Sales Leader Secrets

What does it take to scale a bakery into Ireland’s largest vegan cookie supplier starting from your mum’s kitchen at 21? In this inspiring episode of Sales Leader Secrets, Amanda Downs chats to Aisling Tuck founder and CEO of Naked Bakes, who shares her journey from passionate home baker to entrepreneur and emerging sales leader. From experimenting with vegan recipes to overcoming a steep learning...

What does it mean to lead with trust and transform an organisation for the future? In this episode of Sales Leader Secrets, Amanda Downs chats to Anne Unsworth, Head of Retail Operations at Dee Set: Complete Retail Solutions, master practitioner of NLP, and a passionate champion of people in commercial teams. Anne’s journey is a lesson in resilience and curiosity. From building her career at Maste...

What’s it like to build a career around changing the way we think about disability? In this episode of Sales Leader Secrets, Amanda Downs talks with Esi Hardy, founder of Celebrating Disability and a leading voice on inclusion. Esi’s path has been far from typical. From training as an actress and working in performing arts in LA, to moving into health and social care, she’s now running her own bus...

What does it take to lead a team of over 2,500 people and still keep things grounded? In this episode of Sales Leader Secrets , Amanda Downs chats with Ella Cookson, a standout leader at Tropic Skincare. Ella’s story is one of resilience. After a tough few years, she rebuilt her confidence and has gone on to support thousands of ambassadors across the UK. Ella talks honestly about the ups and down...

Ever thought a farm field could turn into a five-star getaway? In this episode of Sales Leader Secrets, Amanda Downs chats with Joanne Collinge, a former teacher who traded the classroom for a life on the family farm in Lancashire. What started as a challenge to bring in extra income has grown into Little Oakhurst Boutique Glamping, a rural retreat with serious charm. Joanne shares how she built t...

Have you ever wondered how a small food startup with just four people became one of the UK’s leading names in the food-to-go industry? In this episode of Sales Leaders’ Secrets , Amanda Downs sits down with Lee Personius, founder and CEO of Tugo. From humble beginnings in a rundown trading estate, Lee has grown Tugo into a £22 million business and he’s aiming to double that in the next decade. He...

Have you ever wondered what it truly takes to unlock the leadership potential in others and transform lives through a career in direct sales? In this episode of Sales Leaders' Secrets, host Amanda Downs sits down with Babette Ogden, a seasoned direct selling leader whose journey spans from her early days at Avon in South Africa to her current role as Regional Sales Manager for The 1:1 Diet (former...

Are you ready to redefine your sales leadership approach? Join your host, Amanda Downs, as she sits down with Katey Coleman, Associate Director at Carl Zeiss. With over seventeen years of experience, Katey shares her journey from being a young sales manager at only 20, to leading cross-functional teams today. Discover her secrets to maintaining team engagement, fostering emotional intelligence, an...

What drives successful sales leaders to embrace change and thrive in an ever-evolving marketplace? In this episode of Sales Leader Secrets, Amanda Downs talks to Pete Gillett, a pioneer in CRM systems and lead management, to uncover the secrets behind leading customer connections and fostering team motivation. Discover how Pete's journey to becoming a dynamic sales leader offers invaluable insight...

Curious about the secrets behind a thriving family business in the world of vitamins and supplements? Amanda Downs sits down with Holly Thallon Steenson, the Managing Director at Viridian Nutrition, the UK’s leading brand in pure vitamins and supplements. Holly shares her unique journey from event management to stepping into her family's business, emphasising the importance of values, curiosity, a...

Unlock the secrets of sales leadership with Os Quiros, a sales visionary who transformed his career from selling shoes in his school holidays to becoming the CEO of National Organic Products. In this episode your host Amanda Downs sits down with Os to talk about his remarkable journey, exploring the wisdom and strategies he gathered along the way. From his early steps in sales at Colgate-Palmolive...

What are the secrets behind running one of the world’s most iconic department stores? Amanda sits down with Anna Moir, the Deputy Retail Director at Harrods, who shares her extensive knowledge gleaned from three decades in the industry. From core leadership qualities to harnessing talent during peak times, and the importance of authentic leadership, Anna provides invaluable advice for aspiring ret...

Unlock the secrets to becoming an extraordinary sales leader with insights from Shaun Smith, General Manager at Birds Eye UK and Ireland. Hosted by Amanda Downs, we're getting into the essence of mastering sales and leadership basics, the necessity of relentless improvement, and the unrivalled value of passion and authenticity in your professional journey. Shaun shares his 20+ years of expertise,...

How can a leadership philosophy centred around kindness, integrity, and genuine care make you a pioneer? Amanda Downs sits down with Charly Andrews, a revolutionary leader who turned a stadium into a hub of community resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. From transforming locations to orchestrating unforgettable events and concerts, Charly shares her unique insights on building meaningful relat...

Join us as we explore the business of vertical farming. Amanda sits down with Jon Cummings - a seasoned leader who has seamlessly navigated between retail buying and supply chain management. He brings a wealth of experience to the ever-evolving world of vertical farming. Sharing stories from his time in the meat industry, his strategic moves across major players like Kerry Foods and Morrisons, and...

Uncover the secrets behind successful commercial strategies and powerful storytelling to boost your sales. Amanda chats to Sue McVie about her extensive career - from her initial field sales role at McVitie's to becoming a visionary trade marketing director at Walkers and beyond. Tune in to learn how Sue blends extroverted energy with introverted reflection, combats imposter syndrome with data, an...

We are exploring the highs and lows of sales leadership in this episode of Sales Leader Secrets. Amanda Downs welcomes James Guy, the Group Commercial Director for New England Seafood, who shares his remarkable transition from archaeology to leading some of the UK's most prominent brands. James shares his unique insights, hard-earned lessons, and transformative strategies that have propelled him t...

Unlock the secrets of sales success with powerhouse Clare Bocking. From her early days selling household names like Uncle Ben’s, Dolmio, Pepsi, and Robinsons, to leading a commercial team of over 80 people, Clare has navigated the intricate world of sales with expertise and charisma. In this episode, Amanda sits down with Clare to learn about her journey, insights, and the transformative power of...

From working the supply chain to becoming a formidable leader in sales - Ian Garrett, Category Commercial Director at Samworth Brothers, joins our host Amanda Downs to share his journey. They explore the shifting dynamics of the retail industry, and particularly how Brexit, COVID, and the cost of living crisis are reshaping the landscape. Ian sheds light on the frequent price movements and the nec...

What are the mechanics of successful sales leadership? Amanda sits with Cara Williams, Sales Director for Hobart UK, to explore the residual impacts of COVID on the sales industry, the art of managing customer expectations, and the pivotal role of clear communication in building high-performing teams. Cara brings a wealth of experience from her broad career with major brands, offering invaluable a...

Amanda Downs sits down with Matthew Huffer, UK Market Director at Taylors of Harrogate, to talk about the dynamic world of sales leadership. Their conversation covers the challenges new sales leaders face, such as transitioning from manager to leader, and the importance of empowering team members to achieve results in their own unique ways. Matthew reflects on his 13-year journey at Taylors of Har...

Amanda Downs talks to special guest Matt Spencer, the Commercial Director at Caffè Nero and a pivotal figure in the organisation's remarkable growth from 300 to over 1000 stores. Matt takes us through his fascinating journey – from buying coffee at Sainsbury's to managing key supplier relationships and navigating leadership challenges at Caffe Nero. He shares invaluable insights on maintaining int...

Big Bus, Big Dreams! Insights from the Managing Director of Big Bus Tours. In this first episode of Sales Leader Secrets your host, Amanda Downs, and very special guest, Tom Redman, share expertise on leadership, team building, and the powerful role of communication in sales management. Tom's journey is nothing short of inspiring - from working as a blue coat at Pontins to becoming the managing di...

It’s time to explore the world of sales leadership with Sales Leader Secrets ! Leading sales can feel like a daunting and sometimes lonely journey. As the lifeblood of every business, you’re on the front lines, juggling customer relationships while inspiring and motivating your sales team. But how do you know if you’re truly on the right path? That’s where Sales Leader Secrets comes in. Join our h...