Ep. 29 - The Trusted Advisor: Joel Carroll on How Relationships Win More Than The Hard Sell

Ep. 29 - The Trusted Advisor: Joel Carroll on How Relationships Win More Than The Hard Sell

What does it take to become one of the AV industry's most trusted voices?   In this episode of Always on the Hunt, Leo sits down with Joel Carroll, one of the AV industry's most respected educators, trainers, and sales leaders. Through leadership roles at Extron, Atlona, WolfVision, and Mersive, Joel has built a reputation for helping customers, integrators, consultants, and end users simplify complex technology, build trust, and create lasting business relationships. Joel shares how his journey from technical theater to training and eventually sales taught him that success isn't about having the perfect pitch, it's about listening, simplifying complexity, building trust, and investing in relationships long before asking for the business. Leo and Joel discuss: *  Why trusted advisors consistently outperform hard sellers *  How to simplify complex technology without losing credibility *  Why listening is the most underrated sales skill *  Adapting your communication style to every audience *  How education builds trust and drives long-term success *  Transitioning from technical roles into sales *  Why relationships, not products, are the real competitive advantage *  Building a career through community, mentorship, and authenticity *  The importance of work-life balance and knowing when to unplug Whether you're in sales, leadership, engineering, or just looking to build stronger professional relationships, this conversation is filled with practical lessons that extend far beyond the AV industry.  Connect with Leo and Joel: Leo's LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/leogolubitsky/] Joel's LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejoelcarroll/] Are You on the Hunt? Visit birddogtalent.com [https://birddogtalent.com/]

Ep. 28 - The Executive Mindset: Shaun Schuetz on Leadership & Building Systems That Win Across Any Channel

What does it take to lead successfully across different industries, countries, and business models? In this episode of Always on the Hunt, Leo sits down with Shaun Schuetz, whose career has taken him from the sales floor at Best Buy and Magnolia to executive leadership roles at AudioQuest, Harman, and some of the industry's most respected brands. Along the way, Shaun lived and worked in Taiwan, led global business initiatives, and learned that while markets and channels may change, great leadership principles do not.  In this episode, Leo and Shaun discuss: *  How executives think differently than managers *  Why relationships remain your greatest competitive advantage *  Leadership lessons from living and working around the world *  Developing people and building high-performing teams *  Why feedback, curiosity, and continuous learning drive long-term success  Most importantly, they explore why the best leaders don't rely on a great product, a hot market, or the right channel, they build systems, processes, and cultures that consistently win, no matter the environment. Whether you're an executive, manager, business owner, or someone looking to grow your career, this conversation is packed with practical leadership insights that apply far beyond the A/V industry. Connect with Leo and Shaun: Leo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leogolubitsky/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/leogolubitsky/] Shaun: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaunschuetz/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaunschuetz/] Are You On The Hunt? Visit birddogtalent.com [https://birddogtalent.com/]

Ep. 27 – Stacking Days: Sal Amato on Discipline, Relationships & Success

What creates long-term success, talent, motivation, or discipline? In this episode of Always on the Hunt, Leo sits down with industry veteran Sal Amato, whose career spans Toshiba, Samsung, Sanyo, Panasonic, Barco, Kramer, and now Optoma, for a conversation on relationships, leadership, and the power of stacking days. Sal shares the story behind his 2,000+ day streak of walking at least five miles every day, his personal 30 calls/day rule, and how small actions repeated consistently can transform your health, career, and life.  Walking 5+ miles for 2,000 consecutive days  The 30 calls/day relationship-building rule  Discipline vs. motivation  Leadership and team-building lessons  Career growth and mentorship  InfoComm and A/V industry trends  Advice for young professionals Success isn’t built in a day. It’s built by stacking days. Connect with Leo and Sal: Sal Amato: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sal-amato-6780384/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sal-amato-6780384/] Leo Golubitsky: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leogolubitsky/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/leogolubitsky/] Are You on the Hunt? Visit: https://birddogtalent.com/ [https://birddogtalent.com/]   #AVTweeps #AVJobs #ProAV #AVIndustry #InfoComm #AlwaysOnTheHunt

Ep. 26 - $100M+, Multiple Times: Sam Malik on Building Teams, Scaling Companies & Winning in A/V

How do you build not just one successful business but multiple $100M+ businesses in the A/V industry? In this episode of Always on the Hunt, Leo sits down with industry veteran, SCN Hall of Fame member, Commercial Integrator A/V Living Legend, and AVIP founder Sam Malik for a conversation on leadership, growth, scaling teams, and building businesses that last. Drawing from leadership roles at Toshiba, Sanyo, Vivitek, Optoma, Maxhub, and more, Sam shares lessons on profitability, hiring, culture, and what it really takes to scale organizations.  Building multiple $100M+ businesses  Leadership and team-building strategies  Hiring and building high-performing teams  Revenue vs. profitability  Working across global cultures and organizations  Why onboarding impacts retention  AI, InfoComm, and A/V industry trends  AVIP, networking, and personal branding  Advice for young professionals entering A/V Whether you're a sales leader, manufacturer, integrator, recruiter, or early in your career, there are lessons here for anyone looking to grow. Connect with Leo and Sam: Sam Malik: LinkedIn Profile [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sammalik/] Leo Golubitsky: LinkedIn Profile [https://www.linkedin.com/in/leogolubitsky/] Are You on the Hunt? Visit Birddog Talent [https://birddogtalent.com/]   #AVTweeps #AVJobs #ProAV #AVIndustry #InfoComm #AlwaysOnTheHunt

Ep. 25- Finding Success by Being Yourself: Jessica Sanders

In Episode 25 of Always on the Hunt, Leo sits down with Jessica to talk about career growth, authenticity, and what it really takes to succeed in the AV industry while being fully yourself. Jessica’s journey has taken her from church sound tech and touring musician to integrator, rep firm, distributor, and now overseeing global distribution for a major LED manufacturer. Along the way, she became one of the industry’s strongest voices in DirectView LED, helping manufacturers and distributors rethink how LED could successfully scale through the channel. But this episode goes deeper than business strategy. Jessica opens up about her transition, the fear of how the industry would react, and how carrying the weight of hiding part of herself affected both her confidence and career. She shares how learning to live authentically ultimately made her stronger, more confident, and more effective professionally. Leo and Jessica also discuss: * Why top performers make noise instead of blending in * The importance of mentorship and feedback * Building cultures where people actually thrive * Adapting, evolving, and owning your career path * Why “doing the basics” still separates the best from everyone else This episode is about growth, resilience, authenticity, and finding success by finally being yourself. Connect with Leo and Jessica: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-sanders-255b6847/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-sanders-255b6847/] https://www.linkedin.com/in/leogolubitsky/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/leogolubitsky/]   Are You on the Hunt? Visit birddogtalent.com [http://birddogtalent.com/]