This week’s SaaSiest Community member of the week is Dan Kelly, Chief Revenue Officer at Optio. Dan has been a big part of the SaaSiest community throughout the last few years, being a member of the SaaSiest CRO Network for three consecutive years, joined us for several events and meetups, and will be taking the stage as a speaker at SaaSiest 2026! ⭐
We asked Dan a couple of personal questions; see his answers below:
🧩 Tell us something about yourself that we wouldn’t find on your LinkedIn profile
“You may see on LinkedIn that I’m a team builder, an avid lacrosse fan (both player and coach), and that I’ve lived in the US, Europe, and now Norway. But what you won’t find is that even though I live in Oslo, you can’t take the big city out of me. My running joke is that while most Norwegians head for the mountains on the weekend, I’m “hiking” to my local coffee shop. I feed off the energy of chaotic big cities like NYC and London, and that’s probably why I love scale-ups so much. There is so much momentum, and it feels a bit like home.”
💼 What’s the best part of your job?
“Hands down, it’s building a company with great people. We spend so much time and effort at work, so being connected to the mission and building with the right team is everything. I love being challenged, sparring on ideas, and solving problems together. Whether it’s deal strategy, GTM initiatives, or tightening the product feedback loop, it’s ultimately a people’s game.
While my team knows my favorite day of the week is Wednesday because it’s forecast day, I genuinely love all things revenue-related. It also matters a lot to me that I can be myself at work. The team has welcomed me with open arms and created a culture where I can really flourish. Whether it’s being a bit loud and yelling “Let’s gooo!”, making sure we ring the bell after any deal closes, or diving deep into data to uncover insights that shape our strategic plans, I feel lucky. I’m surrounded by great people who go the extra mile (or kilometer) every day to help scale this company.”
🤝 What does it mean for you to be part of the SaaSiest Community?
“The best part has been the knowledge sharing in the executive groups. There are no sharp elbows, just deep expertise across different domains and people who genuinely want to help. The cases that get brought forward in the executive sessions are especially valuable. They create an environment not only for sharing experiences but also for learning from how others approach similar challenges.
Our space is constantly evolving, and staying sharp on GTM tactics is more important than ever. Having a community that is both generous with insights and ambitious about scaling beyond the Nordics makes a big difference. It’s a place where you can get real sparring, real answers, and real perspective.”
Thanks, Dan, for being part of the SaaSiest Community 🩷
