AI & Data Driven Leadership

67 - Walter Crosby: Avoiding Common Sales Hiring Mistakes: How to Find and Keep Top Performers

In this episode of AI and Data Driven Leadership, Dean Guida interviews Walter Crosby, CEO of Helix Sales Development, about building effective sales organizations. Walter shares insights on helping founders transition out of direct sales roles, diagnosing root causes of sales problems using data, and tracking key metrics like pipeline health and win rates. He discusses common hiring mistakes, the importance of objective assessments, and aligning compensation with company goals. Walter also addresses AI's role in sales efficiency while debunking the myth that it will replace salespeople, and emphasizes the need for consistent sales processes, clear messaging, and strong coaching to drive scalable, accountable revenue growth. Check out Walter's work HERE [https://helixsalesdevelopment.com/]. Connect with Walter on LinkedIn HERE [https://www.linkedin.com/in/walterlcrosby/]. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE [https://podcast.slingshotapp.io/podcast-guest-application].

66 - Eric Coffie: Beyond Bids: Building a Strategic Pipeline and Leveraging AI to Win Federal Contracts

In this episode, host Dean Guida interviews Eric Coffie, Founding Member of GovCon Giants and a federal procurement expert. Eric breaks down the $800 billion government contracting market, explaining how small businesses can strategically pursue contracts rather than blindly chasing bids. He covers key topics including market research phases, bid evaluation, AI-powered intelligence tools, and contract expiration signals. Eric also discusses his AI procurement agent, his Federal Help Center community, and his mission to help small businesses compete against larger, resource-rich contractors, ultimately strengthening America's small business industrial base and national security. Check out Eric's work HERE [https://govcongiants.org/]. Connect with Eric on LinkedIn HERE [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ecoffie/]. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE [https://podcast.slingshotapp.io/podcast-guest-application].

65 - Seva Ustinov: Trusting the Machine: Building Confidence in AI-Driven Marketing Decisions

In this episode of AI & Data Driven Leadership, your host Dean Guida interviews Seva Ustinov, CEO of Plurio AI. Seva shares his journey from running a marketing agency to building Plurio AI, an AI-driven platform that automates performance marketing for large advertisers. They discuss the challenges of campaign optimization, data integration, and building trust in AI agents. Seva explains how Plurio AI streamlines repetitive marketing tasks, enabling leaner teams and faster creative testing. The conversation also covers data privacy, the evolving role of marketers, and the importance of workflow automation in staying competitive in digital marketing. Check out Seva's work HERE [https://www.learnworlds.com/]. Connect with Seva on LinkedIn HERE [https://www.linkedin.com/in/siozos/]. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE [https://podcast.slingshotapp.io/podcast-guest-application].

64 - Panos Siozos: Innovation in Learning: Bridging Science and Practicality Through EdTech

In this episode, Dean Guida hosts Panos Siozos, Co-founder and CEO of LearnWorlds, as they discuss Panos’s journey from academia to leading an edtech startup. Panos shares insights on building a remote-first company, the integration of AI in online learning, and balancing scientific rigor with practical usability. He emphasizes AI as a tool to support, not replace, human educators and highlights the importance of privacy, ethical AI use, and continuous learning. The conversation covers managing distributed teams, adapting to rapid change, and the future of customer education in the AI era. Check out Panos's work HERE [https://www.learnworlds.com/]. Connect with Panos on LinkedIn HERE [https://www.linkedin.com/in/siozos/]. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE [https://podcast.slingshotapp.io/podcast-guest-application].

63 - Rajeev Butani: Leading in the Age of AI: Innovation with Accountability

In this episode, your host Dean Guida interviews Rajeev Butani, Chairman and CEO of MediaMint, about the integration of AI in enterprise operations. Rajeev shares insights from his extensive tech leadership background, emphasizing AI as an operational tool that augments, not replaces, human roles. He discusses MediaMint’s persona-based AI assistants, the importance of human accountability, and the evolving “service as software” model. The conversation covers AI’s impact on workforce skills, organizational adoption challenges, risk management, and practical advice for young professionals navigating the future of work in an AI-driven economy. Check out Rajeev's work HERE [https://mediamint.com/]. Connect with Rajeev on LinkedIn HERE [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajeev-butani/]. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE [https://podcast.slingshotapp.io/podcast-guest-application].