Because Growth Matters

Daniel Robus

Because Growth Matters is the podcast for sales professionals, business leaders, and growth-driven teams ready to rethink how they lead, coach, and grow. Hosted by Daniel Robus, each episode explores the 1% shifts that drive extraordinary growth through conversations with sales managers, C-suite executives, and standout leaders. Follow on your favourite platform and never miss an episode.

  1. FEB 9

    The Real Reason Coaching Fails in Most Organisations

    Most organisations say they coach their people but very few actually do it well. Daniel is wrapping up Season Two of Because Growth Matters with a solo episode to reflect on the themes that kept showing up across every conversation. From elite sport to sales leadership, hiring, culture, customer success and even the nonprofit world, one powerful thread ran through it all. Coaching works when it is done properly. While many organisations talk about coaching, most struggle to implement it in a consistent and effective way. Coaching often becomes the first meeting cancelled and the last activity measured, despite its proven impact on performance and revenue. Daniel breaks down why coaching fails in practice, including the coaching illusion where managers confuse firefighting, deal reviews, or group updates with real coaching. Daniel introduces a simple and practical coaching framework used within Growth Matters, including the ICE coaching model and a three step coaching process that managers can apply immediately. Timestamps: 00:00 Key themes from Season Two 01:45 Why coaching drives performance and development 07:02 What guests taught us about effective coaching 11:06 Why coaching needs structure and cadence 14:27 Making coaching part of everyday management 16:17 The ICE coaching model explained 20:18 Practical coaching tips for managers Thank you to everyone who’s tuned into Season 2 and supported the show! If you enjoyed the season, please make sure to subscribe and rate the show 5 stars⭐️ Would you like to be a guest on Because Growth Matters or learn more about working with Growth Matters International? Fill out the application form HERE. Connect with Daniel: LinkedIn: Daniel Robus Website: https://www.growthmattersintl.com

    23 min
  2. FEB 2

    Leadership Lessons From Two Decades in Nonprofit Work with Julie-Anne Savarit-Cosenza

    Today's episode looks at what long term community change really looks like when it is built slowly, intentionally, and with deep trust. Daniel sits down with Julie-Anne Savarit-Cosenza, founder and Executive Director of African Education Program, to explore what it truly takes to create lasting impact in communities, not just short term feel good results. Julie-Anne shares how a teenage service project evolved into a two decade commitment to education, leadership, and community development in Zambia and Rwanda. She opens up about the realities of nonprofit leadership, the complexity of donor relationships, and why real change cannot be rushed or scaled overnight without losing its heart. They explore trust based philanthropy, community led development, leadership in under resourced environments, and the emotional and operational realities of working in the nonprofit sector. Julie-Anne also reflects on the lessons she wishes she had known earlier, including sustainability, fundraising, and the importance of investing for the long term. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro to Julie-Anne Savarit-Cosenza and her work 01:44 How Julie-Anne first arrived in Zambia and what drew her there 02:27 How African Education Program began and why it started 04:42 What daily life looks like living and working in Zambia 08:30 The real impact African Education Program has on communities 15:45 How the organisation is funded and the role of donors 19:07 What it takes to stand out in the nonprofit space 20:47 How the programme has helped reduce early pregnancy rates 24:07 The realities and pressures of leading a nonprofit organisation 28:44 Building trust and maintaining long term donor relationships 32:53 Advice for businesses thinking about corporate social responsibility 35:14 Looking back on 20 years of lessons, growth, and impact 38:38 How you can support the work and get involved If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe so you never miss a conversation. Would you like to be a guest on Because Growth Matters or learn more about working with Growth Matters International? Fill out the application form HERE. Connect with Daniel: LinkedIn: Daniel Robus Website: https://www.growthmattersintl.com Connect with Julie- Anne: Julie-Anne’s LinkedIn: Julie-Anne Savarit-Cosenza Website: https://africaneducationprogram.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aep.youth/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/african-education-program YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@africaneducationprogram3199

    44 min
  3. JAN 26

    What Great Sales Managers Do Differently with Olivia Lockwood

    Sales performance doesn’t break because people are lazy. It breaks when leaders miss the behaviours that actually drive results! In this episode of Because Growth Matters, Daniel sits down with sales consultant, coach and facilitator Olivia Lockwood for a practical conversation about what really drives sales performance. Olivia shares how her childhood across Jamaica, the US and beyond shaped her grit, resilience and people first leadership style. She unpacks why great sales leadership is less about heroics and more about behaviour and consistency. Daniel and Olivia explore what sales managers often get wrong, why forecast accuracy is one of the clearest signals of leadership effectiveness, and how true customer centricity means helping customers even when your solution is not the right one. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Olivia and her background 01:43 Childhood lessons that built grit and resilience 02:44 What grit really means in real life 04:15 The biggest misconceptions about Jamaica 07:23 Olivia’s early career and entry into sales 09:58 Life as a flight attendant and service lessons that stuck 13:01 Why sales still matters after decades in the field 15:33 Where sales managers unintentionally hold teams back 18:31 Consulting, behaviour change and true customer centricity 25:42 How better pipeline reviews improve forecast accuracy 29:31 What healthy pipelines actually look like 29:55 Making behaviour change stick in sales teams 30:23 Commitment, reinforcement and celebrating progress 33:08 How sales managers should balance priorities 36:17 Top advice for first time sales managers 41:41 Why consent matters in leadership 43:41 Intention versus impact and repairing trust 48:51 The 1% that leads to big changes If this episode resonated, hit subscribe so you never miss a conversation like this. Share it with a sales leader who needs a fresh perspective, and leave a rating or review to help more people find the show. Would you like to be a guest on Because Growth Matters or learn more about working with Growth Matters International? Fill out the application form HERE. Connect with Daniel: LinkedIn: Daniel Robus Website: https://www.growthmattersintl.com Connect with Olivia: LinkedIn: Olivia Lockwood Website: https://www.openupcoaching.com/

    51 min
  4. JAN 19

    How to Turn Your Network Into a Revenue Engine with Stephen Oommen

    Most sales teams are chasing cold leads while their next best opportunity is already sitting inside their existing network. In this episode of Because Growth Matters, Daniel is joined by Stephen Oommen, a sales and networking expert who is challenging the traditional approach to prospecting. Stephen shares why he believes cold calls and cold emails should be the last step in your sales process, not the first, and how focusing on real relationships leads to faster trust and stronger revenue outcomes. He breaks down how warm referrals have driven over 98 percent of his career revenue and explains why modern sales teams have sacrificed effectiveness for efficiency. Stephen also shares practical frameworks for mapping your network, becoming referable, and building genuine connections that naturally lead to opportunities. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Stephen 01:32 Stephen’s background in sales 04:47 Why warm referrals outperform cold outreach 07:38 Stephen’s career journey and the role of mentors 11:07 Practical networking strategies anyone can start today 13:09 Three simple steps to improve sales results 17:40 Why genuine human connection matters in business 24:17 How referrals shorten sales cycles and build trust faster 25:10 Where sales managers unintentionally block progress 26:09 The real importance of building and maintaining a network 31:16 When and how cold outreach still has a place 34:50 Mentorship lessons that shaped Stephen’s career 38:00 Why investing in sales enablement matters 41:31 Choosing mission over money in sales 44:00 The 1% that leads to big changes If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe to Because Growth Matters so you never miss an episode. Would you like to be a guest on Because Growth Matters or learn more about working with Growth Matters International? Fill out the application form HERE. Connect with Daniel: LinkedIn: Daniel RobusWebsite: https://www.growthmattersintl.com Connect with Stephen LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenoommen/

    46 min
  5. JAN 12

    The Hidden Mistakes Companies Make in Customer Success with Steve Fiore

    In this episode of Because Growth Matters, Daniel is joined by Steve Fiore, a customer success and sales enablement leader with over 30 years of experience across enterprise sales, customer success, and leadership. Steve shares his journey from frontline sales into senior leadership roles and explains how his career evolved from selling products to enabling long-term customer growth. They explore how sales and customer success should work together in modern organisations, where accountability sits once a deal is closed, and why so many companies struggle to get customer success right. Steve also opens up about his personal reinvention journey, the launch of his lifestyle platform Rooted and Refined Living, and why wellbeing and personal productivity are essential for leaders navigating burnout. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Steve Fiore 01:03 How Steve found his way into sales leadership and customer success 03:05 What sales enablement and customer success really mean in practice 05:26 Where companies get customer success wrong and how to do it better 14:22 Reinventing your lifestyle through curiosity and personal productivity 26:16 What job hunting can teach us about sales and confidence 31:32 The one percent habit that makes the biggest difference If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe so you never miss a conversation. Would you like to be a guest on Because Growth Matters or learn more about working with Growth Matters International? Fill out the application form HERE. Connect with Daniel: LinkedIn: Daniel RobusWebsite: https://www.growthmattersintl.com Connect with Steve LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenmfiore/ Website: https://www.rootedandrefinedliving.com/

    34 min
  6. JAN 5

    The Psychology Behind Hiring Top Performing Salespeople with Dr Christopher Croner

    Hiring the wrong salesperson can stall growth, drain morale, and cost companies thousands. In this episode, Daniel sits down with Dr Christopher Croner, a leading psychologist, consultant, and co author of the bestselling book Never Hire a Bad Salesperson Again. Chris has spent more than twenty years studying the psychology of high performing salespeople and has assessed more than 150,000 candidates worldwide. He breaks down the science behind the three non teachable traits that predict sales success, why traditional hiring approaches fail, and how companies can dramatically improve their sales results by changing the way they interview. Chris also shares the biggest hiring mistakes business owners make, particularly when hiring their first salesperson, and how to structure an onboarding process that sets new hires up for long term performance. If you hire, lead, or work alongside salespeople in any capacity, this episode will transform the way you think about talent selection! Timestamps 00:00 Introducing Dr Christopher Croner 01:13 The science of identifying top performing salespeople 03:39 The core characteristics shared by the best sales professionals 08:58 The most common hiring mistakes companies make 14:56 The most revealing interview questions for sales candidates 20:11 Access the Sales Drive Assessment 20:53 What to focus on when hiring your first ever salesperson 21:49 The essential traits every sales hire should have 25:52 How to build a successful onboarding process 27:50 What Chris learned from writing his book 34:31 How AI is shaping the future of sales and hiring 37:22 Resources Chris recommends If this episode helped you rethink your hiring process, make sure you follow the show so you never miss an episode! Would you like to be a guest on Because Growth Matters or learn more about working with Growth Matters International? Fill out the application form HERE. Connect with Daniel: LinkedIn: Daniel Robus Website: https://www.growthmattersintl.com Connect with Christopher: LinkedIn: Christopher Croner Website: https://salesdrive.info/ Sales Drive Assessment: https://salesdrive.info/drive-test/ Email: CCroner@salesdrivetest.com Never Hire a Bad Salesperson Again

    41 min
  7. 12/15/2025

    Mastering the Fundamentals of Sales Leadership with David Brock

    The most impactful sales leaders are the ones who return to the fundamentals. In this episode, Daniel sits down with David Brock, bestselling author of Sales Manager Survival Guide and one of the most respected thinkers in the world of sales leadership. David brings decades of experience working with global teams and breaks down exactly why great sales management is the biggest driver of performance in any organisation. He shares how a lack of training and support for frontline managers has weakened leadership across the industry, why so many sales teams are overwhelmed, and how going back to core principles can radically transform results. David explains the real job of a sales leader and the simple habits that build strong, consistent, high performing teams. Timestamps 00:00 Intro to David Brock 01:15 Why strong sales leadership is the backbone of every organisation 05:29 Mentors, influences, and the ideas that shaped David’s leadership philosophy 07:17 Three attributes that define today’s most effective sales leaders 10:02 The common mistakes sales managers make and how to avoid them 11:23 Why leaders feel overwhelmed and how to refocus on what matters 19:23 How the role of sales managers has shifted in today’s environment 28:07 Why coaching is the most powerful tool a leader has 38:37 Key takeaways to implement immediately If this episode helped you rethink your approach to leadership, share it with someone who would benefit from it! Make sure to subscribe, rate the show, and message us with your thoughts. Your feedback helps the podcast grow and reach more leaders around the world. Would you like to be a guest on Because Growth Matters or learn more about working with Growth Matters International? Fill out the application form HERE. Connect with Daniel: LinkedIn: Daniel RobusWebsite: https://www.growthmattersintl.com Connect with David LinkedIn: David BrockPartners In Excellence Blog: https://partnersinexcellenceblog.comEmail: dabrock@excellenc.comSales Manager Survival Guide (book): http://salesmanagersurvivalguide.com/

    43 min
  8. 12/08/2025

    How to Lead Confidently in Complex Markets with Erick Sangoro

    When leadership is done well, it elevates entire organisations, communities and countries. In this conversation, Daniel sits down with Erick Sangoro, Managing Director at Cummins C&G and President of the Rotary Club in Nairobi. Erick shares an honest look at modern leadership in Africa, balancing corporate responsibility with community impact, and how to build teams that thrive in unpredictable markets. You will hear insights into African business dynamics, culture driven leadership, the art of developing high performing teams, and why the future of leadership belongs to those who genuinely understand people. Erick also opens up about mentorship, personal growth, and navigating the fast changing landscape of technology, AI and geopolitics across East Africa. Timestamps 00:00 Introducing Erick Sangoro 01:05 Clearing up the biggest misconceptions about Nairobi 02:17 Erick’s journey and the leadership values that shaped him 04:13 How he balances a demanding business role with community service 05:49 Key leadership challenges and the insights they taught him 08:12 What it really takes to navigate multinational dynamics across Africa 09:39 How rapid technological shifts are influencing his role 11:27 Why cultural sensitivity is essential for doing business across regions 14:43 Erick’s perspective on the future of leadership and technology 24:23 Powerful advice for young professionals and aspiring leaders 26:12 The biggest myths about sales and what people get wrong 27:40 The essential tools and tech Erick relies on 28:43 Mentorship, innovation and how he develops future leaders 30:46 Where to connect with Erick If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to follow the show, leave a five star rating, and share it with someone who would get value from Erick’s insights. Would you like to be a guest on Because Growth Matters or learn more about working with Growth Matters International? Fill out the application form HERE. Connect with Daniel: LinkedIn: Daniel Robus Website: https://www.growthmattersintl.com Connect with Erick LinkedIn: Erick Sangoro

    33 min

About

Because Growth Matters is the podcast for sales professionals, business leaders, and growth-driven teams ready to rethink how they lead, coach, and grow. Hosted by Daniel Robus, each episode explores the 1% shifts that drive extraordinary growth through conversations with sales managers, C-suite executives, and standout leaders. Follow on your favourite platform and never miss an episode.