Resilience Rocks Sales

Intelligent Selling in Professional Services with Regan Barker | Resilience Rocks Sales Ep.26

In this episode of Resilience Rocks Sales, Stacey is joined by Regan Barker, Head of Revenue Operations at Grant Thornton. The two discuss Regan's career journey from marketing in professional services to her current role, where she extends sales capabilities and integration between sales, marketing, and revenue profitability. Regan shares how she builds and nurtures her team and emphasises the importance of resilience in achieving long-term success.
 
Regan takes us deep into intelligent sales strategies that focus on building long-term relationships, rather than quick sales. She brings fresh perspectives on embedding great practices within a firm, leveraging sales enablement, and ensuring alignment between different business functions. The episode also touches on personal practices for building resilience, including meditation and journaling, and the significance of positive self-talk.
 
If you would like to connect with Regan, she is an active LinkedIn user and enjoys early morning virtual or face-to-face coffees. You can find her at https://linkedin.com/in/ReganBarker
 
Highlights:
- Transition from marketing to revenue operations leadership
- Importance of aligning sales and marketing teams
- Role of resilience in sales success
- Building a strong sales enablement structure
- Strategic long-term relationships vs. quick-win tactics
- Personal resilience practices from journaling to fitness goals
- Critical role of continual learning and team support

How to Lead Through Tough Times with Maranda Dziekonski | Resilience Rocks Sales Ep.25

In this episode of Resilience Rocks Sales, we get to know the inspiring journey of Maranda Dziekonski. Maranda, a remarkable leader in the customer success space, shares her story of overcoming extreme poverty, and other adversities from her childhood in rural Michigan. Her path is a testament to resilience, having navigated through significant life challenges such as early emancipation, becoming a single mother at a young age, and establishing a successful career.
 
Maranda discusses the pivotal moments in her life that led her to choose a path of resilience and self-improvement. She sheds light on the importance of having a supportive community, sharing anecdotes about her grandmother's life-changing advice and her husband's unwavering encouragement. Her narrative demonstrates how emerging from hardship with a mindset geared toward growth and self-belief can lead to extraordinary outcomes, both personally and professionally. Maranda's determination and success story are sure to resonate with and inspire many.
 
The episode also touches upon leadership strategies, particularly in startup environments. Maranda emphasizes the need for resilience in early-stage startups, discussing the challenges that come with unpredictability and rapid changes. She provides insights on how leaders can effectively support their teams through communication, directness, and adaptability. Maranda also reflects on her experiences handling difficult situations like company layoffs and maintaining team trust and morale during tough times. This episode is packed with valuable lessons on resilience, leadership, and personal growth that will benefit anyone facing challenges in their careers or personal lives. 
 
Connect with Maranda on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/marandaanndziekonski/
Connect with Stacey on LinkedIn or Instagram
Listen to Resilience Rocks playlist on Spotify
 
 
About Maranda:
Maranda Dziekonski is the SVP of Customer Success and Ops at Datasembly. Maranda has over 20 years of experience both working in and building world-class operations.
 
She has extensive experience building and scaling teams in early and mid-stage startups and has been part of 4 companies with successful exits (one unicorn). Fun fact: Maranda is now working on her 9th startup!
 
While she has owned everything from sales and marketing, HR, biz ops, and various other functions, her passion remains with Customer Success.
 
Maranda has been honored as a Top 50 CCOs to Watch, Top 25 Customer Success Influencer for 2021, 2022, and 2023, and various other awards for CS and Leadership. She also sits on numerous boards and is on the advisory board for the University of San Francisco's Customer Success and Insights MBA Program.

Personal Branding for Sales Success with Samantha J Brunskill | Resilience Rocks Sales Ep. 24

In this episode of Resilience Rocks Sales, we meet Samantha J Brunskill, an expert in personal branding and luxury brand creation. She introduces us to the concept of choosing the right buyer and designing your sales process around presupposing people are empowered and self-led.
 
Samantha shares insights from her journey, including her success with the Illuminate Summit, her early struggles and achievements in her family's property development business, and dealing with negativity when building a brand that is authentically you.
 
The conversation digs into the importance of resilience, the power of personal stories in sales, and unique approaches to building a personal brand. 
 
Connect with Samantha on Instagram DM her the word BOOKS and she’ll send you a free copy of her books
 
Get tickets for Illuminate Summit in September at https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/illuminate-summit-tickets-947024103587
 
Connect with Stacey on LinkedIn or Instagram
 
Listen to Resilience Rocks playlist on Spotify
 
 
About Samantha J:
Samantha J. is an award-winning entrepreneur hailed as "The Illuminator" by Forbes for her trailblazing approach to purpose-led entrepreneurship. Turning her personal traumas into sources of hope, she built a multi-8-figure empire by the age of 22, overcoming challenges of sexual abuse and mental health.
A globetrotter and perpetual learner, Samantha J. has studied under leading experts in neuroscience, shamanism, sacred sexuality, trauma, entrepreneurship, and leadership. She developed her unique methodology, The Illuminator Method, to help entrepreneurs find deep fulfillment while building the life and 6-8+ figure empire of their dreams.
Recognized as one of Business Elite's Top 40 Under 40 entrepreneurs, Samantha is a 6x best-selling author and a 5x Women Changing the World award finalist and winner of the Women Changing The World - Emerging Leader of the Year (bronze).
She has been featured alongside Oprah, spent time with Richard Branson, Sarah Ferguson the Duchess of York, Dr. Terrai Trent. Her next book will be featured in the Oscars hampers, and is being launched in New York October 2024.
She has empowered thousands of entrepreneurs worldwide and is on a mission to make a billion philanthropic impacts through her business school and branding agency.

Chasing Stars in Sales with James Michael | Resilience Rocks Sales Ep. 23

In this episode, Stacey chats with James Michael from Justified Talent about his unique journey from the military to becoming a small business sales recruiter.
 
James shares his insights on resilience, the psychology of performance, and his innovative approach to recruitment that ditches the traditional resume for behavioural analytics.
 
Highlights:
James Michael's Background
The Navy and the Army Experience
Transition to Sales
Building Justified Talent
Innovative Recruitment Approach
Culture in Recruitment
 
Connect with James on LinkedIn or at www.JustifiedTalent.com
Get the Scorecard at https://justifiedtalent.scoreapp.com/
Connect with Stacey on LinkedIn or Instagram
Listen to Resilience Rocks playlist on Spotify
 
 
About James:
Having reinvented himself, professionally, 5 times, over his working life so far, James Michael, at age 55 launched his first ever recruitment firm.
 
Justified Talent works with Founders and small business owners to recruit their first sales professionals.
 
James nominates 'resilience' as one of the key contributors to his success.

Adapting to the AI Revolution with Ben Angel | Resilience Rocks Sales Ep.22

In this episode of Resilience Rock Sales, Ben Angel, author of The Wolf is at The Door - How to Survive & Thrive in an AI-Driven World, discusses the impact of artificial intelligence on businesses, particularly in sales.
 
Ben shares his journey, insights on AI's fast-evolving landscape, and gives practical advice on leveraging AI tools while being cautious of its risks.
 
He also explores the importance of resilience and discusses steps individuals and business owners can take to stay ahead of the curve.
 
Highlights:
The Importance of Ben's New Book
The Impact of AI on Business and Society
Challenges and Risks of AI
The Reality of AI-Generated Content
Privacy and Intellectual Property Concerns with AI
Historical Context of Technological Disruptions
Practical Steps for Individuals and Business Owners
Music as a Ritual for Resilience
 
Connect with Ben at www.thewolfofAI.co
Connect with Stacey on LinkedIn or Instagram
Listen to Resilience Rocks playlist on Spotify
 
 
About Ben:
Ben Angel is a bestselling author who has predicted trends in business, health, tech and marketing for nearly two decades. As a VIP contributor to Entrepreneur for 8 years, his weekly videos have amassed millions of views. His latest book, The Wolf is at The Door - How to Survive & Thrive in an AI-Driven World explores how AI will reshape work, commerce, relationships and reality, to prepare leaders for the future.

Curiosity Driven Sales with Denise Murtha Bachmann | Resilience Rocks Sales Ep.21

In this episode of Resilience Rocks Sales, host Stacey Copas is joined by Denise Murtha Bachmann to explore the transformative power of curiosity in sales.
Denise shares her 30-year journey from door-to-door sales to becoming a leading voice in AI and machine learning within the sales industry. Together, they discuss how curiosity can enhance client relationships, the pitfalls and potentials of AI in sales, and practical advice for sales leaders.
Denise also highlights the importance of resilience, continuous learning, and maintaining a growth mindset.
Highlights:
Denise’s unique journey from music and fashion merchandising to a top sales professional
The transformative power of curiosity in sales
The role of AI and machine learning in modern sales processes
The importance of simplifying tech tools for effective sales management
Personal stories and strategies for maintaining credibility in sales
The impact of resilience and a growth mindset on sales success
Engaging with LinkedIn for inbound sales opportunities
The concept of being "audible ready" in sales conversations
Chapters:
[00:01:25] - Denise’s Sales Journey
[00:02:49] - Early Career and Door-to-Door Sales
[00:05:22] - AI and Machine Learning in Sales
[00:10:15] - Pitfalls of Sales Automation
[00:14:17] - Advice for Sales Leaders
[00:19:08] - Establishing Credibility on LinkedIn
[00:23:37] - Content Creation Strategy
[00:26:48] - The Role of Curiosity in Sales
[00:32:26] - Being "Audible Ready"
[00:35:31] - Resilience in Top Performers
[00:39:44] - The Power of Music to Change State
[00:45:07] - Closing Remarks & How to Connect with Denise
Connect:
Connect with Denise on LinkedIn
Connect with Stacey on LinkedIn or Instagram
Listen to Resilience Rocks playlist on Spotify
Sponsor: Academy of Resilience Inner Circle – For more information, visit academyofresilience.com.au
Follow & Subscribe: To stay updated on upcoming episodes, be sure to follow us on your preferred podcast platform.
The best sales professionals don't just listen, they take action! Visit resiliencerocks.com to access resources mentioned in today’s episode and rock your sales goals.
Thank you for tuning in. If you found value in this episode, please leave a review and share it with your network. Until next time, be your best!
 
About Denise:
Denise Murtha Bachmann is a powerhouse in the world of sales, boasting an impressive track record of over 30 years in consultative selling. Throughout her illustrious career, Denise has successfully negotiated and closed deals exceeding a remarkable $74 million, collaborating with some of most prestigious Fortune 500 organizations. The latter half of her sales career, over a decade was spent immersed in the realm of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), sparked an enthusiasm for these new technologies. However, as exciting as the AI/ML technologies were, so many organizations were struggling with leveraging AI effectively.
So, in 2022, with her entrepreneurial spirit and enthusiasm for AI, Denise left the corporate world to chart a new path. She founded Success with AI, driven by a mission to guide organizations through the transformative shifts brought about by AI but with a Human focus. Shortly thereafter, with her sales passion and exceptional sales success, Denise launched Sellovatorz™.
Denise's brainchild, Sellovatorz™, is a pioneering program designed to empower high-level sales organizations and professionals. Sellovatorz™ is a revolutionary force, ushering sales organizations, executives, and professionals into the era of AI integration in four crucial areas of the sales process. The result? Enhanced efficiencies that empower organizations to then shift their focus and prioritize the human touch within their sales strategies. This entails not only cultivating relationships but also elevating every aspect of the sales process where a human touch is irreplaceable. The outcome is the creation of new pipelines and the successful closure of existing business, ensuring quota attainment and boosting revenue.
Denise's deep-seated commitment to elevating the human dimension in AI has led to strategic collaborations with those whose mission it is to push the boundaries for ethical AI and #humanfirst. Her visionary leadership has earned her recognition in the Top 100 Innovators and Entrepreneurs Magazine, In addition to her standing as a LinkedIn Top Voice 2024 and Top Sales Voice.
Beyond her professional accolades, Denise's passion for enhancing the human experience extends to her personal life. With a keen focus on family, she strives to create a lasting legacy for her loved ones.. This unshakable commitment drives her every day, motivating her to reach new heights in both her professional and personal journey.

The Power of Evangelism in Sales with Leslie Greenwood | Resilience Rocks Sales Ep.20

In this episode of Resilience Rocks Sales, we meet Leslie Greenwood, a dynamic force in the world of sales, leadership, and community building. Leslie shares her journey from being a 'stay-at-home mom' to becoming a successful sales leader and the co-founder of Wednesday Women, a platform dedicated to highlighting executive women throughout the year.
 
Diving deep into the essence of resilience in sales, Leslie opens up about her early challenges and the scrappiness required to succeed in the startup world. Her story is a testament to the power of resilience, a trait that Leslie embodies in every facet of her life. From making telemarketing calls in college to navigating the complexities of SaaS startups without a clear path, Leslie's journey is not just inspiring but also deeply instructional for anyone looking to make their mark in sales or any competitive field.
 
Leslie introduces us to the concept of evangelism in sales, passionately discussing how exceeding expectations can transform customers into evangelists. Her insights on building communities, leveraging social capital, and the significance of fostering genuine connections add valuable layers to our understanding of modern sales strategies.
 
Whether you're a seasoned sales professional or new to the field, Leslie's experiences and advice offer a wealth of wisdom on resilience, community building, and leveraging personal stories to inspire and engage. Join us as we explore the intersection of sales and resilience with one of the most influential voices in the community-led growth model.
 
Connect with Leslie on LinkedIn
Follow Wednesday Women on LinkedIn
Connect with Stacey on LinkedIn or Instagram
Listen to Resilience Rocks playlist on Spotify
 
 
About Leslie:
Leslie is the founder of Chief Evangelist Consulting and Wednesday Women, a start up advisor and a champion of diversity in tech.

Making the Magic Word 'Yes' Happen More Often with Todd Hartley | Resilience Rocks Sales Ep.19

In this episode, I had the opportunity to sit down with Todd Hartley, the powerhouse behind Wirebuzz, to find out the secrets of securing a 'yes' more often.
 
Todd shares his journey from a struggling sales novice who accidentally found the best way to sell his agency services, to becoming a sought-after sales trainer on the world's biggest stages.
 
Todd dissects the psychology of a successful sale and the critical need for resilience while spotlighting the valuable role of video in compelling sales narratives.
 
Show Highlights:
Todd's Journey: From digital marketing agency owner to becoming Tony Robbins' go-to sales training expert.
The Power of Video in Sales: How creating simple, persuasive videos shifted Todd's sales from zero to hero.
Resilience in Sales: Todd breaks down how resilience plays a crucial role in overcoming the most common sales challenges.
The Art of Video Pitching: Practical tips on using video to enhance clarity, certainty, and collaboration in sales pitches.
Managing Rejection: Embracing rejection as a stepping stone to sales success.
Tools of Trade: Todd introduces Clarity.video, a revolutionary tool for leveraging video in sales processes.
 
Key Takeaways:
- The importance of clarity, certainty, and the ability to collaborate in making successful sales.
- Understanding the psychology behind sales and the need to address potential customers' three psychological needs.
- Strategies to effectively use video in sales pitches, engagements, and follow-ups.
 
Resources Mentioned:
- Academy of Resilience
- Wirebuzz
- Clarity.video
- Resilience Rocks playlist on Spotify
 
Connect with Todd:
- Website
- LinkedIn
 
Connect with Stacey:
on LinkedIn
Instagram
 
Closing Thoughts:
Todd's insights are a gift for any sales professional looking for a more resilient, engaging, and successful sales methodology. If you're looking to elevate your sales game and take advantage of the undeniable power of video, this episode is a must-listen.
 
Resilience isn't just a tool for overcoming rejection; it's the backbone of transformative sales strategies that lead to success.
 
Remember to subscribe to Resilience Rocks Sales to stay updated on practical strategies from sales leaders and success stories that inspire you into action.
 
Till next time, be your best and keep rocking your sales game!
 
Your Host,
Stacey Copas
Founder, Academy of Resilience