198.4K
Downloads
132
Episodes
Introducing ’Hunters and Unicorns’ – the podcast that shows you what it takes to be #1 in software sales. Are you hungry for the inside scoop on what it takes to lead in the dynamic world of software sales? Join us each week as we dive deep into the journeys of the trailblazers shaping the tech landscape’s future. 🔍 Dive into pivotal past experiences. 🎙️ Unveil the Playbooks of Tech Titans! 🚀 Revealing strategies of tech leaders driving growth. 🎯 Insights from thought leaders, entrepreneurs, execs. 🔥 Ignite innovation, leadership, extraordinary achievements. 🌐 1M+ global downloads – a community of tech enthusiasts. 🦄🎉 Subscribe and discover what it takes to be #1 in software sales! 👋 We are your hosts, Simon Kouttis and Ollie Kuehne, founders of Hunters & Unicorns, a tech recruitment agency in the UK. Visit our website to find out more: https://huntersandunicorns.com
Episodes
Tuesday May 13, 2025
Tuesday May 13, 2025
In this new episode of Hunters & Unicorns, we sit down with Shakira Talbot, the Group Vice President at ServiceNow, for one of the most inspiring conversations we've ever had.
From growing up in foster care to leading revenue responsibility for over $10B at one of the most influential enterprise software companies, Shakira’s story is a masterclass in grit, champion building, and unapologetic ambition. She shares how she developed her tenacity, why she dropped out of university, and how she found her path through selling timeshares at 14 to leading massive enterprise deals. We dive deep into her early influences, her playbook for high-performance sales leadership, and what truly drives her to never settle. This is not just about sales. It’s about identity, impact, and proving you belong—on your own terms.
Thanks to our Sponsors! PG AI: https://www.getpg.ai Selr: https://selr.ai 🏹
Key Topics Covered
00:00 In this episode...
01:25 Intro and backstory
03:24 Why she never wanted to be like her boss
06:33 Getting recruited by Jeremy Duggan
11:22 Champion-building as a life skill
15:01 Her biggest deal (and what it taught her)
19:47 What makes a great sales leader
24:08 Owning your ambition unapologetically
28:34 From maternity policy to mindset shifts
31:10 Advice to her younger self
💥 3 Biggest Lessons
Champion-building isn’t just for sales – It’s how you win people over in life and career, especially when you come from a non-traditional background.
Authenticity scales – Shakira’s leadership works because she leads as herself, not as a copy of what leadership is “supposed” to look like.
You don’t need to be perfect to be powerful – She’s made mistakes, changed direction, and still kept rising—all while carrying massive responsibilities at home and work.
Thanks for listening!
This episode was hosted by Simon Kouttis and Ollie Kuehne, founders of Hunters & Unicorns, and post-produced by the team at videoforce.pro If you enjoyed this episode, please drop a like/share and subscribe to our channel!
🦄 Connect with Hunters & Unicorns
Website: http://huntersandunicorns.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/HuntersUn1corns
Instagram: http://instagram.com/huntersandunicorns
Blog: http://huntersandunicorns.com/blog
💬 Notable Quotes from Shak! "I didn’t want to be a psychologist. I wanted to sell stuff." "You don’t have a deal until you have a champion who passes the test." "I am the only provider in my house. That’s the role we’ve landed on. So I have a duty of care to make it work." "I’m not going to pretend to be something I’m not to make people comfortable." "Would I change things? Yeah—I would’ve done it sooner."
#softwaresales #huntersandunicorns #playbookuniverse