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Kiva Kolstein

President & Chief Revenue Officer, AlphaSense

Search every verified Kiva Kolstein interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Kiva Kolstein, President and Chief Revenue Officer at AlphaSense, has emphasized the importance of intentionality and operational excellence in building sales organizations. In a March 2026 podcast, he recounted a formative experience on his first day as Head of Sales, when his CEO told him that a presentation full of borrowed quotes and frameworks was insufficient, saying, "We didn't hire any of the leaders you quoted. We hired you. I want to know who you are." Kolstein described this as a lesson in "clarity and conviction" over "borrowed conviction," and stated that leadership involves showing up for direct reports by considering "what they deserve." He has also described great sales organizations as "hyper choreographed," where a well-designed process frees sellers from anxiety and allows them to be "fully present in the moment." In earlier appearances, Kolstein has focused on data-driven decision-making and scalable growth. He credited AlphaSense's revenue operations team with creating a "predictable business" and stated that "nothing is based on gut anymore or instinct" at the company. He noted that the company's sales development organization generates about 35 to 40% of its pipeline and serves as a "minor leagues" for future talent. In a 2022 year-end message, Kolstein highlighted AlphaSense's milestones, including raising $225 million in Series D funding, doubling its valuation to $1.7 billion, crossing $100 million in annual recurring revenue, and expanding to over 1,000 employees. He stated that his goals include taking the company through an IPO and reaching $1 billion in revenue.

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