In this episode of The Future of Selling, host Rick Smith is joined by Michael Gallagher, founder of the Stevie Awards and co-founder of two AI-driven companies: Reqsy and ImageShield.

Michael shares why recognition matters more than ever in an AI-powered world, how storytelling is the key to standing out, and why building your personal brand is crucial—especially for early-career sales professionals facing automation threats.

🔥 Key Topics:

Why Michael launched the "Oscars for Business" in the shadow of Enron

How AI is changing sales recognition—and how to use it wisely

How to tell a story that gets noticed (and wins awards)

Advice for sales reps who want to future-proof their careers

💡 Whether you’re a seller, a team leader, or just curious about the future of recognition and AI, this conversation will leave you with clear, practical takeaways.

Connect with Michael Gallagher https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-gallagher-a8b785/
Nominate a Sales Pro for a Stevie Award: https://stevieawards.com//sales

Connect with Rick Smith https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-smith-094b29b
Connect with Conquer https://conquer.io/

Cold outreach is broken—and this founder has a plan to fix it.
In this episode of The Future of Selling, we explore what happens when you stop spamming inboxes and start respecting your prospects.

Our guest is Ryan O'Hara, founder of Pitchfire, a paid-prospecting platform that flips traditional sales outreach on its head. Instead of begging for time, reps pay for responses—and it’s working. With reply rates up to 60% and meetings booked in just 3 pitches, this is not your average cold outreach conversation.

🎯 We cover:
– Why reply rates have plummeted and how to turn the tide
– The difference between buying a meeting vs. buying a response
– How creativity (like sending piano songs!) builds trust
– What “zero-click marketing” and personal branding mean for sellers
– Why paid prospecting could actually be more ethical
– The future of B2B sales, AI, and buyer-led deal rooms
– A real story about how a cold call led to a life-changing conversation

Whether you lead a sales team or carry a quota, this conversation will challenge the way you think about outreach.

Connect with Ryan O'Hara https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanmohara/
Connect with Pitchfire https://www.pitchfire.com/

Connect with Rick Smith https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-smith-094b29b
Connect with Conquer https://conquer.io/

In this episode of The Future of Selling Podcast, host Rick Smith sits down with Shannon Schaul, founder and principal of SKS Advisory, to explore how sales has fundamentally changed since the pandemic, and what leaders must do to adapt.

Shannon brings a unique perspective from years of building go-to-market strategies for growth-stage, mission-driven companies. From empathy-driven selling to the rise of hybrid sales skills, this conversation covers it all.

• What’s different about selling in 2025
• Why empathy and small talk are essential, not optional
• The outdated sales mindsets that no longer work
• Why your team must use their voice
• The problem with most sales training, and how to fix it
• How to invest in people the right way
• And why "hitting pause" might be the most powerful leadership move you can make

Whether you're a CRO, sales leader, or individual contributor, this episode is packed with practical insights to help you lead with purpose and perform at a higher level.

Connect with Shannon Schaul: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonschaul/

Connect with Rick Smith: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-smith-094b29b/
Check out Conquer: https://conquer.io/