The Influence Gap with Bernadette McClelland

Great leaders know that scaling revenue isn’t just about growth—it's about building the right operational flywheels and understanding when to pivot, adapt, and move with intention. In this insightful conversation, Bernadette McClelland and Mark Roberge dig into the science (and art) of scaling, sharing real-world lessons from HubSpot, Harvard, and the frontlines of tech. Mark Roberge challenges ol...

What if the single biggest barrier to courageous leadership isn’t fear—but the stories we tell ourselves about it? In this powerful episode of The Influence Gap, Bernadette McClelland sits down with bestselling author and behavioral science expert Dr. Margie Warrell to unpack why courage—not strategy or smarts—is the key to breakthrough results in business, sales leadership, and life. Tune in for...

In this energizing episode of The Influence Gap, Bernadette McClelland sits down with bestselling author Bob Burg, co-author of "The Go-Giver," to shatter common misconceptions around leadership, sales, and the real definition of value. Discover why leaders often struggle the most with receptivity, and how mastering the delicate dance between giving and receiving can completely transform...

What if everything you know—and have never said out loud—is actually your most valuable asset in the age of AI? In this powerful solo episode of The Influence Gap, discover why differentiating your value has never been more critical, even as technology automates and commoditizes expertise. The discussion explores how your lived experiences, earned wisdom, and unique observations create a form of i...

What if one of the greatest NCAA gymnastics coaches of all time never actually did a cartwheel? In this compelling episode, Bernadette McClelland sits down with Valorie Kondos Field, legendary UCLA gymnastics coach, to explore how she achieved extraordinary success—without ever being a gymnast herself. You’ll discover how Valorie Kondos Field built a championship program on relationships, vulnerab...

What if the way you think about winning in business—and even about money itself—is completely backwards? In this electrifying episode, Joel Block blows the lid off conventional business wisdom, revealing how most organizations are programmed to "play not to lose"—and why that’s a surefire formula for mediocrity. From his early days as a professional blackjack player beating the house, to...

What if you discovered that the real reason your sales team is missing targets isn't lack of effort or weak tactics—but your stories are sabotaging your results? In this episode, Bernadette McClelland welcomes the Emmy Award-winning branding expert and storytelling authority, Park Howell, to blow the lid off how most leaders unintentionally widen their "influence gap" by relying on logic and featu...

What if the true secret to success in sales and leadership isn’t about being the best—it's about being there for someone else? In this episode of The Influence Gap, Bernadette McClelland sits down with the #1 global sales guru of 2024, Colleen Stanley, to uncover the real power behind mentorship. Drawing from her farm-town roots and her groundbreaking book Be the Mentor Who Mattered, Colleen S...

What if your doctor told you, “Your life as you know it is over”? Would you give up—or fight back? In this episode of The Influence Gap, Bernadette McClelland sits down with three-time Paralympic gold medalist Carol Cooke, whose journey from devastating MS diagnosis to the top of the Paralympic podium is nothing short of incredible. Carol Cooke reveals the mindset shifts, resilience lessons, and “...

What if the biggest mistake sales leaders make is focusing on all the wrong problems—and it's costing you results, energy, and team engagement? This episode of The Influence Gap with Bernadette McClelland features a no-nonsense, insight-rich conversation with Darren Mitchell, one of Australia’s top 20 sales influencers and host of the Exceptional Sales Leader Podcast. Discover how “blind blami...

What if the biggest obstacle to your success isn’t the competition—but the gap between what you intend and the impact you actually make? On this transformational debut episode, Bernadette McClelland unveils "The Influence Gap"—the critical space where leaders must bridge their intentions, their messages, and their business results. Discover why savvy leaders, sales professionals, and hig...

2025 wasn’t a pivot year for me — it was an iteration and identity year (and for others). A year of stepping back, listening deeper, and upgrading the version of me that leads my business and my work with CEOs and Sales Leaders. In this last episode of The Sales Leader of Influence SHOW for 2025, I’m sharing the 5 lessons that began to change everything for me — personally, commercially, and creat...

  HOW REAL LEADERS LEAD WHEN THEIR BACK IS AGAINST THE WALL When life gets hectic, leaders don’t just feel the pressure – they often show it. Not publicly. Not in the boardroom. But internally, in the identity they lead from. In this week’s episode of The Sales Leader of Influence SHOW, I’m unpacking what leadership looks like when you feel like your back is against the wall… and you are still exp...

I’m calling out a behaviour too many leaders overlook and I believe quietly undermines more results than market conditions ever will. In leadership, it could be a lie, it could also be a sign. Whatever you call it,  people retreat because of it and revenue is impacted … teams hold back information, individuals resist being honest, and people will protect themselves instead of the business. Why Thi...

In Las Vegas, they say you can’t beat the house - but a few rare players know how to change the game. This week on The Sales Leader of Influence SHOW, join Bernadette McClelland and Joel Block, former professional blackjack player turned venture capitalist and hedge-fund manager who’s closed over $1 billion in deals. Joel learned what it takes to win when the stakes are highest - first at the blac...

This week’s… .🎙 WHY DEAL COACHING ISN’T ENOUGH ANYMORE In sales leadership, the biggest performance gaps aren’t in the pipeline - they’re in the people. We review deals, update CRMs, and chase forecasts… But what if what’s stalling revenue isn’t the deal itself? Because deals don’t die in the CRM. And that’s where leadership has to evolve as much as the deal. What We’ll Cover In this episode of Th...

In a world obsessed with strategy, tactics, and KPIs, many leaders forget the most important arena they play in — their own mind. This week, Bernadette pulls back the curtain on one of the most overlooked leadership blind spots: the cost of playing small. Are you showing up fully in your career, your relationships, your life? Or are you staying safe — wearing the mask of professionalism while quie...

Are you truly ready for the opportunities life and leadership are trying to hand you — or are you waiting for them to “arrive”? In this powerful episode of The Sales Leader of Influence Show, host Bernardette McClellan unpacks what it really means to position yourself — not just strategically, but emotionally, practically, and energetically — so that when opportunity knocks, you don’t just answer…...

🎙 Are You Leading from Power — or from Need? In this week’s episode of The Sales Leader of Influence Show , Bernardette McClellan uncovers one of the most overlooked traps in leadership — operating from need instead of want. We may think we’re chasing success, pipeline, and performance… but often, what we’re really doing is living in survival mode, even when our basic needs are already met. We say...

EXPAND YOUR INFLUENCE – True Colours. True North. True Grit. The Sales Leader of Influence Show When markets shift, teams tighten, and confidence wavers - the leaders who rise aren't the loudest… they're the ones with the most clarity and conviction. Because your influence isn't built on authority or title - it's built on how you show up when things are uncertain. In this live session of The Sales...

Resourcefulness Over Resources - Leading When Budgets Are Tight The Sales Leader of Influence Show When the budget gets slashed, the travel freezes hit, and your team is asked to 'do more with less'… most sales leaders panic. But here's the truth: your influence isn't built on the size of your resources - it's built on your ability to be resourceful. In this live session of The Sales Leader of Inf...

The Nervous System of Sales Leadership   The Sales Leader of Influence Show We don’t usually talk about it … but sales leadership is just as physiological as it is tactical. That tight-chested feeling before a forecast review? The slight freeze when the next level up pushes back in the boardroom? The moment you coach your team but your tone gives away your own level of uncertainty? That’s more tha...

Your Forecast Isn't Broken. Your Role Clarity Is. with Bernadette McClelland 🎙 The Sales Leader of Influence Show Most sales leaders think missed numbers are about broken CRMs, sandbagging reps, or bad AI tools. But forecasting failures are symptoms. The real problem? Blurred accountability. In this live session of The Sales Leader of Influence Show, I’ll share the triangle I use with Corporate cl...

🎧 State Over Strategy: The Day Tony Robbins Said ‘You Got The Job!’ A live podcast drop + straight talk for sales leaders who feel the gap between performance and presence 🧭 About This Session: Let’s face it - sales leadership in 2025 is a different game. The targets are tighter. The teams are stretched. The pressure to perform and hold it all together has never been greater. And yet… some leade...

We’re living in a Decision Crisis. Buyers are hesitating. Leaders are second-guessing. Salespeople are stuck in limbo. And here’s the truth: It’s not because people don’t have enough information, better pricing, or smarter strategies. It’s because the rules of influence have changed. In this live episode of The Sales Leader of Influence Show, Bernadette McClelland unpacks the 3 principles behind w...