"If I'm going to do anything that is in service to you, I have to see you first." - Candy Barone

In this powerful episode, Dr. Nadia Y. Brown sits down with Candy Barone, founder of You Empowered Strong, to unpack the truth about relational sales, authentic leadership, and what it really means to build relationships in business.

This isn't a conversation built for sales tips or hacks. It's an unfiltered discussion for leaders who are ready to lead with integrity, vulnerability, and empowerment. With nearly two decades in corporate leadership and business strategy, Candy's insights remind us that you don't have to abandon results to lead with integrity. When you slow down, listen deeply, and lead from alignment, trust grows and so does revenue.

Episode Highlights:

• Why most "relationship-driven sales" are still transactional

• How fear-based cultures kill trust and empowerment

• What relational leadership actually looks like in practice

• Why empowerment beats hierarchy

• How integrity-driven selling creates long-term growth

This episode is designed for founders, leaders, sales professionals, and culture builders eager to move beyond surface-level tactics and build businesses rooted in trust, courage, and real human connection.

Connect with Candy:

LinkedIn: @candybarone

Website: www.candybarone.com

Connect with Dr. Nadia:

LinkedIn: @‌drnadia

Instagram: @‌iamdrnadia

Website: www.thedoyenneagency.com

Email: hello@thedoyenneagency.com

Is it time for you to transition out of the sales role and focus on building or scaling your sales team?

Take Our Sales Team Readiness Quiz!

Want to be a guest on the podcast?

Email us at askdrnadia@thedoyenneagency.com

"Sustainable sales isn't a silver bullet. It's a practice and a discipline that compounds over time." -Tam Smith

In this episode, Dr. Nadia Y. Brown sits down with Tam Smith, Founder and Sales Growth Strategist at Studio Three 49, for a powerful conversation about transformation, sustainable growth, and what it really takes to build a sales culture that lasts.

Tam shares how her diverse career journey from broadcast TV to luxury retail sales leadership has shaped the way she leads and sells today. Together, they unpack why most organizations plateau, how to build a trusting culture, and why discipline, mindset, and permission matter most.

This episode is a must-listen for founders and sales leaders navigating growth, identity shifts, and the uncomfortable transition from "chief doer" to visionary leader.

Connect with Tam:

LinkedIn: @tamera-b-smith

Podcast: Sales As Service Podcast

Website: www.studiothree49.com

Connect with Dr. Nadia:

LinkedIn: @‌drnadia

Instagram: @‌iamdrnadia

Website: www.thedoyenneagency.com

Email: hello@thedoyenneagency.com

Is it time for you to transition out of the sales role and focus on building or scaling your sales team?

Take Our Sales Team Readiness Quiz!

Want to be a guest on the podcast?

Email us at askdrnadia@thedoyenneagency.com

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Welcome to the newly rebranded podcast! Join our candid conversations with sales leaders, enablement experts, and revenue influencers, as we discuss the realities of sales culture, from team burnout and misalignment to scaling pains. Walk away with actionable insights, frameworks, and tools to lead with clarity, courage, and intention.

"The hardest thing that you're going to have to do is to let go." -Cari Kenzie

Leadership and sales aren't just about numbers. They're about awareness, alignment, and curiosity. In this episode, Cari Kenzie, keynote speaker, leadership advisor, and founder of KINZA, reveals why self-awareness is the ultimate problem-solving tool for leaders. She breaks down how understanding your own strengths, aligning your energy, and leading with curiosity can unlock performance, build psychologically safe teams, and elevate your organization's impact. Cari shares actionable strategies for leaders, founders, and sales professionals who want to identify what's really standing in the way and how to remove it without sacrificing themselves in the process.

Connect with Cari:

Learn more about KINZA and their upcoming Leadership Reframe by visiting http://www.kinzacollective.com. If you have questions, email them at team@kinzacollective.com

Connect with Dr. Nadia:

LinkedIn: @‌drnadia

Instagram: @‌iamdrnadia

Website: www.thedoyenneagency.com

Email: hello@thedoyenneagency.com

Is it time for you to transition out of the sales role and focus on building or scaling your sales team?

Take Our Sales Team Readiness Quiz!

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Welcome to the newly rebranded podcast! Join our candid conversations with sales leaders, enablement experts, and revenue influencers, as we discuss the realities of sales culture, from team burnout and misalignment to scaling pains. Walk away with actionable insights, frameworks, and tools to lead with clarity, courage, and intention.

"That's not a culture, that's chaos." - Meghan Henning

In the first episode of Sales Culture Unfiltered, Dr. Nadia Y. Brown sits down with Meghan Henning, Founder & CEO of Arche Advisory Group, to talk about what today's always-on sales culture is really doing to people and performance.

This conversation goes beyond surface-level burnout. Meagan shares her experience navigating leadership, high performance, and motherhood inside sales environments that reward constant availability while quietly eroding trust, boundaries, and long-term results.

Together, they challenge hustle myths, toxic loyalty, and the belief that overwork equals commitment. This episode is for sales leaders, founders, and revenue teams who want sustainable performance — not chaos disguised as culture.

Connect with Meghan:

Website: www.archeadvisorygroup.com

LinkedIn: @arche-advisory-group

Let's Connect:

LinkedIn: @‌drnadia

Instagram: @iamdrnadia

Website: www.thedoyenneagency.com

Email: hello@thedoyenneagency.com

Don't want to miss an episode?

Subscribe to the podcast to get new episodes delivered straight to your favorite podcast platform!

Want to be a podcast guest?

Email us at askdrnadia@thedoyenneagency.com

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Welcome to the newly rebranded podcast! Join our candid conversations with sales leaders, enablement experts, and revenue influencers, as we discuss the realities of sales culture, from team burnout and misalignment to scaling pains. Walk away with actionable insights, frameworks, and tools to lead with clarity, courage, and intention.

Hey, I'm Dr. Nadia Y. Brown, your host and Sales Culture Architect!

After two decades of helping founders and sales leaders build high-performing teams, I kept noticing the same pattern: we obsess over sales methodologies and tech stacks, but leadership and culture, the forces that truly determine whether teams thrive or merely survive, rarely get the attention they deserve. These invisible elements can elevate a decent sales team into something extraordinary… or quietly dismantle even the most talented group.

In this episode, I'm getting unfiltered about sales culture, leadership, and why it's time to stop letting your team grind themselves into the ground. I'll share the unspoken truths, leadership mistakes we make, and how you can start building a healthy, thriving sales team today.

If you're a founder, sales leader, or sales enablement pro ready to stop surviving and start thriving, this episode is for you. Let's get real, let's have fun, and let's start creating sales cultures that actually work!

Want to be a podcast guest?

Email us at askdrnadia@thedoyenneagency.com

Let's Connect:

LinkedIn: @‌drnadia

Instagram: @iamdrnadia

Website: www.thedoyenneagency.com

Email: hello@thedoyenneagency.com

Don't want to miss an episode?

Subscribe to the podcast to get new episodes delivered straight to your favorite podcast platform!

Enjoying the show?

If you are enjoying the show, be sure to rate us on Apple Podcasts with a short review! This helps us spread our message with more leaders like you.

"The only way to fail is if you quit." ~Dr. Nadia Y. Brown

Join us as we celebrate the culmination of season four of the Straight Talk About Sales podcast, by reflecting on key lessons from my book, "Sell Like a Lady: How to Master Sales with Dignity, Class, and Grace." In this episode, we revisit themes such as courage, systems, and mindset, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and the necessity of taking breaks to avoid burnout. Quoting Mel Robbins, we highlight the significance of starting as a critical step towards success. We also explore the role relationships play in sales, cautioning against mistreating potential clients based on biases or assumptions, and the importance of setting boundaries without unfair treatment.

Listen in as we discuss the importance of nurturing relationships and maintaining a structured sales pipeline. We emphasize treating potential clients with respect and integrity, even if they aren't ready to purchase initially, as this can lead to future opportunities. Learn about the client journey versus the traditional sales funnel, advocating for personalized, ongoing relationships with clients that adapt to their evolving needs. Through a client case study, we illustrate how an effective pipeline system can enhance team collaboration and significantly impact revenue goals.

Key takeaways from this episode:

• The indispensable role of courage, effective systems, and a resilient mindset for sustained success.

• Mel Robbins' wisdom on the power of simply getting started and why perseverance is your best ally.

• The art of setting boundaries without unfair treatment and avoiding biases that harm potential relationships.

• Nurturing relationships and maintaining a structured sales pipeline with respect and integrity.

• The power of a well-organized pipeline system to boost team collaboration and revenue goals.

• Shifting from a traditional sales funnel to a client-centric approach, fostering trust and repeated success.

Remember to keep adding tips and strategies to your own sales toolkit that will improve your revenue outcomes and equip you to serve your clients at a higher level.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Straight Talk About Sales Podcast

• The Doyenne Agency Website

• Order "Sell Like A Lady"

• Grab your copy of the Courage Diary

• Take the Discover Your Sales Blindspot Quiz – discoveryoursalesblindspot.com

• Save the Date *** Our upcoming Convert Lab, September 26-28, 2024. More details coming soon.

• Have questions or suggestions for a future episode? Email us at askdrnadia@thedoyenneagency.com

Connect with Straight Talk About Sales

If you haven't done so already, subscribe to the podcast. Published episodes will come directly to your favorite podcast app.

If you enjoyed the show, please rate it on Apple Podcasts with a short review. Doing so will help me reach more entrepreneurs and small business owners just like you.

Connect with Dr. Nadia directly on LinkedIn

"Systems can change your business & your life." ~Dr. Nadia Y. Brown

Unlock the secrets to maintaining a steady cash flow in your business by mastering the power of automation and delegation. Listen to this episode of Straight Talk About Sales, where I share my personal journey and practical insights on avoiding the revenue rollercoaster. You'll learn how consistent client acquisition efforts can stabilize your income and why organizing your tasks effectively, either through personal execution or smart delegation, is critical to your success.

We break down the five essential sales systems every business needs for growth, starting with lead qualification methods that ensure you're focusing on the right prospects. Additionally, discover how personalized touches, like sending birthday cards, can nurture existing relationships and keep your clients engaged. The episode also covers the importance of seamless client systems, from onboarding to off-boarding, to enhance both client experience and operational efficiency. Don't miss the special preview of our upcoming Convert Lab event, aimed at helping you implement these best practices in your business.

Key takeaways from this episode:

• Automation & Delegation: Discover how these powerful tools can help stabilize your business income by ensuring that your time is used most effectively.

• Five Essential Sales Systems: From lead qualification to personalized client engagement, we break down the systems you need to boost growth and improve operational efficiency.

• Client Systems: Learn the importance of seamless client onboarding and off-boarding processes, and how these systems can enhance both client experience and your business operations.

• Personal Touches: Understand how small gestures, like sending birthday cards, can nurture relationships and keep your clients engaged.

Remember to keep adding tips and strategies to your own sales toolkit that will improve your revenue outcomes and equip you to serve your clients at a higher level.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Straight Talk About Sales Podcast

• The Doyenne Agency Website

• Order "Sell Like A Lady"

• Grab your copy of the Courage Diary

• Take the Discover Your Sales Blindspot Quiz – discoveryoursalesblindspot.com

• Save the Date *** Our upcoming Convert Lab, September 26-28, 2024. More details coming soon.

• Have questions or suggestions for a future episode? Email us at askdrnadia@thedoyenneagency.com

Connect with Straight Talk About Sales

If you haven't done so already, subscribe to the podcast. Published episodes will come directly to your favorite podcast app.

If you enjoyed the show, please rate it on Apple Podcasts with a short review. Doing so will help me reach more entrepreneurs and small business owners just like you.

Connect with Dr. Nadia directly on LinkedIn

"Fear is a thief and a liar." ~Dr. Nadia Y. Brown

Ever wrestled with the jittery demons of doubt and fear in your sales career? Prepare to arm yourself with the transformative power of courage in this episode of Straight Talk About Sales, as we dissect the mental barriers that stand between you and your next big win. Join me on a journey through my own battles with fear, drawing from a pivotal doctoral program experience that left me physically ill. Discover how adopting Mel Robbins' "The Five Second Rule" can shift you from paralysis to action, and why courage isn't just a nice-to-have, but an absolute necessity in the trenches of business and sales.

This episode isn't just a pep talk; it's a blueprint for redefining success on your terms, free from the distortive lens of social media and societal expectations. I get personal, sharing the unique emotional challenges of being a woman entrepreneur and the critical importance of disconnecting self-worth from the rollercoaster of business results. Learn to trust the power of your intuition, harness the courage to step decisively, and embrace a measure of success that's tailored to your personal journey. For anyone craving a fresh perspective on professional fulfillment, this conversation is your clarion call to action.

Key takeaways from this episode:

• Courage in sales is essential and can be bolstered with the Five Second Rule

• Defining success is personal – do it on your own terms and check in regularly

• Trust your gut; it's your superpower when making decisions

Remember to keep adding tips and strategies to your own sales toolkit that will improve your revenue outcomes and equip you to serve your clients at a higher level.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Straight Talk About Sales Podcast

• The Doyenne Agency Website

• Order "Sell Like A Lady"

• Grab your copy of the Courage Diary

• Take the Discover Your Sales Blindspot Quiz – discoveryoursalesblindspot.com

• Have questions or suggestions for a future episode? Email us at askdrnadia@thedoyenneagency.com

Connect with Straight Talk About Sales

If you haven't done so already, subscribe to the podcast. Published episodes will come directly to your favorite podcast app.

If you enjoyed the show, please rate it on Apple Podcasts with a short review. Doing so will help me reach more entrepreneurs and small business owners just like you.

Connect with Dr. Nadia directly on LinkedIn