😱 How to Survive in the Age of AI and Keep Your Sales | Sales Mates Podcast #83

💸 Hey friends!

In the 83rd episode of the Sales Mates Podcast, we dive into how AI is transforming sales in 2025 – and what it really means for sales reps, SDR teams, and companies.

Is artificial intelligence actually replacing salespeople – or giving them 10x more efficiency?

We show how to implement AI not as a hype trend, but systematically – through AI committees, use case testing, and real performance metrics.

You’ll learn how signal-based outreach works, why enterprise companies are building internal AI agents, and how sales teams can adapt to the new rules of the game.

You’ll also discover how AI helps close deals faster, when it makes sense to build an SDR department (and when to return to full-cycle sales), and which approach will dominate sales in 2025.

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📌 In this episode:

00:00:00 – Intro

00:02:05 – Who is Marina and how she entered the world of sales

00:05:20 – How AI is changing sales in 2025

00:08:31 – AI Committees & Innovation

00:16:34 – SDRs in Outsourcing: Are they still relevant?

00:23:36 – The Ukrainian IT problem: Quantity vs Efficiency

00:32:33 – The Strategic Role of SDRs

00:40:51 – The SDR Hiring Framework

00:59:18 – Ukrainian Market Challenges: Undervaluation & Positioning

Summary

In this episode of the SalesMates podcast, the hosts discuss the key aspects of sales, the role of SDRs, the challenges faced by small companies, and cultural nuances within the IT industry. The guests share their experiences, insights, and ideas on how to improve sales processes.

The conversation touches on the effectiveness of sales teams, the role of leadership, the importance of continuous learning and development, as well as hiring processes and company culture. The discussion highlights the undervaluation of professional sales skills, the need for a structured hiring approach, and the importance of aligning company values with employees’ personal values.

Takeaways

• Marina has extensive experience in sales and consulting.

• It’s important to adapt to changes in sales driven by AI.

• Forming AI committees can help companies integrate new technologies.

• Small companies often underestimate the importance of SDRs.

• Cultural aspects influence how new ideas are accepted in IT.

• Sales challenges are often linked to limited budgets.

• Teams need to be trained in new sales skills.

• Having a clear understanding of the target audience is crucial.

• Consultants should have a tangible impact on company processes.

• Investing in sales can bring significant returns; underestimating professional sales skills is a common issue.

• Leadership plays a key role in shaping effective teams.

• Continuous development and learning are essential for business success.

• The hiring process should be clearly structured.

• Company values must align with employees’ personal values.

• Diverse teams tend to perform more effectively.

• Company culture has a strong impact on employee productivity.

• Openness to new ideas and approaches is vital.

• Collaboration between teams is critically important.

• Professional growth should be a priority for every employee.

⚡️ Guest Contacts:
YouTube – @bizdeva
Telegram – BizDeva Channel
LinkedIn

Hosts: Anton Fedulov & Oleksii Sinichenko

Practical advice from two successful sales managers who share their success secrets, personal experience, and strategies – plus engaging guests, funny stories from the life of salespeople, and more.

Watch and listen online on our YouTube channel – Sales Mates Podcast

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