Why Did It Fail?
By: Cognism
Language: en
Categories: Business, Management, Careers
Welcome to Why Did It Fail?, a series hosted by Cognism’s Sales Coach, Shivan Pillay. Each episode digs into the real stories behind deals that fell through, strategies that didn’t land and campaigns that missed the mark. Through honest conversations with sales leaders, founders, and operators, we unpack what went wrong and more importantly, what they learned from it. No fluff, just failures that made them better.
Episodes
The Deal That Shrunk: How Gearóid Cox Lost a Career-Making Opportunity
Jan 07, 2026In this episode of Why Did It Fail?, Gearoid Cox, Founder and CEO of Sales Pipeline, shares the story of a deal that looked like a win on paper, but turned out to be a brutal lesson in discovery. As a young enterprise rep, Gearoid was laser-focused on getting the PO signed. He closed what he thought was a big hardware sale… only to find out later it was the tiniest slice of a huge, multi-layered project. The rest of the business, software, print, additional hardware, went straight to competitors, and he never even knew it was on the ta...
Duration: 00:24:57When Impressing the Buyer Lost the Deal: Bryan Mulry’s Hard Lesson
Dec 17, 2025Sales coach Bryan Mulry joins Shivan to break down a failure most sellers secretly recognise: talking too much, listening too little, and trying far too hard to impress. Bryan shares the painful moment he realised he’d spent 87% of a call pitching to a VP of Sales who didn’t even have the team he was selling to, and how that single conversation exposed a habit that had been costing him deals for years.
In this episode, Bryan unpacks why sellers default to “show and tell,” how to spot when a buyer has mentally checked out, and the simp...
Duration: 00:24:23Hands Shaking on Every Dial: How James Greene Beat Cold-Calling Panic
Dec 10, 2025When James Greene first stepped into sales, cold calling hit him harder than he expected. Every dial came with shaking hands, spiralling doubt and the pressure to prove he belonged. Rejection felt personal, missed targets knocked his confidence, and one complaint from a prospect nearly convinced him to walk away from the job entirely.
Now Global Business Development Manager at Bounce Insights, James talks to Shivan Pillay about how he rebuilt his mindset, found resilience through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and learned to separate his self-worth from the outcome of a call. He reflects on the moment things finally...
Duration: 00:24:12From Top Seller to Burnout: The TRAP New Sales Leaders Easily Fall Into
Nov 26, 2025When Junis Seger stepped into his first Head of Sales role, he thought he was ready for anything.
After all, he’d just come off back-to-back President’s Club wins, smashed targets as an AE, and built a reputation as one of the best in the business. But leading a fast-growing startup was different.
Suddenly, he was juggling investor targets, founder expectations, team management, and his own impossible standards, all at once.
The result? Burnout, blurred boundaries, and a harsh lesson in the difference between pressure management and expectation management.
Listen now...
Duration: 00:24:51The Wake-Up Call That Changed Shiwam Singh’s Sales Career
Nov 12, 2025Imagine landing your first sales job and losing it just months later.
That was the reality for Shiwam Singh, now an SDR at Cognism. In this episode of Why Did It Fail?, Shiwam opens up about the sting of his first big setback in tech sales, how it shook his confidence, and the lessons he carried into his second chance at Cognism.
From rebuilding his mindset to learning the power of listening, discipline, and feedback, Shiwam’s story is a reminder that failure isn’t the end, it’s the reset you sometimes need.
If y...
Duration: 00:17:37The ICP Trap: Why Most Expansion Strategies Fail in Europe With Rick Pizzoli
Oct 29, 2025When tech companies expand into Europe, most assume their home-market success will follow them across borders. But for Rick Pizzoli and his team at Sales Force Europe, one lesson has repeated itself over 500 launches, a vague ideal customer profile can quietly derail even the best go-to-market plans.
In this episode of Why Did It Fail?, Rick unpacks how unclear ICPs lead to wasted spend, internal misalignment, and slow traction, and how to fix it fast. From building consensus across teams to pivoting by vertical and country, he shares the frameworks that turn expansion plans into scalable revenue...
Duration: 00:27:45How to Transition From SDR to AE With Ease Featuring Sonya Kuci from Geckoboard
Oct 15, 2025As an SDR-turned-AE, Sonya Kuci thought she’d landed the dream opportunity, an inbound ICP lead with the decision-maker on the first call, smooth comms, and a live trial underway. But just before close, everything unravelled.
In this episode of Why Did It Fail? Sonya unpacks the hard lessons from losing a “can’t-miss” deal: the hidden risks inside inbound opportunities, how to spot green flags disguised as red ones, and what SDRs need to know before stepping into AE life.
If you’ve ever been ghosted by a hot lead, or you’re moving from prospec...
Duration: 00:19:25The Wrong Call: What Nia Secker Learned from Leaving Sales Behind
Oct 01, 2025What happens when you leave a role you actually loved?
In this episode, Nia Secker, SDR Manager at MySalesCoach, opens up about the moment she left sales to pursue a more “traditional” path, only to realise just how right sales had been all along.
Nia and Shiavn unpack:
Why the pull to “use her degree” felt strong enough to walk awayWhat she thought she’d find in healthcare that sales lackedThe unexpected clarity and motivation that came from stepping awayAnd what it really takes to come back, rebuild, and succeed on your own termsIt’...
Duration: 00:30:24Resilience, Mindset, and the Power of Coaching with Niraj Kapur
Sep 17, 2025After 23 years in corporate London, Niraj Kapur left to start his own coaching business - only to discover that the world didn’t care about his past awards or big-name employers. In this candid conversation, he shares the struggles of rebuilding from scratch in his mid-40s, navigating divorce, health challenges, and a global pandemic. Niraj opens up about resilience, why sales success is more mindset than method, and why investing in yourself (with the right coaches, mentors, and habits) is non-negotiable if you want a career that lasts.
Duration: 00:35:40Coaching, Trust and the Cost of Misreading Your Rep With Sian Taylor
Sep 03, 2025In this episode, Shivan is joined by Sian Taylor, Sales Manager at Klaviyo, for a candid conversation about one of the most overlooked responsibilities in leadership, understanding your reps before you coach them.
Sian shares a pivotal early management mistake: focusing on performance metrics instead of the person behind them. The result? A damaged relationship, a loss of trust, and a painful rebuild that taught her how much leadership really hinges on empathy.
They discuss coaching blind spots, misreading motivation, and how to have tough conversations without losing your team. If you’re...
Duration: 00:33:59Getting Past Missing Quota for the First Time with Johnny Stiffell
Aug 20, 2025In this episode, Shivan chats with Johnny Stiffell, Commercial AE at Cognism, to talk about his first real dip in performance, and the lessons it left behind.
From moving up into a new role without a ramp period to juggling longer sales cycles, self-generated pipeline, and the return of daily cold calling, Johnny shares what it’s like to navigate that tricky adjustment period.
They dig into prospecting habits, the mindset shift needed when the inbound slows, and how to spot the early signs that your quarter might be slipping.
If you’ve ever...
Duration: 00:17:48What Sales Leaders Miss: Strategy, Scale and Internal Buy-In With Joe Stubbs
Aug 06, 2025In this episode of Why Did It Fail?, Shivan is joined by Joe Stubbs, VP of UK Sales at Cognism, for a brutally honest look at what happens when a new process sounds smart, but doesn’t entirely stick.
They dig into the early months of Joe’s leadership, where the pressure was high and the ambition was huge. But a well-intentioned rollout exposed some tough truths about enablement, alignment and operational execution.
If you’re leading GTM strategy, trying to fix cross-team friction, or navigating change inside a fast-moving sales org, this episode is full o...
Duration: 00:20:53Why Leaving Was the Only Way Up: The Hidden Cost of Being Overlooked
Jul 23, 2025In this episode, Shivan is joined by Lauren Reeves, Senior BDR Manager at Swap, who shares the emotional weight of building a sales career without ever being internally promoted. From imposter syndrome to self-belief, Lauren opens up about the frustration of being overlooked and the resilience it took to succeed anyway.
They dive into the myths around internal progression, the pressure to prove yourself, and why moving on isn’t always a failure. If you’ve ever questioned your value because recognition didn’t come, this episode is a reminder that your path is still valid and that y...
Duration: 00:43:17Hiring, Pressure, and Finding Your Voice in Sales Leadership with Brontë Mulvany
Jul 09, 2025In this episode, Shivan is joined by Brontë Mulvany, Head of Business Development at ComplyAdvantage, who opens up about the high-pressure reality of hiring her first team. From navigating imposter syndrome to learning how to trust her gut, Brontë shares the hard-earned lessons that shaped her leadership style.
They talk about clue gathering, courageous conversations, and why copying someone else's leadership playbook just doesn’t work. If you’re stepping into your first management or hiring role, this episode is packed with real-talk, reassurance, and practical takeaways you’ll want to carry with you.
Duration: 00:30:39The Cost of Selling to Someone Who Was Never Going to Say Yes
Jun 25, 2025This week on Why Did It Fail?, sales coach Shivan Pillay sits down with Isa Sher, Sales Manager at Cognism, to unpack one of the most pivotal failures of his early sales career. Isa shares how losing a major deal reshaped his approach to qualification, champion building, and managing a high-performing sales team.
Duration: 00:22:23The Failure That Shaped a Brand New Approach to Sales
Jun 11, 2025What happens when you don’t pass your sales probation?
In this episode, Shivan sits down with Harry Monkhouse to hear the story of how he failed his first SDR probation and turned it into the catalyst for a career in sales leadership.
They dig into the mindset shift Harry had to make, the tactical changes that got him back on track, and the three things he'd do differently if he were starting again.
It's a brutally honest and massively helpful listen for anyone in sales, especially if you're just starting out, managing a...
Duration: 00:33:56The Ego Trap: How Getting Fired Made Chris Ritson a Better Leader
May 28, 2025In this episode of Why Did It Fail?, sales coach Shivan Pillay sits down with Chris Ritson, founder, advisor, and sales trainer, for a raw and revealing conversation about the leadership failure that reshaped his life.
Chris opens up about the moment he was let go from his first AE leadership role, how unchecked ambition and ego clouded his judgment, and why that painful experience became a turning point. From missed warning signs to rebuilding trust with his closest friends, Chris shares hard-earned lessons on growth, self-awareness, and what really matters when leading a team and building...
Duration: 00:43:06When the Vision Doesn’t Match Reality: Michael Isernio on Startup Missteps and Sales Leadership Lessons
May 14, 2025Welcome to the first episode of Why Did It Fail?, a fresh look on Redefining Outbound! In this episode, Cognism’s Shivan sits down with Narrative AI founder Michael Isernio to unpack a failed VP of Sales stint, exploring why outbound fell flat, how misalignment with leadership signaled deeper issues, and what he’d do differently if given another shot. A candid, insightful look at failure as fuel for growth.
Duration: 00:14:43Where Customer Success Meets Outbound: Growth Beyond the Sale with Natasha Evans
Apr 23, 2025This week we’re flipping the script and looking at outbound through a post-sale lens. Evan Nelson, VP of Customer Experience at Cognism, sits down with Natasha Evans, VP of Customer Growth at Hook, to explore how Customer Success can become a true driver of revenue. They dive into how principles from traditional outbound sales are deeply relevant in customer success, why CS teams should think like sellers, and how growth is increasingly coming from existing customers.
Duration: 00:29:12Lessons in Leading and Elevating SDR Teams with David Wilkins, Founder of Saleswise and SDR Leaders of EMEA
Apr 09, 2025Cognism’s VP of Sales Development, Catherine Olivier, sits down with David Wilkins to unpack what it really takes to be an impactful SDR leader in today’s sales landscape. They dive into the difference between good and great SDR teams, how to build high-performing teams from the ground up, and why strong leadership is about more than just tracking activity. David shares practical advice for SDR leaders navigating change, scaling teams, and standing out in an increasingly competitive market.
Duration: 00:25:48Defining Outbound: Scaling Sales as a Founder with Ilia Papas
Mar 26, 2025This week on Redefining Outbound, Nat Ferrante talks with Ilia Papas, CEO and co-founder of Band, about building and scaling sales as a founder, especially when coming from an engineering background. Ilia shares how he built a B2B outbound motion from scratch, the lessons he carried over from scaling Blue Apron, and the creative strategies he’s using to drive growth at Band. From overcoming the fear of cold outreach to leveraging AI and data-driven sales tactics, this conversation is packed with insights for founders, sales professionals and anyone defining their approach to outbound.
Duration: 00:19:55Driving Revenue, Retention, and Relationships in Enterprise Account Management with Max Lemmens
Mar 12, 2025In this episode of Redefining Outbound, Cognism’s Nat Ferrante sits down with Max Lemmens, Senior Account Manager of Global Strategic Accounts at Adyen, to discuss the evolving role of outbound in account management. They explore what it takes to drive long-term success, balancing revenue growth with retention, building meaningful customer relationships, and prioritising accounts effectively.
Duration: 00:33:10Mastering the Fundamentals and Cutting Through the Noise in Outbound Sales with Matthew Putnam
Feb 26, 2025This week on Redefining Outbound, Catherine Olivier and Matthew Putnam dive into the evolving world of outbound sales. They discuss why the fundamentals of selling are more important than ever and what it takes to succeed as an SDR, from cold calling to social selling. Tune in to learn how to cut through the noise, leverage multi-channel outreach, and refine your outbound strategy for 2025 and beyond.
Duration: 00:25:57Winning in Enterprise Sales: Incentives, Targeting & SDR Success with Andy Laws
Feb 12, 2025In this episode of Redefining Outbound, Cognism’s VP of Sales Development, Catherine Olivier, sits down with Andy Laws, Director of Business Development at Talon.One and Founder of RevRocket, to explore what it takes to build high-performing SDR teams in enterprise sales. They discuss the key differences between selling to SMBs versus large enterprises and how to design incentive plans that drive the right behaviors. Andy also shares his insights on hiring top talent, aligning SDR goals with business objectives, and setting teams up for long-term success.
Duration: 00:28:08Building Buyer Confidence: The Real Key to High-Quality Deals with Brent Adamson
Jan 09, 2025In this episode of Redefining Outbound, Cognism’s VP of US Sales, Frida Ottosson, sits down with Brent Adamson to explore the surprising insights behind buyer confidence and its impact on sales success. Brent unpacks why traditional sales tactics often miss the mark and reveals the critical role of helping buyers feel confident in themselves—not just in your product or company. From addressing information overload to embracing the transformative potential (and challenges) of AI, this episode dives into the evolving landscape of sales and marketing.
Duration: 00:43:35Keeping up with the best sales practices with Mark Cox, Founder of In the Funnel Sales Coaching
Nov 27, 2024Our host, Frida Ottosson, speaks to Mark Cox, Founder of In the Funnel Sales Coaching, about keeping up with the best sales practices, exploring actionable insights, strategies, and the latest trends in the world of sales coaching. Mark shares his expertise on how sales professionals can stay ahead in a competitive landscape by mastering effective selling techniques and fostering long-term client relationships.
Duration: 00:41:06What it means to do good account management with Nat Ferrante, Cognism’s VP of Global Account Management
Nov 13, 2024Cognism’s VP of US Sales, Frida Ottosson speaks to VP of Global Account Management, Nat Ferrante about how Cognism approaches account management in terms of account retention, expansion and the relationship between his team and customer success.
Duration: 00:25:57How Sales Teams Can Thrive in a Buyer-Centric World with Aaron Evans, Co-Founder of Flow State
Oct 30, 2024Cognism’s VP of US Sales, Frida Ottosson speaks to Co-Founder of Flow State, Aaron Evans about how buyers have changed the world of outbound - and what salespeople need to do to make it big in this new environment!
Duration: 00:32:57Cold Calling Frameworks and Social Selling with Sara Uy
Oct 16, 2024This week, Frida sits down with Sara Plowman, Founder of Selling Sara. They discuss how Sara built up her LinkedIn following and the importance of social selling. They also look into how to fight the cold-calling nerves, handle rejection and Sara’s best cold-calling openers.
Duration: 00:30:22The Omniscient Symbiotic Seller & Providing Value Upfront With Hannah Ajikawo
Oct 02, 2024This week, Frida sits down with Hannah Ajikawo, CEO and Founder of Revenue Funnel. They discuss the current challenges of outbound and how B2B buying behaviour has changed alongside the rise of tools like G2, communities and budget scrutiny. They also spoke about the omniscient symbiotic seller and what this means, how to provide value and the importance of social selling.
Duration: 00:24:15The Digital Sales Transformation with Neil Cameron and Frida Ottosson
Sep 18, 2024This week, Frida sits down with Neil Cameron, Senior Digital Sales & Marketing Advisor at the Digital Marketing Institute. They discuss how to work smarter, improve personalisation, create a multi-channel approach in sales and how AI can change the selling game. They also spoke about building relationships over quick wins, why traditional sales are broken and the 7 online buyer psychology levels.
Duration: 00:33:53Cold Calling Tips and Frameworks with Morgan and Jack Frimston (Co-Director @We Have A Meeting)
Aug 15, 2024We’re back with a brand new episode of Redefining Outbound - with a twist! As a sales leader, you’re probably aware about the importance of training your team. We wanted to share one of our recent cold calling live trainings, in the hope that you’ll find out some useful tips and trips you can pass along to your team.
Cognism runs these live sessions, with our host Morgan Ingram, monthly. In case you or your team would like to attend, sign up via the link here: https://www.cognism.com/cold-calling-and-outbound-sales-training
And for th...
Duration: 00:51:43Building Confidence In Your Team And Transitioning From Rep To Manager with Scott Leese
Aug 01, 2024This week, Frida sits down with Scott Leese, author and founder of Scott Leese Consulting. They discuss how to be proactive, not reactive, stand out, and dig into the addiction model. They also look into how to build confidence and motivate your team and transiition from rep to manager.
Duration: 00:40:46Cold Calling Live Training with Morgan Ingram & Sara Plowman
Jul 10, 2024We’re back with another special episode of Redefining Outbound. If you’re a sales leader looking to trial new training techniques with your team, you might find inspiration in this instalment of our Cold Calling Live training. Morgan Ingram sits down with Sara Plowman, and they discuss how to get past the pitch and really make an impact.
They dived into a couple of notable findings from our State of Cold Calling Report for 2024, which you can read in full here: https://www.cognism.com/state-of-cold-calling
And if you loved this episode, be sure to si...
Duration: 00:56:01How AI is Shaping Cold Calling (& more), with Atul Raghunathan, Founder & CRO of Hyperbound
Jul 03, 2024On this week’s episode of Redefining Outbound, Frida sits down with Atul Raghunathan, the Founder & CRO of Hyperbound. They discuss how AI is shaping outbound channels and how sales leaders can train their teams in these outbound channels. They also dive into the journey of Hyperbound. Tune in for all of the insights.
Find out more about Hyperbound here: https://www.hyperbound.ai/
Duration: 00:26:23Cold Calling Live Training with Morgan, Jack Frimston and Zac Thompson (Co-Directors @We Have A Meeting)
Jun 19, 2024We’re back with a brand new episode of Redefining Outbound - with a twist! As a sales leader, you’re probably aware about the importance of training your team. We wanted to share one of our recent cold calling live trainings, in the hope that you’ll find out some useful tips and trips you can pass along to your team. With the end of June and Q2 of 2024 fast approaching, now is a great time to find those quick wins so you can end strong.
Cognism runs these live sessions, with our host Morgan Ingram, monthl...
Duration: 00:54:24The Problems of Generic Outreach (& More), with Taylor Bobak, Sales Development Leader @Faire
May 23, 2024This week, Frida sits down with Taylor Bobak, the Sales Development Leader at Faire. She discusses her take on the state of outbound outside of the tech space. There’s an emphasis on brands becoming immune to spray and pray cadences. She also touches on the rise of Instagram and in-person interactions, as effective methods of outbound.
Duration: 00:22:07Using AI for Deal Modelling and More, with Shilpa Sharma, Co-Founder & CEO at Flyte
May 10, 2024Welcome back to another episode of Redefining Outbound. This week, Frida chats with Shilpa Sharma, the Co-Founder & CEO @Flyte, as well as one of Crunchbase’s 2023 Influential Women in Sales. They talk about the capabilities of AI in sales efficiency, plus the role it’ll play for helping to model deals and their outcomes. Tune in for all of the insights.
Duration: 00:22:59The Playbook for Sales x CS Alignment with Evan Nelson, VP of Customer Experience at Cognism
May 01, 2024Ever wondered what it takes to ensure your sales and customer experience teams are truly on the same page? Well, all will be revealed in our latest episode of Redefining Outbound. You’ll get a sneak peek intp the playbook that we’ve instilled at Cognism, as Frida sits down for a chat with our VP of Customer Experience: Evan Nelson.
Duration: 00:27:03Do You Understand Your Persona? With Justin Otley, VP of Global Sales Development at Talkdesk
Apr 10, 2024On this episode of Beyond The Sales Floor, Morgan sits down with Justin Otley, VP of Global Sales Development at Talkdesk. If there’s one thing you should takeaway from this episode, is that the key to scaling your outbound model, doesn’t start with product messaging. Instead it starts with the persona. Plus, Justin shares how he’s been using ChatGPT to create a buyer matrix within different personas too! Tune in for all the insights.
Duration: 00:25:04The Allbound Outbound Model (& More) with Lauren Landry, VP of Global Sales Dev. & Inside Sales at Arctic Wolf
Apr 05, 2024We’re back with another episode of Beyond The Sales Floor. This time, Morgan interviews Lauren Landry, the VP of Global Sales Development and Inside Sales at Arctic Wolf. Lauren shares her unique take on ABM - and here’s a teaser: the output is the same but the positioning of your message depends if you go upmarket or downmarket. She also shares Arctic Wolf’s use of partnerships, to fuel the outbound model. Tune in for all of the insights.
Duration: 00:16:33Lessons From The 2008 Meltdown (and more) with Kevin Gaither “KG”, CRO & Founder of Inside Sales Expert
Mar 27, 2024This week’s episode is a little longer - but it’s worth it! Frida sat down with Kevin Gaither, “KG”, the CRO and Founder of Inside Sales Expert. He has had experience in sales AND sales leadership dating back to 1994! He has taken all of this knowledge to help US tech companies at the early stage of their growth, avoid mistakes in all aspects of the sales process. Kevin shared the all-important lessons that he’s learnt from leading a sales team during the mortgage meltdown in 2008, that can help leaders navigate the climate today. Plus, he shared why invest...
Duration: 00:43:46Understanding The Customer Journey With Dan Rousseau, Global VP of Sales Development at Sitecore
Mar 20, 2024We’re back with another episode of Beyond The Sales Floor, with Morgan Ingam and special guest Dan Rousseau, the VP of Global Sales Development at Sitecore. Dan dives into what it means for your sales team to truly understand the buying journey - with a mulit-touch, multi-channel approach. He also emphasises the importance of creating a culture of community for managers, when they’re getting to grips with their team - whether it be on the hiring or training side. Listen for all of the insights.
Duration: 00:19:34Pax 8’s Enablement Playbook with Petek Hawkins, VP of Revenue Enablement & Operations @Pax8
Mar 13, 2024We’re back with another episode of Beyond the Sales Floor. Morgan sits down with Petek Hawkins from Pax8. They took a deep dive into how AI is helping Pax8 to have great efficiency gains within their enablement process. You’ll find out about the internal chatbot that’s being built called ‘Just in time, just for me, actions and insights’. This episode has some great takes on why AI has great potential. Tune in for all of the insights.
Duration: 00:24:01Does AI risk the future landscape of sales? With Trent Dressel, VP of Sales @ D&D Wholesale Supply
Mar 06, 2024Our VP of US Sales Frida, is joined by Trent Dressel, the VP of Sales at D&D Wholesale Supply. This week, they discuss the risks and opportunities that come with the emergence of AI, and the impact it has on sales. They also touch on the methodical meaning of outbound - the idea that activity should link to revenue. Plus, you’ll find out how Trent secured the largest deal in his pipeline with an in-person meeting.
Duration: 00:29:52Consultative Selling with Ciara Flaherty, EMEA Sales Leader @Klaviyo
Feb 28, 2024Sellers sell everyday - but buyers don’t buy everyday. This is the core reminder from today’s episode, with guest Ciara Flaherty, EMEA Sales Leader at Klaviyo. Joe Stubbs asks her to dive into the importance of scenario planning, to mitigate risk in a deal. They discuss how sellers need to be consultative, and map out the sales process, and provide as much support as possible for buyers. Tune in for all of the insights.
Duration: 00:25:21Part 2: The Pros of Internal Sales Trainers With Bill Petersen, Sales Trainer @Cognism
Feb 21, 2024Welcome back to the second part of our special with Bill Petersen - Cognism’s internal sales trainer. This week, Frida and Bill discuss the paramount role that in-house sales trainers play, for the AE team. They discuss how to coach on the handoff between SDRs and AEs, as well as the challenges that AE leaders face today. Tune in for all of the insights.
Duration: 00:21:32Part 1: The Pros of Internal Sales Trainers With Bill Petersen, Sales Trainer @Cognism
Feb 14, 2024This is the first of our two-part special interview with Bill Petersen, Cognism’s internal sales trainer. In this episode, Stephen Vickers chats with Bill on the positive domino effect for sales development teams, when there’s an in-house sales trainer. They also share experiences of how the landscape of sales training has changed over the past decade - Stephen and Bill have known each other for 12 years!
Duration: 00:27:21The state of selling in construction, with Will Synnott, VP of Sales for UK&I and USA @Disperse
Feb 07, 2024Ever thought what it’s like to sell into the construction industry? How about the typical sales cycle might look like with multi-million dollar projects? Well, these questions (plus much more) are covered in this episode of Redefining Outbound. Joe Stubbs is joined by Will Synnott - a former design engineer who is now the VP of Sales for UK, Ireland, and the USA for Disperse. He shares what it’s like selling in the construction business. Plus, he shares the importance of referrals in outbound.
Duration: 00:21:57Allbound and AI with Ben Smith, Director of Global Business Development @Reachdesk
Jan 31, 2024This is the first episode with our brand new host, Joe Stubbs - Cognism’s UK Sales Director. He chats with Ben Smith, the Director of Global Business Development at Reachdesk. They discuss the notion of all-bound, the influence of AI, and maintaining efficiency. Tune into the full episode for more.
Duration: 00:10:37Mapping Demand Gen with Outbound, with Laura Erderm, Head of Sales, Americas @Dreamdata
Jan 25, 2024A new year presents new opportunities to improve your strategy between sales and marketing teams. And if you’re looking for inspiration, we recommend you tune into this episode. David sits down with Laura Erderm, Head of Sales for the Americas at Dreamdata. She explained how sales and marketing can remain laser focused and in sync with one another. Plus, you’ll discover how she’s enabling the sales team to manage the challenge of long customer journeys.
Duration: 00:17:26Social Selling Strategy in 2024 with Charlotte Lloyd, Strategic Advisor @Humantic AI
Jan 17, 2024David is joined by Charlotte Lloyd, Sales Director at Investment Monitor and Strategic Advisor at Humantic AI. This episode is all about social selling - and they cover the pros and cons. Charlotte shares the best way for teams to approach this in 2024. Tune in for the full episode.
Duration: 00:26:54BTSF Episode 12: HubSpot’s Outbound Motion Unveiled with David Katz, The VP of Corporate Sales
Jan 15, 2024This week, Morgan is joined by David Katz, the VP of Corporate Sales at HubSpot. He shares how he’s using both inbound and outbound to fuel a strong sales strategy. Plus, find out why he has a segment of the team just focused on net new business, as he touches on the hunter-farmer mentality.
Duration: 00:22:58The Product Led Growth Sales Motion With Tonni Bennett, VP of Sales @ Daily
Jan 10, 2024Frida is joined by Tonni Bennett, VP of Sales @ Daily. They discuss how the product-led growth mindset can enable sellers to provide tangible value for buyers. Plus, Tonni gives her unique take on what it’s like to lead a sales engine that’s prospecting APIs. Hint: it’s challenging because unless there’s a real need, content marketing or inbound is going to help. This plus much more is uncovered in the latest episode.
Duration: 00:23:14Cognism’s Playbook on Sales Enablement, with Emily Bair (Head of Sales Enablement)
Dec 20, 2023In this episode, you’ll learn about Cognism’s playbook for successful sales enablement, from Emily Bair (our Head of Sales Enablement). With our host Kaitie Voigt, you’ll learn about the importance of management and enablement working together, in order to create cohesiveness. Plus, you’ll learn about the difference between internal enablement and external enablement. If 2024 is going to be the year of refining your enablement strategy, this is an episode you don’t want to miss!
Duration: 00:28:35AI, Power Diallers, & Leadership Training with Ashleigh Early, CEO of Other Side of Sales Consulting
Dec 13, 2023This week, David has a chat with Ashleigh Early (CEO of Other Side of Sales Consulting & Co-Founder of Across The Pond and Over The Rainbow). They debate on the state of AI, specifically whether power diallers work in today’s era of outbound. You’ll also discover the art and importance of leadership asking the right questions. Tune in for the full conversation.
Tune Into Across The Pond And Over The Rainbow here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/across-the-pond-over-the-rainbow/
Duration: 00:30:53Hitting 103% of the Revenue Target in 6 Months With Kyle Asay at MongoDB
Dec 11, 2023In this episode of Beyond The Sales Floor, Morgan has a chat with Kyle Asay, RVP at MongoDB. Kyle shares how he’s working with different departments such as marketing and operations, in order to achieve a strong and strategic approach towards outbound. Plus, you’ll hear how Kyle thinks about the sales process, as well as his take on MEDDIC and AI! And finally, find out Kyle's secrets to hitting 103% of the revenue target in just 6 months!
Duration: 00:22:11A Deep-Dive Into Video Plays With Ryan Scalera, Inside Sales Manager at Lob
Dec 06, 2023On this episode, Stephen Vickers (Head of US Sales Development) sits down with a video outbound expert - Ryan Scalera, Inside Sales Manager @Lob. He shares the common pitfalls when coaching video, and provides an insight into how you can get buy-in from your team, to use video as a channel.
Duration: 00:26:29Beyond the Sales Floor Episode 10: The Playbook on Better Leadership with Emerald Maravilla, Director of Sales Development at Snowflake
Dec 04, 2023On this week’s episode of Beyond the Sales Floor, Morgan interviews Emerald Maravilla - the Director of Sales Development at Snowflake (AND a previous Redefining Outbound guest)! Emerald shares how Kevin Dorsey has had a huge impact on her understanding of what it means to be a leader. Plus, you’ll discover Snowflake’s unique approach towards the outbound process. Tune in for all the insights.
Duration: 00:27:15The Evolution of Leadership In An Organisation With Angeley Mullins, CCO at Resourcify
Nov 29, 2023In this episode, Frida chats with Angeley Mullins, CCO at Resourcify (and one of Crunchbase’s Influential Women in Sales in 2023) . They touch on the art of critical thinking in sales, plus take a deep-dive into the importance of evolving as a leader. Angeley shares her insights, referencing her background at a wide range of different companies, from start-ups all the way through to enterprises. Listen for more insights.
Duration: 00:17:40Beyond the Sales Floor Episode 9: A Unique Take on ABM with Alex Ball, VP of Sales & GTM at Twilio Flex
Nov 27, 2023On this week’s episode of Beyond The Sales Floor, Morgan is joined by Alex Ball, VP of Sales at Twilio Flex. In this episode, you’ll learn how Alex’s unique approach towards ABM - especially within existing accounts. Plus, find out why Alex isn’t the biggest fan of AI in sales - especially when it comes to achieving personalised outreach. Tune in for all of the insights in this bonus episode.
Duration: 00:29:11Predictions for B2B Sales in 2024 With Matt Doyon: Co-Founder & CEO of TripleSession
Nov 22, 2023On this week’s episode, Stephen chats with Matt Doyon, the Co-Founder and CEO of TripleSession. They covered a lot of ground relating to the landscape of B2B sales, as we approach 2024. Some of these topics included the role of AI, and the importance of productivity. Matt also gives his take on why he thinks sales enablement will be the real star of the show next year. Listen to find out more.
Duration: 00:22:52Beyond the Sales Floor Episode 8: Prospecting Into Difficult Industries with Grace Chuang, Director of Sales Dev. @Databricks
Nov 20, 2023On this week’s episode of Beyond The Sales Floor, Morgan is joined by Grace Chuang, Director of Sales Development at Databricks. Grace shares her insights into prospecting into tricky industries like the public sector, financial services, and healthcare. Plus, you’ll learn why BANT hasn’t been a qualification method of choice for Grace, due to the nature of the product being sold.
Duration: 00:25:33Stopping Revenue Leak and Slippery Deals with Shruti Kapoor, Head of International Business @Clari
Nov 15, 2023This week, David sits down with Shruti Kapoor, Head of International Business at Clari. Discover Shruti’s take on what thorough deal inspection looks like. Plus, find out why 40 to 60% of deals tend to slip in the pipeline.
Duration: 00:23:07Beyond the Sales Floor Episode 7: BANT, Unsticking Deals, and LinkedIn With Ryan Byrnes, Mid-Market Sales Leader at Calm
Nov 13, 2023On this episode of Beyond the Sales Floor, Morgan has a chat with Ryan Byrnes, Mid-Market Sales Leader @Calm. Tune in to find out Ryan’s insights into ensuring deals are unstuck, why BANT is relevant for his team, and best practices for LinkedIn in outbound.
Duration: 00:22:13The Role of AI In Sales With Mark Kosoglow, CRO at Catalyst
Nov 08, 2023On this week’s episode of Redefining Outbound, Kaitie is joined by Mark Kosoglow, CRO at Catalyst Software. We learn about whether AI is the solution to all of our problems in sales, or if it’s actually creating generalised assumptions about a sales team. They also discuss the bottom-up approach to win enterprise deals. Plus, you’ll discover the different stages within a leader’s journey, as a company grows or evolves.
Duration: 00:31:31Beyond The Sales Floor Episode 6: Creating An Airtight Onboarding Plan With Brooke Coletti, at Amazon Web Services
Nov 06, 2023There are lots of nuances that need to be considered when iterating your model for onboarding reps. For example, how are you ensuring company culture is aligned across regional teams? How can it be operationalised for this new world of hybrid work? This plus much more is dissected and discussed in this latest instalment of Beyond the Sales Floor, with host Morgan Ingram, and guest Brooke Coletti, Sr Partner Enablement Manager at Amazon Web Services.
Duration: 00:23:39The State of MEDDPICC/MEDDIC In Modern Sales With Gina Ruscio, Cognism’s Chief of Staff, Revenue
Nov 01, 2023This week, Kaitie is sitting down with Cognism’s Chief of Revenue Staff: Gina Ruscio. They discuss everything to do with MEDDPICC (or MEDDIC). How should it be rolled out across an organisation? What makes it different to other methods? Plus, find out why it’s designed for SDRs too.
Duration: 00:24:45Problem Solving, Visual Learners and Dissecting Deals With Keith Weightman, RVP of National Accounts @ Bullhorn
Oct 25, 2023How can you tailor to reps in your team that are visual learners? How can your team dissect a problem the right way? These are some of the big questions that Keith Weightman, RVP of National Accounts at Bullhorn, has provided insights into. Check out more in this week’s episode of Redefining Outbound.
Duration: 00:20:22Beyond the Sales Floor Episode 5: Secrets for 45% Reply Rates on Videos, With Khris Fenton, VP of Sales Development and Partnerships at Altrata
Oct 23, 2023We’re back with another episode of Beyond the Sales Floor - and it’s with a Redefining Outbound alumnus Khris Fenton - VP of Sales Development and Partnerships at Altrata. Khris shared the outbound video tactic that has boosted his team’s reply rate from 5-10%, to around 45-50%! Plus, find out Khris’ take on the state of BANT.
Duration: 00:20:39Beyond the Sales Floor Episode 4: Building Coaching Plans With Alli MacManus, Global Revenue Enablement Manager at Demandbase
Oct 17, 2023On this episode of Beyond the Sales Floor, Alli MacManus (Global Rev. Enablement Manager @Demandbase) is our guest. Alli shares how she’s approached coaching plans for her team, as well as what a 30-60-90 day onboarding plan looks like. We also learnt about the importance of creating tailored plans. Tune in to find out more.
Duration: 00:16:09How Conventional Wisdom Kills Deals with John Bissett, Partner at Slingshot Edge
Oct 11, 2023We’re getting a little scientific in this week’s episode. David sits down with John Bissett, Partner at Slingshot Edge. He discusses how and why conventional wisdom kills sales deals. Plus, you’ll get a *detailed* insight into a buyer’s mind, and the balance between emotion and logic when making a decision. Check out this episode, and learn more on why psychology in sales is so important.
Duration: 00:24:22Beyond the Sales Floor Episode 3: Plays That Get You Paid With Carson V. Heady @ Microsoft
Oct 09, 2023In this episode of Beyond the Sales Floor, our special guest is Carson V Heady, Social Selling Lead at Microsoft. Carson shares how social selling can be the key to unlock communication and relationships with other rooms of the house. He also shares his approach towards structuring plays in outbound, that get you paid.
Duration: 00:26:26Social Selling, Mental Health in Sales, and More With Amanda Wilde, Director of Business Development at Alida
Oct 05, 2023On this week’s episode, Frida has a chat with Amanda Wilde, Director of Business Development at Alida AND 2023 Crunchbase Most Influential Women in Sales! They touched on how redefining outbound is constantly happening in tech sales. Plus, Amanda discusses the importance of protecting the mental health of your team.
Duration: 00:26:37Beyond the Sales Floor Episode 2: Creating $130m in Pipeline With Matt Reuter at Real Page Inc
Oct 03, 2023In this episode of Beyond the Sales Floor, Morgan chatted with Matt Reuter, Senior Director of Sales Development at RealPage, Inc. They unpacked the secret to building $130m in pipeline (hint: it’s simpler than you think), as well as how to identify red flag reps - sooner rather than later, in the hiring and onboarding processes. Listen to find out more.
Duration: 00:22:24Beyond The Sales Floor with Morgan Ingram and Dan Drucker at Canon Business Process Services, Inc
Sep 25, 2023In this special episode of Redefining Outbound, we’re kicking off our Beyond The Sales Floor Series! And in this first interview, Morgan sits down with Dan Drucker, VP of National Sales and Marketing at Canon Business Process Services, Inc. Dan breaks down his outbound strategy, and the importance of super-specificity. In fact, you'll even learn a new term by the end of the episode: scuba prospecting. Dan also shares his top tips for achieving that all-important alignment between sales and marketing teams.
Duration: 00:20:55The State of Sales in the US Market Today With Cognism’s Sales Leaders
Sep 21, 2023On this week’s episode of Redefining Outbound, we’re discussing everything to do with the US Market. Join Frida Ottosson, who chats with Cognism’s US sales leaders: Stephen Vickers (Head of Sales Development) and Kaitie Voigt (Enterprise Sales Manager) . They’ll be covering the challenges and opportunities in the market today, achieving alignment between SDRs and AEs, and more
Duration: 00:27:02Breaking Down The Meaning of Personalisation in Sales, with Kris Rudeegraap, CEO at Sendoso
Sep 13, 2023On this week’s episode of Redefining Outbound, Frida sits down with Kris Rudeegraap, CEO of Sendoso. They discuss how sales leaders need to tackle personalisation from different angles, approaches to growth in the current economic climate, and more.
Duration: 00:19:39Reaching Technical Decision Makers With Julia Gilinets, Interim CRO at Uplevel
Sep 06, 2023Cut the fluff! That’s what Julia Gilinets, Interim CRO at Uplevel, believes is the secret in sales. This is especially the case, when reaching out to technical decision-makers. On this week’s episode of Redefining Outbound, find out more, plus the importance of the bottom-up approach, and why sales leaders need to drop the word “should”, when judging their sales process.
Duration: 00:28:57Leveraging Partnerships in Sales with Michaela Weber, VP of Strategic Business Development at BigCommerce
Aug 30, 2023Your partnerships team can provide some great fuel for your sales engine. And in this week’s episode of Redefining Outbound, discover exactly how and why to leverage partners in outbound, with our guest Michaela Weber, VP of Strategic Business Development at BigCommerce. David and Michaela cover everything from joint sales pitches, the importance of customer success, and more.
Duration: 00:22:28Driving High Quality Pipeline with Lu Juarez, EMEA Sales Development Manager at HiBob
Aug 23, 2023In this week’s episode of Redefining Outbound, David sits down with Lu Juarez, EMEA Sales Development Manager, to discuss how the team at HiBob are approaching their goal of driving high quality pipeline. Luciana took a deep-dive into 3 main tactics she’s utilising this quarter. Listen to find out what they are, plus much more.
Duration: 00:31:06The Secrets to Working with Champions with Nate Nasralla, Founder at Fluint.io
Aug 16, 2023In this week’s episode with Redefining Outbound, Stephen Vickers sits down with Nate Nasralla, Founder at Fluint.io to discuss the best way to work with your buying champion. They covered how your champions don’t always have to be at the top, the danger of too much multi-threading, and more.
Duration: 00:21:19The Blueprint Workshop: How Cognism’s Sales Leaders Built A Predictable Revenue Engine (Special Episode)
Aug 09, 2023We’re back with another special episode of Redefining Outbound. In order to commemorate the launch of our Blueprint, tune into this workshop, co-hosted by Morgan Ingram, and Cognism’s VPs David Bentham and Jonathon Ilett. Find out the best practices on processes like forecasting, coaching, and more, that enabled the team to scale from $10m to $40m in under 2 years.
And check out more insights at the site here: https://info.cognism.com/the-blue-print
Duration: 00:57:12The Importance of High-Impact Coaching with Gabrielle Blackwell, Sales Development Manager at Culture Amp
Aug 02, 2023On this week’s episode of Redefining Outbound, Gabrielle Blackwell (Creator at The One on One and Mid-Market Sales Development Manager at Culture Amp) joins Frida, to talk about the importance of coaching, training, and feedback for your team. They also discuss how these processes shape up in the new era of outbound.
Duration: 00:30:50The Importance of Knowing Your Customers with Devin Reed, Head of Content at Clari
Jul 26, 2023“Know who you’re selling to!”
It’s something you’re telling your sales team to do all the time. But have you laid out the foundations for this to be a possibility? On this week’s episode, Frida sat down with Devin Reed, former seller turned Head of Content at Clari. They discussed how sales and marketing can work together to achieve a deep understanding of personas.
Duration: 00:21:35The State of Enterprise Sales with Kaitie Voigt, Cognism's US Enterprise Sales Manager
Jul 19, 2023Enterprise sales can be a minefield. Especially in this new era of outbound, it’s really important to ensure your team is enabled with the knowledge that’ll help them make the most impact. For example, in the current economic climate, budgets are tight. So, how can your team help these complex buying committees unlock the pain? Find out all, on this week’s episode of Redefining Outbound, with one-off host Binal (from the marketing team) and our guest Kaitie Voigt, Cognism’s Enterprise Sales Manager.
Duration: 00:26:33How To Master Time Management As A Sales Leader with Todd Busler and Morgan J Ingram (Special Episode)
Jul 12, 2023Your sales team’s playbook should align with the new era of outbound. And success starts by nailing processes like time management.
Learn how to strike the balance, between coaching, training, forecasting, and sitting on deals, in this special episode of Redefining Outbound, with Morgan Ingram and Todd Busler.
And grab the slides from the workshop here: https://2340453.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/2340453/%5BFINAL%5D%20Leadership%20workshop_%20How%20to%20master%20time%20management%20as%20a%20sales%20leader-2.pdf
Breaking Down Buyer Centricity with Khris Fenton, VP of Sales Development & Partnerships at Altrata
Jul 05, 2023Sales leaders are encouraging their teams to embrace buyer centricity all the time. But there are still rooms for improvement. Find out more, as Frida sits down with Khris Fenton, from Altrata. He revealed the fundamentals behind a buyer-centric playbook.
Duration: 00:28:08How to hire & scale a team that understands the modern-day buyer with Emerald Maravilla, Director of Sales Development at Snowflake
Jun 28, 2023B2B buying behaviour is digital. Now, more than ever. So, what does that mean for sales leaders? Well, it means branching out beyond cold calling. And it also means considering the regional nuances of the modern buyer. Find out more as Stephen Vickers sits down with Emerald Maravilla, Director of Sales Development at Snowflake.
Duration: 00:27:05Approaching Multi-Regional Outbound, Enterprise & More With Sylvia Farag, Founder of Farag Consulting & Coaching
Jun 21, 2023What does it take to break through Enterprise nowadays? Also, have we ever stopped to consider the importance of regional differences, when approaching outbound? Well, all will be revealed in this week's episode, as David sits down with Sylvia Farag.
Duration: 00:32:15The Playbook for 'Hyper Growth' and More with Chris Orlob, CEO at pclub.io
Jun 14, 2023In the current economic climate, it's important to take a step back and re-evaluate how you're approaching the growth of your GTM function. For example, have you enabled your sales team to fine-tune their outbound techniques so they can put the buyer first? Frida sat down with Chris Orlob to discuss this, plus much more.
Duration: 00:30:03The evolution of Outbound Tactics & More with Mike Sokirka, VP of Sales & LeadGen at Index
Jun 07, 2023Some companies are really embracing the winds of change in outbound. And one in particular has been Index. Find out why VP of Sales & LeadGen Mike Sokirka, has separate teams for the different channels for outreach. He also tells David the power of referrals in LinkedIn for outbound strategies.
Duration: 00:32:45The State of Sales Enablement in the Modern Era of Outbound & More With Richard Smith, VP of Sales EMEA at Allego
May 31, 2023On this week’s episode, David sat down with Richard Smith, VP of Sales EMEA at Allego. They discussed the importance of nailing the inner-workings of your sales function, as a way to adapt and thrive in the new era of outbound. For example, the importance of considering the buyer when it comes to approaching sales enablement.
Duration: 00:38:07The Secrets behind Successful GTM Strategies with Todd Busler, Co-Founder at Champify
May 24, 2023What does it mean to go-to-market in this new era of outbound? Where should management be spending their time? How can efficiency and productivity be at the centre of everything sales teams do, when they do go to market? Frida Ottosson, VP of US Sales at Cognism, sat down with Todd Busler, Co-Founder at Champify, to discuss this, plus more.
Duration: 00:29:46The Importance of Sales and Marketing Alignment with Liam Bartholomew, VP of Marketing at Cognism
May 17, 2023Everyone talks about sales and marketing about having to be on the same page. But how does this process actually work? Does it differ depending on the size of the organisation? And how can sales adapt the demand gen mindset that marketers talk about? Find out how all of this has come to play at Cognism, as David sits down with our VP of Marketing, Liam Bartholomew.
Duration: 00:41:20The Importance of Creativity in Outbound with Will Aitken from Lavender
May 10, 2023‘Be creative with outbound!’
Sellers are told this all the time. But what does it actually mean or entail, to think outside the box when it comes to prospecting? And why is it important to be creative in this new era of outbound? Why should leaders care about this trend, given the new era of outbound? Well, David sits down with Will Aitken, Social at Lavender, to discuss this.
Duration: 00:32:24Shifting from the Sales Funnel Mentality to the Customer Journey Mindset with Kyle Coleman SVP, Marketing at Clari
May 03, 2023Old-school qualification methods and outdated sales funnels don’t have a place in modern outbound. In this new era of outbound, sellers at the top of the funnel need to focus less on pipeline quantity and more on pipeline quality.
Duration: 00:32:15G.A.S strategy (giving a s***) - How to actually provide value in the sales process with Jen Allen-Knuth @ Lavender
Apr 26, 2023Everyone talks about adding value in the sales process. But what does that mean, exactly? There's a believe that value has become lost in translation for many sales teams. Well, Jen Allen-Knuth has cracked the code on what it comes back to. It's the fundamental idea of "giving a s***" in sales. She sits down with David Bentham this week, to discuss the importance of buyers being heard, problem-centricity, plus more
Duration: 00:28:14The Power of the Feedback Loop and Research For Your Sales Team with Tom Lavery, at Jiminny
Apr 19, 2023Feedback is crucial. It's the fundamental way your sales team can get better. But what about other forms of feedback? For example, the feedback loop from prospects and customers? How can they impact messaging? And what is the overall positive impact this has on the operational efficiency of your sales team? Well, this week we sit down with Tom Lavery, CEO and Founder at Jiminny, to discuss this.
Duration: 00:30:35The Importance of Revenue Team Alignment With Alex Olley, Co-Founder & CRO at Reachdesk
Apr 12, 2023The key to success is making sure all of the revenue teams are on the same page. Because in this new era of outbound, close collaboration and understanding is vital to win. Alex Olley, Co-Founder and CRO at Reachdesk, explains this concept in this week's episode of Redefining Outbound.
Duration: 00:30:14