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Why 50% of SDRs Fail When They Become AEs – Ep. 26

In this episode of Prospecting Pros, John sits down with Chris Ritson to talk about the real path from SDR to AE and why that jump is a lot harder than most people think. Chris shares how his own career moved from SDR to AE to sales leadership, and why that experience shaped the way he now coaches reps and SDR leaders. The conversation gets into what actually makes someone successful in an AE role, why so many internal promotions struggle, and why leadership is not always the obvious next step for top SDRs. Chris also talks about ambition, career ownership, and the pressure younger SDR leaders are under in today’s market. It is a thoughtful, honest conversation about sales careers, growth, and figuring out what you actually want, instead of chasing the title that looks best on paper.
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Real conversations. Proven strategies. Sales that scale.

Unlock your potential with LevelUp podcast:

The LevelUp Podcast brings you insights from the front lines of B2B sales, outbound strategy, and pipeline growth. Whether you’re a founder, sales leader, or startup builder — we break down what actually works in modern prospecting. Brought to you by LevelUp Leads — a B2B Sales Development agency helping businesses land more meetings through done-for-you outbound. We act as an extension of your team with Fractional or Full-Service SDRs, tech-enabled outreach, and the kind of expertise that builds real pipeline.

🎧 Learn from industry pros, proven playbooks, and behind-the-scenes takes on cold email, LinkedIn outreach, and cold calling — all designed to help you generate more conversations and revenue.

Some of our guests:

Scott Leese
Sales leader, consultant, and founder of the Surf and Sales Summit

Featured on:
Building From Zero With Scott Lease – Ep. 19

Jason Bay
Founder of Outbound Squad

Featured on:
Door Knocking, Grit & B2B Sales Mastery | Jason Bay on Coaching Top Teams – Ep. 20

Justin Michael
Author of Cold Call ALGO and longtime sales innovator

Featured on:
The Future Of Sales In The Age Of AI – Ep. 12

Josh Roth
B2B sales leader

Featured on:
Building a Career in Sales From Zero to Top BDR Manager – Ep. 16

R.J. Jalichandra
VC & PE-Backed CEO

Featured on:
Leadership Lessons From 6x Venture & PE-Backed CEO – Ep. 17

Chris Ritson
Founder & Sales Trainer

Featured on:
Navigating the Risky Jump from SDR to AE – Ep. 26

Podcast Episodes:

From-SDR-to-Being-the-Mike-Tyson-of-Ghostwriting-–-with-James-Hanzimanolis-–-Ep.-03 (1)
From SDR to Being the Mike Tyson of Ghostwriting – with James Hanzimanolis – Ep. 03
In this episode of Prospecting Pros, host John Karsant chats with James Hanzimanolis, who talks us through his journey from outbound sales at phone dialer company PhoneBurner to becoming "The Mike Tyson of Ghostwriting."
The-Benefits-of-Being-a-Founding-SDR-–-with-Nick-Phillips-–-Ep.-02 (1)
The Benefits of Being a Founding SDR – with Nick Phillips – Ep. 02
In this episode of Prospecting Pros, host John Karsant sits down with Nick Phillips, a founding SDR at Mesh who previously worked at People Data Labs. Nick shares his journey from retail banking to tech sales, and the unique benefits of being a founding SDR at startups.
Leveraging AI in Sales Tools and Techniques for Modern Sales Development (1)
Leveraging AI in Sales: Tools and Techniques for Modern Sales Development
LevelUp Leads is a B2B Sales Development agency and a done-for-you appointment setting service. We act as an extended part of your team and offer Fractional and Full Service SDRs backed by our team and tech stack to run outbound Email, LinkedIn, or Cold Call campaigns to generate meetings for you. Our team leads your outbound strategy, sourcing relevant data, implementing our tech stack, copywriting, and managing your campaigns to create pipeline and revenue. This means your team is kept busy closing more deals.
How to avoid hiring the wrong SDRs – with Patrick Joyce – Ep. 01
How to avoid hiring the wrong SDRs – with Patrick Joyce – Ep. 01
On this first episode of Prospecting Pros, host John Karsant chats with Patrick Joyce, Global Head of Accounts and Strategy at LevelUp Leads. Patrick talks about his journey from teaching high school math to sales development leader, with struggles like working on a garbage truck while finishing college building the grit that helped him succeed as an SDR.
How-to-Make-B2B-Outbound-Work-in-2024_-John-_-Will-–-Founder
How to Make B2B Outbound Work in 2024, John & Will – Founder
In this episode, Will Martin interviews John Karsant, founder and CEO of LevelUp Leads, about all things outbound sales. They discuss the challenges of outbound sales for SMBs, the importance of defining the ideal customer profile (ICP), and the common mistakes companies make in their outbound efforts. They also touch on the tech stack and data tools used in outbound sales, as well as the importance of effective copywriting and strategy in cold outreach. In this conversation, John Karsant discusses the effectiveness of different outbound channels, with a focus on cold calling and email. He emphasizes the importance of instant feedback and the ability to make adjustments quickly when using cold calling. He also mentions the value of conferences and events in generating leads. John shares his strategies for approaching different industries and highlights the significance of having case studies and a proven track record of success. He discusses the importance of hiring skilled SDRs and providing them with better training and compensation. Finally, he mentions the need for continuous improvement and adaptation in the outbound industry.
Standing-Out-in-Competitive-Markets-youtube
Standing Out in Competitive Markets
Watch this episode of B2B Pipeline Pioneers In this episode of B2B Pipeline Pioneers, we sit down with John Karsant, Founder & CEO of LevelUp Leads, a B2B sales development agency specializing in helping small to mid-sized businesses overcome prospecting challenges. John shares his journey from eight years in lead generation to launching LevelUp Leads in 2021. He discusses how his agency acts as an extension of their clients’ teams, sourcing new contacts and running outbound email, LinkedIn, and cold call campaigns to fill pipelines and keep sales teams focused on closing deals. We dive deep into: How to define your Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) and why it’s critical for growth The importance of leveraging sales, marketing, and branding to stand out in competitive markets Strategies for small to mid-sized businesses to maximize prospecting efforts despite limited bandwidth If you’re looking to refine your ICP, build a stronger pipeline, and learn actionable tips to generate more meetings, this episode is packed with insights from a seasoned expert. Tune in and learn how to level up your sales development!
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