CS100 – The Fit Test: How to Spot the Right Company (and Avoid the Wrong One)

2025 CS100 Summit Speakers – Kristi Faltorusso (CCO at ClientSuccess) & Maranda Dziekonski (CCO at Fexa)

In this session at the 2025 CS100 Summit, Kristi Faltorusso and Maranda Dziekonski share a candid, practical framework for evaluating company fit before accepting a customer success leadership role — and avoiding costly career missteps.

Drawing from their experiences as Chief Customer Officers, Kristi and Maranda break down how misalignment between values, expectations, incentives, and operating reality shows up in CS roles, and how to spot red flags early.

In this session, you’ll learn:

• How to evaluate whether a company is truly set up for customer success
• The warning signs that indicate misalignment between leadership, strategy, and execution
• What questions to ask during interviews to uncover cultural and operational fit
• How CS maturity, ownership, and incentives impact your ability to succeed
• How to decide when to lean in, walk away, or reset expectations

Kristi and Maranda also share real-world examples of what “fit” looks like in practice and how the right environment empowers CS leaders to drive outcomes, earn influence, and build sustainable careers.

As customer success roles become more complex and expectations rise, this session offers an honest, actionable guide for CS leaders navigating career decisions with clarity and intention.

‍The CS100 Summit is presented by ClientSuccess, the leading post-sales CRM for B2B SaaS companies. CS100 brings together customer success leaders from across the industry to share real-world frameworks, leadership lessons, and practical strategies for driving retention, expansion, and long-term growth.