From super yachts to startup sales, Joel Pearlman shares a global career journey of resilience, mindset, and breaking into tech from an unconventional path.
Guest Links
In this episode of the SDR DiscoCall Show, Neil Bhuiyan chats with Joel Pearlman, Senior Business Development Manager at Riverside.fm.
Joel’s career didn’t begin in tech - it began on building sites. From working in construction to the luxury super yacht industry and navigating the job market during the 2008 financial crisis, Joel’s route into tech sales was anything but linear.
Now based in Tel Aviv, Joel shares the cultural contrasts of working in Israel’s vibrant tech scene, the mindset shifts needed to succeed in sales, and why asking for help is one of the most underrated skills for new SDRs.
If you’ve ever felt stuck, unqualified, or unsure how to break into tech, Joel’s story is one you’ll relate to
Key Takeaways
Timestamps
00:00 – Introduction to the SDR DiscoCall Show
02:56 – Meet Joel: From Construction to Tech Sales
11:02 – Navigating Career Changes and the Job Market
14:49 – Life on the French Riviera: Working on Super Yachts
17:27 – Positive Mindset in Challenging Times
21:50 – Navigating Stagnation and Seeking Change
24:18 – The Impact of COVID-19 on Career Direction
27:36 – Jealousy, Tech Ambition, and Self-Reflection
29:27 – First Steps into Tech Sales in Tel Aviv
31:41 – Overcoming Limiting Beliefs in Job Applications
33:28 – Managing Stress and Expectations in Sales
37:22 – The Art of Genuine Connection in Sales
40:07 – Learning Through Experience: The Sales Journey
43:38 – Advice to My Younger Self
