Featuring Kevin Nguyen & Brayton Riley
Host: Adam Sockel | Presented by Orum
In this episode of Bold Calling, we’re joined by two standout Orumites who’ve made the leap from SDRs to sales leaders: Kevin Nguyen, now an AE, and Brayton Riley, now a Team Lead. Host Adam Sockel guides a candid and insightful conversation about their career progression, leadership philosophies, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way.
If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to rise in sales, lead your peers, or just show up better every day—this one’s for you.
Kevin’s path from Orum customer to SDR of the Year and now AE
Brayton’s pivot from teaching to sales, and how she leaned on mentorship and mindset to scale
Why neither originally planned to become leaders—and how they grew into the role
The mental shift from focusing on individual goals to team-wide success
The challenges (and rewards) of leading former peers
How to maintain energy and fill your cup in a high-performance sales culture
The impact of community, like Alluvians, on personal growth
Tactical time management and daily routines that keep top performers sharp
Advice they’d give to new team leads and SDRs today
“I may be your lead now, but I’m your friend first. I’ll take off the lead hat anytime you need.” — Kevin Nguyen
“You were put in this position for a reason. Step into what you’re great at and own it.” — Brayton Riley
“There’s no right way to lead. The best thing you can do is be the kind of leader you needed when you were starting out.” — Kevin Nguyen
“Sometimes a single Slack message can change someone’s whole day.” — Brayton Riley
00:00 – Intro
01:20 – Kevin’s story: from SDR to AE
02:35 – Brayton’s transition from teaching to sales
04:00 – Did they set out to become leaders?
08:45 – The emotional transition from rep to team lead
12:30 – How energy and attitude impact team culture
14:00 – Finding ways to refill your cup
16:20 – Leadership advice that sticks: fail forward, ask for feedback
18:50 – The power of abundance mindset
19:30 – Structuring your time as an AE or team lead
24:00 – Helping the whole team win
27:30 – Leading former peers with empathy
30:00 – What they wish they knew when they first became leaders
33:00 – Wrap-up and gratitude
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🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere you listen.
