Meet Steve Gielda: Managing Partner/Head of Sales and Marketing

We had the good fortune of connecting with Steve Gielda and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Steve, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
The most important factor behind my business is to ensure that my customers achieve greater business outcomes as a result of my company support. Ignite Selling is a small company compared to others in the industry. However, the impact we have proven to have on sales results has enabled us to sustain business relationships for many years. Our belief is the profits and revenues of our company are merely an economic output of helping our customers succeed.

What should our readers know about your business?
When Kevin and I started Ignite Selling we were distributing the sales training solutions of another company, but we always had the desire to create our own sales methodology. The question was, what could we do that is uniquely different? We first recognized that we didn’t have to create a new way to help people sell, but we did have to create a way to help salespeople better adopt and utilize the skills and models they were being taught. So, we set out to re-create a new way to help salespeople learn how to adopt the critical selling skills they needed for success. We recognized that salespeople don’t learn by having someone in front of the room flipping through PowerPoint and then doing practice role-plays. So, we broke the mold and decided to teach salespeople how to sell using realistic simulations. We believe salespeople learn by “doing”, therefore, we wanted to teach the selling skills in a manner that was realistic to how salespeople operated in the field. Our unique approach has enabled us to make a huge impact with our clients. We are proud of the sales results we have helped our clients achieve.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
When we have family and friends come to visit us here in Austin, we have many fun and interesting things to see and do. A great week itinerary we begin with lunch or dinner at Terry Blacks BBQ. You can’t start a week’s vacation without starting off at Terry Blacks. This visit immediately tells our guests, they’re in Texas. The remainder of the week would include things such as; – Hiking along the Colorado River – Kayaking the Guadalupe River – Visiting the Hill Country wineries, breweries, and distilleries – In the evening visiting Rainy Street to enjoy some amazing cuisine and night-life So much to see and do in the Austin area, it would take more than a week to take it all in.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have been fortunate to have several great mentors in my life and I often hear them speaking to me when I am challenged from time to time. My father, Richard Gielda taught me to keep my priorities in line and that begins with Faith, Family, Friends, and then Profession. When I find myself stressing out about things, I often remember my dad’s focus on the order of these priorities. In my professional life, there are three people that have taught me a lot, first is Neil Rackham, author of SPIN Selling and many other books. I worked with Neil when he began taking steps to expand his company. I learned a lot about the sales training industry from Neil and I am grateful. Secondly, is Richard Ruff. Richard taught me how to think more strategic, how to be more intentional in my actions. Our business is growing today because Richard taught me to pause and think about what my next steps need to be. The final shout-out goes to my business partner Kevin Jones. Ignite Selling wouldn’t be what we are today without Kevin. Kevin is like a brother to me. He challenges me, encourages me, and sometimes frustrates the hell out of me….but I am grateful he is my partner in this company.

Website: www.igniteselling.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgielda/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVSnJeacz3_0P0ibg4Rj7LA

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