

Sales Game Changers | Tips from Successful Sales Leaders
Fred Diamond
Institute for Effective Professional Selling founder Fred Diamond interviews top business-to-business sales leaders from companies such as AWS, AT&T, Oracle, Microsoft, Salesforce, Hilton and others about their sales journey, career highlights, mentors, and lessons learned while asking them to offer tips to help emerging sales professionals and leaders to grow their careers. It's an interview-style podcast that has become even more popular as sales professionals look for solutions in the new world of selling.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 2, 2026 • 32min
Debunking Sales Myths So You Sell More Effectively with Lorenzo Bizzi
This is episode 827. Read the complete transcription on the Sales Game Changers Podcast website. This is an Office Hours: Sales Professors Unplugged sub-brand of the Sales Game Changers Podcast. Watch the video of this podcast on YouTube here. The Sales Game Changers Podcast was recognized by YesWare as the top sales podcast. Read the announcement here. FeedSpot named the Sales Game Changers Podcast at a top 20 Sales Podcast and top 8 Sales Leadership Podcast! Subscribe to the Sales Game Changers Podcast now on Apple Podcasts! Purchase Fred Diamond's best-sellers Love, Hope, Lyme: What Family Members, Partners, and Friends Who Love a Chronic Lyme Survivor Need to Know and Insights for Sales Game Changers now! *]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "request-WEB:de0e0349-5442-49a8-850c-e5ff59b2cd30-382" data-testid= "conversation-turn-12" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> On today's show, we interviewed Rishi Bhaskar, Worldwide Public Sector Partnership Lead at Amazon Web Services. Find Lorenzo on LinkedIn. LORENZO'S TIP: "When buyers make decisions, what matters most is not advantages versus disadvantages, but their perception of risk. Reducing uncertainty is what leads to the sale."

Mar 31, 2026 • 23min
Selling Mission Outcomes in the AI Era with Rishi Bhaskar of AWS
This is episode 826. Read the complete transcription on the Sales Game Changers Podcast website. Watch the video of this podcast on YouTube here. The Sales Game Changers Podcast was recognized by YesWare as the top sales podcast. Read the announcement here. FeedSpot named the Sales Game Changers Podcast at a top 20 Sales Podcast and top 8 Sales Leadership Podcast! Subscribe to the Sales Game Changers Podcast now on Apple Podcasts! Purchase Fred Diamond's best-sellers Love, Hope, Lyme: What Family Members, Partners, and Friends Who Love a Chronic Lyme Survivor Need to Know and Insights for Sales Game Changers now! *]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "request-WEB:de0e0349-5442-49a8-850c-e5ff59b2cd30-382" data-testid= "conversation-turn-12" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> On today's show, we interviewed Rishi Bhaskar, Worldwide Public Sector Partnership Lead at Amazon Web Services. Find Rishi on LinkedIn. RISHI'S TIP: "If you engage customers in their context, not in technology terms, that's fundamental to success. When you can speak both mission language and technical language, your credibility is established immediately."

Mar 26, 2026 • 30min
Greg Accardo Details What'll Be Covered at the LSU Sales Symposium
This is episode 825. Read the complete transcription on the Sales Game Changers Podcast website. This is an Office Hours: Sales Professors Unplugged sub-brand of the Sales Game Changers Podcast. Watch the video of this podcast on YouTube here. The Sales Game Changers Podcast was recognized by YesWare as the top sales podcast. Read the announcement here. FeedSpot named the Sales Game Changers Podcast at a top 20 Sales Podcast and top 8 Sales Leadership Podcast! Subscribe to the Sales Game Changers Podcast now on Apple Podcasts! Purchase Fred Diamond's best-sellers Love, Hope, Lyme: What Family Members, Partners, and Friends Who Love a Chronic Lyme Survivor Need to Know and Insights for Sales Game Changers now! *]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "request-WEB:de0e0349-5442-49a8-850c-e5ff59b2cd30-382" data-testid= "conversation-turn-12" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> On today's show, we interviewed Greg Accardo, Director, Professor and Instructor at the Louisiana State University Professional Sales Institute. Find out more about the LSU Sales Symposium event on April 9th here. Find Greg on LinkedIn. GREG'S TIP: "Your key to success in sales is to truly understand your customer's business, even better than they do. That's what separates you, because products are similar, but becoming a trusted resource is what makes you different."

Mar 24, 2026 • 29min
College Sales Educator of the Year Brian Collins Prepares Students for Elite Sales Careers
This is episode 824. Read the complete transcription on the Sales Game Changers Podcast website. This is an Office Hours: Sales Professors Unplugged sub-brand of the Sales Game Changers Podcast. Watch the video of this podcast on YouTube here. The Sales Game Changers Podcast was recognized by YesWare as the top sales podcast. Read the announcement here. FeedSpot named the Sales Game Changers Podcast at a top 20 Sales Podcast and top 8 Sales Leadership Podcast! Subscribe to the Sales Game Changers Podcast now on Apple Podcasts! Purchase Fred Diamond's best-sellers Love, Hope, Lyme: What Family Members, Partners, and Friends Who Love a Chronic Lyme Survivor Need to Know and Insights for Sales Game Changers now! *]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "request-WEB:de0e0349-5442-49a8-850c-e5ff59b2cd30-382" data-testid= "conversation-turn-12" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> On today's show, we interviewed Brian Collins, Director of the Sales Center at Virginia Tech and IEPS first College Sales Educator of the Year awardee. Find Brian on LinkedIn. BRIAN'S TIP: "Spend your time where it matters most. If something isn't real in your pipeline, be honest with yourself, move on, and focus on opportunities that actually move the needle."

Mar 19, 2026 • 20min
Break Down Sales and Marketing Silos to Drive Revenue with Kelli Furrer
This is episode 823. Read the complete transcription on the Sales Game Changers Podcast website. The Sales Game Changers Podcast was recognized by YesWare as the top sales podcast. Read the announcement here. FeedSpot named the Sales Game Changers Podcast at a top 20 Sales Podcast and top 8 Sales Leadership Podcast! Subscribe to the Sales Game Changers Podcast now on Apple Podcasts! Purchase Fred Diamond's best-sellers Love, Hope, Lyme: What Family Members, Partners, and Friends Who Love a Chronic Lyme Survivor Need to Know and Insights for Sales Game Changers now! *]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "request-WEB:de0e0349-5442-49a8-850c-e5ff59b2cd30-382" data-testid= "conversation-turn-12" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> On today's show, we interviewed Kelli Furrer, Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Revenue Officer at Slingshot Aerospace. Find Louise on LinkedIn. KELLI'S TIP: "In complex markets, if you win the narrative early, you win the contract later. Marketing doesn't close the deal, but it shapes the conditions for it long before the opportunity appears."

Mar 18, 2026 • 32min
Climb Higher in Sales and Life with Women in Sales Leader Louise McEvoy
This is episode 822. Read the complete transcription on the Sales Game Changers Podcast website. Watch the video of this podcast on YouTube here. The Sales Game Changers Podcast was recognized by YesWare as the top sales podcast. Read the announcement here. FeedSpot named the Sales Game Changers Podcast at a top 20 Sales Podcast and top 8 Sales Leadership Podcast! Subscribe to the Sales Game Changers Podcast now on Apple Podcasts! Purchase Fred Diamond's best-sellers Love, Hope, Lyme: What Family Members, Partners, and Friends Who Love a Chronic Lyme Survivor Need to Know and Insights for Sales Game Changers now! *]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "request-WEB:de0e0349-5442-49a8-850c-e5ff59b2cd30-382" data-testid= "conversation-turn-12" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> On today's show, we interviewed Louise McEvoy, Senior Vice President, Global Channel Sales at Keyfactor. Find Louise on LinkedIn. LOUISE'S TIP: "Bring your best self every time. If you've done everything you can, then the outcome isn't failure, it's just part of the journey."

Mar 17, 2026 • 29min
Navigating AI, Pipeline, and Customer Trust with IEPS Lifetime Achievement Award Winner Nick Michaelides
This is episode 821. Read the complete transcription on the Sales Game Changers Podcast website. The Sales Game Changers Podcast was recognized by YesWare as the top sales podcast. Read the announcement here. FeedSpot named the Sales Game Changers Podcast at a top 20 Sales Podcast and top 8 Sales Leadership Podcast! Subscribe to the Sales Game Changers Podcast now on Apple Podcasts! Purchase Fred Diamond's best-sellers Love, Hope, Lyme: What Family Members, Partners, and Friends Who Love a Chronic Lyme Survivor Need to Know and Insights for Sales Game Changers now! *]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "request-WEB:de0e0349-5442-49a8-850c-e5ff59b2cd30-382" data-testid= "conversation-turn-12" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> On today's show, we interviewed Nick Michaelides, former Senior Vice President of U.S. Public Sector Sales at Cisco and the 2026 IEPS Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. Find David on LinkedIn. NICK'S TIP: "Every sales professional needs to lean in on AI and understand where the technology is going, because if you don't, someone else will, and they will outsell you."

Mar 13, 2026 • 26min
Sales Leadership Lessons from Longtime NetApp Channel Leader David Drahozal
This is episode 820. Read the complete transcription on the Sales Game Changers Podcast website. The Sales Game Changers Podcast was recognized by YesWare as the top sales podcast. Read the announcement here. FeedSpot named the Sales Game Changers Podcast at a top 20 Sales Podcast and top 8 Sales Leadership Podcast! Subscribe to the Sales Game Changers Podcast now on Apple Podcasts! Purchase Fred Diamond's best-sellers Love, Hope, Lyme: What Family Members, Partners, and Friends Who Love a Chronic Lyme Survivor Need to Know and Insights for Sales Game Changers now! *]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "request-WEB:de0e0349-5442-49a8-850c-e5ff59b2cd30-382" data-testid= "conversation-turn-12" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> On today's show, we interviewed David Drahozal, former Sr. Director of U.S. Public Sector Channel Sales at NetApp, who is announcing his retirement after decades of leadership in the public sector technology channel. Congratulations, and thank you for sharing your insights and experience with the Sales Game Changers community. Find David on LinkedIn. DAVID'S TIP: "Implement the 120 rule. If something takes under 120 seconds, do it immediately. Otherwise all the little things pile up with the big things and it becomes overwhelming."

Mar 12, 2026 • 34min
Scaling the West Virginia University Professional Sales Institute with David Brauer
This is episode 819. Read the complete transcription on the Sales Game Changers Podcast website. This is an Office Hours – Sales Professors Unplugged sub-brand of the Sales Game Changers Podcast. The Sales Game Changers Podcast was recognized by YesWare as the top sales podcast. Read the announcement here. FeedSpot named the Sales Game Changers Podcast at a top 20 Sales Podcast and top 8 Sales Leadership Podcast! Subscribe to the Sales Game Changers Podcast now on Apple Podcasts! Purchase Fred Diamond's best-sellers Love, Hope, Lyme: What Family Members, Partners, and Friends Who Love a Chronic Lyme Survivor Need to Know and Insights for Sales Game Changers now! *]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "request-WEB:de0e0349-5442-49a8-850c-e5ff59b2cd30-382" data-testid= "conversation-turn-12" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> On today's show, we interviewed David Brauer, Director of the Sales Institute of West Virginia University. Find Dennis on LinkedIn. DAVID'S TIP: "Build your network. Always be growing it no matter how far along you are in your career. Connect with new people because you can learn from everybody. Opportunity dances with those who are on the dance floor."

Mar 10, 2026 • 18min
How Dennis Lucey Built a Sixty-Year Career Selling to the U.S. Government
This is episode 818. Read the complete transcription on the Sales Game Changers Podcast website. The Sales Game Changers Podcast was recognized by YesWare as the top sales podcast. Read the announcement here. FeedSpot named the Sales Game Changers Podcast at a top 20 Sales Podcast and top 8 Sales Leadership Podcast! Subscribe to the Sales Game Changers Podcast now on Apple Podcasts! Purchase Fred Diamond's best-sellers Love, Hope, Lyme: What Family Members, Partners, and Friends Who Love a Chronic Lyme Survivor Need to Know and Insights for Sales Game Changers now! *]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "request-WEB:de0e0349-5442-49a8-850c-e5ff59b2cd30-382" data-testid= "conversation-turn-12" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> On today's show, we interviewed Dennis Lucey, Vice President at Akima Global Technologies. Skilled in Storage Area Network (SAN), Government, Storage, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), and Go-to-market Strategy. Find Dennis on LinkedIn. DENNIS' TIP: "Anytime you do an outreach, particularly to a Fed, put it in context. Why do you want to connect and what are you bringing to them? Not what they can do for you, but what you can do for them."


