Strong Search is proud to announce the launch of The Strong Search GTM Podcast, a new podcast series focused on how the world’s best B2B SaaS leaders build, scale, and sustain high-performing go-to-market teams.
Our debut episode features Mark McCarthy, Chief Revenue Officer at Basware (formerly Coupa), in conversation with Andy Strong, Founder and Managing Director of Strong Search.
This episode goes beyond surface-level leadership advice. It dives deep into B2B SaaS hiring strategy, GTM execution, enterprise sales leadership, and global team scaling – the realities that define success for modern SaaS organisations.
Why we launched the strong search gtm podcast
Hiring mistakes in B2B SaaS are expensive.
The wrong GTM hire can stall revenue, disrupt culture, and slow international expansion. Yet many SaaS leaders are still forced to rely on outdated playbooks when it comes to executive search, sales leadership hiring, and global GTM build-outs.
The Strong Search GTM Podcast was created to close that gap.
Each episode brings practical, first-hand insight from:
CROs and revenue leaders
SaaS founders and CEOs
Heads of Talent and GTM leaders
Operators scaling across EMEA, the US, and APAC
This podcast is designed for leaders who want to hire better people, build stronger GTM teams, and scale with precision.
Episode 1: B2B SaaS Hiring Secrets with Mark McCarthy, CRO at Basware
In our first episode, Andy Strong sits down with Mark McCarthy to unpack how Basware has evolved from a legacy procure-to-pay provider into a modern, enterprise SaaS market leader.
Key themes covered include:
Scaling global B2B SaaS sales teams
Hiring revenue leaders who perform in complex enterprise environments
Building GTM organisations that execute, adapt, and scale
The role of culture in high-performing SaaS teams
How AI is reshaping procurement, finance automation, and GTM strategy
Mark shares candid insight from the CRO seat – what’s worked, what hasn’t, and what SaaS leaders consistently underestimate when hiring senior GTM talent.
Lessons in B2B SaaS GTM Leadership and Hiring
This episode highlights a recurring truth we see daily in executive search:
Great GTM performance is built, not hired in isolation.
Mark discusses why:
Execution matters more than logos
Global expansion requires local GTM understanding
Leadership hires must scale with the business, not just fit the moment
Adaptability is now a core competency for SaaS revenue leaders
For CROs and founders, the conversation reinforces the importance of precision hiring, especially at leadership level, where one wrong decision can set growth back quarters, not weeks.
Hiring Top SaaS Talent in a Global Market
A key focus of the episode is global SaaS hiring.
As Basware operates across multiple regions, Mark shares practical insight into:
Hiring GTM leaders across EMEA and the US
Balancing global consistency with regional nuance
Avoiding common pitfalls when building international sales teams
What truly differentiates top-tier enterprise SaaS talent
These insights align closely with Strong Search’s work supporting VC- and PE-backed SaaS companies through international GTM expansion and leadership hiring.
The Growing Role of AI in SaaS GTM and Hiring
The conversation also explores how AI is influencing:
Procure-to-pay and finance automation
GTM decision-making and forecasting
The future skill sets required in SaaS sales and revenue leadership
Rather than replacing human judgement, Mark explains how AI is becoming a force multiplier – raising the bar for both technology platforms and the people hired to sell and lead them.
Who This Podcast Is For
This episode is essential listening if you are:
A CRO or revenue leader in B2B SaaS
A SaaS founder preparing for scale or international expansion
A Head of Talent hiring GTM leaders
A PE or VC operator supporting portfolio growth
A GTM leader navigating enterprise SaaS complexity
If your focus is scaling revenue, hiring high-performing SaaS talent, and building GTM teams that last, this podcast was built for you.
Watch Or Listen Now
🎧Youtube – SaaS GTM Leadership: Basware’s CRO Mark McCarthy on Hiring & Scaling
🎙️ Spotify – The Strong Search GTM Podcast
This is the first of many conversations with leaders shaping the future of B2B SaaS growth, hiring, and go-to-market execution.
Stay tuned for the next episode dropping soon. For more insights, follow us on LinkedIn.
