When it comes to choosing the right customer relationship management platform (CRM) for your business, a series of considerations arise: How big is the operation? What’s my budget? Are there specific integrations we’re going to need? What are we optimizing for? Investing in a customer-facing tech system this essential isn’t a task any revenue leader takes lightly.

HubSpot has long been a standout in the CRM sector, alongside the likes of Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Monday.com, Pipedrive, or Zoho (all catering to a myriad of different requirements). Since its 2006 launch, HubSpot has scaled to support a diverse range of users, from small businesses to large enterprise clients (DoorDash and Crunch Fitness are among its testimonials). Today it serves just under 290,000 clients in over 135 countries, a 16% YoY increase from the end of 2024. In Q4, HubSpot beat analyst projections and issued strong forward guidance. Full-year total subscription revenue for 2025 came in at just over $3 billion, a 19% YoY increase on an as-reported basis (not including one-off items).

Keep reading here.—LI

We’re heading into our biggest event of the year and before we do, we want to hear from you.

Later this month Revenue Brew will be hearing from Hayden Stafford, president & CRO at Seismic, on AI, the buyer journey, and what it actually takes to close in 2026. What do you think about all the above?

Take this month’s three-question poll. It takes less than 60 seconds and we’ll publish the results alongside Hayden’s take next month.

Job title inflation is on the rise: chief revenue officer, chief digital officer, chief sustainability officer, and on we go. As the years pass, more and more chiefs are joining the ranks of the C-suite, and it might be getting harder to get everyone on the same page. For revenue leaders, executive alignment is an essential concept, but according to a new report from consulting and leadership advisory firm Egon Zehnder, the synergy between rev leaders and CEOs is one you should really pay attention to.

Keep reading here.—LI

For IT pros, proving that you’ve developed the skills necessary to understand and work with AI may be a leg up on the competition in a volatile job market.

AI certifications can help you prove your skills—but they’re not everything. Some experts argue that showing your ability to learn is arguably more important, as is work experience.

Signs, signs. Sam Ransbotham, professor of business analytics at Boston College, told IT Brew that he sees AI certifications as just one indicator of a prospective employee’s capabilities—and not even necessarily a particularly helpful one.

Keep reading here.—EH

Why retailers are buying less often but spending more (Retail Brew)

We all know the uncertain economy and shifting trade landscape are weighing on retail, but they’re also reshaping the M&A world.

Google’s Gemini for navigation is full of trivia, but can struggle with directions (Tech Brew)

Google’s Gemini navigation assistant promises “a knowledgeable friend in the passenger seat.” More recently, that “friend” can now bike or walk along with you, too.

How Figs pivoted its Lindsey Vonn Winter Olympics campaign (Marketing Brew)

When the marketers at Figs first started planning their Winter Olympics campaign, the story of alpine skiing legend Lindsey Vonn jumped out.