Sales Lead Dog Podcast

Christopher Smith

”Unless you are the lead dog, your view never changes.” On the Sales Lead Dog podcast, CRM technology and sales process expert Christopher Smith talks with exceptional sales leaders that have separated themselves from the rest and achieved a sales leadership role in their organization. Hear what they did to become the alpha, lead their pack, and how they leverage CRM technology to drive sales for their organization. If your goal is to rise higher in your sales career or you currently are the alpha, this podcast gives you useful insight on how the best-of-the-best achieve success with their team and CRM technology.

  1. 2d ago

    Why Relationships Beat Transactions in Sales | Pete Auerbach | Sales Lead Dog

    What if the biggest advantage in sales isn't your product, your pricing, or your tech stack... but simply being yourself?    In this episode of Sales Lead Dog, Christopher Smith sits down with Pete Auerbach, Sr. Vice President of National Sales at Ad.net, to discuss why authentic relationships, not transactions, are what actually close deals and build lasting business.    Drawing on nearly a decade leading the national sales team at Ad.net and a career built in digital advertising, Pete shares hard-won lessons on leading as a challenger brand, staying competitive at every stage of your career, balancing the player-coach role, and using AI and CRM to help sales teams work smarter.    If you're a founder, sales leader, revenue executive, or seller looking to build stronger customer relationships and a more resilient sales team, this conversation is packed with practical insight you can put to work today.    What You'll Learn  Why authenticity beats the "sales persona" every time • How to build relationships that turn into multi-year deals • The challenger-brand mindset: doing everything at an A level   • Why the best sellers work harder during a slump, not less   • How to escape "whack-a-mole" and actually execute your plan   • What servant leadership and empathy do for team culture   • Why CRM is a "necessary evil" and how AI is about to redefine it   • How to use AI as an enabler for your team, not a way to cut headcount    About Pete Auerbach  Pete Auerbach is a sales leader and digital advertising strategist with nearly a decade of experience at Ad.net, where he leads the national sales team while continuing to work directly with agencies and brands. He helps marketers uncover new opportunities for growth through innovative search, social, and creator media solutions, with a focus on driving measurable results and building lasting partnerships.    Pete got his start in advertising through internships on Madison Avenue before moving into the agency world and, eventually, sales leadership on the West Coast. A former two-sport college athlete, he brings a competitive, team-first mindset to how he builds and coaches his teams. Based in Los Angeles, Pete lives with his wife and two dogs, is the proud father of two adult children, and is an avid golfer and cyclist who carries a competitive edge into everything he does.    Connect with Pete Auerbach  LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/peteauerbach/  Learn More About Ad.net https://ad.net/    About Sales Lead Dog  Sales Lead Dog is hosted by Christopher Smith, CRM technology and sales process expert, and founder of Empellor CRM. Each episode features sales leaders who have separated themselves from the rest of the pack, sharing how they achieve success with their teams and their CRM strategy.    Unless you are the lead dog, the view never changes.  Connect and Learn More  All episodes and show notes: https://empellorcrm.com/salesleaddog/    If this episode brought you value:  👍 Hit Like and help more sales professionals discover this conversation.  🔔 Subscribe so you never miss a Sales Lead Dog episode.    💬 Drop your biggest takeaway in the comments. What's helped you most in building lasting customer relationships: authenticity, grit, or something else?   #SalesLeadership #Authenticity #SalesStrategy #CRM #ArtificialIntelligence #B2BSales #SalesManagement #DigitalAdvertising #Ad_net #SalesLeadDog

  2. Aug 10

    How Founder-Led Companies Scale Sales Without Hiring a CRO | Adam Rojas

    Why do so many founder-led companies hit a growth ceiling... even when they have a great product? In this episode of Sales Lead Dog, Christopher Smith sits down with Adam Rojas, Founder and Managing Partner of Bellmoore Consulting, to discuss how growth-stage businesses can build scalable sales systems, improve revenue operations, and move beyond founder-dependent selling. Adam shares practical lessons from more than 25 years in enterprise sales leadership, explaining why predictable growth comes from building the right sales process, qualifying opportunities early, using CRM strategically, and leveraging AI to help teams work smarter instead of harder. If you're a founder, sales leader, revenue executive, or business owner looking to build a repeatable go-to-market strategy, this episode is packed with practical advice you can apply immediately. What You'll Learn • How to build a predictable revenue operating system • The biggest mistakes businesses make with CRM • Why most companies suffer from a "leaky sales bucket" • The KPIs every growing business should measure • Why sales is still built on human relationships About Adam Rojas Adam Rojas is the Founder and Managing Partner of Bellmoore Consulting, a fractional commercial and revenue leadership firm that helps founder-led technology and tech-enabled services companies build predictable, scalable revenue engines. Adam specializes in helping growth-stage businesses in the $2M to $15M revenue range create the commercial infrastructure needed to scale, including revenue strategy, sales process, pipeline management, leadership coaching, and go-to-market execution. Before founding Bellmoore Consulting, Adam spent more than 25 years leading enterprise sales organizations, beginning his career in telecommunications with BellSouth before moving into leadership roles at AT&T after its acquisition. Throughout his career, he has worked with organizations ranging from small businesses to Fortune 100 companies, helping teams modernize their sales strategies, improve CRM adoption, and build sustainable revenue growth. Today, Adam partners with founders who have outgrown founder-led selling and need experienced commercial leadership without making a premature Chief Revenue Officer hire. His work focuses on transforming inconsistent sales into repeatable systems that support long-term growth. Connect with Adam Rojas LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamrojas/ Bellmoore Consulting https://www.bellmooreconsulting.com/ About Sales Lead Dog Sales Lead Dog is hosted by Christopher Smith, CRM technology and sales process expert, and founder of Empellor CRM. Each episode features sales leaders who have separated themselves from the rest of the pack, sharing how they achieve success with their teams and their CRM strategy. Unless you are the lead dog, the view never changes. Connect and Learn More All episodes and show notes: https://empellorcrm.com/salesleaddog/ If this episode brought you value 👍 Hit Like and help more sales professionals discover this conversation. 🔔 Subscribe so you never miss a Sales Lead Dog episode. 💬 Drop your biggest takeaway in the comments. What's the biggest challenge your business has faced when trying to build a scalable sales process?

  3. Jul 29

    Promise Less. Deliver More. The Sales Leadership Lesson Most People Ignore

    What if the biggest reason sales teams lose trust has nothing to do with pricing, competition, or AI? In this episode of Sales Lead Dog, Christopher Smith sits down with Tim Deaver, Vice President of Federal Sales at Skyloom, to explore why the best sales leaders focus on one principle above everything else: deliver on your promises. Drawing from more than two decades of leadership in the U.S. Air Force and executive roles across the aerospace and satellite communications industry, Tim shares practical lessons on leadership, accountability, customer trust, CRM strategy, and building sales teams that consistently perform. If you're leading a sales organization, managing enterprise accounts, or looking to build stronger customer relationships, this conversation offers practical insights you can put to work immediately. What You'll Learn • Why trust is still the most valuable asset in sales • Leadership lessons from 22 years in the U.S. Air Force • The habits of high-performing sales leaders • Why accountability drives better sales performance • How to develop future sales leaders inside your organization • Why consistency beats quick wins in enterprise sales • Practical leadership principles that apply to every sales team About Tim Deaver Tim Deaver is the Vice President of Federal Sales at Skyloom, where he leads federal sales for the company's Free Space Optical Communication solutions. Before joining Skyloom, Tim served as VP of Global Sales and Solutions at Mynaric and previously led U.S. government satellite and space programs at Airbus U.S. Space & Defense and SES Government Solutions. Throughout his career, he has helped deliver major aerospace, satellite communications, and defense programs for organizations including the U.S. Air Force, NASA, FAA, and the U.S. Department of Defense. Prior to entering the private sector, Tim served 22 years in the United States Air Force, holding leadership positions across space operations, acquisition, and policy. He brings decades of experience leading complex organizations, building customer relationships, and developing high-performing teams. Connect with Tim Deaver LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-deaver-76a6a97/ Learn More About Skyloom https://www.skyloom.co/ About Sales Lead Dog Sales Lead Dog is hosted by Christopher Smith, CRM technology and sales process expert, and founder of Empellor CRM. Each episode features sales leaders who have separated themselves from the rest of the pack, sharing how they achieve success with their teams and their CRM strategy. Unless you are the lead dog, the view never changes. Connect and Learn More All episodes and show notes: https://empellorcrm.com/salesleaddog/ If this episode brought you value: 👍 Hit Like and help more sales professionals discover this conversation. 🔔 Subscribe so you never miss a Sales Lead Dog episode. 💬 Drop your biggest takeaway in the comments. What's the most important leadership lesson you've learned about building trust with customers?

  4. Jul 22

    AI Isn't Replacing Salespeople. Bad Sales Habits Are | Damian Wisniewski | Sales Lead Dog

    Is AI replacing salespeople? Not according to Damian Wisniewski. In this episode of Sales Lead Dog, Christopher Smith sits down with Damian Wisniewski, Head of Sales at GitKraken, to discuss how AI is transforming sales leadership, CRM strategy, and revenue teams. Damian explains why the biggest opportunity isn't letting AI sell for you. It's using AI to become a smarter sales leader, coach teams more effectively, analyze customer conversations, and make better decisions faster. The conversation also explores the future of CRM, AI agents, Model Context Protocol (MCP), sales hiring, and why successful sales professionals must adapt instead of resisting change. These themes are reflected throughout the conversation transcript. What You'll Learn • Why AI won't replace great salespeople • How AI can coach sales teams at scale • The future of CRM in an AI-first world • Why sales leaders should rethink how they use data • How to build repeatable sales processes with AI About Damian Wisniewski Damian Wisniewski is the Head of Sales at GitKraken, a developer tools company helping software teams manage AI coding tools and enabling engineering leaders to measure the ROI of AI investments. He specializes in building and scaling high-performing sales organizations for startups and established technology companies launching new products. With a strong technical background, Damian combines sales leadership with deep product knowledge to help teams grow efficiently in an AI-driven world. Connect with Damian Wisniewski LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damianwisniewski/ Learn more about GitKraken: https://www.gitkraken.com/ About Sales Lead Dog Sales Lead Dog is hosted by Christopher Smith, CRM technology and sales process expert, and founder of Empellor CRM. Each episode features sales leaders who have separated themselves from the rest of the pack, sharing how they achieve success with their teams and their CRM strategy. Unless you are the lead dog, the view never changes. Connect and Learn More All episodes and show notes: https://empellorcrm.com/salesleaddog/ If this episode brought you value: 👍 Hit Like and help more sales professionals find this conversation. 🔔 Subscribe so you never miss a Sales Lead Dog episode. 💬 Drop your biggest takeaway in the comments. How is AI changing the way you lead your sales team? #SalesLeadership #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #Sales #CRM #RevenueLeadership #B2BSales #SalesManagement #GitKraken #SalesLeadDog

  5. Jul 15

    Why Sales Teams Lose Trust and Deals | Ryan Goldberg on Leadership, CRM & Customer Relationships

    Why do some sales professionals consistently earn trust while others struggle to close deals? In this episode of Sales Lead Dog, Christopher Smith sits down with Ryan Goldberg, Head of Sales at National Enrollment Partners, to discuss why trust, curiosity, empathy, and leadership remain the biggest competitive advantages in modern sales. Ryan shares lessons from nearly two decades in the employee benefits industry, including how he grew a wholesale business from $2 million to $35 million in sales, built and sold his own consulting company, and now leads national growth initiatives at National Enrollment Partners. The conversation explores customer relationships, sales leadership, CRM adoption, coaching, AI, and the mindset required to build high-performing sales organizations that create lasting results. What You'll Learn • Why trust is the foundation of every successful sales relationship • How curiosity creates stronger conversations and better outcomes • The leadership habits that build high-performing sales teams • Why coaching matters more than managing • Common reasons CRM initiatives fail • Lessons from building scalable sales organizations About Ryan Goldberg Ryan Goldberg is the Head of Sales at National Enrollment Partners, where he leads U.S. growth and strategy for one of the country's leading managed services companies in the employee benefits industry. With nearly two decades of experience in employee benefits, distribution, and sales leadership, Ryan has built a reputation for driving sustainable growth through strategic partnerships, customer relationships, and people-first leadership. Before joining National Enrollment Partners, he founded Worksite Wheelhouse, an employee engagement consulting firm that achieved four consecutive years of double-digit growth before being acquired by a private equity-backed portfolio and merged into National Enrollment Partners. Earlier in his career, Ryan helped build a wholesale distribution channel that grew from $2 million to $35 million in sales, demonstrating his ability to scale teams, develop markets, and deliver measurable business results. Today, he focuses on helping organizations grow through trust, collaboration, and operational excellence. Connect with Ryan Goldberg LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-g-7161693/  National Enrollment Partners: https://www.nationalenrollmentpartners.com/  About Sales Lead Dog Sales Lead Dog is hosted by Christopher Smith, CRM technology and sales process expert, and founder of Empellor CRM. Each episode features sales leaders who have separated themselves from the rest of the pack, sharing how they achieve success through leadership, sales strategy, CRM, and customer relationships. Unless you are the lead dog, the view never changes. Connect and Learn More All episodes and show notes: https://empellorcrm.com/salesleaddog/ If this episode brought you value: 👍 Hit Like and help more sales professionals discover this conversation. 🔔 Subscribe so you never miss a Sales Lead Dog episode. 💬 Share your biggest takeaway in the comments. What role has trust played in your sales success?

  6. Jul 7

    Why Customers Follow People, Not Companies | Carl Bailey & Riley Vidock on Sales Leadership

    Customers don't stay loyal to companies. They stay loyal to people they trust. In this episode of Sales Lead Dog, Christopher Smith welcomes Carl Bailey, Chief Marketing Officer at Elan Fuels, and Riley Vidock, Director of Sales at Elan Fuels, for an insightful conversation about leadership, operations, sales, and why lasting customer relationships are built through trust, not transactions. Drawing from decades of experience in transportation, logistics, operations, and sales, Carl and Riley share why understanding operations makes better sales professionals, how servant leadership creates stronger teams, and why honesty consistently outperforms traditional sales tactics. They also discuss mentoring future sales leaders, company culture, AI's impact on the transportation industry, and why customers continue to follow people they believe in. What You'll Learn • Why customers follow trusted people instead of companies • How operational experience creates stronger sales professionals • Why honesty builds long-term customer relationships • The connection between sales, marketing, and operations • How servant leadership transforms company culture • Why mentorship is essential for developing great salespeople   About Carl Bailey Carl Bailey is the Chief Marketing Officer at Elan Fuels, bringing more than 30 years of transportation leadership across operations, sales, engineering, pricing, and contract negotiations. His experience in the liquid bulk industry has helped organizations build long-lasting customer relationships through operational excellence and trusted partnerships. Connect with Carl Bailey LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-bailey-58983694/   About Riley Vidock Riley Vidock is the Director of Sales at Elan Fuels, with a strong background in transportation sales, business development, and customer relationships. She is also the author of Before I Disappeared and Captivating Chaos, co-host of the Dare to Diva Podcast, and a passionate advocate for resilience, personal growth, and authentic leadership. Connect with Riley Vidock LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/riley-vidock-4492571b0/  Learn More About Elan Fuels Website: https://www.elanfuels.com/  About Sales Lead Dog Sales Lead Dog is hosted by Christopher Smith, CRM technology and sales process expert, and founder of Empellor CRM. Each episode features sales leaders who have separated themselves from the rest of the pack, sharing how they achieve success with their teams and their CRM strategy. Unless you are the lead dog, the view never changes. Connect and Learn More All episodes and show notes: https://empellorcrm.com/salesleaddog/  If this episode brought you value: 👍 Hit Like and help more sales professionals find this conversation. 🔔 Subscribe so you never miss a Sales Lead Dog episode. 💬 Drop your biggest takeaway in the comments. What's the most important lesson you've learned about building lasting customer relationships?

  7. Jun 25

    Why Most Sales Leaders Fail to Build Winning Teams | Joy Wilder Lybeer

    What separates average sales leaders from the ones people actually want to follow? In this episode of Sales Lead Dog, Christopher Smith sits down with Joy Wilder Lybeer, Chief Revenue Officer at Source Advisors, for a conversation on sales leadership, team building, accountability, trust, and why servant leadership still wins in high-performance sales organizations. Joy shares the leadership lessons that shaped her career, from running retail banking teams to leading revenue organizations, and explains why the best leaders stay close to the work, stay honest with their teams, and never confuse authority with leadership. This episode also dives into CRM adoption, performance culture, identifying future leaders, and why helping people achieve their best is one of the most important jobs a sales leader can take on. What You’ll Learn Why great sales leaders are tough on numbers but generous with people How trust and vulnerability shape high-performing sales teams Why some top performers should never become managers What Joy looks for when building a winning sales culture How to identify future sales leaders inside your team Why women in sales often need encouragement to step into leadership roles What breaks CRM adoption and how leaders can fix it Why servant leadership is still one of the strongest growth advantages in sales About Joy Wilder Lybeer Joy Wilder Lybeer is the Chief Revenue Officer at Source Advisors, a specialty tax advisory firm that helps businesses unlock tax credits and incentives through expert guidance and CPA partnerships. She is an experienced revenue leader with a background across strategy, marketing, banking, and executive sales leadership. Throughout her career, Joy has built high-performing teams, led large revenue organizations, and developed a leadership style centered on accountability, trust, and helping people reach their full potential. Connect with Joy Wilder Lybeer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joywilderlybeer/ Learn more about Source Advisors: https://sourceadvisors.com/ About Sales Lead Dog Sales Lead Dog is hosted by Christopher Smith, CRM technology and sales process expert, and founder of Empellor CRM. Each episode features sales leaders who have separated themselves from the rest of the pack, sharing how they achieve success with their teams and their CRM strategy. Unless you are the lead dog, the view never changes. Connect and Learn More All episodes and show notes: https://empellorcrm.com/salesleaddog/ If this episode brought you value: 👍 Hit Like and help more sales professionals find this conversation. 🔔 Subscribe so you never miss a Sales Lead Dog episode. 💬 Drop your biggest takeaway in the comments. What makes a sales leader worth following?

  8. Jun 16

    Great Sales Leaders Drive Change and Growth | Rodrigo Hijar, Vilore Foods

    What does it take to drive growth, lead change, and build winning sales organizations? In this episode of Sales Lead Dog, Christopher Smith sits down with Rodrigo Hijar, Head of Sales Strategy and Planning at Vilore Foods Company, to discuss sales leadership, growth strategy, change management, consumer behavior, CRM, and the future impact of AI on sales organizations. Rodrigo shares lessons from his journey through management consulting, revenue growth strategy, and consumer goods leadership. He explains why showing up consistently, staying ready for opportunity, and embracing change are critical to long-term success. The conversation explores how sales strategy teams can partner more effectively with sales leaders, why change management often fails, and how AI is beginning to reshape the role of CRM and sales planning. What You'll Learn • Why showing up consistently is one of the biggest drivers of success • How luck and preparation work together to create opportunities • The difference between B2B and consumer-focused sales organizations • Why sales leadership requires a unique approach to management • How sales strategy teams can create greater organizational impact • The keys to successful change management initiatives • Why sales and strategy teams must operate as one organization • How CRM should help predict what happens next, not just track activity • Why AI will transform sales planning and decision-making • How high-performing teams embrace growth and change About Rodrigo Hijar Rodrigo Hijar is Head of Sales Strategy and Planning at Vilore Foods Company, where he helps drive commercial growth, organizational transformation, and strategic planning initiatives. With more than 12 years of experience advising and leading consumer goods organizations across the United States and the Americas, Rodrigo brings deep expertise in revenue growth management, pricing strategy, pack-price architecture, promotional optimization, trade terms, and commercial strategy. His career spans management consulting and consumer goods leadership, helping organizations unlock growth opportunities while building sustainable commercial capabilities. Connect with Rodrigo Hijar LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodrigo-hijar/ Learn More About Vilore Foods: https://www.vilore.com/ About Sales Lead Dog Sales Lead Dog is hosted by Christopher Smith, CRM technology and sales process expert, and founder of Empellor CRM. Each episode features sales leaders who have separated themselves from the rest of the pack, sharing how they achieve success with their teams and their CRM strategy. Unless you are the lead dog, the view never changes. Connect and Learn More All episodes and show notes: https://empellorcrm.com/salesleaddog/ If this episode brought you value: 👍 Hit Like and help more sales professionals find this conversation. 🔔 Subscribe so you never miss a Sales Lead Dog episode. 💬 Drop your biggest takeaway in the comments. What has been the biggest factor in your career growth: preparation, opportunity, or persistence?

5
out of 5
23 Ratings

About

”Unless you are the lead dog, your view never changes.” On the Sales Lead Dog podcast, CRM technology and sales process expert Christopher Smith talks with exceptional sales leaders that have separated themselves from the rest and achieved a sales leadership role in their organization. Hear what they did to become the alpha, lead their pack, and how they leverage CRM technology to drive sales for their organization. If your goal is to rise higher in your sales career or you currently are the alpha, this podcast gives you useful insight on how the best-of-the-best achieve success with their team and CRM technology.