RedCircle VERIFY_TOKEN_9242a398-9b83-448c-a188-0978fc948ce5 -- Rendered At Fri, 16 Oct 2026 16:50:03 +0000 The SEssions with Savannah https://redcircle.com/shows/the-sessions-with-savannah en Savannah Foreman Savannah Foreman Welcome to The SEssions with Savannah, a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s really like to build a career in presales. From demo fails to discovery wins, I’m sharing lessons, laughs, and learnings from the frontlines of tech sales. Whether you’re new to SE or just want to get better, pull up a chair. You’re in good company. 9242a398-9b83-448c-a188-0978fc948ce5 Welcome to The SEssions with Savannah, a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s really like to build a career in presales. From demo fails to discovery wins, I’m sharing lessons, laughs, and learnings from the frontlines of tech sales. Whether you’re new to SE or just want to get better, pull up a chair. You’re in good company.

]]> episodic no Savannah Foreman savannah.foreman25@gmail.com https://feeds.redcircle.com/9242a398-9b83-448c-a188-0978fc948ce5 false full Episode 6: Solutions Engineering 101 + FAQs Episode 6: Solutions Engineering 101 + FAQs Savannah Foreman In this episode, I’m answering the most common questions I get about SE/SC roles — from what the job actually is, to what a typical day looks like, to how to break in from a nontraditional background.

I'll be covering:

  • SE vs SC vs Sales Engineer: is there a difference?
  • What SEs actually do (hint: it’s not closing deals or writing production code)
  • Why technical storytelling matters more than ever
  • Real talk on coding expectations, AE partnerships, and role variation


Whether you’re brand new to the field or a seasoned SE who’s tired of explaining your job at parties, this one’s for you.

🎧 Listen now and send in your own SE questions for a future listener Q&A episode!

Connect with me on LinkedIn

]]> <p>In this episode, I’m answering the most common questions I get about SE/SC roles — from what the job actually is, to what a typical day looks like, to how to break in from a nontraditional background.</p><p>I&#39;ll be covering:</p><ul><li>SE vs SC vs Sales Engineer: is there a difference?</li><li>What SEs actually do (hint: it’s not closing deals or writing production code)</li><li>Why technical storytelling matters more than ever</li><li>Real talk on coding expectations, AE partnerships, and role variation</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Whether you’re brand new to the field or a seasoned SE who’s tired of explaining your job at parties, this one’s for you.</p><p>🎧 Listen now and send in your own SE questions for a future listener Q&amp;A episode!</p><p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/savannahforeman" rel="nofollow">Connect with me on LinkedIn</a></p> 0ddf840a-4889-4cdf-8bca-a75b404ae924 https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/savannah-foreman Sat, 19 Jul 2025 17:42:43 +0000 1143 false full Episode 5: Storytelling That Wins Deals Episode 5: Storytelling That Wins Deals Savannah Foreman In this episode, I break down the exact storytelling frameworks I shared at DemoFest 2025 and how you can apply them in real presales conversations.


I'll cover:

– Why storytelling isn’t "extra," it’s how you win deals

– The difference between product-led and buyer-led demos

– Three simple frameworks you can actually use (and when to use them)

– A real-world narrative breakdown featuring a fictional buyer persona


Whether you’re running a first call, a business case workshop, or prepping for a POC, this episode will help you build stories that move deals forward.


🎧 Listen now, or check out the full DemoFest presentation in my LinkedIn post.


📌 Resources mentioned:

→ Download the Storytelling Framework Worksheet

→ Connect with me on LinkedIn

]]> <p>In this episode, I break down the exact storytelling frameworks I shared at DemoFest 2025 and how you can apply them in real presales conversations.</p><p><br></p><p>I&#39;ll cover:</p><p>– Why storytelling isn’t &#34;extra,&#34; it’s how you win deals</p><p>– The difference between product-led and buyer-led demos</p><p>– Three simple frameworks you can actually use (and when to use them)</p><p>– A real-world narrative breakdown featuring a fictional buyer persona</p><p><br></p><p>Whether you’re running a first call, a business case workshop, or prepping for a POC, this episode will help you build stories that move deals forward.</p><p><br></p><p>🎧 Listen now, or check out the full DemoFest presentation in my <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7323370456290316288/" rel="nofollow">LinkedIn post</a>.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>📌 Resources mentioned:</strong></p><p>→ Download the <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1d5JI4XVsOvEM0qOFmSv5WmZG_ormNLDp6011hSce_Jk/edit?usp=sharing" rel="nofollow">Storytelling Framework Worksheet</a></p><p>→ Connect with me on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/savannahforeman/" rel="nofollow">LinkedIn</a></p> 3f15ee86-edbb-494b-bfdd-845f201f6c34 https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/savannah-foreman Fri, 04 Jul 2025 15:00:45 +0000 796 false full Mini Episode: The 5-Minute Reset – A Guided Meditation for Tech Professionals Mini Episode: The 5-Minute Reset – A Guided Meditation for Tech Professionals Savannah Foreman Even while I’m on vacation this week, I wanted to leave you with something that feels supportive, especially if you’ve been feeling burnt out recently.


This mini episode is a short guided meditation for tech professionals navigating high-pressure roles: SEs, AEs, CS folks, engineering, enablement, product, and anyone else out there who’s been stuck in back-to-back meetings for too long.


Together, we’ll:


• Slow down and reset your nervous system

• Let go of pressure to always be “on”

• Remember that rest is a skill, and it’s one worth practicing


If you’ve been needing a few quiet minutes to yourself, this one’s for you.


🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/49FvznuxJYAptYgmwIGSiS?si=4b1e4bcb35db44ab

🔗 Connect with me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/savannahforeman

]]> <p>Even while I’m on vacation this week, I wanted to leave you with something that feels supportive, especially if you’ve been feeling burnt out recently.</p><p><br></p><p>This mini episode is a short guided meditation for tech professionals navigating high-pressure roles: SEs, AEs, CS folks, engineering, enablement, product, and anyone else out there who’s been stuck in back-to-back meetings for too long.</p><p><br></p><p>Together, we’ll:</p><p><br></p><p>• Slow down and reset your nervous system</p><p>• Let go of pressure to always be “on”</p><p>• Remember that rest is a skill, and it’s one worth practicing</p><p><br></p><p>If you’ve been needing a few quiet minutes to yourself, this one’s for you.</p><p><br></p><p>🎧 <strong>Listen on Spotify</strong>: https://open.spotify.com/show/49FvznuxJYAptYgmwIGSiS?si=4b1e4bcb35db44ab</p><p>🔗 <strong>Connect with me on LinkedIn</strong>: <a href="http://linkedin.com/in/savannahforeman" rel="nofollow">linkedin.com/in/savannahforeman</a></p> 87a39b35-eb7d-4c7a-9ec0-dfd2faba7996 https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/savannah-foreman Fri, 27 Jun 2025 14:00:05 +0000 388 false full Episode 4: My Demo Interview Projects from the SE Job Search Episode 4: My Demo Interview Projects from the SE Job Search Savannah Foreman During my job search, I didn’t just send out resumes. I built real projects that helped me grow as an SE, sharpen my storytelling, and find joy in the process again.

In this episode, I’m walking through three of those builds:

  • A Shopify-style storefront with a custom CMS integration
  • A POC with a custom locale picker in Builder.io
  • A pieced-together commercetools demo that still told the right story

You’ll hear what worked, what didn’t, and what I learned about staying grounded when things go sideways. I’m also sharing a preview of my next project I’m building in my new role at UserTesting that blends storytelling with real customer feedback.


🎧 Listen on Spotify

📹 Watch the Builder.io POC walkthrough

🔗 Connect with me on LinkedIn

]]> <p>During my job search, I didn’t just send out resumes. I built real projects that helped me grow as an SE, sharpen my storytelling, and find joy in the process again.</p><p><strong>In this episode</strong>, I’m walking through three of those builds:</p><ul><li>A Shopify-style storefront with a custom CMS integration</li><li>A POC with a custom locale picker in Builder.io</li><li>A pieced-together commercetools demo that still told the right story</li></ul><p>You’ll hear what worked, what didn’t, and what I learned about staying grounded when things go sideways. I’m also sharing a preview of my next project I’m building in my new role at UserTesting that blends storytelling with real customer feedback.</p><p><br></p><p>🎧 <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/49FvznuxJYAptYgmwIGSiS?si=0bb196704b074b61" rel="nofollow"><strong>Listen on Spotify</strong></a></p><p>📹 <strong>Watch the Builder.io POC walkthrough</strong></p><p>🔗 <a href="http://linkedin.com/in/savannahforeman" rel="nofollow"><strong>Connect with me on LinkedIn</strong></a></p> a521ba11-eb5d-440f-8015-81b572792151 https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/savannah-foreman Fri, 20 Jun 2025 13:00:44 +0000 922 false full Episode 3: Inside The Solutions Engineering Job Search Episode 3: Inside The Solutions Engineering Job Search 3 1 Savannah Foreman About the episode What does it really take to land a Solutions Engineer job in 2025? In this episode of The SEssions with Savannah, I’m pulling back the curtain on my entire 3-month job search, from the cold outreach and custom demos to the amount of interviews it took to land an offer. I’m breaking down: - The exact numbers (yep, I tracked everything) - The patterns I saw across 16 different companies - What actually worked (and what definitely didn’t) - The emotional toll of nonstop interviews after a layoff - And the one shift that changed everything for me If you’re an SE navigating your own search, wondering if the process is supposed to feel this chaotic, this one’s for you. 👀 Plus: A soft reveal about what’s next for me… 🔗 Resources & Links: - Solutions Engineer Interview Prep Guide: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1A6_r7NyI6yuiWu7PrLmYZDw48Q3Ty1Hk7iDiVPGqfWI/edit?usp=sharing - Follow The SEssions with Savannah on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/49FvznuxJYAptYgmwIGSiS - Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/savannahforeman/ - Got thoughts, rants, or stories from your own SE interviews? DM me. 🎧 Subscribe, share, and leave a rating if this episode made you feel a little more seen. #solutionsengineering #presales #jobsearch #techhiring #truthintech #podcast About the episode


What does it really take to land a Solutions Engineer job in 2025?

In this episode of The SEssions with Savannah, I’m pulling back the curtain on my entire 3-month job search, from the cold outreach and custom demos to the amount of interviews it took to land an offer.


I’m breaking down:

  • The exact numbers (yep, I tracked everything)
  • The patterns I saw across 16 different companies
  • What actually worked (and what definitely didn’t)
  • The emotional toll of nonstop interviews after a layoff
  • And the one shift that changed everything for me


If you’re an SE navigating your own search, wondering if the process is supposed to feel this chaotic, this one’s for you.


👀 Plus: A soft reveal about what’s next for me…


🔗 Resources & Links:


🎧 Subscribe, share, and leave a rating if this episode made you feel a little more seen.


#solutionsengineering #presales #jobsearch #techhiring #truthintech #podcast

]]> <h3>About the episode</h3><p><br></p><p><strong>What does it really take to land a Solutions Engineer job in 2025?</strong></p><p>In this episode of <em>The SEssions with Savannah</em>, I’m pulling back the curtain on my entire 3-month job search, from the cold outreach and custom demos to the amount of interviews it took to land an offer.</p><p><br></p><p>I’m breaking down:</p><ul><li>The exact numbers (yep, I tracked everything)</li><li>The patterns I saw across 16 different companies</li><li>What actually worked (and what definitely didn’t)</li><li>The emotional toll of nonstop interviews after a layoff</li><li>And the one shift that changed everything for me</li></ul><p><br></p><p>If you’re an SE navigating your own search, wondering if the process is <em>supposed</em> to feel this chaotic, this one’s for you.</p><p><br></p><p>👀 Plus: A soft reveal about what’s next for me…</p><p><br></p><p><strong>🔗 Resources &amp; Links:</strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1A6_r7NyI6yuiWu7PrLmYZDw48Q3Ty1Hk7iDiVPGqfWI/edit?usp=sharing" rel="nofollow">Solutions Engineer Interview Prep Guide</a></li><li>Connect with me on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/savannahforeman/" rel="nofollow">LinkedIn</a></li><li>Follow <em>The SEssions with Savannah</em> on <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/49FvznuxJYAptYgmwIGSiS?si=762192b2c37749cd" rel="nofollow">Spotify</a></li><li>Got thoughts, rants, or stories from your own SE interviews? DM me.</li></ul><p><br></p><p>🎧 Subscribe, share, and leave a rating if this episode made you feel a little more seen.</p><p><br></p><p>#solutionsengineering #presales #jobsearch #techhiring #truthintech #podcast</p> f0faa249-bc24-418c-8f2a-92c91a523406 https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/savannah-foreman Fri, 13 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000 909 false full Episode 2: Surviving Layoffs as a Solutions Engineer Episode 2: Surviving Layoffs as a Solutions Engineer 2 1 Savannah Foreman About the episode


In this episode, I’m talking about something we don’t hear enough in tech: what happens after a layoff—emotionally, professionally, and personally. I’m sharing what it was like to be promoted and let go in the same month, the silence that followed, and how I rebuilt from it.


If you’ve ever questioned your value after getting laid off, or felt totally alone in it, this one’s for you.


What’s inside:

• The dissonance of being promoted and laid off in the same month

• The emotional impact of post-layoff silence from teammates

• What the job search really felt like

• What I’m learning from the experience and what’s next for me


Resources & Credits


commercetools Layoffs:

• TechCrunch article on commercetools layoffs

• Rick Watson’s RMW Commerce podcast episode & LinkedIn post about the commercetools layoffs


Tech Layoff Best Practices for Employers:

• How to Support Employees During Layoffs: Best Practices for Employers by Dev Raj Saini

• Preparing for Layoffs in Tech by Gergely Orosz

• Layoffs that Don't Break Your Company by Harvard Business Review

• Layoffs in the Tech Industry: 2022–2023 published in Harvard Business School Case Collection

  • This case study examines the mass layoffs in the tech industry from 2022-2023 at four companies: Twitter (X), Stripe, Meta, and Google. 


Music credits: theme song, ambient music, other music

]]> <h3><strong>About the episode</strong></h3><p><br></p><p>In this episode, I’m talking about something we don’t hear enough in tech: what happens after a layoff—emotionally, professionally, and personally. I’m sharing what it was like to be promoted and let go in the same month, the silence that followed, and how I rebuilt from it.</p><p><br></p><p>If you’ve ever questioned your value after getting laid off, or felt totally alone in it, <strong>this one’s for you</strong>.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>What’s inside:</strong></p><p>• The dissonance of being promoted and laid off in the same month</p><p>• The emotional impact of post-layoff silence from teammates</p><p>• What the job search really felt like</p><p>• What I’m learning from the experience and what’s next for me</p><p><br></p><h3><strong>Resources &amp; Credits</strong></h3><p><br></p><p>commercetools Layoffs:</p><p>• <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/26/commercetools-a-pioneer-in-headless-commerce-lays-off-dozens-of-staff/" rel="nofollow">TechCrunch article</a> on commercetools layoffs</p><p>• <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/1NBtWvGpXRQFbMrENO9J6p?si=f0f06658331f46ee" rel="nofollow">Rick Watson’s RMW Commerce podcast episode</a> &amp; <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ecommercestrategyconsulting_commercetools-layoffs-likely-signal-ipo-plans-activity-7301220852698697728-Za6d/" rel="nofollow">LinkedIn post</a> about the commercetools layoffs</p><p><br></p><p>Tech Layoff Best Practices for Employers:</p><p>• <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-support-employees-during-layoffs-best-practices-employers-saini-ud2ef/" rel="nofollow">How to Support Employees During Layoffs: Best Practices for Employers</a> by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dev-raj-saini/" rel="nofollow">Dev Raj Saini</a></p><p>• <a href="https://newsletter.pragmaticengineer.com/p/preparing-for-layoffs" rel="nofollow">Preparing for Layoffs in Tech</a> by <a href="https://substack.com/@pragmaticengineer" rel="nofollow">Gergely Orosz</a></p><p>• <a href="https://hbr.org/2018/05/layoffs-that-dont-break-your-company" rel="nofollow">Layoffs that Don&#39;t Break Your Company</a> by Harvard Business Review</p><p>• <a href="https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=63824" rel="nofollow">Layoffs in the Tech Industry: 2022–2023</a> published in Harvard Business School Case Collection</p><ul><li>This case study examines the mass layoffs in the tech industry from 2022-2023 at four companies: Twitter (X), Stripe, Meta, and Google. </li></ul><p><br></p><p>Music credits: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/track/2BfsAxLtiPa9nq0nyXtv7v?si=529816beda584829" rel="nofollow">theme song</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/track/4qPtvDNdZtvN0YsJZqttgu?si=dcbb7ab202014ff7" rel="nofollow">ambient music</a>, <a href="https://podcastle.ai/" rel="nofollow">other music</a></p> 59234582-2cfb-47ce-907f-167ea5aaa570 https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/savannah-foreman Fri, 06 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000 441 false full Episode 1: Welcome to The SEssions with Savannah Episode 1: Welcome to The SEssions with Savannah 1 1 Savannah Foreman <p><strong>Welcome to the SEssions with Savannah, a podcast about selling &amp; surviving SaaS. </strong></p><p>In this first episode, I’m sharing why I started the show, what presales <em>really</em> feels like behind the scenes, and what you can expect from upcoming episodes. If you’ve ever:</p><ul><li>Felt like your demo was more performance than product</li><li>Been burned by a broken hiring process</li><li>Or wondered if anyone else was quietly losing it behind their screen…</li></ul><p><br></p><p>…this one’s for you.</p><p><br></p><p>🎙️ <em>The SEssions with Savannah</em> is about honest stories, strategic rants, and the real stuff that happens before the sale.</p> Welcome to The SEssions with Savannah, a podcast about selling & surviving SaaS.

In this first official episode, I’m sharing why I started the show, what presales really feels like behind the scenes, and what you can expect from upcoming episodes.


If you’ve ever:

• Felt like your demo was more performance than product

• Been burned by a broken hiring process

• Or wondered if anyone else was quietly losing it behind their screen…


…this one’s for you.


🎙️ The SEssions with Savannah is about honest stories, strategic rants, and the real stuff that happens before the sale.

_______________________________________________________

Note: Episode 0 was originally recorded as an internal enablement sample for the commercetools SE team. Episode 1 (this episode) marks the official launch of the podcast.


Connect with me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/savannahforeman


#SalesEngineering #SolutionsEngineering #Presales #Tech #WomenInTech #WomenInSales #Sales

]]> <p>Welcome to The SEssions with Savannah, a podcast about selling &amp; surviving SaaS.</p><p>In this first official episode, I’m sharing why I started the show, what presales really feels like behind the scenes, and what you can expect from upcoming episodes.</p><p><br></p><p>If you’ve ever:</p><p>• Felt like your demo was more performance than product</p><p>• Been burned by a broken hiring process</p><p>• Or wondered if anyone else was quietly losing it behind their screen…</p><p><br></p><p>…this one’s for you.</p><p><br></p><p>🎙️ The SEssions with Savannah is about honest stories, strategic rants, and the real stuff that happens before the sale.</p><p>_______________________________________________________</p><p>Note: Episode 0 was originally recorded as an internal enablement sample for the commercetools SE team. Episode 1 (this episode) marks the official launch of the podcast.</p><p><br></p><p>Connect with me on LinkedIn: <a href="http://linkedin.com/in/savannahforeman" rel="nofollow">linkedin.com/in/savannahforeman</a></p><p><br></p><p>#SalesEngineering #SolutionsEngineering #Presales #Tech #WomenInTech #WomenInSales #Sales</p> 08abe859-629b-4b7f-8af7-249079e10985 https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/savannah-foreman/episodes/Episode-1-Welcome-to-The-SEssions-with-Savannah-e33hlfg Fri, 30 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000 293 false full Episode 0: commercetools SE Enablement Podcast Episode 0: commercetools SE Enablement Podcast Savannah Foreman <p>This is a sample podcast episode I created as part of a self-driven project to enable the commercetools global Solution Engineering team. In this episode, I walk through recent commercetools product releases and how they impact PreSales conversations, discovery framing, and demo storytelling.</p><p>While this isn’t part of an official company series, it reflects how I think about technical enablement, internal storytelling, and translating product updates into customer-relevant value.</p><p>If you’re a Solution Engineer, Product Marketer, or PreSales leader, you’ll find examples of how to frame these new capabilities in customer conversations and how to weave them into effective, persona-driven demos.</p><p><br /></p><p><em>Note: This is a sample enablement podcast created independently by Savannah for internal use and portfolio purposes. It is not an official commercetools broadcast.</em></p> This is a sample podcast episode I created as part of a self-driven project to enable the commercetools global Solution Engineering team. In this episode, I walk through recent commercetools product releases and how they impact presales conversations, discovery framing, and demo storytelling.

While this isn’t part of an official company series, it reflects how I think about technical enablement, internal storytelling, and translating product updates into customer-relevant value.

If you’re a Solution Engineer, Product Marketer, or presales leader, you’ll find examples of how to frame these new capabilities in customer conversations and how to weave them into effective, persona-driven demos.


Note: This is a sample enablement podcast created independently by Savannah for internal use and portfolio purposes. It is not an official commercetools broadcast.

]]> <p>This is a sample podcast episode I created as part of a self-driven project to enable the commercetools global Solution Engineering team. In this episode, I walk through recent commercetools product releases and how they impact presales conversations, discovery framing, and demo storytelling.</p><p>While this isn’t part of an official company series, it reflects how I think about technical enablement, internal storytelling, and translating product updates into customer-relevant value.</p><p>If you’re a Solution Engineer, Product Marketer, or presales leader, you’ll find examples of how to frame these new capabilities in customer conversations and how to weave them into effective, persona-driven demos.</p><p><br></p><p><em>Note: This is a sample enablement podcast created independently by Savannah for internal use and portfolio purposes. It is not an official commercetools broadcast.</em></p> 0c0a4500-5b8c-4b73-a7d7-dc0dfd9429e9 https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/savannah-foreman/episodes/Episode-0-commercetools-SE-Enablement-Podcast-e33cjc8 Mon, 26 May 2025 15:15:51 +0000 186 false