The SDR DiscoCall Podcast: For Brand New Sales Development Reps

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 reality of sales early, targets, pressure, rejection, and learning by doing.
The conversation goes deeper into the personal challenges that shaped her. Kirsten opens up about living with anxiety, navigating difficult relationships, and the isolation she experienced during COVID, including losing friends to suicide.
Rather than something that disappears, she shares how anxiety is something she has learned to manage through honesty, support and self-awareness.

Listener Discretion:
This episode includes discussion of anxiety, trauma and suicide. Please take care while listening. Support resources are listed below.

Guest Links
LinkedIn: Kirsten McCoy
Company: Patchworks
Key Takeaways
Confidence in sales is built through action, not waiting to feel ready
Not knowing your path early on is normal and often where growth begins
Contact centre sales builds resilience through real conversations and rejection
Anxiety does not go away, but learning to manage it changes everything
Speaking openly and asking for support improves both mental health and performance
Being dropped in football developed resilience that now shows up in sales
Coaching provides belief and structure when you don’t yet have it yourself
Identity outside of work strengthens how you show up professionally
Enjoying your work directly impacts performance and consistency

Chapters & Timestamps
00:00 – Introduction to the SDR DiscoCall Show
01:12 – Meet Kirsten: An SDR’s Journey
04:18 – Kirsten’s Path to Sales
09:36 – Overcoming Challenges in Career Choices
11:57 – Lessons from Scottish Power
12:46 – Lessons from Scottish Power
15:24 – Transitioning to New Roles
18:26 – Exploring Account Management
21:18 – Navigating the Pandemic
24:08 – Career Progression and Opportunities
27:01 – The Impact of Social Media on Sales
39:37 – Career Progression and Opportunities
41:37 – Building a Strong Foundation in Sales
44:43 – The Importance of Coaching and Mentorship
49:17 – The Role of Sports in Personal Development
55:50 – Navigating Anxiety and Mental Health
01:06:34 – Advice for the Younger Self

Soundbites
“Ask questions and accept help”
“Resilience is key in sales”
“TikTok opened new doors for me”

Support & Resources
UK & Ireland: Samaritans - 116 123 / [email protected]
USA & Canada: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline - Dial 988
International: https://www.befrienders.org/
Global: https://findahelpline.com/

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 Sonia’s move to the UK, navigating language and cultural barriers, and how she built her early career in tech sales. She shares lessons around resilience, seizing opportunity and developing confidence early in your career.
Neil and Sonia also discuss the realities of personal growth, the importance of authenticity and kindness in business, and how self-awareness plays a key role in building a meaningful career.
For anyone navigating their own career journey, Sonia shares honest reflections on overcoming adversity, embracing growth and continuing to evolve both personally and professionally.

Guest Links
LinkedIn: Sonia Gonzalez Guillonneau
Company: The SDR Coach
Sonia's Podcast - Watch on YouTube
Sonia's Podcast - Listen on Spotify

Key Takeaways
Resilience is a core mindset for navigating career development
Early entrepreneurial experiences can shape long-term business skills
Overcoming language and cultural barriers builds adaptability and confidence
Curiosity and an opportunity mindset accelerate career growth
Empathy and compassion remain important human qualities in modern sales
Authenticity and self-awareness are key to building meaningful professional relationships
Kindness in business can strengthen connections with customers and colleagues

Chapters & Timestamps
00:00 – Introduction to the SDR Disco Call Show
01:29 – Meet Sonia Gonzalez-Guillonneau: Sales Coach and Podcaster
02:32 – Sonia’s Passions: Travel, Creativity and Sports
03:29 – Launching the “Kindness in Business” Podcast
05:29 – Sonia’s Journey into Sales: Early Influences
12:22 – Entrepreneurial Spirit: Selling Bracelets at a Young Age
14:36 – Moving to the UK: Challenges and Growth
20:11 – University Experience: From Film Studies to Art History
25:31 – Starting a Career in Sales: The First Job
26:50 – Navigating Corporate Transitions
29:31 – Building Relationships and Seizing Opportunities
35:17 – The Drive for Independence and Success
42:06 – Challenges in Sales: Gender Dynamics and Personal Struggles
50:53 – Navigating Relationships and Success
54:26 – The Journey to Coaching
59:37 – The Reality of Self-Employment
01:12:34 – Advice for the Next Generation
01:18:10 – Outro

Soundbites
“Life is definitely not linear.”
“You’re stronger than you think.”
“Keep learning and evolving.”

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 and ultimately account management. Emily explains what the day-to-day life of an account manager actually looks like, how customer relationships evolve after the deal is signed, and why many professionals find fulfilment in long-term customer partnerships.
They also discuss imposter syndrome, mentorship, mental resilience, and how career paths in sales rarely follow a straight line.
For SDRs thinking about their next move, Emily offers practical advice on believing in your abilities, embracing new opportunities, and remembering that growth often happens outside your comfort zone.
Guest Links
LinkedIn: Emily Hunter
Company: SciLeads
Watch on YouTube
Key Takeaways
Career paths in sales are rarely linear and often evolve through multiple roles
Account managers combine customer success, consulting and commercial growth
Long-term customer relationships require empathy, adaptability and trust
Mentorship and supportive leadership can accelerate professional growth
Imposter syndrome is common even among successful sales professionals
Difficult customer conversations become easier with experience
COVID forced many professionals to rethink their career direction
Believing in yourself and staying open to opportunity creates long-term growth
Chapters & Timestamps
00:00 – Introduction to the SDR DiscoCall Show
00:01 – Meet Emily Hunter and her career journey
02:35 – Personal passions and life outside of sales
05:35 – From university to the start of her career
06:57 – Early career challenges and learning experiences
08:11 – The impact of COVID-19 on Emily’s role
10:47 – Growth, resilience and adapting to change
16:28 – Navigating the pandemic early in her career
17:30 – Moving from SDR-style work into account management
19:14 – Partnerships and collaborative selling
21:03 – Transitioning into account management
27:17 – The day-to-day role of an account manager
34:05 – Navigating difficult customer conversations
41:00 – Advice for aspiring account managers
45:08 – Episode outro
Soundbites
“Think of us as the ZoomInfo for science.”
“Do something you enjoy, do something you love.”
“Believe in yourself and your abilities.”

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 sales. The conversation also touches on neurodiversity at work and includes a discussion of clinical depression.
Listener Discretion
This episode includes a discussion of clinical depression. If this topic may be distressing, please use the support resources provided below.
Guest Links
LinkedIn: John Mason
Company (at time of recording): Dynamic Planner
Current role (Jan 2026): Founder & Chief Revenue Officer, People & Pipeline Consulting
Key Takeaways
Sales development is crucial at the beginning of the sales cycle
Mentoring matters, giving back accelerates growth for both sides
Dynamic Planner helps financial advisers understand client risk
Balancing passions like music alongside sales is possible, but requires intention
Confidence matters, but it works best when balanced with humility
Preparation is essential for interviews, presentations, and big moments
Neurodiversity is increasingly recognised in the workplace
You can learn from people at every level, not just leaders
Being a disruptor can create standout growth in a crowded market
Chapters & Timestamps
00:00 – Introduction to The SDR DiscoCall Show
01:34 – Meet John Mason: A Journey in Sales
02:10 – Understanding the Dynamic Planner’s Role
03:00 – Diverse Personas in Financial Services
03:16 – Passions Beyond Sales: Music and Mentoring
04:53 – Exploring John’s Career Path
05:52 – Falling into Sales: John’s Early Experiences
08:05 – Transitioning to MDC: New Challenges
09:46 – Finding Love and a New Job
10:54 – Reflections on Early Career at BT
14:02 – Balancing Music and Sales Career
19:39 – Transitioning to MDC: A New Industry
22:37 – Global Sales: A New Perspective
23:04 – Navigating Career Transitions
25:39 – The Rise of Disruptors in Tech
30:53 – Understanding Neurodiversity
40:14 – Advice for the Next Generation
Soundbites
“I fell into sales by accident.”
“Sales is a hard enough job as it is.”
“We are all lifetime learners.”
Support & Resources
UK & Ireland: Samaritans — 116 123 / [email protected]
USA & Canada: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — Dial 988
International: Befrienders Worldwide — https://www.befrienders.org/
Global: Find a Helpline — https://findahelpline.com/

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 high-pressure SDR environments. They explore mental health during the pandemic, the power of counselling, cold calling structure, LinkedIn virality, and why staying authentic matters more than copying top performers.

Guest Links:

Guest LinkedIn URL: https://www.linkedin.com/in/henry--clayton/
Guest’s Company: https://www.allego.com/

Key Takeaways:

Emotional intelligence can be developed and sharpened through customer-facing roles
You must make sales frameworks your own, not copy others
Structure in cold calls creates confidence
Asking permission before giving feedback builds trust
Counselling and coaching can unlock self-awareness
The pandemic reshaped career decisions for many SDRs
LinkedIn visibility can amplify your voice, but authenticity sustains it
The SDR role is mentally demanding but can be deeply rewarding
Fun is essential for longevity in sales

Chapters & Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction to SDR DiscoCall Podcast
01:18 – Meet Henry Clayton: SDR at Allego
02:34 – Understanding Allego: A YouTube for Sales
03:31 – From Screwfix to SaaS
05:25 – Customer Service Skills That Translate to Sales
08:30 – Transitioning into Tech Sales
10:35 – Emotional Intelligence in Sales
12:07 – Pandemic & Mental Health
13:57 – Managing Diverse Teams
16:26 – Advice for Aspiring SDRs
19:32 – Seeking New Opportunities
21:46 – Finding Joy in Sales
28:02 – Transitioning Within Allego
33:44 – Viral LinkedIn Moment
53:57 – Creating Engaging Content
01:02:40 – Advice for New Sales Professionals
01:05:20 – Shoutouts
01:06:59 – Outro

Soundbites:

“The best way to grow is to understand yourself better.”
“I love you on a cold call.”
“Don’t change who you are.”