In this compelling episode of Training That Works, Ryan Vanshur, Director of Sales Enablement at Handle.com, brings battle-tested insights from the military, entrepreneurship, and SaaS sales into one high-impact conversation. From overcoming cancer at 26 to selling his startup to private equity, Ryan shares how life-altering challenges shaped his approach to learning, leadership, and performance.

He discusses the power of immersive training (like military boot camp), the value of digital confidence, and why foundational tech literacy is non-negotiable in remote-first sales organizations. Ryan also reveals how a $49 AI prompt course transformed his productivity and outlines how to design training that actually sticks—by focusing on post-training reinforcement.

Whether you're leading a team or developing one, Ryan’s philosophy—rooted in resilience and real results—offers a blueprint for building high-impact enablement programs.

🎙️ Training That Works — where top performers share what actually works.

🔥 Email Magic™ turns average communicators into credible, respected voices. 👉 email-magic.com

In this episode of Training That Works, sales leader Wei Wang shares transformative lessons from his journey through Oracle, McKinsey, and now HireEz. From a high-impact “Dead Poets Society” training experience that shaped his value-driven sales mindset, to navigating cultural barriers in ineffective trainings, Wei pulls back the curtain on what truly moves the needle in professional development. He emphasizes why relevancy and interactivity are non-negotiables in modern training, the power of customizing content to meet team needs, and how elite sales strategies like Challenger and MEPIC changed his approach to leadership. He also opens up about personal motivation, the peaks and valleys of high-stakes selling, and a behind-the-scenes look at his role in a $1.5 billion enterprise deal. This episode is packed with practical tips, book recommendations, and real stories from the trenches to inspire both seasoned pros and up-and-coming sales leaders.

🎙️ Training That Works — where top performers share what actually works.

🔥 Email Magic™ turns average communicators into credible, respected voices. 👉 email-magic.com

In this episode of Training That Works, Rustin Schroeder sits down with Susan Altman, Chief Sales Officer at AmTrav, to discuss the real drivers of sales success and effective training strategies in today’s corporate landscape. With over 35 years of experience in corporate travel and enterprise sales, Susan shares the secrets behind her enduring career and the lessons she's learned from leading high-performance teams. From the importance of structured onboarding and sales fundamentals to the nuanced use of techniques like Challenger Selling, Susan delivers actionable insights for leaders and sales professionals alike. This is an episode packed with energy, wisdom, and practical takeaways for anyone invested in sales, leadership, or training.

🎙️ Training That Works — where top performers share what actually works.

🔥 Email Magic™ turns average communicators into credible, respected voices. 👉 email-magic.com

In this episode of Training That Works, we sit down with Matt Hamilton, Senior Director of Sales Engineering at CasePoint, who brings over 30 years of experience at the intersection of law, tech, and sales. Matt offers a tour through modern sales engineering, where he plays the role of a strategic “tour guide” for software demos and sales enablement. He shares his candid insights into effective training methods, the critical blend of human interaction and tech, and how to motivate teams across generational divides. Listeners will gain real-world perspectives on fostering great customer service, creating impactful training programs, and why executive participation in training matters more than ever. Plus, Matt opens up about the philosophies that drive his leadership, including his faith, continuous learning mindset, and practical approaches to culture building.

Whether you're leading a sales team, building training programs, or trying to instill a service-first culture, this conversation is full of actionable ideas and honest wisdom.

🎙️ Training That Works — where top performers share what actually works.

🔥 Email Magic™ turns average communicators into credible, respected voices. 👉 email-magic.com

In this episode of Training That Works, Erik Holvik, Director of Corporate Development and Strategy at EnergySage, shares his sales journey across industries—from e-commerce and travel to his passion-fueled role in solar. He opens up about transformative training approaches, the importance of authenticity in sales calls, and how empowering reps to own their scripts drives better performance. Erik also discusses his leadership philosophy, the influence of The Challenger Sale, and why belief in the product isn’t optional—it’s essential. Whether you’re building a sales team or refining your pitch, Erik delivers practical, high-impact insights that work.

🎙️ Training That Works — where top performers share what actually works.

🔥 Email Magic™ turns average communicators into credible, respected voices. 👉 email-magic.com

Pete Carlson didn’t wait for permission to grow—he's building his own path to the top. Now an Enterprise Account Director at Pendo, Pete shares the training framework that’s reshaped how his team communicates, the mindset that pushed him to ask for elite-level coaching, and the personal habits that fuel long-term success. You’ll hear how he evaluates training ROI, motivates unmotivated teammates, and stays sharp in a high-performance culture. Stick around to hear the simple but powerful question he uses to change how people see themselves at work.

🎙️ Training That Works — where top performers share what actually works.

🔥 Email Magic™ turns average communicators into credible, respected voices. 👉 email-magic.com

Most training fails because it focuses on hype, not real skill. In this episode, Brian Hodges shares the three reasons the best training of his career transformed how he sells — and why "manufactured enthusiasm" is a waste of time. We dive deep into the power of belief, how to tie solutions to real business problems, and why great managers make or break lasting change.

Plus: a real-world story of how spotting one small problem saved a $6 million project—and how you can sharpen your instincts to catch critical moments too.

🎙️ Training That Works — where top performers share what actually works.

🔥 Email Magic™ turns average communicators into credible, respected voices. 👉 email-magic.com

Most companies are still training the wrong way—and it’s costing them real revenue. In this episode, Esar Mlika, Director of Global Sales Development at Tive, shares the truth about what training actually works, how to meet reps where they are, and why understanding learning styles is no longer optional.

He also reveals why “rah-rah” motivation fades fast—and what sustainable growth really requires. Stay tuned for two critical book recommendations that will change how you train and lead.

🎯 List of Recommended Tools and Books from Esar

• Books:
  • Give and Take by Adam Grant
  • Strategic Selling by Robert B. Miller and Stephen E. Heiman
• Tools/Approaches:
  • In-person, whiteboard-based training for complex industries
  • Tailored training based on individual learning styles (visual, auditory, hands-on.)

🎙️ Training That Works — where top performers share what actually works.

🔥 Email Magic™ turns average communicators into credible, respected voices. 👉 email-magic.com