In this episode of Hunters & Unicorns, Great Leaders UK, we sit down with Marina Ayton, VP UK&I at Wiz and co-author of The Female Sales Leader, to explore her remarkable journey from first-line to second-line leadership and back again.
Marina shares hard-won lessons on building and recruiting world-class teams, navigating rapid promotions, overcoming imposter syndrome, leveraging EQ alongside IQ, and championing diversity in sales. Whether you’re an aspiring sales leader or a seasoned executive, Marina’s playbook offers actionable insights to elevate your career and drive lasting impact.
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🏹 Key Topics Covered
00:00 – Intro & Career Beginnings
01:30 – Transitioning from first line to VP
06:00 – Building the First Enterprise Team
12:00 – Transition to Major Deals Leadership
18:00 – Stepping into Second-Line Role
24:00 – Crafting Vision & Enabling Teams
30:00 – When to Step Back & Pivot
36:00 – Imposter Syndrome as Superpower
42:00 – EQ vs. IQ in Modern Sales
48:00 – Writing The Female Sales Leader
54:00 – Reflections & Future Outlook
💥 3 Biggest Lessons
1. Embrace Humility & Listen First – Early listening builds credibility; understand before imposing change.
2. Leverage EQ to Drive Trust – Emotional intelligence is irreplaceable; it underpins long-term partnerships and diverse teams.
3. Purposeful Career Moves – Stepping back into roles refines understanding of where you add value at scale.
🙌 Thanks for listening! This episode was hosted by Simon Kouttis and Ollie Kuehne, founders of Hunters & Unicorns, and post-produced by the team at videoforce.pro. If you enjoyed this deep dive, please like/share and subscribe to our channel!
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💬 Notable Quotes “Imposter syndrome can be a superpower if you let it drive you to earn your seat at the table.” “Leaders must give teams the tools to imagine the art of the possible.” “EQ is never replaceable by AI; it’s what builds genuine partnerships.” #softwaresales #huntersandunicorns #playbookuniverse
