If you’ve ever lost a deal because of bad connectivity—or worse, had to answer for someone else’s $69 internet—this one’s for you. In this episode of Channel Smart, Laura Steward sits down with Max Joseph, Manager of Partner Solutions at AT&T (and yes, neighborhood nerd and culinary content creator) to dig into why AT&T’s APEX program might just be the best-kept secret in the MSP playbook. We’re talking: Why 100% of your customers need internet (and how to own that part of the stack)W...

In this power-packed episode, we connect with Clark Peterson—one of the most connected minds in cloud communications and Chairman of the Cloud Communication Alliance—to uncover how forward-looking vendors are putting channel-first thinking behind their AI strategies. From smarter partner targeting to AI-optimized go-to-market plays, this conversation delivers insights that help partners, resellers, and tech companies future-proof their positioning in an increasingly intelligent ecosystem. Cla...

In this episode of the Channel Smart podcast, Janet Schijns speaks with Elizabeth de Dobbeleer and Jason Gallo from Cisco about why the Cisco 360 Partner Program is a channel-smart move for partners. They discuss how Cisco is evolving its partner ecosystem to reflect the realities of today’s market, shifting away from traditional resale models to a value-based approach that rewards capabilities, performance, and engagement. The conversation highlights how Cisco is leading with transparency by...

In this episode of Channel Smart, our CEO, Janet Schijns, sits down with Channext's VP of Revenue, Alex Whitford, for a dialogue that explores why the "Long Tail" is the fastest way to grow an organization's channel revenue. They tackle: What is the Long Tail advantage? Janet and Alex discuss the perception and misperceptions of the Long Tail among vendors, the steps to building an effective strategy, the implications of neglecting this approach, and the influence of digital mar...

In the latest episode of Channel Smart, we welcome JSG's President, Meredith Caram, who sits down for an insightful discussion with Gregg Linde, Head of America's Field Marketing at Check Point Software Technologies Ltd, Partner Marketing refers to strategies and practices focused on collaborating with business partners to enhance mutual growth and success. It's about creating and nurturing a symbiotic relationship where the company and its partners collaborate closely to achieve shared mar...

The podcast "Navigating the 2024 Channel" hosted by Janet Schijns, CEO of JSG, offers deep insights into the tech world's evolving trends for 2024. It focuses on practical strategies for vendors and partners, covering topics like exploring new routes to market, revamping partner programs, and leveraging AI in program automation for vendors. For vendors, suppliers ISVs and providers, Janet discusses: New Routes to MarketRevamping Partner ProgramsRethinking MDFFor partners, she dis...

In this latest episode of Channel Smart, JSG Director of Social Media , Vlad Krause, is joined by JSG’s CMO/COO, Barb Goworowski to interview Quebec’s Rising LinkedIn Influencer in the IT space, Simon Robert, CEO of MD Informatique. Social selling is the process of using social media platforms to connect with potential customers, build relationships, and generate leads and sales. It's a powerful tool that can help businesses reach a wider audience, establish thought leadership, and close more...

In this latest episode of Channel Smart, we welcome back Janet Schijns, the CEO & Co-Founder of JSG, who sits down for an insightful interview with Steven Karachinsky, the CEO & Co-Founder of ZIRO. Often, the channel journey is narrated from the perspective of Telecom and Solution Providers. As the newest darling of the MSP world, Steven shares the unique MSP perspective of the channel ecosystem, shedding light on the challenges they face as newcomers, and offering valuable advi...

In this episode of Channel Smart, JSG's President, Meredith Caram, and Zift Solution's Vice President of Sales, Anthony D'Angelo, join us to discuss how organizations can maximize their sales team's effectiveness during economic uncertainty and meet the changing expectations of their customers, partners, and employees. Meredith and Anthony share actionable strategies on how to enable your sales teams through: Improving your current hiring strategiesWhat to look for in a salesperso...

Janet Schijns, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of JSG, returns to Channel Smart to interview Alexandra Zagury, Vice President of Partner Managed & as-a-Service, Global Partner Sales at Cisco. Together these industry thought leaders discuss the state of as-a-Service and essential focus areas, including the global talent shortage, a challenge for many channel partners. Alexandra provides invaluable insights and specific actions channel partners should take, sharing Cisco's "Five Cs for Chan...

Jasmina Muller, Ecosystems Chief at PartnerTap, joins us for this episode of Channel Smart to discuss how technology and analytics are changing how the channel works. Janet Schjins, CEO and Co-Founder of JSG, returns as host. Jasmina discusses how PartnerTap is taking an ecosystem-wide approach to growth. PartnerTap is a partner data enterprise co-selling platform that gives partners the data they need to scale up co-selling across their channel ecosystem. Most channel selling happens remotel...

The Asponte Technology team joins us for this episode of Channel Smart, and we explore accelerating sales through technology, culture, and data-driven testing. Vlad Kraus, Director of Social Media & Data Analytics at JSG, hosts Duffy Fron, Chief Commercial Officer, and Nick Bomleny, Director of Marketing from Asponte Technology. Barb Goworowski, CMO & COO of JSG, also participate in this conversation. The episode opens with Nick sharing how, back in 2020, Asponte saw buying and inform...

For this year’s last episode, we discuss the digital marketing trends for 2023. Vlad Krause assumes the role of host and interviews Barb Goworowski, COO/CMO at JS Group, and Paul Yantus, VP of Digital Marketing at JSG. Trends discussed in this podcast include: Knowing Your AudienceRefining MessagingPartner ExperienceCustomer ExperienceShort Form VideoEmployee AdvocacyInfluencersWe hope you enjoy the podcast. Feel free to reach us for booking, feedback, questions, or comments at info@jsgnow.co...

Janet Schijns, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of JS Group, returns to Channel Smart to interview Ashlyn Szilva, Vice President, Partner Ecosystems Strategies & Research, to discuss bringing social media to life for JSG customers. Listen in as Ashlyn shares what her team does and the technology that supports them. Ashlyn’s team creates and promotes social content on behalf of JSG customers. Ashlyn’s team is 100% remote and uses Intel vPro devices to ensure security and remote support. We ...

In this episode of Channel Smart, we’re discussing how to use social media in your business with our guest Vlad Krause, Director of Social Media & Data Analytics at JS Group. Our conversation covers a wide range of topics related to social media and your business, including the ROI of social, social selling techniques, social selling vs. social marketing, and the role influencers should play in your social media strategy. Hear some of the dos and don’ts of social interactions. How ...

In this episode of Channel Smart, we’re discussing channel partner experience with our guest is Meredith Caram, Chief Revenue Officer of JS Group. We also talk about how to communicate more effectively with partners and customers. Our first topic is competitive differentiation and how it impacts the partner relationship. Meredith states that 50% of partners drop vendors from their portfolio because they failed to differentiate. Partners are looking for vendors who are investing in differentia...

Janet Schijns is back as the host for our latest episode of Channel Smart. In this episode, we’re discussing how the channel is changing and the emergence of ecosystems. Our guest is Heather Tenuto, Chief Revenue Officer at Zift Solutions. This episode opens with a discussion of alternate/non-transacting partners. Examples of these types of partners are those that refer the sale or provide value in increasing adoption and retention. Suppliers are taking a step back to consider how their...

In this episode of Channel Smart, we’re discussing partner relationships with customers. Our guest is Kris Blackmon, Chief Channel Officer at JS Group. Kris is a sitting member of CompTIA’s Channel Development Council and a passionate advocate of diversity in the workplace. This episode opens with a discussion about the recent MSP Summit and conversation topics from the show floor. These conversations lead us to discuss the buyer’s journey and how it impacts partners. Focusing on custom...

In this episode of Channel Smart, we’re discussing how the channel is evolving and the role of ecosystems. Our guest for this episode is Charlie Cox, Senior VP of Channel Transformation at JS Group. Before his role with JSG, Charlie built and led a highly successful technology solutions company with a blue-chip list of Fortune 500 and ISV customers. The episode opens with a discussion about changes brought about by the pandemic, aging out, and new people entering the channel. The conversation...

In this episode of Channel Smart, we start exposing our audience to more of the JS Group’s team. Paul Yantus, Vice President of JS Group Digital Marketing, hosts Karin Freeland-Aviles, JS Group’s Vice President of Digital Go-to-Market & Learning, to discuss social selling. The episode starts with a discussion about how social selling is often misunderstood; people forget or choose not to be social. This leads to spammy interactions that are a real turn-off for the target audience. Karin t...