Scaling SaaS, Network Intelligence & the Future of Work | DisrupTV Ep. 54

In DisrupTV Episode 54, hosts R "Ray" Wang and Vala Afshar are joined by:

  • Jason Lemkin — Investor & “founder champion” at SaaStr Fund
  • Amy Chang — CEO & Founder of Accompany
  • Arik Hessedahl — Veteran technology journalist & independent analyst

They explore key issues around growing SaaS businesses, the power and role of professional intelligence/networks, and how organizations should adapt to changes in work environments and collaboration.

Key Takeaways

Scaling SaaS Means Balancing Product, Customer Success & Market Timing
Jason Lemkin emphasizes how, for SaaS companies, it’s not just about having a good product — it’s about timing, customer success, and ensuring the business model scales. Early-stage SaaS success depends heavily on feedback loops, unit economics, and developing a repeatable go-to-market motion. 

Leveraging Network Intelligence for Strategic Advantage
Amy Chang discusses how building and using professional networks (via tools like Accompany) or curated intelligence can provide competitive insights—identifying shifts in markets, understanding leadership changes, and spotting opportunity. For leadership, being aware of what’s happening in your network is almost as important as what’s happening inside your company.

Adapting to Changing Dynamics of Work & Organization
Arik Hessedahl and the others reflect on how work is changing: remote/hybrid work, distributed teams, tools that allow better communication and visibility. Organizations that adapt their culture, management, and communication norms will perform better. Especially in SaaS and tech, the method of work influences both product delivery and customer satisfaction. 

Importance of Transparency, Trust & Customer-Focus
All speakers highlight that trust—both inside the organization (between leadership, teams) and between the company and its customers—is essential. Transparent communication, consistent customer focus, and delivering on promises (not just features) are key to long-term growth.

Final Thoughts & Implications

  • For SaaS Founders & Leaders: Focus on scalability not as an abstract goal but as a discipline — strong go-to-market, reliable feedback loops, customer success, and economics matter deeply.
  • For Teams & HR Leaders: Invest in network intelligence and awareness—internally (who is joining, leaving) and externally (market trends, competitor moves). This knowledge informs strategy and risk.
  • For Organization Culture: Embrace trust, transparency, adaptability. Hybrid/remote trends aren’t going away; successful collaboration tools, communication norms, and trust in distributed teams are now table stakes.
  • For Product & Customer Strategy: Customer feedback, usage data, feature prioritization should drive the roadmap. But also be attuned to what network signals (from partners, customers, markets) are telling you about future needs.

Related Episodes

 

Business Research Themes

Future of Work, Tech Optimization

Roles

Chief Digital Officer, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Technology Officer