Every leader eventually faces a moment when the numbers stop making sense.
For **Amit Bendov**, Co-Founder and CEO of Gong, that moment came during what he calls **"the quarter from hell."** Sales were collapsing, investors were asking tough questions, and every report looked normal. The CRM had data—but none of the answers.
That painful experience sparked an idea that would become **Gong**, one of the world's leading AI-powered revenue platforms, now generating more than **$500 million in annual recurring revenue**.
In this episode of **Lead the Team**, Amit shares the leadership lessons behind that defining moment and explains how AI is changing the way leaders understand customers, coach teams, and make better decisions.
### In this episode:
- Why "the quarter from hell" became the origin story of Gong
- The leadership blind spot that almost every executive faces
- Why traditional CRM systems fail when leaders need answers most
- How AI helps leaders spot problems before it's too late
- The operating rhythm used by elite sales organizations
- The hiring traits Amit looks for in future leaders
- Why ownership and curiosity separate great leaders from everyone else
Whether you're a CEO, founder, executive, sales leader, or entrepreneur, this conversation offers practical lessons on leading through uncertainty, building better teams, and using AI to create a lasting competitive advantage.
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