Empowered Selling

Empowered Selling

By empoweredsellingBusinessManagement
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Empowered Selling episodes

  • Rethinking What Great Selling Looks Like - Episode 13 with Sam Whitmore

    This episode brings me back together with Sam Whitmore — a brilliant sales leader, coach and founder of Sales Rhythm, whose career has taken her from Xerox and IBM to becoming one of Salesforce’s top sales leaders, before building a new business from the ground up in Australia. Sam shares what she’s learned about selling, coaching and leadership—and why great sales is far less about having all the answers than we often think.

    We dive into curiosity over perfection, coaching instead of telling, creating psychological safety in forecast conversations, building genuine champions, and why stalled deals often require you to look backwards before pushing forwards. Sam also challenges some of the outdated beliefs that make selling feel uncomfortable—and shares why giving customers permission to say no can actually make you a better seller.

    A must-listen for sales leaders who want to ask better questions, coach more effectively, and create high performance without pressure, perfectionism or micromanagement.

    35 min
  • Episode 13 - Leading Without Losing Yourself with Roxanna Marazzi

    In this episodeI sit down with the immeasurable, Roxanna Marazzi. Roxanna is an accomplished commercial leader, founder of RM Consultancy, and someone who has spent more than 20 years building high-performing teams across companies including Salesforce, Rackspace, WP Engine and Intuit. Roxy shares how a life-changing health challenge forced her to redefine success, rebuild her leadership identity, and create a new blueprint for sustainable high performance.

    We dive into building cultures where people perform because they feel valued, hiring for long-term potential over short-term results, balancing operational rigour with startup agility, and why investing in people will always outperform investing in process alone. Roxy also shares the leadership lessons she learned the hard way—and the mindset shifts that transformed both her career and her life.

    A must-listen for anyone in sales or sales leadership who wants to build high-performing teams, lead with authenticity, and create lasting impact.

    49 min
  • The People-First Sales Leader: Ronal Karia on driving Sales Success throug Coaching, Clarity and Sustainable High Performance

    We're back and back with a bang. In this episode we're answering a critical question -What does great sales leadership look like in 2026? 

    I'm joined by the very brilliant Ronal Karia exploring what it takes to lead with impact in a fast-moving, high-pressure world. From coaching over command-and-control leadership to building trust, leading through change, and protecting time for what matters most, Ronal shares practical insights from over 20 years working at some of tech’s biggest names. This is a conversation about creating stronger teams, better leaders, and sustainable success — without burning people out.

    Enjoy!!

    33 min
  • Running Your Patch Like a CEO: Sabya Sen on High-Performance Leadership, GTM Unity & Selling in the AI Era

    In this episode, I sit down with Sabya Sen — one of the most respected sales leaders in tech and a true believer in running your patch like a CEO. With nearly 20 years across Salesforce and now Alteryx, Sabya shares how he builds resilient teams, aligns every GTM function, and leads through constant change.

    We dive into hiring and retaining top talent, creating a “team sport” pipeline engine, balancing data with intuition, and using AI to sell smarter. Sabya also reveals the toughest leadership lessons he’s learned — and the mindset that keeps him growing through disruption.

    A must-listen for anyone in sales or sales leadership who wants to lead with clarity, confidence, and impact.

    34 min
  • From Leadership Lessons to AI Agents: Niamh McArdle’s Take on What’s Next - Episode 9

    In this episode of Empowered Selling, I sit down with Niamh McArdle, Head of SMB at Salesforce Ireland, to trace a career journey that runs from a Dublin department store shop floor to leading one of the most dynamic SMB businesses in tech.

    Niamh shares how a “rite of passage” retail job became an accidental masterclass in sales culture and customer experience, why her chaotic early days in a fast-growing Irish SMB still shape how she sells to and supports SMBs today, and what six years at IBM (including winning the prestigious Best of IBM award) taught her about brand, sponsorship, and stepping into leadership before you feel “ready”.

    Niamh and I also dig into:

    • How SMBs can punch above their weight by using AI and agents to operate like an enterprise—without enterprise headcount

    • A real customer story of deploying an agent to deflect repetitive service queries and free humans for higher-value work

    • The leadership shift from “let my work speak for itself” to intentionally building your brand and network

    • Why resilience is now a core sales skill—and how Niamh hires for it (including from high-performance sport)

    • How to build a genuine coaching culture where feedback is frequent, safe, and expected
    • Niamh leaves listeners with two powerful challenges: start acting for the role you want long before the title arrives, and get intentional about how you’ll use the time AI gives you back—to double down on the deeply human skills that truly differentiate great sellers and leaders.

      37 min
    • Fixing Poopy Pipeline, Building Your Personal Brand & Improving Forecast Accuracy - Episode 8 with Lindsay Rios

      I’m very excited to share this episode - a (super!) candid conversation with Lindsay Rios—a true sales leadership enigma (in the best way) who was also recognized as one of the  "Top 100 Sales Queen to Follow."

      During our conversation Lindsay shares her incredible journey from nearly becoming a paediatric neurologist to crushing it in automotive sales, tech, and scaling startups. She opens up about her authentic approach to building her personal brand, embracing her unique personality, and sharing real struggles and victories.

      We dive into practical advice on owning your confidence, sharpening your sales strategies, and fostering true leadership that’s all about people. Whether you’re looking for insights on overcoming challenges like forecasting, building resilience, or just being unapologetically yourself, Lindsay’s got you covered.

      What you can look forward to:

      • Why being authentic and true to yourself is a game changer in sales and leadership
      • The value of building a personal brand that’s honest, raw, and relatable
      • Tips on defining and evolving your ideal customer profile—spoiler: it’s a game changer
      • How to improve forecasting accuracy by creating a healthy culture and alignment
      • Avoiding the perils of "Poopy Pipeline"
      • The importance of celebrating your wins and owning your achievements
      • Lessons on resilience, tenacity, and trusting your strengths
      • How being recognized as a top sales influencer has fueled Lindsay’s passion for supporting women in the workplace
      • Practical advice for supporting neurodivergent team members and leading inclusively
      • Hoping you'll enjoy this honest, inspiring chat as much as I did. Lindsay’s insights are truly empowering, and her approach to leadership and authenticity is something we can all learn from.

        41 min
      • Empowering Kids & Parents: Strategies to Overcome Challenges & Build Resilience - Empowered Mindset Episode 10 - Susie Good
        • The Power of Empowerment: Discover what it truly means to empower children by giving them the tools, confidence, and responsibility to manage their emotions and behaviours. 
        • Separating Behaviour from the Child: Learn how understanding behavior as a weather pattern—temporary, changeable, and separate from the child's identity—can dramatically shift your parenting approach.
        • Active Listening at Level Five: Gain practical tips on how to truly listen to children by giving them your undivided attention
        • Boundaries and Safety: Understand how consistent, kind boundaries—and the boundaries you stick to—help children feel safe and secure.
        • Handling Challenging Emotions: From anger to anxiety, Suzie introduces strategies for helping children channel their emotions productively, such as validating feelings and offering alternative actions.
        • The Importance of Self-Care & Boundaries for Adults
        • Getting to the Root of Behavioural Issues:
        • Supporting Transitions and Challenging Times: Whether it’s starting secondary school or dealing with anxieties, Suzie offers guidance on how to prepare children proactively and how schools can support them better.
        • Perseverance & Belief: "The worst thing that can happen is you try." Susie's story highlights resilience, adaptability, and the importance of trusting in yourself and others.
        • This episode provides a treasure trove of wisdom about how to nurture confident, resilient, and emotionally intelligent kids. Suzy’s compassionate approach will remind you that change takes time, effort, and patience—and that your role as a parent or caregiver is to be a steady, supportive guide.

          Tune in now to learn practical tools that will help you create a safe, connected environment where children can thrive, learn responsibility, and feel truly empowered.

          🎧 Listen today & start making a difference in the lives of the young people around you

          41 min
        • Mastering Sales Success in Hyper-Growth Environments: Insights from Snowflake’s Adam Metherell

          My incredible guest this episode provides a tonne of invaluable insights centre on helping you succeed in today’s competitive sales leader environment. I'm thrilled to have had a sneak-peek behind the scenes at hyper-growth organisation, Snowflake and the chance to chat to one of their seasoned Sales leaders, Adam Metherell.

          We covered a tonne of bases in this discussion - from how to thrive in fast-growth environments and the adaptions required to succeed in an ever-changing sales landscape!

          A further flavour of what you can look forward to hearing:

          • Career pivots late in life, demonstrating resilience and a growth mindset
          • Building a purpose-driven team culture through clear communication and shared vision
          • Hiring for character—focusing on intelligence, coachability, and effort—and designing rigorous interview processes to attract top talent
          • Developing authentic customer relationships based on trust and long-term value
          • Simplifying complex sales scenarios to focus on key drivers and strategic questioning
          • Navigating the post-pandemic sales world
          • Enjoy!

            34 min
          • Empowered Selling - Episode 6 - Amy Blanthorn Hazell

            I’m excited to unveil this episode of Empowered Selling, featuring the phenomenal Amy Blanthorne Hazel, now Senior RVP at Salesforce UKI. Amy’s journey from her early days at IBM to leading some of Salesforce’s most dynamic teams is packed with actionable insights on leadership, sales excellence, and building lasting client relationships.

            Here are some key highlights from the episode:

            🔥 The Power of a Playbook

            🔥 Building Trust and Authentic Relationships

            🔥 Mastering Objection Handling

            🔥 Sales Leadership in Large vs. Small Organizations

            🔥 From First-line to Second-line Leadership

            🔥 Resilience in Tough Times

            🔥 Self-sufficiency and Speed 

            This episode offers inspiring lessons on strategic leadership, building trust-based relationships, and embracing a growth mindset — all from one of the most impressive leaders in the sales world today.

            🎧 Don't miss out—listen now and elevate your leadership game!

            37 min
          • Empowered Selling, Episode 5 - Doreen Pernel

            In this latest episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with Doreen Pernel, CSO at Scaleway, a trailblazing European cloud and AI solutions provider. With a stellar background at Bloomberg, Facebook, and Dataiku , Doreen shares her insights on transforming organisations, building high-performance teams, and embracing innovation.

            Highlights of our conversation include:

            • The power of relationship-building in sales—trust is your true superpower.
            • How a culture of enablement and coaching drives scalability and talent retention.
            • Creative strategies for outbound sales engagement—surprise touches, video outreach, and team challenges.
            • The role of AI in automating mundane tasks and freeing up sales teams to focus on strategic in-person interactions.
            • The importance of daring to take risks—asking for forgiveness, not permission—and seizing growth opportunities.
            • Doreen’s growth-mindset, authenticity, and adaptability make her a truly inspiring leader. Her advice? - Be bold, stay curious, and never be afraid to "ask for forgiveness"—the most successful often do.

              Enjoy!

              33 min

            About Empowered Selling

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