After 30 years in sales leadership, Joseph Fontana stepped away to recharge, rediscover himself, and redefine what success really means. In this candid conversation, Joe and Assad dive deep into the realities of modern sales — the grind, the burnout, and the transformation that happens when you finally stop playing a role and start selling as your authentic self.

From the aggressive 90s cold-call culture to today’s relationship-driven selling, Joe shares how sales has evolved into a mix of art and science, why every seller needs a mentor or coach, and how tools like AI or automation can never replace human connection. He also opens up about how over 1 billion in revenue and 155,000 hours of talk time taught him one lesson above all: tech should replace nothing but time.

If you’ve ever wrestled with burnout, imposter syndrome, or the pressure to always perform, this episode will remind you that great sellers aren’t machines — they’re humans who care, connect, and keep learning.

sales authenticity, burnout recovery, mentorship, sales leadership, B2B sales, human selling, sales coaching, automation in sales, work-life balance, sales mindsetWhere to Connect with Joseph Fontana

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-fontana75/

• Contact Info for Assad

  • LinkedIn: Assad Quraishi on LinkedIn
• • Websites: QS Consulting

  Music Credit

  Music by Oleksandr Stepanov from Pixabay

In this episode of Drinks & Deals, host Assad Quraishi sits down with Dylan Lavis, Head of Marketing and Business Development at Paragon Interactive, to unpack how to make conferences actually pay off.

From his early days managing trade shows to leading BD at Forbes and now co-developing games at Paragon, Dylan shares real strategies for preparing, performing, and following up after events. You’ll learn how to plan your conference calendar like a pro, create memorable connections, and measure ROI in long B2B cycles — all without losing your sanity.

Expect a refreshingly human conversation about diligence, humility, and the power of strong personal foundations. Whether you’re attending GDC, MIGS, or your next local networking event, this episode will change how you think about conferences forever.

Conferences, Business Development, Networking, Sales Strategy, ROI, Paragon Interactive, Forbes, B2B Marketing, Game Industry, Leadership

Where to Connect with Dylan Lavis

LinkedIn: Dylan Lavis
Website: paragoninteractive.io

Contact Info for AssadLinkedIn: Assad Quraishi
Websites: QS Consulting | XP Gaming

Music CreditMusic by Oleksandr Stepanov from Pixabay

In this episode of Drinks & Deals, Assad Quraishi sits down with Calson Sheng, a serial entrepreneur and former Next 36 fellow, to talk about what every founder eventually learns the hard way: success isn’t just about ideas—it’s about partnerships.

Calson shares lessons from building startups across AI, SaaS, and Web3, and how his latest project aims to transform financial operations for nursing homes. The conversation dives into deal-making, audience scoping, and how understanding industry-specific workflows can make or break your go-to-market strategy.

He also discusses the art of outreach, the reality of cold calls, and why relationship building is the only true moat in today’s B2B world. Whether you’re launching your first product or refining your pitch, this episode offers clear, grounded advice on building something that lasts.

Key takeaways:

• Identify the right pain point for the right audience.

• Narrow your focus — “everyone” is not your customer.

• Understand industry workflows before writing a single line of code.

• Don’t skip relationship-building — it’s your most defensible advantage.

• Founders should validate problems before building solutions.

Entrepreneurship, startups, business development, B2B SaaS, partnerships, deal-making, audience targeting, cold calling, Next 36, relationship building

Where to Connect with Calson Sheng

• LinkedIn: Calson Sheng on LinkedIn

• • Website: Coming soon – follow Calson on LinkedIn for updates.

  Contact Info for Assad

• • LinkedIn: Assad Quraishi on LinkedIn

  • Websites: QS Consulting

  Music by Oleksandr Stepanov from Pixabay