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

In this episode of Drinks & Deals, Assad Quraishi sits down with Maria Amirkhanyan, Head of the Gaming Division at Duamentes, to explore one of the boldest statements in business development today: “Data is overrated if you don’t know the context.”

Maria shares how her background in cognitive science helps her blend empathy, analytics, and player psychology to create better business outcomes. She discusses how Duamentes combines product, research, and data to help studios understand why players act the way they do—and how that insight leads to stronger engagement and smarter decisions.

They also dive into Duamentes’ North American expansion, their AI-powered accelerator for small studios, and how custom AI agents are reshaping community management and player interaction.

Key takeaways:

• Why data alone can mislead without context or empathy

• How cognitive science enhances sales and player research

• The shift from “Will they pay?” to “Will they choose us?”

• How AI agents can humanize studio-community relationships

A must-listen for anyone working at the intersection of gaming, data, and business development who wants to connect more deeply with their players and partners.

Gaming, business development, cognitive science, player engagement, AI in games, data strategy, empathy in sales, Duamentes, AI agents, game studios

Where to Connect with Maria Amirkhanyan

• LinkedIn: Maria Amirkhanyan on LinkedIn

• • Website: Duamentes

  
  

  Contact Info for Assad

• • LinkedIn: Assad Quraishi on LinkedIn

  • Websites: QS Consulting & XP Gaming

    
    

  • Music by Oleksandr Stepanov from Pixabay

In this episode of Drinks & Deals, Assad Quraishi sits down with David Fugère-Lamarre, Co-founder and CEO of iLLOGIKA, to explore what makes gaming conferences truly valuable for business developers.
From GDC and Gamescom to MIGS and DICE, David shares his firsthand insights on which events get it right—and why others fade away.

They dig into the structure and logistics that drive real business results: meeting space design, pre-show planning systems, and the delicate balance between buyers and sellers. Whether you’re organizing, attending, or pitching at events, this episode reveals how to spot high-ROI conferences and avoid the ones that waste your time.

Key takeaways:

• How to tell when a conference is losing its value

• What BD pros should prioritize when evaluating events

• The red flags that signal poor structure or buyer imbalance

• How community and comfort drive meaningful connections

Pour yourself a drink, pull up a chair, and get ready for a candid look at the business behind the booths.

Where to Connect with David Fugère-Lamarre

• LinkedIn: David Fugère-Lamarre on LinkedIn

• Website: iLLOGIKA

• LinkedIn: Assad Quraishi on LinkedIn

• Websites: QS Consulting & XP Gaming

Music by Oleksandr Stepanov from Pixabay

Contact Info for AssadMusic Credit

In this episode of Drinks & Deals, Assad Quraishi sits down with Cole, Strategic Account Executive at Clio, to talk about mentorship, discovery, and the art of meaningful sales. Cole shares how he prioritizes accounts, builds relationships through curiosity and data, and uses mentorship to give back to the next generation of sales pros. From defining “compelling events” to leveraging AI in discovery, this episode dives deep into how top performers balance metrics with meaning.

You’ll hear practical strategies on identifying your top 10 clients, turning curiosity into conversions, and keeping your sales process human—even in a digital world.

Where to Connect with Cole Hecht:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colehecht7/

Website: https://www.clio.com/

Contact Info for Assad:

LinkedIn: ⁠Assad Quraishi on LinkedIn⁠

Website: ⁠QS Consulting⁠ & ⁠XP Gaming⁠

Music by ⁠Oleksandr Stepanov⁠ from ⁠Pixabay⁠

https://www.qsconsulting.info/drinks-and-deals

In this episode of Drinks & Deals, Assad Quraishi sits down with Dennis Meador, Founder of the Legal Podcast Network. Dennis shares how his team produces 250 episodes per month, the launch story behind the Legal Podcast Network, and his philosophy on sales, leadership, and building scalable systems. From developing an AI-powered podcasting app to turning one episode into 30 days of content, Dennis gives a masterclass on growth, adaptability, and creating value in the legal sector.

• Legal Podcast Network

• Podcast growth

• Sales and entrepreneurship

• AI for podcasting

• Content marketing

• Leadership and scaling

• Business development for lawyers

• Podcast production

Where to Connect with Dennis Meador

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dennismeador/

• Website: https://www.thelegalpodcastnetwork.com/

Contact Info for Assad

• • LinkedIn: ⁠Assad Quraishi on LinkedIn⁠
  • Website: ⁠QS Consulting⁠ & ⁠XP Gaming⁠

  Music Credit
  Music by Oleksandr Stepanov from Pixabay

• 
  

In this solo episode of Drinks & Deals, host Assad Quraishi explores how lessons from gaming—like grinding in Pokémon Go, leveling up, and building long-term strategies—apply directly to sales. From gamification pitfalls to leveraging player psychology, Assad shares actionable insights on discipline, resilience, and building lasting partnerships. Tune in to discover how thinking like a gamer can sharpen your sales strategy and keep you leveling up in business development.

Contact Info for Assad:

LinkedIn: ⁠Assad Quraishi on LinkedIn⁠

Website: ⁠QS Consulting⁠ & ⁠XP Gaming⁠

Music by ⁠Oleksandr Stepanov⁠ from ⁠Pixabay⁠

https://www.qsconsulting.info/drinks-and-deals

sales strategy, gaming in sales, gamification vs gaming, Pokémon Go sales lessons, sales discipline, business development, leveling up, partnerships, resilience in sales, sales pipeline growth