The Partnership Playbook: Unlock Business Growth, Build Systems, Reclaim Time
Struggling to grow your business despite trying every strategy? This podcast helps sales and marketing leaders build systems to secure high-value partnerships that unlock business growth, and reclaim time. Here’s what you’ll gain: • Identify where your partnership strategy is falling short and fix it. • Learn how to grow resilient revenue with distribution and supply chain partnerships. • Unlock innovations with product collaborations that can transform your industry. With 20+ years of experience growing companies in healthcare, biotech, aerospace, and eCommerce through partnerships, Phil Hayes-St Clair shares proven systems to help you grow predictably and minimise risk. New episodes drop every Monday, We...
140. How Jeff Bezos makes decisions to unlock growth
What if the biggest threat to your company’s growth isn’t bad decisions — but slow ones?
Every CEO knows the drag created when decisions stall. That gap between information and action quietly erodes trust, slows execution, and creates cultural drag. In this episode, Phil unpacks Jeff Bezos’s decision framework — refined in conversation with Adam Grant — and shows how increasing your decision velocity drives partnership alignment, organizational clarity, and sustained growth.
Learn how to use a simple 2x2 matrix to categorize decisionsIncrease your speed without increasing riskReduce friction inside your leadership team and accelerate executionListe...
139. How I deliver value to you is changing (starting today)
How I deliver value to you starts today.
New episodes Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
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The Partnership Playbook is the podcast for leaders who want to grow with clarity, create leverage through partnerships, and lead their teams with meaning. Each episode gives you practical insights drawn from two decades of building and backing companies, coaching CEOs, and closing high-value partnerships across industries. You’ll learn how to sc...
138. Most Replayed Moment: How to build growth partnerships without getting burned
What if your next big growth opportunity is a new relationship?
Too many founders chase transactions and miss out on the power of long-term partnerships. In this episode, Scott Kelly, investor and media collaborator, reveals how he vets founders, why “trust but verify” matters, and the subtle language that separates good deals from bad ones.
You’ll walk away with:
A simple heuristic for evaluating partnerships before the contractA mindset shift that turns cold outreach into recurring opportunityReal stories of how long-game collaboration drives business growthListen now to level-up your partnership strate...
137. The hidden cost of partnership meetings (and how this AI can pay it back)
What if the way you run meetings is quietly capping your global growth?
In this episode, discover how Rumi.ai founder Ramsey Pryor is rewriting the go-to-market playbook through partnerships and AI-driven meeting memory. You’ll learn:
Why “brand doesn’t travel” — and what founders can do before launching abroad.How to turn meeting chaos into a recall system that powers decision-making.The true meaning of partnership as a force multiplier for growth.🎧 Tune in to learn how partnership and growth come alive when context, culture, and technology align.
New episodes Monday, Wednesday and...
136. Why treating suppliers as vendors is slowing your growth (and how to fix it)
Are your suppliers helping you grow or just filling orders?
If you're treating vendors like fixed-line costs instead of future-shaping partners, you're holding back growth, agility, and margin.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
How to assess your current supplier relationships across 12 critical partnership elementsThe 3 maturity levels—Baseline, Growth, and Strategic—and what shifts each one unlocksPractical moves to transform a vendor into a co-invested growth partnerWant to build partnerships that scale your business—not just service it?
Listen now and get the “From Vendor to Partner” framework here.
Thanks...
135. How to re-build trust when a partnership breaks down
Why do some partnerships crumble over small issues while others grow stronger from them?
In this episode you’ll learn:
The 4-step framework to repair any partnership issue without blame or confusionHow to prevent small missteps from derailing big opportunitiesWhy system fixes—not apologies—are your fastest path to partnership growthListen now to turn a miss into momentum—and make your partnerships unbreakable.
Get the MISS Principle download here.
Thanks to Fiverr for sponsoring this episode! Use this link and the code PHILHSC10 to get 10% of your first order with Fiv...
134. How to Build a Leadership Platform That Attracts Growth-Driven Partners
What if the key to partnership-driven growth isn't strategy—but curiosity?
Whether you're leading a team, selling under pressure, or building a movement, this episode with Ryan Hawk will flip your assumptions. From his journey through sports, sales, podcasting, and publishing, Ryan unpacks how commitment, standards, and relationships drive real results.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why your curiosity is the most underused business advantageHow to lead former peers without losing trust—or momentumA simple mindset shift to attract high-quality partnershipsStop dabbling. Start building a life—and business—of lasting impact.
🎧...
133. How to hire freelancers for growth (and avoid 15 fatal mistakes)
Struggling to turn freelancer hires into real growth outcomes?
Learn how to craft a brief and milestone system that aligns external talent with your growth agenda.Discover how to vet freelancers like you vet partners—beyond cost and platform badge.Get the framework to manage freelancer engagements as high‑velocity experiments, so you scale faster and smarter.Ready to turn your freelancer hires into growth allies? Listen now.
This episode is sponsored by Fiverr.
Get 10% off your first order (Use code PHILHSC10 at checkout)
Read: 15 Mistakes To Avoid When Hiring Onlin...
132. How to Build Revenue-Driving Partnerships by Starting at the C-Suit
What makes a partnership actually work?
Too many companies chase logos, launch press releases, and declare “partner-first”—only to find out later it didn’t move the needle. Adrienne Coburn shares how to build partnerships that fuel growth, not just optics.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
How to structure partnerships around mutual tension and trustWhy internal selling is ongoing, and how to do it wellThe step-by-step difference between performative and revenue-generating partner programsIf you’re serious about using partnerships to drive real growth, this episode is your playbook.
🎧 Listen now to b...
131. Most Replayed Moment: Why referral marketing fails unless you do this
Why do some partnerships fall flat even after a perfect pitch?
In this episode, Rob Matzkin shares the overlooked truths behind sustainable growth through partnerships and you’ll learn:
Why transparency—not just incentives—drives referral successHow to identify red flags in stalled partnerships before they failThe unscalable dinner party tactic that created 2,000+ meaningful connectionsWhether you lead partnerships or just want smarter deal flow—this one’s a game changer.
🎧 Listen now to rethink how partnership drives growth.
New episodes Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
More from Phil Hayes-St Clai...
130. Why a growth mindset isn’t enough in high-stakes deals
What if the key to game-changing partnerships isn’t strategy but emotional mastery?
Too many founders enter negotiations armed with data and ambition but unprepared for emotional dynamics that make or break deals.
In this episode you’ll learn:
A practical system (FAST) to anticipate emotional landmines in dealsHow to reframe “practice” as the most underused leadership advantageA high-integrity method for negotiating with power—even if you’re the smaller playerIf “growth mindset” is more than a buzzword for you, this episode will change how you partner for growth.
🎧 Listen now to disco...
129. Most Replayed Moment: What leaders miss about 1% improvements that build partnerships
What if the secret to growth isn’t the big deal you land today—but the 1% details you master daily?
In this episode, we unpack:
Why “sweating the small stuff” builds compounding cultural excellenceHow delayed gratification drives stronger, more sustainable partnershipsThe rituals Flight Story uses to scale teams and partnerships with a growth mindsetListen in to learn how to reframe partnership and growth from a long-term lens—and transform how your team wins.
New episodes Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
More from Phil Hayes-St Clair:
Get 100 proven partnership tactics to...
128. 10 blind spots that GTM leaders actively work on to drive growth
Ever feel like your deals were solid—until they weren’t?
When Q4 slips, it’s rarely the market’s fault. It’s often the quiet habits inside leadership routines that go unnoticed. In this episode you’ll learn how to:
Replace wishful thinking with probability-driven strategyStop pushing pressure and start enforcing processTreat December as the launchpad for Q1 growth through high-value partnershipsIf you want to hit quota and set the stage for a stronger Q1, this episode will shift how you lead your pipeline — and your team. Tune in now to master the habits tha...
127. How to use partnerships to get to your first $250K
Are you building a business and wondering if raising money is the only path to growth?
Yale's Matt Gira joins Phil Hayes-St Clair to challenge the hype around venture capital and unpack how bootstrapped founders are hitting $250K without external funding.
You'll learn:
Why $250K in revenue is a critical milestone—and how to get there.How to avoid the prestige trap and build real traction.The overlooked power of partnerships and community.If you're a founder with a growth mindset looking to scale sustainably, this episode will give you clarity and co...
126. Most Replayed Moment: How to use curiosity to close complex deals faster
What if your playbook is the problem?
In this episode, we explore how ego stifles scale—and why curiosity and empathy are your best growth strategies.
You'll learn how to:
Unlock decision-makers by understanding their personal and organizational incentivesReplace ego with humility, research, and real listeningBuild scalable partnerships by asking smarter, deeper questionsThis is a masterclass in partnership and growth mindset—and a reminder that in sales, the quietest person in the room often wins.
🎧 Tap in and rethink your next deal.
New episodes Monday, Wednesday and Friday...
125. The Entry Equation: How to calculate odds of market entry success
Do you know how to do the math to assess the risk of entering a new market?
In this episode you’ll learn:
The 10 ways incumbents defend their market—and how to break throughThe formula every founder and sales leader should run before entering a market5 proven partnership plays to unlock access, trust, and scale—without going head-to-head🎧 Listen to learn the math behind momentum
Today’s episode is sponsored by Fiverr. If you want to grow without adding overhead, Fiverr is the shortcut. Use this link and the code PHILHSC10 to get 10% off...
124. RE-RELEASE: Niven Postma on how really understanding politics will help you build better partnerships
What if the greatest opportunity for your career and your impact lies in the invisible spaces between words on your job description?
In this deeply thoughtful conversation, Niven Postma reveals the often overlooked realities of leadership, power, and politics in organisations.
Understand why organizational politics aren't a bug, they're a feature, and how you can ethically and effectively navigate themDiscover the power of building a "to-build" list of relationships as strategically as your to-do listLearn how to balance what matters to you with what matters to others in partnerships, and why that overlap is where transformative c...123. How to build growth partnerships by leading with generosity
What if the most underused leadership advantage wasn’t a skill—but generosity?
Too often, partnerships stall because leaders prioritize process over people. Joe Davis, longtime BCG leader and author of The Generous Leader, reveals how heart-first leadership drives performance, trust, and transformation inside the world’s top firms.
In this conversation, you'll learn:
Why generosity is a strategic advantage in high-stakes environmentsThe 7 principles of leadership that unlock growth and clarityHow to build internal ventures that actually thriveThis episode is a masterclass for founders and executives navigating growth, partnerships, and post-COVID leader...
122. Most Replayed Moment: The unlikely link between partnerships, plumbers, and Olympic medals
What if your greatest competitor could become your most valuable partner?
Fiona de Jong, lawyer-turned-sport-leader-turned-nation-branding-strategist, reveals how collaboration—across countries, sectors, and departments—creates unprecedented growth. From waxing skis with Norwegians to uniting CEOs to define Australia’s global identity, this episode is a masterclass in modern partnerships.
Discover how competition and collaboration can (and must) coexistLearn the overlooked leadership skill that unlocks opportunityUnderstand how to translate past experience into strategic relevanceListen in for bold insights on partnerships and cross-sector growth that shift your perspective—and your playbook.
New episodes Monday, Wednesda...
121. What great partnerships actually look like
Could you easily describe what a great partnership looks like?
If you can’t describe what “great” looks like, you can’t measure it. And if you can’t measure it, you can’t scale it.
In this solo episode, you’ll learn:
What high-performing partnerships should look and feel like at 6 months and 2 yearsThe 9 observable, testable, and time-bound qualities of great partnershipsWhy resilience, not reliance, is the true sign of partnership strengthHow to avoid the “logo swap trap” and focus on value that compoundsDownload the 1-page Partnership Blueprint here.
Today’s episode...
120. Most Replayed Moment: What most leaders miss about trust and growth
What if your leadership brand was your greatest growth asset?
In this episode, Laura Barnard shares a game-changing framework: the Spectrum of Leadership Empowerment (SLE). It bridges psychology, branding, and purpose into one tool.
Discover how to identify your intrinsic leadership motivationLearn how trust and prior relationships drive partnership successGain tactics to activate your leadership brand publiclyStart thinking of yourself not just as a leader—but as a message others can follow. Listen in for actionable insights on partnerships, growth, and influence.
New episodes Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
More fr...
119. The unseen skill that grows partnerships and revenue
What if every growth deal you closed started with giving instead of asking?
Scott Kelly, founder of Black Dog Venture Partners, joins Phil to share his hard-won lessons from three decades in deal-making—from Wall Street to startup boardrooms. If you’ve ever wondered why some partnerships thrive while others implode, this episode is a masterclass in the art of going first, building trust, and playing the long game.
You’ll walk away with:
A battle-tested framework for vetting potential partners (and walking away from bad ones)Scripts and signals to look for in first...118. How to structure partnerships for growth using the 2×4 value framework
Are your partnerships built on belief—or proof?
Too many growth partnerships start with optimism and end in regret. Why? Because belief systems don’t hold up under board-level scrutiny or leadership changes.
Here’s how to make yours bulletproof:
Anchor every deal in two measurable benefits, not just one.Use the four calculations - Revenue, Access, Cost Savings, Risk Reduction - to audit every partnership.Prioritize consumption over appearances because logos don't pay bills, usage does.If you're serious about building growth partnerships that survive turbulence, this episode will change how you ev...
117. The hidden leverage in partnerships that no one talks about
What if the next trillion-dollar company isn’t in AI... but in waste?
Most leaders overlook the eight sectors that keep the world moving: freight, water, power, waste, packaging, laundry, cement, and buses. But when they fail, everything fails.
In this episode, discover how infrastructure partnerships are:
Turning waste, emissions, and power strain into revenue streamsPre-locking supply and compliance advantages through collaborationReframing “unsexy” sectors as strategic growth enginesListen now to uncover how to partner your way into overlooked industries—before everyone else catches on.
Today’s episode is sponsored by Fiverr...
116. Part 2: Why the world's top podcast company declined a $100M partnership
What if your biggest growth lever wasn’t a new product, ad campaign, or market — but a partnership?
Too many leaders treat partnerships like PR stunts or one-off transactions. Christiana Brenton has built a career proving the opposite: that genuine, long-term partnerships are a growth engine that compounds over years.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
The “one plus one equals three” mindset that makes partnerships scale.How to build a high-performance partnerships team that thrives on curiosity.Why saying “no” to a seven-figure deal can be the smartest growth decision you’ll make.Listen no...
115. Most Replayed Moment: What building E! Entertainment taught Larry Namer about growth
What if your next $100M partnership just needed the right insight?
Larry Namer co-founded E! with $2.5M after more than 100 rejections. Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:
How movie trailers became a proof-of-concept for E!’s business modelWhy rejection can be the best market validatorHow to turn underfunding into a competitive advantageIf you're building anything with partnerships or ambition, this episode is for you.
🎧 Tap in and rethink how you grow.
New episodes Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
More from Phil Hayes-St Clair:
Get 100 p...
Part 1: Why the world's top podcast company declined a $100M partnership
What if your revenue playbook was slowing your growth?
Most sales teams push harder. Christiana Brenton thinks differently, starting with curiosity, empathy, and humility. From scaling Flight Studio to rejecting a $100M offer, this conversation flips traditional thinking on partnerships and performance.
You’ll learn:
How curiosity and care outperform brute-force tactics in salesThe “first principles” mindset behind Flight Studio’s exponential growthWhy long-term trust beats short-term wins and how to build itGet a front-row seat to the mindset and strategy behind the world's most culturally relevant podcast brand.
Listen n...
113. How to navigate partnerships and power without playing dirty
Why do good people avoid politics—and what’s the cost?
If you’ve ever felt like politics in the workplace are beneath you, or just a distraction from “real work,” this conversation will challenge—and elevate—your thinking. Because politics isn’t the game. It’s the field it’s played on.
In this episode:
Learn the 3 stages of political maturity—and how to level up.Discover why ignoring politics is a growth limiter, not a virtue.Reframe politics as the fuel for partnerships, power, and progress.Listen to get the strategic edge you did...
112. How to the PGA builds 30-year partnerships
What if writing a check is the worst way to start a partnership?
Too many brands think dollars are the only door to open but true growth partnerships go deeper. In this episode, Luke Reissman from the PGA of America shares how tech, inclusion, and mission alignment are redefining what successful partnerships look like in sport and beyond.
You’ll learn:
How to assess partners beyond revenue potentialWhy storytelling beats exposure in long-term dealsThe surprising driver behind golf’s pandemic-proof growthDiscover how the right partner fit isn’t just about money, it’s a...
111. How to Build Trust-Based Partnerships Using the “Give 11” Rule
What if “winning” a deal meant giving more than you take?
Rob Matzkin built and exited companies across 20+ industries and his greatest advantage was knowing how to build trust before entering a deal.
In this episode learn:
How to use the “Give 11” rule to build referable partnershipsWhy cooking for 50 people became Rob’s best growth strategyHow to spot (and fix) partnerships before they failJoin us for a masterclass in trust-led growth, purpose-first business, and partnership clarity.
New episodes Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
More from Phil Hayes-St Clair:
Get 10...
110. How a global LinkedIn movement started without a partnership agreement
What happens when a grassroots movement grows faster than the platform it supports?
Anna McAfee helped co-create LinkedIn Local, an initiative that organically scaled to over 1,000 cities and 96 countries—without formal LinkedIn endorsement. But when it came time to align with the platform... things didn’t go as expected.
Learn how to spark platform-native movements that spread globally.Understand why legal missteps can quietly erode community momentum.Discover how to protect your idea and values—even if you don’t own the rails.🎧 Listen in for a cautionary, courageous story of partnerships, scale, and what to pro...
109. RE-RELEASE: Your meetings might be killing momentum
What if the way you run meetings could make or break your Partnerships?
Dr. Steven Rogelberg, the world’s leading expert on meetings, shares how intentionality, the stewardship mindset, and smarter meeting strategies can drive better business outcomes, stronger relationships, and greater collaboration. In this episode learn:
✅ How to make every meeting count and strengthen your Partnerships.
✅ Why most people overestimate their ability to run effective meetings.
✅ Practical ways to avoid meeting hangovers and reclaim valuable time.
Press play now to learn how small changes in your meetings can transfor...
108. Reviving stalled partnership deals: How to reignite momentum at the 11th hour
Ever had a deal stall at the finish line and wondered—what just happened?
You're not alone. High-stakes partnerships often unravel at the 11th hour,” where clarity fades, champions go quiet, and momentum vanishes. This episode dives into why promising deals stall and how to revive them using strategic, actionable frameworks.
Discover how to gain a game-changing perspective with the “Negotiator’s Lens” and see past surface-level friction.Learn to apply the IDEAL+ framework to realign intent, build multi-stakeholder support, and land the all-important first win.Gain mental models and rehearsal strategies that help you deliver clarity un...107. How partnering with regulators might be your unfair advantage
What if the most feared industry held the key to the cleanest, cheapest energy?
In this episode, Caroline Cochran reveals how Oklo is reinventing nuclear—from powering with waste to designing reactors as community assets. She breaks down how partnering with regulators, not fighting them, is a 10x growth mindset move.
Learn how fast reactors can use 97% of the energy conventional plants throw away.Discover why Siemens and Oklo’s collaboration could unlock scalable energy for AI and beyond.Get a rare playbook on engaging regulators as competitive advantage, not bottleneck.🎧 Listen now to reshape...
106: RE-RELEASE: How the fighter pilot mindset can drive your business growth
What if business growth happens in the same way fighter pilots train?
In this episode you'll learn:
The Fighter Pilot Mindset: Learn how intentionality and debriefing create clarity and maximise outcomes in any environment.Partnership Dynamics: Discover why true partnerships thrive on mutual giving, shared goals, and radical transparency.Debrief to Win: Implement structured reviews to bridge the gap between expectations and results—essential for scaling businesses or partnerships.Connect with my guest Christian 'Boo' Boucousis
New episodes Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
More from Phil Hayes-St Clair:
Get 100 pr...
105. How to Build Partnerships That Actually Fuel Growth
Why do some partnerships fuel growth—and others fall flat?
In a world full of noise and digital distraction, building meaningful relationships is harder than ever. But what if the secret to sustained happiness and success isn’t more strategy—but deeper connection?
Learn why “social fitness” is the most underrated growth muscle in business and life.Hear how war veterans and Gen Z face different challenges but need the same relational skills.Discover a practical mindset shift that transforms how you show up at work and at home.This conversation with Marc Schulz is a must...
104. Why Your Pitch Isn't Closing the Partnership Deal
What if the real close doesn’t happen in the room… but in a meeting you’re not even invited to?
In this episode you’ll learn:
How to make your internal champion your secret weaponWhy clarity, not charisma, is the key to internal buy-inThe exact 4 tools to help your champion close the deal without youIf you want to win the deal even when you’re not in the room, this one’s for you. Listen now and turn your champion into a closer.
New episodes Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
...
103: RE-RELEASE: How psychology influences high-growth partnerships
What is the psychology behind high-performance partnerships?
In this episode Dr. Julie Gurner covers:
The Power of Reinvention: Discover why the ability to reinvent yourself and your business is critical for long-term success.Building High-Trust Partnerships: Understand how creating partnerships based on trust and shared goals can exponentially grow your business.Managing Stress for Better Decision-Making: Gain valuable insights into how leaders can reframe stress to enhance decision-making and inspire their teams.Tune in for practical strategies to maximize your leadership potential and build transformative partnerships that last.
Connect with Dr Julie Garn...
102. Why listening makes you competitive partnerships
What’s the one leadership skill that makes or breaks your partnerships?
It’s not strategy. It’s not charisma. It’s whether people feel safe enough to tell you the truth and whether you know how to truly listen. In this episode, Jeff Wetzler breaks down his powerful 5-step ASK approach to help leaders unlock insights they’re currently missing.
Learn how to “Choose Curiosity” and stop seeing it as a fixed trait.Understand why psychological safety isn’t optional—especially in partnershipsDiscover how “sift it and turn it” can triple the impact of your conversations....
101. How Apple used a Singapore partnership to accelerate Its comeback
What if Apple’s rebirth didn’t start with Steve Jobs but with a factory swap in Singapore?
For sales and marketing leaders, managing complexity is the killer of growth. Apple figured this out in 1997 by offloading core hardware production to NatSteel, a little-known electronics firm from Singapore.
Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:
How to identify what to outsource—not by failure, but by strategic irrelevanceHow to create proximity in partnerships that drives speed, trust, and resultsHow to design partnerships that scale with you—without becoming a liabilityIf “partners...
