Is cold calling an outdated strategy, or is it still worth focusing on in sales?

Leslie Venetz is a top B2B sales expert, sought-after speaker, and founder of The Sales-Led GTM Agency. She was named the 2024 Sales Innovator of the Year, and she's one of the most influential voices in modern sales. Today, she joins as a guest on the podcast to share her journey through sales, including her biggest lessons, why she still strongly believes in cold calling, and the tactics and strategies she’s found to be the most valuable.

Topics discussed in this episode include:
- The many hats Leslie wears and which role has been the most transformative for her.
- Where self-development really comes from and how to master it.
- Why the work she does now is what she feels truly called to do.
- Freedom as Leslie’s #1 metric for success and what it means to her.
- What she learned in her first year as a full-time founder.
- Why cold calling is not dead and what the data actually says.
- Why people say cold calling doesn’t work and what they’re doing wrong.
- Leslie’s best hook for grabbing attention on a call.
- The best ways (and worst ways) to use voice notes to connect with other people.
- Why it’s important to stay active on social media when you’re in sales.
- The most outdated parts of the industry and one thing that Leslie says has to change.
- The book Leslie recently wrote, what it’s about, and who needs to read it the most.
- What led her to burnout multiple times and how she would approach it differently now.
- Why it’s important to invest in yourself, and the sooner the better.

Join the Sales Revolution community: https://female-leader.com/sales-revolution/ 

What’s the secret to excelling in sales while being a present parent?

Today we’re joined by B2B sales and media expert Stephanie LaBasco. Stephanie is the Senior Agency Partnerships Director at DemandScience and leads relationships with top media agencies to help global brands drive measurable demands. She’s also passionate about advocating for women in sales and a proud mom of two boys.

Topics discussed in this episode include:
- What Stephanie loves most about the work she does and where she started.
- How her work provides an unconventional way of giving back.
- Whether or not women can have it all.
- The most important times to be present for your children and how she prioritizes it.
- How to navigate a career as a woman in sales, especially one with kids.
- How employers can help their sales team members feel supported.
- What maternity leave looks like in the US and how it compares to other countries.
- Why she decided to make a company change after having children.
- Why authenticity is so important in sales and how to get there (if you aren’t already).
- The recent experience that reminded her of the importance of client relationships.
- What empathic leadership looks like and why it shouldn’t be underestimated.
- How Stephanie manages deadlines with clients, especially when they are unrealistic.
- The most critical trait a sales leader needs to have today.
- The woman in sales Stephanie most looks up to.
- A book that’s influenced her sales approach.

Join the Sales Revolution community: https://female-leader.com/sales-revolution/

Stephanie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanielazare/ 

Frannie Danzinger on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/franniedanzinger/

What does it take to be memorable in a crowded, competitive space?

Shari Begun, a transformative sales and strategy leader, has a track record of delivering billions in revenue. She’s known for leading high-performing teams, optimizing global operations, expanding market share, and more while navigating evolving customer demands. She’s also passionate about mentoring the next generation of talent. Shari joins us in this episode to talk about what it’s been like finding success as a woman in sales, as well as her top tips for selling effectively while championing others.

Topics discussed in this episode include:
- Being underestimated as a woman in sales, and turning that into an advantage.
- Shari’s pivot from engineering to sales and how it’s influenced her approach.
- The conversation that led to a leap of faith in her career.
- The role of intuition and gut instinct in high-stakes decisions.
- Why preparation is everything when it comes to earning trust.
- Navigating sales as both an introvert and extrovert, and why you don’t need to be loud to be successful
- The mindset required for long and complex deal cycles. 
- The secret to staying mentally strong through tough deals (and what you’ll need most).
- How being paranoid can be helpful when you’re trying to seal the deal.
- Strategies to arm your champions to sell on your behalf inside their organization.
- What needs to change in the industry, especially when it comes to company culture.
- What it takes to thrive when the market is tough.
- How her analytical mind became a superpower in an industry not traditionally built for it.

Safe Worldwide on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/safe-worldwide/ 

Linda Lanzl on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/safeworldwide/

Stacy Mayer’s book Promotions Made Easy: https://www.stacymayer.com/book/

Stacy Mayer’s podcast Women Chaning Leadership: https://www.stacymayer.com/podcast/

Start with NO...The Negotiating Tools that the Pros Don't Want You to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Start-Negotiating-Tools-that-Pros/dp/0609608002

How I Built This with Guy Raz: Cisco Systems & Urban Decay: Sandy Lerner: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-built-this-with-guy-raz/id1150510297?i=1000521067728

How I Built This with Guy Raz: Spanx: Sara Blakely: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-built-this-with-guy-raz/id1150510297?i=1000396023160

Join the Sales Revolution community: https://female-leader.com/sales-revolution/

How does this senior sales leader use humour to make professional connections?
We’re chatting with Miram Ebrahim, the Senior Director of Strategic Enterprise Sales at Criteo. Miram brings a refreshing authenticity to sales. She’s not afraid to be different and relate to other people using something funny or interesting. It might not always go as planned, but in sales, a “no” is bound to happen—it’s all about how you recover from it. She also emphasizes the power of tapping into your network and finding mentors to help you along the way.

Topics discussed in this episode include:
- What women bring to sales and how it’s become a more equitable environment.
- The value of mentorship in becoming your best within the sales industry.
- The unconventional way of seeking out mentors that actually works.
- The biggest lessons the experiences at Google, Apple, and Amazon taught Miram.
- How to stand out when you feel like a small fish in a big pond.
- Critical traits of successful leaders and whether they’re innate or learned.
- How to help your team deal with rejection and why it’s so important.
- How making it weird and owning it can help you move past every no.
- The benefits of using humour as a sales tool and who it works for.
- How to recover when your reach-out flops.
- The power in using relatable moments and stepping out of your comfort zone.
- Why cold calling doesn’t have to be intimidating (even if it’s awkward).
- The top trait you need to have to be successful in sales.
- What Miram is reading right now to grow professionally.

Miram on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miramebrahim/

Alexine Mudawar on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexine-mudawar/ 

Join the Sales Revolution community: https://female-leader.com/sales-revolution/ 

What secrets will this top sales strategist reveal about building authentic connections that redefine success in enterprise sales?

We’re looking at the intricacies of sales mastery through personal branding today with Christina Minshull, CEO of The Brand Audit. With her impressive collaborations alongside industry giants like EY and LinkedIn, she unveils the secrets of turning genuine connections into opportunities. We explore her experiences at the TikTok Global Agency Summit, highlighting the importance of authentic engagement over mere transactions in enterprise sales. Christina's transition from marketing leader to dynamic entrepreneur perfectly illustrates the power of building relationships and community. We also discuss the evolving role of sales professionals and the need for more female representation in the field.

Topics discussed in this episode include:

• Why nurturing relationships over transactions is crucial for enterprise sales success.
• How Christina's transition from a marketing leader to a sales innovator highlights essential sales skills.
• Why creating genuine content and community on LinkedIn and TikTok has helped Christina.
• How personal branding can power engagement with potential buyers in modern sales.
• Why Christina is a big fan of the mantra “give more than you take.”
• Why empowering women in enterprise sales is important and offers new perspectives.
• Why internal selling parallels external client acquisition in entrepreneurship.
• How systems and batch content production can maintain consistent engagement and visibility.
• More reasons why sales professionals should focus on building trust and relationships over traditional tactics.
• How the lack of female representation in sales highlights the need for change.
• Why understanding human psychology can fuel successful sales leadership.

Christina on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinaminshull/ 

Join the Sales Revolution community: https://female-leader.com/sales-revolution/ 

How can mastering self-awareness transform your leadership style and drive success in the sales industry?

Today we’re welcoming Monica Stewart, a sales powerhouse with over 15 years of experience, to guide us through the art of personal branding and leadership in sales. Monica shares her strategies for guiding startups to scale sustainably, highlighting the importance of understanding buyer personas in niche markets. We then examine gender disparity in sales leadership, emphasizing the need for visibility and inclusion of women in the industry. With personal experiences in male-dominated environments, we discuss fostering inclusive sales cultures and the vital role of self-awareness in leadership, drawing inspiration from trailblazers like Ursula Burns.

Topics discussed in this episode include:

• How Monica leverages her sales experience to guide personal branding.
• Why New York City's supportive culture is fantastic for sales success and networking.
• The moment that Monica realized she never wanted to work for anyone else ever again.
• How understanding buyer personas can refine sales strategies in specialized markets.
• Why balancing rapid growth with foundational groundwork is crucial for startup success.
• How gender disparity affects sales leadership and the importance of female visibility.
• The percentage of male founders that Monica works with compared to women.
• Why building inclusive sales cultures can inspire change and empower women.
• How self-awareness plays a vital role in effective sales leadership.
• Why Monica's commitment to daily LinkedIn writing has boosted her visibility.
• How Ursula Burns' journey as a leader is so inspiring when it comes to achieving gender equity.
• Why strategic planning is essential before scaling sales efforts in startups.
• How the Sales Revolution Community aims to reimagine modern sales practices.
• Why adaptability and resilience are key in the evolving field of sales.

Monica on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monica-stewart/ 

Join the Sales Revolution community: https://female-leader.com/sales-revolution/ 

Are you ready to unlock the secret of social selling through authentic engagement and "social giving"?

I'm thrilled to welcome Hannah Ajikawo, an award-winning go-to-market consultant and the founder of Revenue Funnel. Hannah's inspiring journey into entrepreneurship in 2019, despite financial uncertainties, underscores the critical need to amplify female voices in the B2B sales industry. She reveals her personal branding success on LinkedIn, exploring the transformative power of authentic engagement and "social giving" in building lasting professional relationships. Hannah shares her insights on navigating the B2B landscape with intentional content creation, highlighting how strategic visibility fosters meaningful connections. We also tackle the importance of effective sales leadership and inclusive training, advocating for a more collaborative approach across sales teams and customer success managers.

Topics discussed in this episode include:

• How Hannah's bold move into entrepreneurship in 2019 sparked significant accomplishments.
• Why amplifying female voices in sales is crucial for a more inclusive industry environment.
• How authentic self-expression on LinkedIn can drive personal branding and social selling success.
• Why shifting from sporadic to intentional content creation fosters meaningful B2B connections.
• How "social giving" focuses on engagement and value, building lasting relationships without sales pressure.
• Why responsive leadership and inclusive training are essential for effective sales leadership.
• How aligning sales processes with modern buyer journeys promotes sustainable growth.
• Why customer success managers need equal training for a cohesive sales approach.
• How consistent posting on LinkedIn can transform visibility and create new opportunities.
• Why caring and passion are vital traits for successful sales engagements.
• How Hannah's confident presence on LinkedIn serves as a blueprint for women in sales.

Hannah on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-ajikawo 

Join the Sales Revolution community: https://female-leader.com/sales-revolution/ 

Visit https://female-leader.com. Thanks for listening!