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  • #108 The SDR DiscoCall Show – David Wilkins

    #108 The SDR DiscoCall Show – David Wilkins
    2025/06/17

    In this episode of the SDR Disco Call Show, host Neil Bhuiyan sits down with David Wilkins, the founder of SDR Leaders of EMEA, to explore his remarkable career journey.

    • Find David on LinkedIn
    • Their Website:

    From relocating from the UK to the Netherlands to overcoming challenges like imposter syndrome, David shares how his experiences have shaped his leadership approach and professional growth in tech sales.

    Together, they discuss the pivotal role of networking, the power of building supportive communities, and how SDR Leaders of EMEA have become a vital resource for SDRs striving to succeed in a competitive landscape. With practical insights and candid reflections, this episode offers valuable takeaways for sales professionals at every stage of their careers.

    Timestamps

    00:00 – Introduction

    01:31 – The Importance of Community and Mentorship

    02:12 – David’s Hobbies and Interests

    04:06 – David’s Career Path and Challenges

    10:53 – Transitioning to Infoblox

    18:05 – Career Growth at Infoblox

    20:48 – Dealing with Self-Doubt and Recognising Potential in Others

    22:59 – Teasing Out Leadership Potential

    30:13 – Working at Snowflake

    31:53 – SDR Leaders of EMEA Community

    40:08 – Advice for SDR Leaders

    42:39 – Advice for Younger Self

    44:06 – Shout Outs and Conclusion

    Key Takeaways

    • The SDR Disco Call Show delivers valuable insights for tech sales professionals, helping them navigate challenges and excel in their roles.
    • David Wilkins highlights the critical role that community plays for SDR leaders, offering both guidance and camaraderie in an often isolated role.
    • Dyslexia and imposter syndrome were hurdles that shaped David’s personal growth and professional resilience, showing how challenges can drive success.
    • Amsterdam’s work-life balance has become a strong draw for many professionals, providing a supportive environment for career advancement.
    • Starting at Palo Alto Networks marked a turning point for David, giving him the platform to grow into leadership and deepen his expertise.
    • Recognising and nurturing potential in team members is a fundamental leadership skill, and trust, as well as collaboration, are the cornerstones of long-term success in sales.
    • Post-COVID networking has transformed, making community-building initiatives like SDR Leaders of EMEA even more vital to the growth and connection of sales professionals.
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    45 分
  • #107 The SDR DiscoCall Show – James Buckley

    #107 The SDR DiscoCall Show – James Buckley
    2024/08/27
    In this episode, Neil Bhuiyan interviews James "Saywhatsales" Buckley, host of the Sell Better Daily Sales Show. James shares his inspiring journey from being a cook with issues to becoming a successful sales professional. He highlights the importance of leaving negative environments and surrounding yourself with positive influences. They discuss the value of customer service experience in sales, emphasising how it builds comfort in talking to strangers and handling rejection. The conversation also covers the significance of making employees feel valued, embracing change, and the power of personal growth. James offers insights into creating content, and building a personal brand, and concludes with his three success tips: avoid the hard stuff, slow down, and be kinder.
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    1 時間 7 分
  • #106 The SDR DiscoCall Show – Saad Ghafoor

    #106 The SDR DiscoCall Show – Saad Ghafoor
    2024/08/20
    In this episode, Neil Bhuiyan sits down with Saad Ghafoor, EMEA’s top SDR for 2024, to uncover his journey from recruitment to tech sales. Saad dives into the power of purpose-driven work, the importance of learning from top performers, and the courage to fail and adapt. He shares his winning strategies for cold calling, including the art of storytelling and asking the right questions. Saad also highlights the value of experimenting with different approaches and building a strong internal reputation. His advice? Enjoy the journey, focus on learning, and remember that sometimes you need to slow down to speed up.
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    1 時間 16 分
  • #105 The SDR DiscoCall Show – Ashley Ormond

    #105 The SDR DiscoCall Show – Ashley Ormond
    2024/08/13
    In this episode, Neil Bhuiyan interviews returning guest, Ashley Ormond, Senior Manager for Global Strategic Sound Development at Brandwatch. You’ll hear about what makes an outstanding sales development representative (SDR) and the key qualities Ashley looks for in candidates. Ashley highlights the importance of asking thoughtful questions and showing curiosity during interviews. He explains why he prefers hiring candidates without a sales background, noting that they bring fresh perspectives and are more adaptable. Neil and Ashley discuss why it’s crucial to understand a company’s history and mission when applying for a job and the benefits of connecting with current employees to get a feel for the company culture. They also delve into the value of diversity in building a successful team, the role of resilience in sales, and how to support personal growth in new team members. Additionally, Neil and Ashley share how being parents of children with autism has shaped their perspectives on leadership and empathy, underscoring the importance of emotional intelligence in managing and supporting individuals with diverse abilities.
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    1 時間 10 分
  • #104 The SDR DiscoCall Show – Amy Morrison

    #104 The SDR DiscoCall Show – Amy Morrison
    2024/07/30
    In this episode, Amy Morrison, an SDR at Taggstar, shares her inspiring journey from nursing to sales. She reflects on her passion for nursing and how the pandemic spurred her transition into the sales field. Amy also recounts her unique experiences working in an Irish bar in Belgium and her love for travel. Amy discusses key elements of success in sales, including the value of social skills and confidence. She offers practical tips for overcoming common sales hurdles, such as fear of rejection and self-doubt. Her advice focuses on the importance of taking action and stepping out of your comfort zone, whether that’s through cold calls or social interactions. She also sheds light on her role at Taggstar, highlighting the company’s supportive and open culture. Amy encourages SDRs to leverage LinkedIn for content creation to connect with prospects and express their personality. Her advice to her younger self includes embracing confidence, enjoying the journey, and not taking things too personally.
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    53 分
  • #103 The SDR DiscoCall Show – Josh Bruer

    #103 The SDR DiscoCall Show – Josh Bruer
    2024/07/23
    In this episode, Neil interviews Josh Bruer, a Sales Development Leader and Coach. They discuss his sales development background, passion for music, and the transferable skills he gained as a lead singer. Josh highlights the importance of meaningful conversations in sales and the value of learning from prospects. He shares his experience in the tech and SaaS industry and the lessons learned as an SDR team lead. We also explore his journey from musician to sales coach, his dedication to helping others improve, and his approach to breaking down and enhancing the SDR role. Josh emphasises practice, coaching, and continuous learning, along with building relationships and understanding team motivations. From a leadership perspective, Josh advises managers to advocate for their teams, remove obstacles, and maintain honesty. He encourages reps to seek feedback and be coachable. Finally, we discuss the importance of forming connections and having meaningful conversations in and out of work.
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    54 分
  • #102 The SDR DiscoCall Show – Ashley Ormond

    #102 The SDR DiscoCall Show – Ashley Ormond
    2024/07/16
    In this episode, Neil Bhuiyan interviews Ashley Ormond, the Senior Manager of Global Strategic Sales Development at Brandwatch. They discuss Ashley's career journey, starting from door-to-door sales to his current role, as Sr. Manager, Global Strategic Sales Development - Brandwatch Ashley shares his experiences and lessons learned along the way, including the importance of resilience and maintaining a positive mindset. They also touch on the challenges of managing a team and the value of connecting with people. The conversation highlights the significance of perspective and gratitude in both personal and professional life. In this conversation, Ashley Ormond shares his journey in sales and the challenges he faced along the way. He discusses his experience in different sales roles, including recruitment and tech sales. Ashley emphasizes the importance of taking action, learning sales early, and detaching oneself from the outcome. He also highlights the role of a manager in supporting and guiding the team to success.
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    55 分
  • #101 The SDR DiscoCall Show – Anna Bella

    #101 The SDR DiscoCall Show – Anna Bella
    2024/07/09
    Anna Bella shares her journey from SDR to leadership in tech. Starting young in sales at her parents' hospitality business, she moved to the UK from Hungary without speaking English. Through her network, she joined Redis as an SDR. Anna emphasizes researching and finding the right job fit, and the value of mentors for guidance and feedback. She advises aspiring leaders to identify strengths and weaknesses, be authentic, and find their superpower. Addressing female leaders, she advises ignoring stigma and focusing on growth, while embracing vulnerability, transparency, and open-mindedness. Anna also discusses leadership challenges, including managing cross-departmental relationships and admitting when you don't know the answer. This episode was recorded in March 2024, and since then, Anna has recently started a new role as Senior SDR Manager for EMEA at Snyk, a leader in developer security - Congratulations and #HappySelling Anna!
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    55 分