Scaling Global RevOps into a High-Velocity Engine
A conversation with Jelle Berends, VP of GTM Strategy at Miro.
Executive summary
Scaling revenue operations into a global go-to-market (GTM) strategy requires more than just process discipline. It demands customer-centric thinking, seamless collaboration across functions, and a clear translation of strategic intent into frontline execution. In this blog, Jelle Berends, VP of GTM Strategy at Miro, shares his perspective on aligning RevOps and GTM strategy, harnessing AI for insight at scale, and leading organizations through the complexity of growth and change. His journey—from commercial analyst at ING to building a 60-person global RevOps function at Adyen, and now shaping Miro’s GTM strategy—offers a roadmap for leaders navigating similar challenges.
From RevOps Architect to GTM Strategist
Jelle began his career focused on commercial analytics at ING and LinkedIn, where he provided insights that empowered frontline teams. His turning point came at Adyen, where he built the company’s first RevOps muscle from scratch.
“I started as the first person on the ground and from there built a true global RevOps function with 60 people all over the world,” Jelle recalled.
That experience gave him a front-row seat to hypergrowth, as Adyen scaled from 450 to 5,000 employees. RevOps wasn’t yet a mainstream term, but Jelle’s work already reflected its essence—optimizing the entire commercial funnel, not just sales.
At Miro, he’s transitioned from operations to strategy. While RevOps focused on the “how,” GTM strategy now centers on the “what” and “where.” But the foundation remains the same: customer-centricity and cross-functional alignment.
Moving from Product to Platform
Miro’s journey mirrors many high-growth SaaS companies: evolving from a single product (digital whiteboards) into a multi-product platform. That expansion brings new buyers, use cases, and complexity.
Jelle stressed the importance of defining a complete GTM package before launch:
Customer Need: What problem are we solving?
Value Proposition: What outcomes can customers achieve?
Go-to-Market Mechanics: ICP, monetization model, and enablement.
“It always starts with a clear customer pain point. If you can solve that, the rest—pricing, ICP, enablement—becomes easier to define.”
GTM Package Checklist: A Template
| Element | Key Questions to Answer | Owner (Strategy, RevOps, PMM, Sales) |
|---|---|---|
| Customer Problem | What usage or friction are we solving? | Strategy + PMM |
| Value Proposition | What business outcomes do we deliver? | PMM + Sales |
| Monetization Model | How do we package & price it? | Finance + Strategy |
| ICP & Segmentation | Who benefits most? | Strategy + Marketing |
| Enablement & Process | How do we prepare GTM teams? | Enablement + RevOps |
Embedding Customer-Centricity into Culture
One of Jelle’s recurring themes is that customer focus must be led from the top. It cannot be left to individual teams.
At Adyen, this principle was codified into company culture: “We build to benefit all customers, not just one.”
At Miro, customer input is institutionalized through:
Product feedback groups
Customer testing during incubation
Direct involvement of sales teams in product design
“Make it part of your rituals and habits. Customer-centricity must flow from leadership through every corner of the organization.”
Customer-Centric Operating Model:
Leadership mandate → Strategic priorities
Customer feedback loops → Product roadmap
RevOps & GTM Strategy → Process + enablement
Sales & CS → Execution in the field
Bridging Strategy and Execution
One of the greatest risks in large organizations, Jelle warned, is that vision gets lost in translation as it moves from leadership to frontline teams.
RevOps and GTM strategy act as translators. They connect strategic ambition with the systems, processes, and enablement needed to execute.
At Miro, this means:
Embedding GTM teams during the “cooking phase” of product design.
Using incubation specialists to validate product-market fit and GTM readiness.
Equipping frontline teams with the right processes, tech stack, and enablement before launch.
“Don’t wait until everything is built to involve GTM. Bring them in early, so by the time of launch they can run with confidence.”
The Batman & Robin Dynamic: RevOps + GTM Strategy
Jelle describes RevOps and GTM strategy as “Batman and Robin.”
RevOps ensures processes, systems, and data are optimized for efficiency.
GTM Strategy defines the market plays, value stories, and enablement paths.
Together, they ensure innovation doesn’t just get built—it gets adopted.
📊 Comparison Chart: RevOps vs GTM Strategy KPIs
Jelle describes RevOps and GTM strategy as “Batman and Robin.”
RevOps ensures processes, systems, and data are optimized for efficiency.
GTM Strategy defines the market plays, value stories, and enablement paths.
Together, they ensure innovation doesn’t just get built—it gets adopted.
📊 Comparison Chart: RevOps vs GTM Strategy KPIs
| Function | Focus Areas | KPIs Owned | Shared KPIs |
|---|---|---|---|
| RevOps | Sales process, tech stack, data flows | Productivity gains, reduced admin time | CAC, LTV, Funnel Conversion |
| GTM Strategy | Product launch, enablement, market plays | Adoption of new offerings, sales readiness | CAC, LTV, Funnel Conversion |
AI as an Insight Engine
When asked about AI, Jelle cut through the hype: the most valuable use cases are those that give visibility into customer needs at scale.
“AI allows us to analyze 100,000 data points across calls, tickets, and feedback—something humans simply couldn’t do before.”
Key opportunities include:
Summarizing vast amounts of voice and text data.
Highlighting customer pain points and emerging trends.
Reducing admin burden to free up customer-facing time.
Yet, he emphasized that AI’s promise depends on clean, integrated data. Silos across sales, marketing, and product remain a barrier. The companies that solve this middle-layer integration will unlock the most value.
📊 AI in GTM Workflow:
Data Sources → Calls, tickets, usage data
AI Layer → Summarization + prioritization
Insights → Top customer pain points
Execution → Adjust GTM plays, enablement, roadmap
Advice for RevOps Leaders Transitioning to Strategy
Jelle offered pointed advice for RevOps professionals moving into GTM strategy:
Shift Perspective: RevOps focuses inside the house; strategy requires looking outward at customers.
Spend Time with Customers: Learn their pain points directly to shape strategic priorities.
Leverage RevOps Strengths: Once strategy is set, use your operational expertise to ensure GTM teams are fully equipped.
“Spend as much time as possible with customers. Open your eyes to what’s out there, because strategy begins with understanding their world.”
Closing Thoughts
Jelle Berends’ journey underscores a core truth: scaling GTM is not about more tools or headcount. It’s about building a high-velocity engine that connects strategy with execution, powered by data, culture, and customer insight.
His perspective reframes RevOps and GTM strategy not as separate functions, but as complementary forces. And in an era where AI promises speed but demands clean data, his advice is clear: prioritize foundations, stay customer-centric, and bring GTM teams into the process early.
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