From Sea Captain to Sales Leader:Alex’s Secrets to Building Scalable Success|Ep 192|DevReady Podcast

In this engaging episode of the DevReady Podcast, host Anthony Sapountzis sits down with Alex Kleizinger, Founder of Illicium, to explore his remarkable journey from maritime navigation to mastering IT and software sales. After realising the maritime industry lacked personal fulfilment, Alex transitioned to sales without formal experience. His entrepreneurial spirit, resilience, and ability to learn from failures propelled him to a successful career in enterprise-grade IT software sales. Now, through Illicium, Alex leverages over a decade of expertise to help businesses refine their sales strategies and scale effectively. This inspiring episode delves into career transitions, overcoming challenges, and the mindset needed for success.
Topics Covered
• Career transitions and resilience
• Entrepreneurial spirit and early ventures
• Navigating sales challenges
• Building effective sales structures
• The SSP Framework: System, Strategy, and People
• Seeking external expertise
• Mindset and personal growth
• Strategies for sustainable growth
Important Time Stamps
• Why Alex Left the Seas to Sail the B2B Sales World (0:07 - 3:15)
• Fake It till You Make It: Alex Kleizinger’s Sales Journey (3:16 - 7:08)
• When the World Kicks, You Leap: Alex’s Pandemic Pivot Story (7:09 - 11:41)
• Big Biz vs Small Biz: Sales Lessons You Can’t Ignore (11:42 - 17:05)
• Why Your Sales Process Needs Fixing Before You Scale (17:06 - 23:50)
• Stop DIY-ing Your Business Mistakes: Alex’s Advice for Founders (23:51 - 27:15)
• System, Strategy, People: The Building Blocks of Sales (27:16 - 28:37)
Connect with Alex
Alex Kleizinger | LinkedIn: / kleizinger
Illicium | LinkedIn: / illicium-b2b-lead-gene...
Illicium| Website: illicium.com.au/
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