In this high-energy and deeply insightful episode, Rick sits down with Amanda Rubin, Chief Revenue Officer at Wildfire and former EVP of Growth at Enthusiast Gaming. Together, they explore how authenticity is reshaping modern marketing, particularly through Amanda’s groundbreaking work connecting brands with communities on Discord.

Amanda explains how Wildfire is helping brands authentically integrate into Gen Z-focused communities—not through ads, but through meaningful dialogue, partnerships, and experiences. She also unpacks the difference between marketing vs. branding, why trust is the ultimate competitive advantage, and how startups should think about go-to-market strategy from day one.

In the second half of the episode, Amanda opens up about building her career as a woman in a male-dominated industry, overcoming imposter syndrome, and how she’s found purpose by blending strategic leadership with human connection. Her story is as real as her leadership style—and one that will resonate with professionals at every level.

🎧 Tune in for a masterclass in modern brand building—and how character and competence create career momentum.

Connect with Amanda Rubin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-j-rubin/ 
Check out Wildfire: https://www.getwildfire.gg/

Connect with Rick Smith: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-smith-094b29b/
Check out Conquer: https://conquer.io/

Unlock the secrets to building high-performing sales teams and staying ahead of the curve! In this episode of The Future of Selling, host Rick Smith welcomes Phil Hernandez, Global VP of Sales at Taskus, to discuss what it takes to lead winning teams in today's evolving sales landscape.

Phil shares practical insights from his 20+ years of experience — from creating strong sales cultures and developing leadership skills, to harnessing the power of AI to scale faster. Whether you're building a new sales team or leading an established one, this episode is packed with real-world strategies you can use today.

In this episode:

• Why culture is the foundation of sales success 
• How AI is reshaping sales enablement and customer engagement 
• Hiring strategies that go beyond the resume 
• Building resilience and learning through failure 
• The future mindset every sales leader needs

If you're ready to grow yourself, your team, and your results, this episode is for you.

👉 Like, subscribe, and hit the bell to catch every episode of The Future of Selling!

Connect with Phil Hernandez: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hernandezphillip/
Learn more about Taskus: https://www.taskus.com/

Connect with Rick Smith: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-smith-094b29b/
Learn more about Conquer: https://conquer.io/

#salesleadership #futureofsales #salesculture #AI #taskus #salescoaching #leadership

In this episode of The Future of Selling, Rick Smith sits down with Kara Smith Brown—CEO and Founder of LeadCoverage, Ironman triathlete, and author of The Revenue Engine. Kara shares her no-fluff, practical framework for aligning marketing with business outcomes by measuring volume, value, and velocity.

They dive deep into:

• Why most marketing-sourced data falls flat in the boardroom 
• How to truly align sales and marketing through pipeline velocity 
• The power of intent data, ABM, and programmatic media buying 
• Her journey from corporate roles to entrepreneurship 
• Why "share good news, track interest, and follow up" is the core of modern B2B marketing 
• And yes, how she turned being underestimated into Ironman motivation

Whether you're a marketing leader, CRO, or entrepreneur looking to generate real pipeline with precision, this episode is packed with insights you can actually use.

📚 Grab Kara Smith Brown’s book The Revenue Engine: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1642259098/

📍 Catch Kara Smith Brown on the road at her nationwide workshop tour: https://info.leadcoverage.com/the-revenue-engine-workshop-2025

🤝 Connect with Kara Smith Brown on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karasmithbrown/

💡 Learn More About Conquer: https://conquer.io/

🤝 Connect with Rick Smith on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-smith-094b29b
 

In this episode of The Future of Selling, host Rick Smith dives into one of the most disruptive shifts shaping sales organizations today: Decentralized Talent (or "DeTal"). Joined by Conquer's Chief Revenue Officer Jim Trimarco (JT) and Chief Financial Officer Demian Costa, the conversation unpacks how companies are rethinking sales staffing, team structure, and global scalability.

From JT’s deep experience leading global sales organizations to Demian’s journey from Navy SEAL to CFO, this episode offers a unique perspective on what’s driving the evolution of modern sales teams—and why the traditional outsourcing model has failed.

🔍 Topics We Cover:

• What "decentralized talent" actually means and how it differs from traditional outsourcing
• Why global wage arbitrage is an opportunity, not a risk
• How to align remote, global teams with your company culture and goals
• The tech stack and leadership mindset needed to make DeTal work
• Why the Balkans could be the next big thing in talent sourcing
• Actionable takeaways for sales leaders looking to grow while cutting costs

Whether you're scaling a startup or leading a mature sales org, this episode breaks down how to reduce costs, maintain quality, and scale faster—without sacrificing culture or performance.

Learn More About Conquer

Connect with Rick Smith
Connect with Jim Trimarco
Connect with Demian Costa

In this episode of The Future of Selling podcast, host Rick Smith sits down with Andrew "AD" D’Agostino, a sales enablement leader with deep expertise in aligning teams, simplifying processes, and driving revenue growth. With over 14 years of experience, AD has navigated the startup journey, scaled revenue to $50M, led through 10+ acquisitions, and now plays a critical role in sales enablement at Conquer.

💡 Key Topics Covered:
✅ What sales enablement really means and why it’s more than just training
✅ The top three components of a high-impact sales enablement strategy
✅ How to align sales, marketing, and customer success with a common language
✅ The role of ruthless qualification in boosting deal velocity 🚀
✅ The game-changing impact of AI on coaching and sales enablement
✅ Tools and strategies to cut friction and increase flow in the selling process

AD shares real-world insights, practical frameworks like MEDDIC and force management, and actionable takeaways for sales enablement professionals looking to simplify, align, and drive results.

🔔 Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more insights from top sales and enablement leaders!

 📢 Learn more about Conquer
📲 Connect with Andrew D’Agostino
📲 Connect with Rick Smith

🚀 What makes a great mentor? How is mentorship different from coaching? And how can sales leaders build a culture of mentorship that drives long-term success?

In this episode of The Future of Selling, host Rick Smith sits down with Brian Kludas, a sales enablement and leadership expert, to discuss the transformative power of mentorship in the sales industry.

🔹 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✅ The key differences between mentorship, coaching, and leadership
✅ The three levels of mentorship and how to apply them
✅ Why mentorship matters in scaling high-performing sales teams
✅ How to become an effective mentor (and mentee!)
✅ The biggest mistakes mentors make—and how to avoid them

📌 Whether you're an individual contributor, a sales leader, or a business executive, this conversation will give you actionable strategies to build stronger relationships and accelerate career growth.

Connect with Brian on LinkedIn

Connect with Rick on LinkedIn

Learn more about Conquer

🎧 Listen now and subscribe for more insights on the future of selling!

Why do deals really fall through? It’s not always about price or features—there’s often a deeper reason. In this episode of The Future of Selling, host Rick Smith sits down with Ron Carson, CEO of Thirdside and an expert in B2B marketing and Win/Loss analysis.

🔎 Key Takeaways from this Episode:

✅ The #1 reason sales teams lose deals (Hint: it’s not price!)
✅ Why sales discovery is more critical than ever—and how to do it right
✅ How Win/Loss reports uncover what CRM data doesn’t tell you
✅ The biggest blind spots in B2B sales—and how to fix them
✅ Why human connection still wins over AI-driven sales insights

Ron shares real-world insights from conducting thousands of Win/Loss interviews, revealing what buyers aren’t telling your sales team—but wish they would. If you're in sales, marketing, or customer success, this episode will change the way you think about deal wins and losses.

Connect with Ron on LinkedIn
Learn More About Thirdside
Read Thirdside's How-to Guide to for Win-Loss Research

Connect with Rick on LinkedIn
Learn More About Conquer

🚀 Don’t let another deal slip away—watch now and level up your sales game!

🔔 Subscribe to The Future of Selling for more expert insights!

🎙️ Future of Selling Podcast – Episode: Fixing Your B2B Sales Process with Jim Trimarco

📢 Welcome to the Future of Selling Podcast! Hosted by Rick Smith, Chief Customer Officer at Conquer, this podcast dives into the latest trends, challenges, and innovations in B2B sales. Whether you’re a sales leader, account manager, or founder, we bring you real-world strategies to navigate the evolving sales landscape.

🎧 In This Episode:
We sit down with Jim Trimarco (JT), a seasoned sales leader with over two decades of experience driving growth in SaaS and enterprise sales. JT shares his insights on what makes a winning B2B sales process and the key strategies sales teams need to stand out in competitive markets.

📌 Key Takeaways:
✔️ The #1 mistake most sales reps make—and how to fix it.
✔️ Why discovery is everything in sales.
✔️ The "Teachable Moment" and how it wins deals.
✔️ How to build credibility and trust in a crowded market.
✔️ Why "Time Kills All Deals" and how to keep urgency in the sales cycle.
✔️ How AI is transforming sales teams—and why you need to embrace it now.

📅 Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction: Meet Jim Trimarco
02:00 – Fun facts about JT (including his love for fitness & food!)
06:00 – The fundamentals of a strong B2B sales process
10:35 – How to run an effective discovery call
12:31 – The power of the “Teachable Moment” in sales
18:13 – Emotional connection: Why buyers choose one company over another
25:20 – Common mistakes B2B sales teams make
31:52 – AI & the future of sales—how it’s changing everything
36:32 – JT’s top 3 takeaways for new sales leaders

🎯 Who Should Listen?
🔹 Sales leaders looking to improve their team’s performance
🔹 Account executives and SDRs navigating complex B2B deals
🔹 Founders and entrepreneurs scaling their sales process
🔹 Anyone interested in the future of selling

🔗 Connect with Us:
📌 Guest: Jim Trimarco
🎙️ Host: Rick Smith
💡 Learn More About Conquer

🔥 Don’t Forget to Like & Subscribe! If you found this episode valuable, hit the like button, subscribe, and leave a comment with your biggest takeaway!

#FutureOfSelling #B2BSales #SalesLeadership #SalesProcess #SalesPodcast #AIinSales 🚀

Join Rick Smith, Chief Customer Officer at Conquer, as he sits down with Elizabeth Richardson—a seasoned B2B sales professional and a proud SMU alum—to dive deep into the power of women in sales and the unique qualities they bring to the table. 🌟

Key Highlights:
✨ Why women are outperforming men in sales roles.
✨ Breaking barriers: Overcoming underrepresentation in sales leadership.
✨ Work-life balance: Elizabeth shares her personal journey as a mom and sales leader.
✨ Practical advice for women looking to enter or grow in the sales industry.

📊 Did you know? Only 20% of B2B sales leadership roles are held by women, yet studies show they consistently exceed performance metrics. Elizabeth shares actionable steps to close this gap and create a supportive, inclusive environment.

💬 Let’s Talk: What challenges have you faced in sales, and how did you overcome them? Share your thoughts in the comments!

👉 Connect with us:
Elizabeth Richardson
Rick Smith

#TheFutureOfSelling #WomenInSales #Leadership #SalesPodcast #Inspiration

🎙️ Welcome back to The Future of Selling Podcast! 🎙️

In this episode, host Rick Smith, Chief Customer Officer at Conquer, sits down with Andy Smith, Senior Vice President of Sales at Talk Me Up, to explore the evolving landscape of sales communication. From leveraging AI for best-in-class communication skills to practical strategies for improving empathy, confidence, and engagement, this episode is packed with actionable insights for sales professionals.

What You’ll Learn:

• The "3 R’s of Sales Success" framework: Relationships + Results = Revenue
• Top communication pitfalls salespeople face and how to overcome them
• How AI-powered platforms like Talk Me Up are revolutionizing sales coaching
• Why empathy and personalization are critical in today’s buyer-driven market
• Actionable tips to enhance your communication skills and drive results

Andy also shares fascinating stories about his journey in sales, his passion for broadcasting high school sports, and his involvement with One Heart, a nonprofit supporting incarcerated youth.

👉 Connect with us:

• Andy Smith: TalkMeUp.co | LinkedIn
• Rick Smith: Conquer | LinkedIn

💡 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes that help you stay ahead in the ever-evolving world of sales! 🚀

#FutureOfSelling #SalesPodcast #AI #SalesCommunication #TalkMeUp #Conquer