TL;DR — Samantha McKenna didn’t just launch a company, she launched with a full pipeline. In this episode, we talk about the power of building your brand early, how to scale without outside capital, and what CEOs can do right now to create buyer-ready audiences. If you’re relying on outdated sales tactics or waiting too long to build your brand, don’t miss this. Listen on Apple or Spotify.

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Hi Reader,

How do you launch a business with customers already waiting to buy? Samantha McKenna did just that, and she didn’t do it with paid ads, fancy funnels, or cold outreach. She built trust, credibility, and connection on LinkedIn long before she ever needed it.

We’ve been talking about community-led growth and founder-led selling, but Samantha was doing both before those phrases even existed. She bootstrapped #samsales from a personal brand, scaled it without raising a dime, and now leads a thriving team of 20 serving high-growth clients and Fortune 500 companies.

🧠 CEO Actions from Samantha’s Story:

Apply these if you want to build lasting demand and stop chasing bad-fit leads.

✅ Show up now—even if you’re not selling yet. ​
Your customers are watching, even if they’re not engaging. Start creating value before the ask.

✅ Nurture your personal brand like your business depends on it—because it does.
Executives who post thoughtful content on LinkedIn drive more inbound, build trust faster, and create a competitive advantage that can’t be copied.

✅ Don’t try to scale garbage.
If your sequences and outreach aren’t personalized and human, AI will only make them worse. Start with quality, not quantity.

✅ Hire help earlier than you think you need it.​
Samantha hired an EA 18 months in. That one decision unlocked time, growth, and a clearer path to scale.

✅ Protect your energy. Guard your time.​
Yes, you’re the face of the brand—but that doesn’t mean you should be in every meeting. Know where your presence is most valuable, and put a premium on it.

If you’re still relying on outdated prospecting or waiting for the perfect moment to start building your audience, this episode will shift your mindset. Samantha’s story is full of actionable lessons that will challenge how you think about growth, especially if you’re a CEO trying to lead sales from the front.

🎧 ➡️ [Click Here to Listen Now]

To Your Sales Success,

Alice Heiman