Solving Sales Roadblocks: From Admin to Opportunity

In this compelling episode of Leaders, Innovators, and Big Ideas (LIBI), host Rea Hailley sits down with Willow Adkins, founder and CEO of Blair and Company, a strategic advisory firm dedicated to propelling companies toward revenue growth. Willow, a seasoned expert in building sales pipelines from the ground up, unveils her repeatable frameworks and innovative approach to sales enablement for businesses of all sizes, from startups to multinational corporations. She shares invaluable insights on cutting through data noise, tackling the "admin sales killer," and the profound impact of truly listening to both your team and your customers. Discover how to transform sales challenges into unique opportunities for creativity and sustained commercial success, ultimately empowering your sales force to focus on what truly generates revenue. This is an essential listen for any leader, innovator, or business owner eager to refine their sales engine.

Thank you for listening to the Leaders, Innovators and Big Ideas podcast where we showcase fascinating people who are Leaders, Innovators, and have Big Ideas!

HOST

Rea Hailley LinkedIn Profile Rea leads New Idea Machine in empowering businesses with innovative digital solutions.

GUEST

Willow Adkins LinkedIn Profile Willow Adkins is a sales strategist and business development leader with a career built on guiding founders, CEOs, and commercial teams through high-stakes growth in complex B2B environments. She founded Blayre & Company to deliver the kind of senior-level strategic thinking that cuts through complexity and produces systems built to last — without the overhead of a full-time executive hire. Her proprietary Blayre Sales Framework™ brings structure and clarity across the full revenue lifecycle, from market insight to pipeline development to closing. Beyond her work with clients, Willow serves on the boards of the Rural Education Advocacy Project and the Macalester College Athletics Advisory Board, reflecting a broader commitment to strategic community leadership. She is known for building tools and frameworks that client teams can own, sustain, and improve long after an engagement ends.

LINKS & RESOURCES

• Blayre and Company

SHOW QUOTES

"The clarity of what is really sales, how do I get better at it, and how do I really allow myself or my sales team to focus on that skill they have and not get bogged down in data, administration, and things that don't produce revenue."

"The answer sometimes is really right there in front of us. It's just talking to the people that work with us."

"Any roadblock or problem in your commercial systems is solvable. I think that it's solvable, often the fastest and easiest with your team, whether that's your peers and or people that work above or below you."

Episode Sponsor: New Idea Machine Inc.

Episode Music: Tony Del Degan

Creator & Producer: Al Del Degan