The SDR DiscoCall Podcast: For Brand New Sales Development Reps

Summary: Saad Ghafoor returns to share his journey from being the #1 SDR in EMEA to stepping into an Account Executive role at ClearPay. Having first appeared on the show in Episode 106, Saad comes back with a different perspective - moving beyond outbound into the realities of full-cycle sales and deal ownership. This conversation goes deeper into what actually changes when you move into an AE ro...

In Episode 129 of the SDR DiscoCall Show, Neil Bhuiyan sits down with Karolis Žemaitis, co-founder of GrowTech, to explore the journey from early hustle to building a sales-led business. Karolis shares how his path wasn’t traditional - struggling academically, navigating tough environments, and feeling lost early on. He reflects on how basketball gave him structure and how that eventually translat...

In this episode of the SDR DiscoCall Show, Neil Bhuiyan sits down with Stu Taylor to explore a 20-year journey through sales - from outbound call centres to leadership in tech and sales training. Stu shares the reality of starting in high-pressure environments, how those early experiences built resilience, and the moment he transitioned into tech sales - describing it as “Disneyland” compared to t...

In Episode 127 of the SDR DiscoCall Show, Neil Bhuiyan sits down with Connor Grimes to explore a sales journey that didn’t start in tech and didn’t follow a straight line. From pubs and retail to fuel sales and eventually tech, Connor shares how he learned through experience, early success, and the challenges that came with it. He opens up about the realities of sales performance, leadership, and...

Neil Bhuiyan sits down with Kirsten McCoy, SDR at Patchworks, to explore how confidence in sales is built through experience, not certainty. Kirsten didn’t follow a traditional path after leaving school. While others around her had clear plans, she was figuring things out in real time, eventually stepping into sales through a contact centre role at Scottish Power. It was here she experienced the r...

In this episode, Sonia Gonzalez Guillonneau shares her journey from childhood in Spain to becoming a sales coach and founder of The SDR Coach based in Madrid. Sonia reflects on her early entrepreneurial spirit, including selling bead bracelets as a child, and how those early experiences helped shape her understanding of customer care, value creation and independence. The conversation explores Soni...

Neil Bhuiyan sits down with Emily Hunter, Account Manager at SciLeads, to explore what life after SDR can really look like. Emily shares her career journey from studying international business to starting her professional life during the COVID-19 pandemic and eventually building a career in tech sales. The conversation explores the transition from sales development into partnerships, sales roles a...

In Episode 123 of the SDR DiscoCall Show, Neil Bhuiyan sits down with John Mason, Head of Business Development at Dynamic Planner (at the time of recording), to explore a career built through curiosity, disruption, and consistent growth. They cover John’s early sales journey, balancing music alongside a commercial career, the importance of mentoring, and what it means to be a disruptor in modern s...

In Episode 122 of the SDR DiscoCall Show, Neil Bhuiyan sits down with Henry Clayton, Principal SDR at Allego, to unpack the journey from customer service to tech sales and the mindset shifts required to succeed. Henry shares his transition from Screwfix into SaaS, navigating Allego’s evolution from Refract into a broader sales enablement platform, and the emotional intelligence required to thrive...

In Episode 121 of the SDR DiscoCall Show, Neil Bhuiyan welcomes back Kyan Burke, Sales Manager at Capital on Tap, to explore the real transition from top performer to sales leader. Kyan shares an honest look at imposter syndrome, earning trust with former peers, and the difference between managing numbers and leading humans. Together, they unpack team dynamics, delegation, mindset, public speaking...

Matt Banks – Senior SDR, Salesfinity Summary: In this episode of the SDR DiscoCall Show, host Neil Bhuiyan sits down with Matt Banks , Senior SDR at Salesfinity, to explore how resilience, loss, and personal growth can shape a sales career. Matt shares his journey from hospitality to tech sales, opening up about challenges that tested his mental health and confidence. Together, they discuss how fi...

Mia Kosoglow – Marketing Lead, Hyperbound Summary: In this episode of the SDR DiscoCall Show, host Neil Bhuiyan interviews Mia Kosoglow , the marketing lead at Hyperbound . They discuss Mia’s journey from sales to marketing, the importance of confidence and authenticity in both fields, and the value of self-reflection in career choices. Mia shares her experiences at Outreach and Armada, highlighti...

Summary In this episode of the SDR DiscoCall Show, Neil Bhuiyan welcomes back James Buckley, a seasoned sales professional and content creator. They discuss James’s journey in sales, the evolution of content creation, and the challenges of engaging audiences on platforms like LinkedIn. The conversation dives into authenticity, algorithm shifts, relationship building, and how sales and marketing ca...

Guest: Sriharsha (Sai) Guduguntla – Co-Founder & CEO @ Hyperbound Summary: In this episode of the SDR Disco Call Show, host Neil Bhuiyan welcomes Sriharsha (Sai) Guduguntla, CEO and co-founder of Hyperbound, an AI sales role-play and coaching platform. They discuss Sai’s journey from a software engineering intern to a successful entrepreneur in Silicon Valley, the challenges of being an immigr...

Guest Links: LinkedIn: : Muireann Brennan In this episode of the SDR Disco Call Show, host Neil Bhuiyan interviews Muireann Brennan, an enterprise account executive at Protex AI. Muireann shares her unique journey from a healthcare background to tech sales, emphasising the importance of mentorship, emotional intelligence, and building relationships in sales. She discusses her experiences during th...

Guest Links: LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jlgammans/ Guest: Janie Gammans – Senior Manager, Sales Development – EMEA, Reward Gateway Summary: In this episode of the SDR DiscoCall Show, host Neil Bhuiyan sits down with Janie Gammans, a Sales Development Manager with a vibrant and unconventional career journey. From music journalism and event organising to sales leadership, Janie’s story i...

Unlocking Sales Success with Inês Bastos Guest Links LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/inesgodinhobastos/ In this episode of the SDR DiscoCall Show, host Neil Bhuiyan interviews Inês Bastos, a Business Manager at KCS IT, who shares her journey in sales and personal development. They discuss the importance of networking, overcoming fear of rejection, and the impact of personal experiences on pr...

From super yachts to startup sales, Joel Pearlman shares a global career journey of resilience, mindset, and breaking into tech from an unconventional path. Guest Links LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joel-pearlman-642a3a14/ Company: https://riverside.fm In this episode of the SDR DiscoCall Show, Neil Bhuiyan chats with Joel Pearlman, Senior Business Development Manager at Riverside.fm . Joe...

From selling at the age of 8 to reshaping modern sales thinking, Fred Copestake shares a career defined by curiosity, coaching, and creativity. Guest Links Find Fred on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fredcopestake/ Fred’s Book – Ethical Selling: https://amzn.eu/d/biLP8p8 Sales Today Podcast: https://throughpartnering.libsyn.com/ In this episode of the SDR DiscoCall Show, Neil Bhuiyan sits d...

Find Julia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-vodolazska/ In this heartfelt episode of the SDR DiscoCall Show, Neil Bhuiyan interviews Julia Vodolazska, a Ukrainian tech sales professional who shares her inspiring journey from Ukraine to the Netherlands amidst the war. Julia discusses her early sales experiences, the resilience she built during wartime, and how community and empathy sh...

Find Neil on LinkedIn: HERE In this episode of The SDR DiscoCall Podcast, Neil Bhuiyan takes you through his journey from SDR to Account Executive at Showpad, sharing the pivotal moments that shaped his career in Sales Development. What you'll discover: The challenges of transitioning from SDR to AE—and how to navigate them. Why relationships and feedback are the secret weapons for career growth....

Find Tom on LinkedIn: HERE In this episode of The SDR DiscoCall Show, host Neil Bhuiyan interviews Tom Fortnum, an SDR at Kefron, about his unconventional path from business intelligence analyst to thriving in sales development. Tom shares how his background in competitive rowing instilled the discipline, resilience, and teamwork that now fuel his success in sales. He breaks down the key skills an...

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...

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,...

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 h...