Conversations with Women in Sales Lori Richardson

If you have ever wanted bigger deals to build or to work on, you need to know our guest this episode, Dr. Barbara Weaver Smith. Having known Barbara for the last 10 or so years, I don't know why she hasn't been on the show sooner - and today she is talking about a new service she's launched utilizing generative AI, "Barbara AI" and the launch of her online Whale Hunters Institute. 
Barbara runs The Whale Hunters and is entirely focused on helping people win bigger deals through a process she's refined over the last 20 years. She is author of "Whale Hunting with Global Accounts" and co-author of "Whale Hunting - Land Big Sales and Transform Your Company"
Listen to Barbara's journey from education to non-profits to sales and how she is still contributing massively to the sales field through her new online institute. 
She's the first person in sales I have seen using AI the way she does. 
Barbara Weaver Smith https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbaraweaversmith/
https://thewhalehunters.com/the-institute/
 
Find more stories of amazing women in sales at Women Sales Pros and "Conversations with Women in Sales podcast.  If you LIKE what you hear, PLEASE review on iTunes - it means a lot. Women Sales Pros consults with companies to help them find, hire, and retain more great women for their sales teams. https://womensalespros.com/

It started for both Cherilynn and me by selling Girl Scout cookies. Like me, she LOVED selling cookies, and it seems to be one of the commonalities in our sales careers. 
Cherilynn Castleman wants to empower 1 million women for C-suite success by 2030!
She is a force to be reckoned with - listen to our conversation and how we both want everyone to know how selling is really helping others. 
Learn sales skills and become "too good to be ignored" - as Cherilynn says. 
Follow her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherilynn-castleman/
 
Women Sales Pros hosts this podcast and also "The News" newsletter for things happening around the sales ecosystem for women in sales. Follow us on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and wherever women in sales is being discussed. 
 

Hannah and I had a rousing conversation about all things sales. Hannah is founder of Revenue Funnel and is based in London. She and I talked about many topics - including: 
A Conversation with Hannah Ajikawo - Journey from Sales to CEO and Founder of Revenue Funnel

In this episode, Hannah Ajikawo, CEO and Founder of Revenue Funnel, discusses her journey through experiences in Sales to forming her company. Raised in inner-city areas heavily influenced by crime, Hannah obtained a degree in Criminology and Social Policy before finding her way into Sales. She discusses her experiences working across various companies, and how her curiosity about the functioning of companies led her to setup her own business. Hannah also talks about the importance of networking and continuous learning for success in Sales. She advocates for keeping focus on improving specific areas based on individual needs. Furthermore, she emphasizes the critical role Sales plays in personal development, stepping into power, and generating wealth.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Presentation
00:38 Hannah's Journey into Sales
01:01 Transition from Academia to Sales
02:24 Challenges and Triumphs in Sales
05:42 Personal Struggles and Career Progression
09:32 The Shift to Consulting
10:34 The Importance of Authenticity
12:24 Advice for Job Seekers
18:09 Hannah's Involvement in Sistas in Sales
21:32 Recommendations for Aspiring Salespeople
28:32 Conclusion and Contact Information
 
Reach Hannah on LinkedIn: 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-ajikawo/
 
Reach Lori Richardson and Women Sales Pros on LinkedIn: 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/scoremoresales/

In a candid conversation, communication expert and sideline reporter for the Seattle Seahawks and the Seattle Mariners, Jen Mueller shares her perspective on maintaining focus and supportive beliefs amidst challenging times, such as a difficult economic climate or personal setbacks. She discusses the significance of honesty in assessing failures and emphasizes the importance of competing against oneself to improve. Jen also highlights the value of small, incremental successes in boosting confidence.
She provides insights from her experience with athletes, drawing parallels between the sports and professional world, underscoring the need to start fresh after every setback, utilizing team support, and focusing on strengths. Finally, Jen suggests proactive measures such as celebrating small victories to build momentum towards success.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:40 Discussing Mindset in Difficult Times
01:39 The Importance of Honesty and Self-Competition
03:02 The Power of Starting Fresh and Focusing on Strengths
05:20 The Role of Teammates and Celebrating Small Wins
07:03 Conclusion and Contact Information
Welcome new Premier Sponsor Skillibrium. 
Find all of our episodes on iTunes or at https://womensalespros.com/podcast/
Your host for Conversations with Women in Sales is Lori Richardson.

Carole Mahoney has written an excellent book for sales professionals and entrepreneurs on collaborative selling and in changing the sales industry. She mixes in stories, anecdotes and statistics to help one learn and improve around critical sales skills and mindset for success. 
00:00 Introduction and Guest Background
00:59 Carol's Journey and Book Contribution
02:48 The Impact of 'Buyer First' on Salespeople
04:57 The Concept of Collaborative Selling
09:20 The Importance of Mindset in Sales
10:56 Overcoming Non-Supportive Beliefs
17:49 Personal Growth Through Writing 'Buyer First'
19:39 Dealing with Bad Sales Days and Final Thoughts
 
Find Carole on LinkedIn 
Order BuyerFirst on Amazon or here: https://carolemahoney.com/books/buyerfirstbook/
 

I hadn't planned an episode about "She Sells" but jumped at the chance when a wonderful interviewer, Caroline Jones, offered to ask me about it. This session is dedicated to those who helped me with their stories and stats which are included in the book. It is exciting, too, that it just won "FIRST PLACE" in Top Sales Magazine's Sales Book of the Year. Wow. 
00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:26 Discussing the Impact of 'She Sells'
03:06 The Importance of Male Allies in Sales
05:20 The Journey to Writing 'She Sells'
07:11 Addressing Gender Disparity in Sales
07:50 The Impact of the Pandemic on Women in Sales
15:21 The Importance of Diverse Representation in Sales
18:59 Overcoming Biases in the Hiring Process
26:13 Career Growth Opportunities for Individual Contributors
28:51 Promoting Diversity and Inclusivity in Sales
33:28 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Thanks to Caroline - check out her podcast, "Rep Matters" 
Find "She Sells" on Amazon - Kindle or paperback. Writing a review really matters - please consider it for either the book OR the podcast! 
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Need some help finding more women for your sales team or retaining them? Check out Women Sales Pros or reach out to Lori directly through website or LinkedIn. 
Visit us on Instagram or X @womensalespros