
Episode #6
Why 'channel' is disappearing from B2B sales (and what's replacing it)
Ivan Bulaev has run channel, partnerships and direct sales teams at HPE, Kaspersky, AWS and now Autodesk. In this episode, he tells Richard Lane why the word ‘channel’ barely gets used any more - and what’s replaced it. You'll hear how Autodesk structures its ‘sales pods’ to run an 800-account territory without losing control, why AI has already made up 90% of the buyer's mind before a seller says a word, and why chasing the big global system integrators too early is one of the most expensive mistakes a vendor can make. Ivan also shares a Dutch saying about trust that's stuck with him ever since he first heard it - and it sums up partner relationships better than any playbook. Whether you're building your first partner programme or rethinking a mature one, this conversation gives you a sharper way to think about who you sell with, not just who you sell to. Listen to the full episode to hear it all.






