NOTES: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/episode114

    FOLLOW & REVIEW:

    Are you loving the podcast? I'd appreciate it if you could take a few seconds to do these two things:

    👉🏻 Hit the FOLLOW button so you don't miss out on any new episodes when they drop

    👉🏻 And either leave a review on Apple Podcasts or let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment over on Spotify!

    This helps me reach more customer success pros who need these insights.

    Thanks for tuning in to the Customer Success Career Coach podcast! I'll catch you next week.

    New episodes drop every Wednesday!

    Mentioned in this episode:

    We analyzed 1,474 CSM conversations to uncover why they’re leaving and what actually keeps them in 2026. Grab the free Talent Report here: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/report

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    21 m
  • 113. Mass Applying to CS Jobs Is Seriously A Horrible Idea. I’ll Explain Why
    Mar 25 2026
    Mass applying to jobs might feel productive, but what if it’s actually the exact reason you’re not getting hired? Because after a year of digging into the data, talking to recruiters, and studying how these systems really work, I can tell you, this strategy is doing more harm than you think.In this episode, I’m breaking down what actually happens when you use mass apply tools and why they can get your resume filtered out before a human even sees it.I’ll walk you through how this approach makes you look to hiring managers, the hidden ways it’s hurting your positioning, and the long-term career damage most people never even consider. And more importantly, I’ll show you what’s actually working right now, backed by real client data.If you’re tired of hearing crickets after hitting submit, this will completely reframe your approach. Hit play because the fix might be simpler (and more strategic) than you think.And if you’re stuck in the apply-and-hear-nothing cycle, apply for coaching HERE and let’s build a strategic job search that actually gets you interviews and results.00:44 – Why Mass Applying to Jobs Is Sabotaging Your Career (and Not Solving Your Job Search)02:25 – How Targeted, Quality Applications Lead to Faster Hires and Promotions06:31 – Why Recruiters Filter Out Mass Applicants (and How to Avoid the “Lazy Candidate” Label)11:28 – The Cost of Landing the Wrong Job: Why Shortcuts Lead to Short Tenures18:38 – Are Job Search Services Actually Helping or Just Getting You Flagged?21:01 – Your Next Job Is the Next Chapter. Here’s How to Make It CountFREEBIES & RESOURCES:🛎️ Actively looking for a job in Customer Success or plan to in the near future? Apply for 1:1 Coaching with me HERE🛎️ Optimize your resume for Customer Success jobs to land consistent interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/resume🛎️ Learn how to sell yourself as the best candidate & walk into your next Customer Success job interview with confidence with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/sellyourself🛎️ Learn how to Master Behavioral Interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/behavioralCONNECT WITH ME:❤️ Let's be LinkedIn friends: www.linkedin.com/in/carly-agar/💭 Got any questions? Send me an email at support@carlyagar.comHEAD TO THE SHOW NOTES: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/episode113FOLLOW & REVIEW:Are you loving the podcast? I'd appreciate it if you could take a few seconds to do these two things:👉🏻 Hit the FOLLOW button so you don't miss out on any new episodes when they drop👉🏻 And either leave a review on Apple Podcasts or let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment over on Spotify!This helps me reach more customer success pros who need these insights.Thanks for tuning in to the Customer Success Career Coach podcast! I'll catch you next week.New episodes drop every Wednesday!Mentioned in this episode:We analyzed 1,474 CSM conversations to uncover why they’re leaving and what actually keeps them in 2026. Grab the free Talent Report here: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/report
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    23 m
  • 112. He Spent 2.5 Years Applying to Jobs the Wrong Way. Here's What Finally Worked | Client Spotlight
    Mar 18 2026
    What if the reason you’re not landing interviews isn’t your experience, but your strategy? In today’s episode, I’m sharing the story of Junior, a Customer Success Manager who applied to over 1,000 jobs across 2.5 years and had almost nothing to show for it except a handful of interviews.In this client spotlight episode, we unpack exactly what changed when he stopped using the “spray and pray” approach and started approaching his job search with a completely different strategy. We talk about the mindset shifts that helped him move past anger and rejection, the resume changes that suddenly unlocked interviews, and the outreach strategy that helped him connect directly with hiring managers instead of getting lost in the applicant pool.The result? He went from averaging one interview a month to multiple interviews in just a few weeks and signed a job offer in about 90 days.If you're ready to stop sending out endless job applications and finally understand what actually gets results in a competitive job market, hit play to hear the strategy shift that made all the difference.And if you’re tired of applying to jobs and hearing nothing back, apply for coaching HERE and let’s fix your strategy together.00:28 – Why "Spraying and Praying" Your Resume Leads to Burnout, Not Results02:54 – The Emotional Toll of Layoffs and Why Mindset Shifts Are Critical for Job Search Success05:16 – How Applying to Over 1,000 Jobs Led to Only 20 Interviews (and What Had to Change)11:02 – The Game-Changing Impact of a Professionally Written, Targeted Resume12:35 – Why Targeted Outreach (Not Just More Applications) Opened New Doors for Junior15:15 – What Most Job Seekers Get Wrong When Messaging Recruiters on LinkedIn17:08 – How Consistent Interview Practice (and Feedback) Turned Rejection Into Confidence18:55 – Why Overpreparation for Interviews Is About Confidence, Not Sounding Rehearsed24:17 – The Mindset and Community Support That Helped Junior Land a Role in Just 90 DaysEPISODE LINKS:Connect with Junior on LinkedInFREEBIES & RESOURCES:🛎️ Actively looking for a job in Customer Success or plan to in the near future? Apply for 1:1 Coaching with me HERE🛎️ Optimize your resume for Customer Success jobs to land consistent interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/resume🛎️ Learn how to sell yourself as the best candidate & walk into your next Customer Success job interview with confidence with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/sellyourself🛎️ Learn how to Master Behavioral Interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/behavioralCONNECT WITH ME:❤️ Let's be LinkedIn friends: www.linkedin.com/in/carly-agar/💭 Got any questions? Send me an email at support@carlyagar.comHEAD TO THE SHOW NOTES: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/episode112FOLLOW & REVIEW:Are you loving the podcast? I'd appreciate it if you could take a few seconds to do these two things:👉🏻 Hit the FOLLOW button so you don't miss out on any new episodes when they drop👉🏻 And either leave a review on Apple Podcasts or let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment over on Spotify!This helps me reach more customer success pros who need these insights.Thanks for tuning in to the Customer Success Career Coach podcast! I'll catch you next week.New episodes drop every Wednesday!Mentioned in this episode:We analyzed 1,474 CSM conversations to uncover why they’re leaving and what actually keeps them in 2026. Grab the free Talent Report here: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/report
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    29 m
  • 111. The Expansion Playbook for CSMs Who Hate Selling
    Mar 11 2026

    What if the thing standing between you and your next promotion as a CSM isn’t working harder but learning how to spot expansion opportunities without ever feeling like a salesperson?

    In this episode, I’m breaking down two ridiculously simple approaches to expansion that you can start using immediately, even on your very next customer call. We’ll walk through the quick “inside-out” method to uncover low-hanging opportunities in your existing accounts, plus the more strategic “outside-in” approach that helps you think like a trusted advisor and connect your customer’s business goals to real revenue opportunities.

    By the end of this episode, you’ll start seeing expansion differently… not as selling, but as understanding your customer’s business and connecting the dots in a way that naturally creates growth. If you’ve ever felt uncomfortable with upselling or worried it’s not “your job” as a CSM, this might completely change how you think about your role and your earning potential. Hit play and let’s talk about the playbook most CSMs were never taught.

    02:09 – Why Getting Comfortable With Selling is Key for CSM Career Growth

    04:01 – The Fastest “Inside-Out” Way to Find Expansion Opportunities

    07:59 – Three Natural Questions to Uncover Expansion on Customer Calls

    12:47 – The Strategic Power of the “Outside-In” Approach (and Goal Trees)

    22:03 – How Treating Expansion as Problem-Solving (Not Selling) Gets You Promoted

    FREEBIES & RESOURCES:

    🛎️ Actively looking for a job in Customer Success or plan to in the near future? Apply for 1:1 Coaching with me HERE

    🛎️ Optimize your resume for Customer Success jobs to land consistent interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/resume

    🛎️ Learn how to sell yourself as the best candidate & walk into your next Customer Success job interview with confidence with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/sellyourself

    🛎️ Learn how to Master Behavioral Interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/behavioral

    CONNECT WITH ME:

    ❤️ Let's be LinkedIn friends: www.linkedin.com/in/carly-agar/

    💭 Got any questions? Send me an email at support@carlyagar.com

    HEAD TO THE SHOW NOTES: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/episode111

    FOLLOW & REVIEW:

    Are you loving the podcast? I'd appreciate it if you could take a few seconds to do these two things:

    👉🏻 Hit the FOLLOW button so you don't miss out on any new episodes when they drop

    👉🏻 And either leave a review on Apple Podcasts or let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment over on Spotify!

    This helps me reach more customer success pros who need these insights.

    Thanks for tuning in to the Customer Success Career Coach podcast! I'll catch you next week.

    New episodes drop every Wednesday!

    Mentioned in this episode:

    We analyzed 1,474 CSM conversations to uncover why they’re leaving and what actually keeps them in 2026. Grab the free Talent Report here: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/report

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    24 m
  • 110. How to Nail a CSM Interview Presentation (3 Things Companies Are Grading You On)
    Mar 4 2026
    What if the reason you keep coming in second place in your CSM interviews has nothing to do with your experience and everything to do with what you’re missing in the presentation?In this episode, I’m breaking down the three exact categories hiring teams are grading you on… and yes, I used to be the person creating the scorecards. I’ll show you how to use the prompt like a literal checklist, the basic mistakes that instantly cost you points, and how to prove you actually think like a strategic, consultative CSM (not just someone who can build a decent slide deck).I’ll also discuss executive presence and the subtle signals that make a team feel confident putting you in front of their biggest customers. If you want to stop guessing what they’re looking for and start positioning yourself as the obvious hire, this is your blueprint. And there’s one simple shift at the end that could put you ahead of 98% of candidates. Hit play and let’s dive in.00:43 – Why Presentations Are “Make or Break” in Customer Success Interviews04:07 – The Game-Changing Tip That Instantly Puts You Ahead of 80% of Candidates06:27 – The Three Big Categories Hiring Teams Use to Grade Candidates (And Where Most Applicants Slip Up)09:24 – Common Pitfalls: Why Generic Tactics and Lack of Engagement Hurt Your Chances15:09 – What Makes Executive Presence So Crucial During an Interview Presentation20:23 – Don’t Overwhelm Yourself: Pick 2–3 Areas to Improve Each TimeOTHER EPISODES YOU'LL LOVE:🎙️Tune in to a curated playlist on tips to nail your next Customer Success Interview PresentationFREEBIES & RESOURCES:🛎️ Actively looking for a job in Customer Success or plan to in the near future? Apply for 1:1 Coaching with me HERE🛎️ Optimize your resume for Customer Success jobs to land consistent interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/resume🛎️ Learn how to sell yourself as the best candidate & walk into your next Customer Success job interview with confidence with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/sellyourself🛎️ Learn how to Master Behavioral Interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/behavioralCONNECT WITH ME:❤️ Let's be LinkedIn friends: www.linkedin.com/in/carly-agar/💭 Got any questions? Send me an email at support@carlyagar.comHEAD TO THE SHOW NOTES: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/episode110FOLLOW & REVIEW:Are you loving the podcast? I'd appreciate it if you could take a few seconds to do these two things:👉🏻 Hit the FOLLOW button so you don't miss out on any new episodes when they drop👉🏻 And either leave a review on Apple Podcasts or let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment over on Spotify!This helps me reach more customer success pros who need these insights.Thanks for tuning in to the Customer Success Career Coach podcast! I'll catch you next week.New episodes drop every Wednesday!Mentioned in this episode:We analyzed 1,474 CSM conversations to uncover why they’re leaving and what actually keeps them in 2026. Grab the free Talent Report here: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/report
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    22 m
  • 109. How to Get Promoted Internally in Customer Success (When a Role Opens on Your Team)
    Feb 25 2026
    Bold move, but here it is… being a top performer isn’t enough to land you that internal promotion you're eyeing. And if you think your KPIs will carry you to the next level, think again.I get this DM all the time, “Carly, there’s an opening on my team. Should I even bother applying?” In this episode, I’m breaking down exactly what to say the moment a role is posted (yes, I give you the script), why being a top performer isn’t enough, and what leadership is really looking for when they promote internally. We’re talking performance vs. impact, how to make yourself difficult to replace, and how to position yourself as the obvious choice months before a role ever opens.If you’re tired of wondering whether you’re “good enough” or waiting for someone to tap you on the shoulder, this will completely reframe how you think about internal growth. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to stop hoping for a promotion and start strategically earning it.Because when the next role opens… will they think of you first? Hit play and let’s make sure the answer is yes.And if you’re ready to make your next move, apply for one-on-one coaching HERE and let’s get your resume, interviews, and promotion strategy locked in.00:59 – Why You Can’t Wait for Your Manager to Notice You Want the Promotion04:20 – The Truth About Internal Postings: Someone’s (Probably) Already in Mind05:23 – Performance vs. Impact: Why Top Numbers Aren’t Enough for Career Growth09:13 – Fast, Actionable Ways to Show Internal and External Impact16:14 – How to Make Yourself Irreplaceable Before a Job Even Opens19:12 – What to Do If You Still Don’t Get the PromotionFREEBIES & RESOURCES:🛎️ Actively looking for a job in Customer Success or plan to in the near future? Apply for 1:1 Coaching with me HERE🛎️ Optimize your resume for Customer Success jobs to land consistent interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/resume🛎️ Learn how to sell yourself as the best candidate & walk into your next Customer Success job interview with confidence with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/sellyourself🛎️ Learn how to Master Behavioral Interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/behavioralCONNECT WITH ME:❤️ Let's be LinkedIn friends: www.linkedin.com/in/carly-agar/💭 Got any questions? Send me an email at support@carlyagar.comHEAD TO THE SHOW NOTES: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/episode109FOLLOW & REVIEW:Are you loving the podcast? I'd appreciate it if you could take a few seconds to do these two things:👉🏻 Hit the FOLLOW button so you don't miss out on any new episodes when they drop👉🏻 And either leave a review on Apple Podcasts or let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment over on Spotify!This helps me reach more customer success pros who need these insights.Thanks for tuning in to the Customer Success Career Coach podcast! I'll catch you next week.New episodes drop every Wednesday!Mentioned in this episode:We analyzed 1,474 CSM conversations to uncover why they’re leaving and what actually keeps them in 2026. Grab the free Talent Report here: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/report
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    20 m
  • 108. How to Land a Customer Success Job in Under 90 Days in 2026
    Feb 18 2026
    If your customer success job search has been dragging on for months, the problem probably isn’t your experience — it’s the strategy you’re using. On today’s episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on exactly how my clients are landing customer success roles in under 90 days, even in a market where most searches take 6–12 months.If you’ve been applying nonstop, tweaking your resume, and still hearing crickets, I want you to know it’s not you… it’s the outdated approach you’ve been taught to follow.I’m walking you through the real, data-backed playbook we use behind the scenes to help job seekers stand out, get noticed by hiring managers, and start booking interviews faster. You’ll hear what’s actually working in 2026, why “doing all the right things” can still keep you stuck, and the shifts that can completely change your results.By the end, you’ll feel more clear, confident, and in control of your next move with a new perspective on what’s truly possible for your career. Hit play and let’s dive in.And if you’re ready to stop guessing and start getting real results in your job search, apply for coaching HERE and let’s build a strategy that helps you land the right customer success role faster and with confidence.1:10 – Why Your Customer Success Job Search Isn’t Working (Hint: It’s Not About Qualifications)3:01– Ben’s Story: 600 Applications, 0 Offers Until He Changed His Strategy5:53 – The New, Data-Backed Resume Rules for Customer Success8:09 – LinkedIn Optimization: How to Actually Show Up in Recruiter Searches9:10 – Why Direct Outreach Beats “Apply and Hope” Every Time10:55 – Interviewing Isn’t About Experience—It’s About Telling Your Story14:13 – Negotiating Offers: How to Stop Leaving Thousands on the Table16:25 – Coaching ROI: How Waiting Costs You Real MoneyFREEBIES & RESOURCES:🛎️ Actively looking for a job in Customer Success or plan to in the near future? Apply for 1:1 Coaching with me HERE🛎️ Optimize your resume for Customer Success jobs to land consistent interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/resume🛎️ Learn how to sell yourself as the best candidate & walk into your next Customer Success job interview with confidence with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/sellyourself🛎️ Learn how to Master Behavioral Interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/behavioralCONNECT WITH ME:❤️ Let's be LinkedIn friends: www.linkedin.com/in/carly-agar/💭 Got any questions? Send me an email at support@carlyagar.comHEAD TO THE SHOW NOTES: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/episode108FOLLOW & REVIEW:Are you loving the podcast? I'd appreciate it if you could take a few seconds to do these two things:👉🏻 Hit the FOLLOW button so you don't miss out on any new episodes when they drop👉🏻 And either leave a review on Apple Podcasts or let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment over on Spotify!This helps me reach more customer success pros who need these insights.Thanks for tuning in to the Customer Success Career Coach podcast! I'll catch you next week.New episodes drop every Wednesday!Mentioned in this episode:We analyzed 1,474 CSM conversations to uncover why they’re leaving and what actually keeps them in 2026. Grab the free Talent Report here: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/report
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    21 m
  • 107. How to Land a $200K Customer Success Job (What 10 High Earners Had in Common)
    Feb 11 2026
    What if landing a $200K Customer Success role has a lot less to do with your title and a lot more to do with one thing almost no one is tracking?In this episode, I went full data-nerd and analyzed 10 recent clients who all accepted Customer Success offers between $175K–$230K. I pulled apart their resumes, KPIs, career paths, and job search histories to uncover the patterns that actually showed up at this level — not the advice we think matters, but what the data clearly revealed.I’m breaking down the types of companies paying top dollar, why domain depth quietly beats title chasing, and the specific metrics that consistently showed up across every high earner. We’ll also talk about why “just CSM” titles aren’t the red flag people think they are and what truly drives compensation once you’re aiming for $200K and beyond.By the end of this episode, you’ll have a much clearer roadmap for where to focus and what to stop stressing about if a $200K role is your goal. If you’ve been questioning whether you’re on the right path, this will give you answers. Hit play and let’s dive in.And if you’re ready to position yourself as the obvious choice for a high-comp Customer Success role? Apply to work with my team HERE.02:11 – Why High-Paying Customer Success Roles Are Tied to “Mission Critical” Software Companies04:14 – What Building Domain Depth Actually Looks Like (and Why It Matters More Than Job-Hopping)06:47 – The Truth About Job Titles: Why “CSM” or “VP” Alone Doesn’t Guarantee a Bigger Paycheck08:54 – The Real Drivers of 200k Salaries in Customer Success: Scope, Revenue, and Accountability12:15 – Why Non-Linear Careers (and Resume Gaps) Won’t Hold You Back From Earning More13:43 – How Even Top Candidates Struggle to Land Interviews (and Why Selling Yourself Is Everything)16:18 – The Actual Checklist for Breaking Into the 200k+ Customer Success Club17:16 – Why Tweaking Your Job Seeking Skills (Not Your Experience) Is the Ultimate Career Growth HackFREEBIES & RESOURCES:🛎️ Actively looking for a job in Customer Success or plan to in the near future? Apply for 1:1 Coaching with me HERE🛎️ Optimize your resume for Customer Success jobs to land consistent interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/resume🛎️ Learn how to sell yourself as the best candidate & walk into your next Customer Success job interview with confidence with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/sellyourself🛎️ Learn how to Master Behavioral Interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/behavioralCONNECT WITH ME:❤️ Let's be LinkedIn friends: www.linkedin.com/in/carly-agar/💭 Got any questions? Send me an email at support@carlyagar.comHEAD TO THE SHOW NOTES: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/episode107FOLLOW & REVIEW:Are you loving the podcast? I'd appreciate it if you could take a few seconds to do these two things:👉🏻 Hit the FOLLOW button so you don't miss out on any new episodes when they drop👉🏻 And either leave a review on Apple Podcasts or let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment over on Spotify!This helps me reach more customer success pros who need these insights.Thanks for tuning in to the Customer Success Career Coach podcast! I'll catch you next week.New episodes drop every Wednesday!Mentioned in this episode:We analyzed 1,474 CSM conversations to uncover why they’re leaving and what actually keeps them in 2026. Grab the free Talent Report here: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/report
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    19 m