Tech Sales Insights Randy Seidl

In this episode of Tech Sales Insights, Randy Seidl features a conversation with Rachel Cossar, CEO and co-founder of Virtual Sapiens. The discussion revolves around the potential of AI to transform sales coaching by analyzing and improving sales behaviors and human interactions. Rachel, a former professional ballet dancer and now a tech entrepreneur, shares how her company uses AI to help professionals master their virtual and in-person presence, making communication more effective. The episode touches on various topics, including the importance of nonverbal communication, the genesis of Virtual Sapiens, the unique challenges of sales coaching, and how Virtual Sapiens provides individualized feedback for improvement. The conversation also delves into AI's role in behavioral change, the scalability of Virtual Sapiens' technology, and the importance of privacy in AI tools. Rachel shares personal insights, including her transition from ballet to tech entrepreneurship, and the supportive role her mentors and co-founder have played in her journey.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Virtual Sapiens utilizes AI to help professionals master their presence, whether in virtual or in-person interactions.

Coaching conversations empowered by AI can revolutionize sales behaviors and enhance confidence.

Through partnerships with global firms like BTS, Virtual Sapiens integrates AI seamlessly into learning management systems for personalized coaching experiences.

Behavioral nonverbal cues play a significant role in building trust and rapport, especially in virtual communication.

Effective use of body language and framing can significantly impact how professionals are perceived in virtual meetings.

QUOTES

"We're at the intersection of AI and human interaction, using AI as a coach in real-time to help humans become more aware of certain blind spots and integrate feedback for behavior change."

"The way you show up on video matters—it's the only digital channel where body language truly counts."

"First impressions on video are powerful—your setup, background, framing, and lighting all contribute to how you're perceived as a professional."

"Nonverbal cues, like hand gestures, can amplify your presence in virtual meetings, making you more engaging and trustworthy."

"Mastering presence in virtual interactions requires awareness of behavioral nuances and leveraging them effectively to build connections."

Find out more about Rachel Cossar through the links below:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-cossar/

This episode is sponsored by Spotlight.ai, our Value Intelligence sponsor. Spotlight.ai provides a Value Intelligence AI-driven platform to transform sales discovery, auto build differentiated business cases, and optimize value positioning for field and remote teams.

In this episode of Tech Sales Insights, Randy Seidl and Michael Norton delve into the pivotal role of frontline sales managers in modern companies. From their diverse responsibilities to the challenges they face, they explore how these unsung heroes shape organizational success. With insights from industry veterans and personal experiences, they dissect the evolving dynamics of sales management and offer strategies for navigating the complex landscape of sales leadership.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Frontline sales managers serve as the linchpins of cohesion within organizations, orchestrating sales strategies, managing cross-functional relationships, and driving revenue growth.

Understanding and adapting to the diverse communication styles and learning preferences of sales team members, spanning different generations, is essential for effective sales management.

The balance between administrative tasks, such as CRM management, and frontline engagement is crucial for sales managers to maximize their impact.

While training is vital for sales team development, empowering salespeople to take ownership of their growth and success is equally important.

Successful sales managers excel not only in training but also in facilitating the onboarding process to accelerate new hires' integration and performance.

QUOTES

"Sales managers are the unsung heroes of business today. They manage up, down, and sideways, orchestrating strategies and relationships to drive success."

"Understanding the diverse learning and communication styles of sales team members is key to effective sales management in today's multigenerational workforce."

"A successful sales manager strikes the balance between administrative duties and frontline engagement, maximizing their impact on revenue growth."

Find out more about Michael Norton through the links below:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/msnorton/

This episode is sponsored by Phone Ready Leads, the Audience Activation sponsor of the Sales Community. Sales teams using Phone Ready Leads® average a 21.3% dial to connect rate with key decision makers (A live conversation every ~5 dials), and average ~10 conversations with key decision makers for every 50 outbound dials they make.

https://phonereadyleads.com/

In this replay episode of Tech Sales Insights, Randy Seidl is joined by Joey Gilkey, CEO of Apex Revenue, to discuss the evolution of outbound cold calling strategies in the modern sales landscape. From Joey's journey in sales to the challenges and solutions in improving cold calling pickup rates, this episode offers invaluable insights for sales professionals navigating today's competitive market.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The landscape of outbound sales is evolving rapidly, with traditional strategies becoming less effective over time.

Companies must shift from a meeting-centric approach to a market analysis-centric approach, focusing on segmenting the market and curating targeted lists for more effective outreach.

Turning sales development reps into market development reps and empowering account executives to self-source from curated lists can significantly improve pipeline generation and conversion rates.

Sellers should prioritize selling to prospects the way they want to buy, adopting a consultative and tailored approach to address pain points and provide value.

Highly targeted lists are essential for successful outbound efforts, as data saturation increases and traditional list-building methods become less reliable.

QUOTES

"Sell to people the way they want to buy, not the way we want to sell."

"The list is the strategy. Highly targeted lists impact the top of the funnel, which then impacts the bottom of the funnel."

"Turning sales development reps into market development reps is key. Identify segments, curate lists, and empower account executives for more effective outreach."

Find out more about Joey Gilkey through the links below:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeygilkey/

This episode is sponsored by Phone Ready Leads, the Audience Activation sponsor of the Sales Community. Sales teams using Phone Ready Leads® average a 21.3% dial to connect rate with key decision makers (A live conversation every ~5 dials), and average ~10 conversations with key decision makers for every 50 outbound dials they make.

https://phonereadyleads.com/

In this replay episode of Tech Sales Insights, Randy Seidl is joined by Peter Trizzino, President of North America Sales at Dell. Together, they delve into the pivotal role of culture in driving sales success, exploring how it transcends strategy and shapes behaviors within teams and partnerships. From personal anecdotes to actionable insights, Peter shares his journey from humble beginnings in sales to leading one of the largest sales regions at Dell. Discover how fostering trust, championing collaboration, and prioritizing outcomes can empower sales professionals to thrive in today's rapidly evolving marketplace.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Culture Trumps Strategy: Explore how cultivating a culture of trust, collaboration, and customer-centricity drives long-term success in sales.

Earning and Giving Trust: Learn the importance of trust-building in both internal teams and external partnerships, and how reciprocity fuels growth.

Embracing Change: Understand the value of adaptability and continuous learning in navigating industry shifts and technological advancements.

Balancing Work and Life: Uncover strategies for achieving a harmonious work-life blend that fosters productivity, well-being, and a winning mindset.

Driving Sales Excellence: Gain actionable insights for aligning sales efforts with customer needs, leveraging partnerships, and maximizing performance.

QUOTES

"Culture is made up of collective mindsets and behaviors, emphasizing the 'how' over the 'what' in driving success."

"The easiest way to earn trust is to give it. Trust is the foundation for high-performing teams."

"In today's world, outcomes and value trump product-centric sales approaches. It's about solving customer problems."

Find out more about Peter Trizzino through the links below:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-trizzino-21791a1/

This episode is sponsored by AuctusIQ, the Sales Performance Assessment sponsor of the Sales Community. AuctusIQ is a sales data and science software company, with the mission of providing the right data to solve your three biggest challenges: selecting and retaining exceptional talent, coaching to ensure readiness to meet or beat quota, and winning more deals. Please visit their website at https://auctusiq.com/

In this replay episode of Tech Sales Insights, Randy Seidl interviews Jennifer Quinlan, the Global Managing Partner at IBM Consulting, discussing the transformative power of Gen AI on customer experience. From IBM's own journey as client zero to real-world success stories, they explore how AI-driven solutions are streamlining processes, improving employee and customer satisfaction, and accelerating business outcomes across sales, service, and marketing.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Gen AI Impact: Gen AI revolutionizes customer experience by enhancing efficiency, improving response times, and driving better outcomes across various business functions.

IBM's Client Zero Journey: IBM's internal transformation journey serves as a blueprint for leveraging AI to optimize workflows, unify processes, and enhance customer engagement.

Real-world Success Stories: Examples from industries like agriculture and retail showcase the tangible benefits of AI-driven solutions, including significant reductions in response times, increased throughput, and improved customer satisfaction metrics.
Speed to Market: Gen AI accelerates campaign conception, content testing, and deployment, leading to faster time-to-market and remarkable performance gains, as demonstrated by a 26X increase in social performance in a recent campaign.

QUOTES

"We're able to create a better experience across our sales communities, enabling faster decision-making and deeper customer engagement."

"Gen AI transforms low-fidelity tasks into high-impact opportunities, revolutionizing lead generation and pipeline growth."

Find out more about Jennifer Quinlan through the links below:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferquinlan/

This episode is sponsored by TechTarget, the global leader in purchase intent-driven marketing and sales services that deliver business impact for enterprise technology companies. By creating abundant, high-quality editorial content across more than 150 highly targeted technology-specific websites and 1,125 channels, TechTarget attracts and nurtures communities of technology buyers researching their companies’ information technology needs.Please visit their website at https://www.techtarget.com/

In this replay episode of Tech Sales Insights, Randy Seidl is joined by Lisa Pope, President at Epicor, shares her journey through the world of ERP, from its traditional roots to its modern-day relevance. Randy delves into Lisa's extensive experience, exploring the evolving role of ERP in today's dynamic business environment. From navigating supply chain disruptions to harnessing the power of data as a service, Lisa offers valuable insights and strategies for driving business growth and innovation.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The enduring relevance of ERP in driving digital transformation and business resilience.

Leveraging ecosystem partnerships and mindshare growth for enhanced market presence.

The pivotal role of data as a service in driving intelligent decision-making and operational efficiency.

Adapting sales strategies to meet the evolving needs of diverse customer segments, from SMBs to enterprise-level organizations.

Embracing diversity and inclusion practices to foster a thriving and inclusive workplace culture.

QUOTES

"ERP isn't dead; it's thriving and evolving to meet the demands of the modern business landscape."

"Growing mindshare is crucial; it's about building brand visibility and expanding your ecosystem to drive market engagement."

"Data is the new currency of business; leveraging insights from ERP systems empowers intelligent decision-making."

"Adaptability is key in sales; understanding diverse customer needs and market trends drives long-term success."

"Diversity isn't just a buzzword; it's a cornerstone of innovation and success in today's global marketplace."

Find out more about Lisa Pope through the links below:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisapopeepicor/

This episode is sponsored by Sandler. Sandler is a world leader in innovative sales, leadership, and management training. For more than 50 years, Sandler has taught its distinctive, non-traditional selling system and highly effective sales training methodology, which has helped salespeople and sales managers take charge of the process.