What separates average sales leaders from the ones people actually want to follow?

In this episode of Sales Lead Dog, Christopher Smith sits down with Joy Wilder Lybeer, Chief Revenue Officer at Source Advisors, for a conversation on sales leadership, team building, accountability, trust, and why servant leadership still wins in high-performance sales organizations.

Joy shares the leadership lessons that shaped her career, from running retail banking teams to leading revenue organizations, and explains why the best leaders stay close to the work, stay honest with their teams, and never confuse authority with leadership.

This episode also dives into CRM adoption, performance culture, identifying future leaders, and why helping people achieve their best is one of the most important jobs a sales leader can take on.

• Why great sales leaders are tough on numbers but generous with people
• How trust and vulnerability shape high-performing sales teams
• Why some top performers should never become managers
• What Joy looks for when building a winning sales culture
• How to identify future sales leaders inside your team
• Why women in sales often need encouragement to step into leadership roles
• What breaks CRM adoption and how leaders can fix it
• Why servant leadership is still one of the strongest growth advantages in sales

Joy Wilder Lybeer is the Chief Revenue Officer at Source Advisors, a specialty tax advisory firm that helps businesses unlock tax credits and incentives through expert guidance and CPA partnerships.

She is an experienced revenue leader with a background across strategy, marketing, banking, and executive sales leadership. Throughout her career, Joy has built high-performing teams, led large revenue organizations, and developed a leadership style centered on accountability, trust, and helping people reach their full potential.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joywilderlybeer/

Learn more about Source Advisors: https://sourceadvisors.com/

Sales Lead Dog is hosted by Christopher Smith, CRM technology and sales process expert, and founder of Empellor CRM. Each episode features sales leaders who have separated themselves from the rest of the pack, sharing how they achieve success with their teams and their CRM strategy.

Unless you are the lead dog, the view never changes.

All episodes and show notes: https://empellorcrm.com/salesleaddog/

If this episode brought you value:

👍 Hit Like and help more sales professionals find this conversation. 🔔 Subscribe so you never miss a Sales Lead Dog episode. 💬 Drop your biggest takeaway in the comments. What makes a sales leader worth following?

What does it take to drive growth, lead change, and build winning sales organizations?

In this episode of Sales Lead Dog, Christopher Smith sits down with Rodrigo Hijar, Head of Sales Strategy and Planning at Vilore Foods Company, to discuss sales leadership, growth strategy, change management, consumer behavior, CRM, and the future impact of AI on sales organizations.

Rodrigo shares lessons from his journey through management consulting, revenue growth strategy, and consumer goods leadership. He explains why showing up consistently, staying ready for opportunity, and embracing change are critical to long-term success.

The conversation explores how sales strategy teams can partner more effectively with sales leaders, why change management often fails, and how AI is beginning to reshape the role of CRM and sales planning.

• Why showing up consistently is one of the biggest drivers of success • How luck and preparation work together to create opportunities • The difference between B2B and consumer-focused sales organizations • Why sales leadership requires a unique approach to management • How sales strategy teams can create greater organizational impact • The keys to successful change management initiatives • Why sales and strategy teams must operate as one organization • How CRM should help predict what happens next, not just track activity • Why AI will transform sales planning and decision-making • How high-performing teams embrace growth and change

Rodrigo Hijar is Head of Sales Strategy and Planning at Vilore Foods Company, where he helps drive commercial growth, organizational transformation, and strategic planning initiatives.

With more than 12 years of experience advising and leading consumer goods organizations across the United States and the Americas, Rodrigo brings deep expertise in revenue growth management, pricing strategy, pack-price architecture, promotional optimization, trade terms, and commercial strategy.

His career spans management consulting and consumer goods leadership, helping organizations unlock growth opportunities while building sustainable commercial capabilities.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodrigo-hijar/

Learn More About Vilore Foods: https://www.vilore.com/

Sales Lead Dog is hosted by Christopher Smith, CRM technology and sales process expert, and founder of Empellor CRM. Each episode features sales leaders who have separated themselves from the rest of the pack, sharing how they achieve success with their teams and their CRM strategy.

Unless you are the lead dog, the view never changes.

All episodes and show notes: https://empellorcrm.com/salesleaddog/

If this episode brought you value:

👍 Hit Like and help more sales professionals find this conversation.

🔔 Subscribe so you never miss a Sales Lead Dog episode.

💬 Drop your biggest takeaway in the comments. What has been the biggest factor in your career growth: preparation, opportunity, or persistence?

What does it take to build high-performing sales teams in an AI-driven world? In this episode of Sales Lead Dog, Christopher Smith sits down with Leala Dueno, CRO and Founder at LATTIX, to discuss sales leadership, team development, mentorship, CRM strategy, AI, and what it takes to create repeatable revenue growth. Leala shares lessons from her journey building and scaling sales organizations, leading enterprise growth initiatives, and helping companies navigate the evolving relationship between data security, AI, and business growth. The conversation explores the realities of sales leadership, the importance of resilience, how to manage up effectively, and why CRM and AI are transforming the future of sales organizations. What You'll Learn • How great mentors can accelerate career growth • Why ego often becomes a barrier to sales success • The mindset needed to overcome setbacks in sales • Lessons from building and scaling high-performing teams • How successful leaders manage up and influence stakeholders • Why CRM must evolve beyond a system of record • How AI is changing sales operations and decision-making • The risks organizations face when adopting AI • Why data quality is critical for growth and forecasting • Leadership principles that help teams perform consistently About Leala Dueno Leala Dueno is the CRO and Founder at LATTIX, a company building trust infrastructure for the AI era. She is a revenue leader and startup operator with extensive experience building and scaling sales and account management teams across global technology organizations. Throughout her career, Leala has led enterprise growth initiatives, developed go-to-market strategies, and managed multimillion-dollar portfolios across technology services and AI-driven solutions. At LATTIX, she is helping define a new category at the intersection of data security, AI, and zero-trust infrastructure, enabling organizations to securely share, control, and trust their data across increasingly complex environments. Her leadership approach focuses on building repeatable revenue systems, developing talent, and helping organizations adapt to the rapidly changing technology landscape. Connect with Leala Dueno LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lealadueno/ Learn More About LATTIX: https://lattix.com About Sales Lead Dog Sales Lead Dog is hosted by Christopher Smith, CRM technology and sales process expert, and founder of Empellor CRM. Each episode features sales leaders who have separated themselves from the rest of the pack, sharing how they achieve success with their teams and their CRM strategy. Unless you are the lead dog, the view never changes. Connect and Learn More All episodes and show notes: https://empellorcrm.com/salesleaddog/ If this episode brought you value: 👍 Hit Like and help more sales professionals find this conversation. 🔔 Subscribe so you never miss a Sales Lead Dog episode. 💬 Drop your biggest takeaway in the comments. What leadership lesson has had the biggest impact on

What separates great sales leaders from the rest? In this episode of Sales Lead Dog, Christopher Smith sits down with Aaron Coleman, Chief Revenue Officer at ZSuite Technologies, to discuss sales leadership, team development, process discipline, CRM adoption, AI, and what it takes to build a consistent revenue engine. With more than 25 years of experience in financial technology sales and revenue leadership, Aaron has built and led high-performing teams across the financial services industry. He shares practical lessons on leadership, prospecting, coaching, sales culture, and why successful organizations never stop focusing on the fundamentals. Aaron also explains how banks evaluate technology investments, how sales teams can navigate long buying cycles, and why AI is becoming an essential tool for modern revenue organizations. What You'll Learn • Why discipline and consistency still drive sales success • The importance of curiosity in sales and leadership • Leadership lessons learned from great and poor managers • How to build a culture of collaboration across remote teams • Why sales leaders should coach to strengths, not weaknesses • The key to managing long and complex sales cycles • How top sales organizations qualify opportunities more effectively • Why process matters more than talent alone • How AI is changing prospecting, CRM, and customer engagement • The future of revenue leadership in financial technology About Aaron Coleman Aaron Coleman is the Chief Revenue Officer at ZSuite Technologies, a bank technology company that helps financial institutions grow commercial deposits through virtual account management solutions. At ZSuite Technologies, Aaron leads sales and marketing efforts, helping banks and credit unions transform operational challenges into scalable opportunities for growth. With more than 25 years of experience in financial technology sales and revenue leadership, he has built and led high-performing teams, expanded client relationships, and developed revenue strategies across the financial services landscape. Known for his results-driven leadership style and ability to translate complex banking technology into clear business value, Aaron focuses on building strong partnerships, repeatable growth strategies, and sales cultures that deliver results. Connect with Aaron Coleman LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-coleman/ ZSuite Technologies: https://zsuitetech.com About Sales Lead Dog Sales Lead Dog is hosted by Christopher Smith, CRM technology and sales process expert, and founder of Empellor CRM. Each episode features sales leaders who have separated themselves from the rest of the pack, sharing how they achieve success with their teams and their CRM strategy. Unless you are the lead dog, the view never changes. Connect and Learn More All episodes and show notes: https://empellorcrm.com/salesleaddog/ If this episode brought you value: 👍 Hit Like and help more sales professionals find this conversation. 🔔 Subscribe so you never miss a Sales Lead Dog episode. 💬 Drop your biggest takeaway in the comments. What sales leadership lesson from Aaron resonated most with you?

In this episode of Sales Lead Dog, Christopher Smith sits down with Listy Limon, Chief Revenue Officer at GFS Home Loans, to discuss leadership, mortgage sales, AI, CRM adoption, customer trust, and building high-performing sales teams in a challenging market. With more than 20 years of experience across the mortgage industry, Listy shares practical lessons on leadership, structure, accountability, and why service continues to separate top producers from everyone else. She also explains how AI, digital branding, and changing customer expectations are reshaping the mortgage industry faster than many professionals realize. Listy is known for combining strategic leadership with hands-on execution, helping teams grow while staying deeply connected to customers and day-to-day operations. The conversation also explores sales culture, coaching, CRM discipline, and what it takes to stay relevant in an increasingly digital sales environment. What You’ll Learn • Why trust and service matter more than rates alone • How AI is changing customer behavior in mortgage sales • The importance of structure and consistency in leadership • Why personal branding now impacts referrals and revenue • How CRM discipline improves sales performance • What separates top-performing loan officers from the rest • Lessons from leading through a difficult mortgage market • Why transparency and communication build stronger teams • How to create accountability without fear-based leadership Guest Information Listy Limon Chief Revenue Officer, GFS Home Loans LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/listylimon/ Listy Limon is a passionate, people-first mortgage executive with over 20 years of hands-on experience across all areas of the industry. As Chief Revenue Officer at GFS Home Loans, she leads national growth initiatives, develops high-performing teams, and drives revenue growth through a strong focus on people, process, and purpose. Recognized as a NEXT Powerhouse Leader and one of NMP Magazine’s 40 Under 40 Mortgage Professionals, Listy combines strategic vision with hands-on leadership. She is passionate about empowering teams, improving customer experience, and helping shape the next generation of leaders. Based in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, Listy is also a proud mother of three boys and enjoys spending time outdoors fishing and attending live music events with her husband Frankie. About Sales Lead Dog Sales Lead Dog is hosted by Christopher Smith, CRM technology and sales process expert, and founder of Empellor CRM. Each episode features sales leaders who have separated themselves from the rest of the pack, sharing how they achieve success with their teams and their CRM strategy. Unless you are the lead dog, the view never changes. Connect and Learn More All episodes and show notes: https://empellorcrm.com/salesleaddog/ If this episode brought you value: 👍 Hit Like and help more sales professionals find this conversation. 🔔 Subscribe so you never miss a Sales Lead Dog episode. 💬 Drop your biggest takeaway in the comments. What leadership lesson stood out most to you?

Why do so many salespeople lose deals even when they think meetings went well?

In this episode of Sales Lead Dog, Christopher Smith sits down with James White, Founder of James White Sales, to discuss emotional intelligence in sales, buyer psychology, CRM adoption, prospecting persistence, and the habits that separate top sales performers from everyone else.

With more than 30 years of experience in sales leadership, training, and business growth, James shares practical insights on how sales professionals can improve conversations, build trust, follow up effectively, and create consistent long-term revenue growth.

This conversation covers modern selling, coaching sales teams, handling rejection, improving sales processes, and why emotional intelligence matters more than scripts and generic sales tactics.

What You'll Learn

• Why most sales calls fail • The importance of emotional intelligence in sales • How buyer psychology impacts decision making • Why salespeople give up too early • The real reason CRM adoption fails • How to follow up without sounding pushy • Why persistence creates more opportunities • The role of empathy in closing deals • Building long-term sales habits that actually work • Why great salespeople never stop learning

Guest Details

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameswhitesales/

Website: www.jameswhite.business

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/JamesWhiteSales/videos

Growth Resourcing: https://growthresourcing.co.uk/

About Sales Lead Dog

Sales Lead Dog is hosted by Christopher Smith, CRM technology and sales process expert, and founder of Empellor CRM. Each episode features sales leaders who have separated themselves from the pack, sharing how they achieve success with their teams and their CRM strategy.

Unless you are the lead dog, the view never changes.

Connect and Learn More

All episodes and show notes: https://empellorcrm.com/salesleaddog

If this episode brought you value:

👍 Hit Like and help more sales professionals find this conversation. 🔔 Subscribe so you never miss a Sales Lead Dog episode. 💬 Drop your biggest takeaway in the comments. What sales habit has helped you improve the most?

Why do so many sales conversations fail before they even begin? In this episode of Sales Lead Dog, Christopher Smith sits down with Darren Haygood, Chief Revenue Officer and Managing Partner at Streamline Auto Solutions, to talk about the real skills behind successful sales leadership, customer relationships, and long-term business growth. With more than 25 years of experience across OEM, dealership, and automotive SaaS organizations, Darren shares practical lessons on leadership, active listening, CRM adoption, customer experience, and building authentic client relationships that last. From launching innovative automotive technology solutions to leading high-performing sales organizations, Darren explains why the best salespeople focus less on pitching products and more on understanding problems. The conversation also explores mentorship, leadership development, CRM implementation challenges, and why trust still matters more than technology in modern sales. If you work in sales, automotive, leadership, CRM, SaaS, or customer experience, this episode offers practical insights you can apply immediately. What You’ll Learn • Why active listening is the most important skill in sales • How top salespeople build trust and credibility faster • Why product demos fail when done too early • How to identify the real customer problem before selling • The role mentorship plays in leadership development • Why most companies fail to fully utilize their CRM systems • How authenticity improves long-term client relationships • Why education works better than hard selling • Leadership lessons from automotive SaaS and dealership operations • How process and technology should improve customer experience Guest Information Darren Haygood Chief Revenue Officer and Managing Partner, Streamline Auto Solutions Proud father of four, adventure enthusiast, triathlete, and automotive SaaS sales executive with 25+ years of experience across OEM, dealer, and digital marketing organizations. Darren focuses on driving meaningful change for dealers through technology solutions, data insights, and scalable processes that improve the customer experience. Connect with Darren Haygood: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrenhaygood/ Learn more about Streamline Auto Solutions: https://streamlineautosolutions.com/ About Sales Lead Dog Sales Lead Dog is hosted by Christopher Smith, CRM technology and sales process expert, and founder of Empellor CRM. Each episode features sales leaders who have separated themselves from the rest of the pack, sharing how they achieve success with their teams and their CRM strategy. Unless you are the lead dog, the view never changes. Connect and Learn More All episodes and show notes: https://empellorcrm.com/salesleaddog/ If this episode brought you value: 👍 Hit Like and help more sales professionals find this conversation. 🔔 Subscribe so you never miss a Sales Lead Dog episode. 💬 Drop your biggest takeaway in the comments. What sales lesson stood out most to you from Darren’s approach?

What does it take to lead a global sales team selling drone navigation technology to the Department of Defense, in environments where GPS cannot be trusted?

Kara Kramer, Vice President of Raptor Sales at Vantor, joins Sales Lead Dog to break down her journey from the intelligence community to the front lines of defense technology sales, and the leadership philosophy she built around one core principle: being the shield for her team.

This episode covers mission-driven sales, building diverse global teams, why women are underrepresented in sales leadership, and a CRM take that will change how you think about your pipeline tool.

What You'll Learn:

• How 9/11 redirected Kara from vet school to a career built around national security mission
• What GPS-denied environments mean and why Raptor exists to solve it for military drone operations
• The shield leadership model: absorb the pressure so your team can close
• Why she hated CRM as a seller and now calls it the tool that protects her entire team
• What she actually looks for when building a globally diverse sales team
• The real reason there are not enough women in sales leadership and what the data says
• How to run demos that move defense tech deals forward when no PowerPoint will do it
• How to build a team career path without assuming everyone wants what you wanted

About Kara Kramer:

Kara Kramer is the Vice President of Raptor Sales at Vantor. She leads the global go-to-market team for Raptor, the company's vision-based software suite enabling precise drone navigation and target coordinate extraction in GPS-denied environments. Vantor is a spatial intelligence company that fuses data from satellites, drones, and ground sensors to create a real-time digital representation of Earth, delivering mission-critical insights for defense, intelligence, and commercial operations.

She previously held leadership roles at AeroVironment, Shift5, and Istari, and earlier in her career served in the intelligence community and worked at Booz Allen Hamilton and Thomson Reuters.

Connect with Kara

Learn more about Vantor

Vantor on LinkedIn

Drone autonomy without GPS

About Sales Lead Dog:

Sales Lead Dog is hosted by Christopher Smith, CRM technology and sales process expert, and founder of Empellor CRM. Each episode features sales leaders who have separated themselves from the rest of the pack, sharing how they achieve success with their teams and their CRM strategy.

Unless you are the lead dog, the view never changes.

All episodes and show notes: https://empellorcrm.com/salesleaddog/

If this episode brought you value:

👊 Hit Like and help more sales professionals find this conversation. 🔔 Subscribe so you never miss a Sales Lead Dog episode.

💬 Drop your biggest takeaway in the comments. What principle is most relevant to where you are in your career right now?