Hunters and Unicorns

huntersandunicorns
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Hunters and Unicorns

Introducing ’Hunters and Unicorns’ – the podcast that shows you what it takes to be #1 in software sales. Are you hungry for the inside scoop on what it takes to lead in the dynamic world of software sales? Join us each week as we dive deep into the journeys of the trailblazers shaping the tech landscape’s future. 🔍 Dive into pivotal past experiences. 🎙️ Unveil the Playbooks of Tech Titans! 🚀 Revealing strategies of tech leaders driving growth. 🎯 Insights from thought leaders, entrepreneurs, execs. 🔥 Ignite innovation, leadership, extraordinary achievements. 🌐 1M+ global downloads – a community of tech enthusiasts. 🦄🎉 Subscribe and discover what it takes to be #1 in software sales! 👋 We are your hosts, Simon Kouttis and Ollie Kuehne, founders of Hunters & Unicorns, a tech recruitment agency in the UK. Visit our website to find out more: https://huntersandunicorns.com

  1. JUN 30

    SALES SOS, Episode 2 - How to hire A-Players

    In this episode of Sales SOS, Hunters & Unicorns co-founders Ollie and Simon go head-to-head on one of the most misunderstood, yet business-critical skills in sales leadership: how to consistently hire A-players. Drawing from two decades of experience working with the world's most elite sales teams, we break down the true mindset, mechanics, and strategy behind world-class recruitment — and why most leaders are getting it completely wrong. What we cover: Why the super-rep mindset is killing your team-building potential The 3 stages of a winning recruitment process: Pipeline. Discovery. Close. The 3 WHYs vs the 3 WHY NOTs — the ultimate framework to avoid dropouts Feedback loops, debrief sessions, and how to control the narrative between interviews Why you should never make an offer unless you know they’ll say yes Backchanneling: how the best CROs use it to recruit like assassins — and how to avoid blowing it up Whether you're a first-time hiring manager or a seasoned VP, this is your playbook for hiring without luck or guesswork. 🔗 Subscribe & Connect If this episode resonated, drop a comment, like the video, and hit subscribe. We’re here to help you build teams that win.

    33 min

  2. JUN 23

    SALES SOS, Episode 1 - Career Defining Moves

    After 200+ episodes and thousands of hours with the world’s top SaaS sales leaders, Hunters & Unicorns presents Sales SOS raw, practical conversations that dive deep into the mindset, strategies, and frameworks behind elite career growth in tech sales. In this episode, Hunters and Unicorns very own Simon and Ollie answer four critical questions every ambitious sales professional should be asking: 1. What’s the common thread among top-tier CROs? Discover the power of “Career Champions” and why no one gets to the top alone. 2. Why are you being overlooked for promotions? It’s not always about performance. We unpack how alignment, visibility, and internal champions dictate career momentum. 3. How do you position yourself as the irresistible first pick? We share hard-earned insights into how the best salespeople get fast-tracked for leadership roles. 4. How do you break the glass ceiling — and stay there? From skill mastery to the right strategic choices, we talk about what it really takes to go all the way. This episode is for ambitious AEs, aspiring leaders, and current managers ready to level up with clarity, intent, and strategy. If this episode hit home, don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe. We drop practical gold every week. #SaaSSales #CROCareer #TechSalesLeadership #SalesSOS #HuntersAndUnicorns

    18 min

  3. JUN 18

    Great Leaders UK with Marina Ayton

    In this episode of Hunters & Unicorns, Great Leaders UK, we sit down with Marina Ayton, VP UK&I at Wiz and co-author of The Female Sales Leader, to explore her remarkable journey from first-line to second-line leadership and back again. Marina shares hard-won lessons on building and recruiting world-class teams, navigating rapid promotions, overcoming imposter syndrome, leveraging EQ alongside IQ, and championing diversity in sales. Whether you’re an aspiring sales leader or a seasoned executive, Marina’s playbook offers actionable insights to elevate your career and drive lasting impact. 🙌 Thanks to Our Sponsors! PG AI: https://www.getpg.ai Selr: https://selr.ai 🏹 Key Topics Covered 00:00 – Intro & Career Beginnings 01:30 – Transitioning from first line to VP 06:00 – Building the First Enterprise Team 12:00 – Transition to Major Deals Leadership 18:00 – Stepping into Second-Line Role 24:00 – Crafting Vision & Enabling Teams 30:00 – When to Step Back & Pivot 36:00 – Imposter Syndrome as Superpower 42:00 – EQ vs. IQ in Modern Sales 48:00 – Writing The Female Sales Leader 54:00 – Reflections & Future Outlook   💥 3 Biggest Lessons 1. Embrace Humility & Listen First – Early listening builds credibility; understand before imposing change. 2. Leverage EQ to Drive Trust – Emotional intelligence is irreplaceable; it underpins long-term partnerships and diverse teams. 3. Purposeful Career Moves – Stepping back into roles refines understanding of where you add value at scale. 🙌 Thanks for listening! This episode was hosted by Simon Kouttis and Ollie Kuehne, founders of Hunters & Unicorns, and post-produced by the team at videoforce.pro. If you enjoyed this deep dive, please like/share and subscribe to our channel! 🦄 Connect with Hunters & Unicorns Website: http://huntersandunicorns.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/HuntersUn1corns Instagram: http://instagram.com/huntersandunicorns Blog: http://huntersandunicorns.com/blog   💬 Notable Quotes “Imposter syndrome can be a superpower if you let it drive you to earn your seat at the table.” “Leaders must give teams the tools to imagine the art of the possible.” “EQ is never replaceable by AI; it’s what builds genuine partnerships.” #softwaresales #huntersandunicorns #playbookuniverse

    57 min

  4. JUN 11

    Great Leaders UK with Alice Carlisle

    In this episode of Great Leaders UK, we sit down with Alice Carlisle, VP UK&I at Wiz, to uncover how she rose from first-line leader to one of the most sought-after roles in the cybersecurity industry. From taking a struggling ZScaler team and transforming it in under three quarters, to embodying Wiz’s values of confidence and humility, Alice’s journey is proof that authenticity and unrelenting work ethic drive lasting impact. She delves into the hard lessons of leading through fear-based tactics early in her career, learning the Force Management Playbook at AppDynamics, and then applying it to close LogicMonitor’s largest deal ever. Ultimately, we focus on how Alice builds culture, leading by example, caring genuinely for people, and creating internal champions, so that teams win together, not just as individuals. Whether you’re scaling a hyper-growth sales org, building a new culture, or simply looking to be a better human in leadership, Alice’s playbook is packed with actionable insights on driving growth through customer success and winning with authenticity. 🙌 Thanks to our Sponsors! PG AI: https://www.getpg.ai Selr: https://selr.ai 🏹 Key Topics Covered 00:00 – Intro 05:00 – Why Alice Was Chosen for Wiz 10:00 – Wiz Values: Humility & Authenticity 15:00 – Leadership Evolution: Leading Without Fear 20:00 – Early Work Ethic & Foundations 25:00 – Learning the Playbook at AppDynamics 30:00 – Applying Playbook at LogicMonitor 35:00 – Career Pivots & Decision to Join Zscaler 40:00 – Turning Around the Zscaler Team 45:00 – Building Culture & Final Reflections 💥 3 Biggest Lessons Authenticity Over Authority – Leading by fear alienates; leading by genuine care and humility builds lasting loyalty. Learn & Apply Fast – When you join a Playbook organization, absorb everything like a sponge and execute immediately – that’s how you prove its value. Culture Eats Strategy – Even in hyper-growth, small ritualistic acts (e.g., cleaning up after yourself) set the tone for accountability, trust, and team unity. 🙌 Thanks for listening! This episode was hosted by Simon Kouttis and Ollie Kuehne, founders of Hunters & Unicorns, and post-produced by the team at videoforce.pro If you enjoyed this deep episode, please drop a like/share and subscribe to our channel! 🦄 Connect with Hunters & Unicorns Website: http://huntersandunicorns.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/HuntersUn1corns Instagram: http://instagram.com/huntersandunicorns Blog: http://huntersandunicorns.com/blog 💬 Notable Quotes “People see through it as much as you might think they don’t. You have to genuinely care.” “Being right is not very valuable. It’s more important to be valuable than be right.” “The most important thing for me is I genuinely give a shit about people more than anything.” #softwaresales #huntersandunicorns #playbookuniverse

    51 min

  5. JUN 4

    Great Leaders UK with Natasha Evans

    The Brutal Truth About Scaling Customer Success, w/ Natasha Evans   Today we’re joined by Natasha Evans, VP of Customer Growth at Hook. Natasha shares the raw reality of going from chaos to clarity while building the customer success function inside a hypergrowth rocketship. We dive deep into the strategic thinking and tough decisions that shaped her journey—from running toward the fire in Saleslofts' early days to scaling operations and rebuilding customer teams at Hook. Natasha unpacks what it really takes to align customer growth with revenue in today’s high-velocity SaaS environment. If you're navigating messy growth, operational debt, or building CS from scratch, this conversation is packed with hard-earned insights. 🙌 Thanks to our Sponsors! PG AI: https://www.getpg.aiSelr: https://selr.ai   🏹 Key Topics Covered 00:00 – Intro 03:43 – Natasha's evolving career 05:50 – Building with No Playbook 08:43 – When Your Org Chart Fails 12:41 – Driving Revenue from CS 16:00 – Rebuilding Customer Success at Hook 22:10 – Scaling Fast Without Losing Focus 27:45 – Coaching vs. Commanding 32:12 – Mistakes That Made Her Better 36:30 – What Growth Looks Like Now 💥 3 Biggest Lessons Running toward chaos is how you earn your seat. The people who grow fast are the ones who face the hardest problems first. Customer growth must be tied to revenue. Fluffy CS doesn’t survive—alignment with GTM is critical. Rebuilding is part of scaling. You often have to break what you built to keep growing the right way.🙌 Thanks for listening!This episode was hosted by Simon Kouttis and Ollie Kuehne, founders of Hunters & Unicorns, and post-produced by the team at videoforce.pro. If you enjoyed this episode, please drop a like/share and subscribe to our channel! 🦄 Connect with Hunters & Unicorns Website: http://huntersandunicorns.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/HuntersUn1corns Instagram: http://instagram.com/huntersandunicorns Blog: http://huntersandunicorns.com/blog 💬 Notable Quotes “Run towards the fire. The hardest problems are where growth comes from.” “Customer success has to earn the right to be there. You tie it to revenue or it dies.” “Sometimes you scale by breaking everything and starting over.”

    41 min

  6. MAY 28

    Great Leaders UK with Deirdre Spillane

    From MongoDB to Founder: How Deirdre Spillane bet on Herself Description In this episode of The Playbook Universe, we sit down with Deirdre Spillane, co-founder of Selr.ai and former sales leader at MongoDB and Segment. She shares her incredible journey—from building high-performing teams in one of the most feared sales orgs in tech, to stepping into the unknown and launching her own company. We dive into the power of coaching, the danger of drowning in data, and why understanding the “why” behind people’s actions is everything. If you're in sales, leadership, or considering your next bold career move—this is your playbook. 🙌  Thanks to our Sponsors! PG AI: https://www.getpg.ai Selr: https://selr.ai 🏹 Key Topics Covered 00:00 - Intro 01:54 - From Oracle to MongoDB 04:01 - Learning from Carlos Delatorre 06:58 - ICP and Hard Lessons in Fit 08:44 - Coaching Is About Trust 11:14 - How to Truly Meet People Where They Are 13:19 - Building Intentional Sales Teams 15:01 - Diversity of Thought in Sales 17:38 - Data Overload in Sales Leadership 21:19 - Tracking the Right Metrics 24:10 - Aligning Personal Why with Business Goals 27:03 - Grit, Motivation & Early Indicators of Success 30:49 - What Seller Actually Does 34:42 - Founder Life vs Sales Leader Life 36:59 - Why Coaching Is Her Life's Work --- 💥 3 Biggest Lessons 1. Trust Before Tactics: Effective coaching doesn't begin with playbooks—it starts by understanding and trusting your people. 2. Data Isn’t Insight: Sales orgs today are flooded with metrics, but the true game-changers are conversion points and coaching conversations. 3. Your 'Why' Is the Multiplier: Aligning your personal drive with business objectives creates clarity, resilience, and momentum. --- 🙌 Thanks for listening! This episode was hosted by Simon Kouttis and Ollie Kuehne, founders of Hunters & Unicorns, and post-produced by the team at videoforce.pro If you enjoyed this episode, please drop a like/share and subscribe to our channel! --- 🦄 Connect with Hunters & Unicorns Website: http://huntersandunicorns.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/HuntersUn1corns Instagram: http://instagram.com/huntersandunicorns Blog: http://huntersandunicorns.com/blog --- 💬 Borrow these quotes from Deirdre! “Once you get this opportunity, you take it with both hands… and you leave nothing on the field.” “You’ve got to meet people where they are—that’s where the trust builds.” “We don't lack data—we lack the right coaching to make sense of it.” “Being gritty is more important than being gifted.” ---

    37 min

  7. MAY 21

    Great Leaders UK - Libby Derbyshire

    They Told Her Not to Work in Sales — She Proved Them ALL WRONG   Description In this episode of The Playbook Universe, we sit down with Libby Derbyshire, Sales Director at ComplyAdvantage, whose transformation journey is nothing short of extraordinary. From selling boat party tickets in Ibiza to leading with data and empathy at some of the UK’s fastest-growing startups, Libby shares the pivotal moment that changed everything — and the power of combining gut instinct with hard analytics. We explore her early experiences in sales, how Jeremy Duggan and Steve McCluskey shaped her development, what it means to build inclusive teams, and how she balances motherhood with high-performance leadership. Raw, inspiring, and deeply insightful, this is a masterclass in becoming more than the sum of your parts. 🙌 Thanks to our Sponsors! PG AI: https://www.getpg.ai Selr: https://selr.ai   🏹 Key Topics Covered 00:00 – Intro 00:39 – From Hard Work to Data-Driven Execution 03:01 – Learning to See the Patterns 06:03 – Becoming a Convert to the Playbook 08:17 – How Libby Leads Today 11:40 – Data vs. People: Earning Buy-In 14:38 – The ‘Cookie Cutter’ Myth 16:20 – Libby’s Unconventional Start in Sales 21:40 – Navigating Pregnancy, Leadership & Career Decisions 24:00 – Female Leadership & Real-World Challenges 27:00 – Imposter Syndrome and Identity at Work 30:00 – Balancing Motherhood and Ambition 34:00 – The Mission Behind ComplyAdvantage 38:00 – Values, Priorities & Why This Role Was the Right Move                   💥 3 Biggest Lessons1. Data doesn’t replace instinct — it amplifies it: Libby learned that great leadership isn't about abandoning your gut; it’s about backing it up with data that tells the real story. 2. Authenticity scales, imitation doesn’t: Early on, Libby tried to imitate powerful leaders, but real growth came when she embraced her own leadership voice. 3. Support isn’t just nice — it’s strategic: From Jeremy Duggan’s belief in young talent to Luke Rogers’ immediate support during Libby’s second pregnancy, backing people fully brings out their best. 🙌 Thanks for listening!This episode was hosted by Simon Kouttis and Ollie Kuehne, founders of Hunters & Unicorns, and post-produced by the team at videoforce.pro If you enjoyed this episode, please drop a like/share and subscribe to our channel! 🦄 Connect with Hunters & Unicorns Website: http://huntersandunicorns.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/HuntersUn1corns Instagram: http://instagram.com/huntersandunicorns Blog: http://huntersandunicorns.com/blog   💬 Borrow These Quotes From Libby!   "That was the day the lights went on for me."   "If I’m not getting value from data, why would I expect my reps to?"   "You can’t separate yourself from your values — they show up in every meeting."   "More was more. I learned that early, selling in Ibiza."   "I won’t put my family on hold anymore — I know my priorities."   Tags (SEO) Libby Derbyshire, sales leadership, ComplyAdvantage, Jeremy Duggan, female sales leaders, data-driven sales, sales playbook, Hunters and Unicorns, The Playbook Universe, sales transformation, motherhood and career, female empowerment, B2B sales podcast, sales manager advice, sales coaching, tech sales UK, revenue leadership, leadership podcast UK #softwaresales #huntersandunicorns #playbookuniverse

    39 min

  8. MAY 13

    Great Leaders UK with Shakira Talbot

    In this new episode of Hunters & Unicorns, we sit down with Shakira Talbot, the Group Vice President at ServiceNow, for one of the most inspiring conversations we've ever had. From growing up in foster care to leading revenue responsibility for over $10B at one of the most influential enterprise software companies, Shakira’s story is a masterclass in grit, champion building, and unapologetic ambition. She shares how she developed her tenacity, why she dropped out of university, and how she found her path through selling timeshares at 14 to leading massive enterprise deals. We dive deep into her early influences, her playbook for high-performance sales leadership, and what truly drives her to never settle. This is not just about sales. It’s about identity, impact, and proving you belong—on your own terms.  Thanks to our Sponsors! PG AI: https://www.getpg.ai Selr: https://selr.ai 🏹 Key Topics Covered 00:00 In this episode... 01:25 Intro and backstory 03:24 Why she never wanted to be like her boss 06:33 Getting recruited by Jeremy Duggan 11:22 Champion-building as a life skill 15:01 Her biggest deal (and what it taught her) 19:47 What makes a great sales leader 24:08 Owning your ambition unapologetically 28:34 From maternity policy to mindset shifts 31:10 Advice to her younger self   💥 3 Biggest Lessons Champion-building isn’t just for sales – It’s how you win people over in life and career, especially when you come from a non-traditional background. Authenticity scales – Shakira’s leadership works because she leads as herself, not as a copy of what leadership is “supposed” to look like. You don’t need to be perfect to be powerful – She’s made mistakes, changed direction, and still kept rising—all while carrying massive responsibilities at home and work.  Thanks for listening! This episode was hosted by Simon Kouttis and Ollie Kuehne, founders of Hunters & Unicorns, and post-produced by the team at videoforce.pro If you enjoyed this episode, please drop a like/share and subscribe to our channel! 🦄 Connect with Hunters & Unicorns Website: http://huntersandunicorns.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/HuntersUn1corns Instagram: http://instagram.com/huntersandunicorns Blog: http://huntersandunicorns.com/blog   💬 Notable Quotes from Shak! "I didn’t want to be a psychologist. I wanted to sell stuff." "You don’t have a deal until you have a champion who passes the test." "I am the only provider in my house. That’s the role we’ve landed on. So I have a duty of care to make it work." "I’m not going to pretend to be something I’m not to make people comfortable." "Would I change things? Yeah—I would’ve done it sooner." #softwaresales #huntersandunicorns #playbookuniverse

    41 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4
out of 5
32 Ratings

About

Introducing ’Hunters and Unicorns’ – the podcast that shows you what it takes to be #1 in software sales. Are you hungry for the inside scoop on what it takes to lead in the dynamic world of software sales? Join us each week as we dive deep into the journeys of the trailblazers shaping the tech landscape’s future. 🔍 Dive into pivotal past experiences. 🎙️ Unveil the Playbooks of Tech Titans! 🚀 Revealing strategies of tech leaders driving growth. 🎯 Insights from thought leaders, entrepreneurs, execs. 🔥 Ignite innovation, leadership, extraordinary achievements. 🌐 1M+ global downloads – a community of tech enthusiasts. 🦄🎉 Subscribe and discover what it takes to be #1 in software sales! 👋 We are your hosts, Simon Kouttis and Ollie Kuehne, founders of Hunters & Unicorns, a tech recruitment agency in the UK. Visit our website to find out more: https://huntersandunicorns.com

Information

  • Creator
    huntersandunicorns
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2020 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Hunters and Unicorns

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