Neil Bhuiyan sits down with Kirsten McCoy, SDR at Patchworks, to explore how confidence in sales is built through experience, not certainty.
Kirsten didn’t follow a traditional path after leaving school. While others around her had clear plans, she was figuring things out in real time, eventually stepping into sales through a contact centre role at Scottish Power. It was here she experienced the reality of sales early, targets, pressure, rejection, and learning by doing.
The conversation goes deeper into the personal challenges that shaped her. Kirsten opens up about living with anxiety, navigating difficult relationships, and the isolation she experienced during COVID, including losing friends to suicide.
Rather than something that disappears, she shares how anxiety is something she has learned to manage through honesty, support and self-awareness.
Listener Discretion:
This episode includes discussion of anxiety, trauma and suicide. Please take care while listening. Support resources are listed below.
Guest Links
Key Takeaways
- Confidence in sales is built through action, not waiting to feel ready
- Not knowing your path early on is normal and often where growth begins
- Contact centre sales builds resilience through real conversations and rejection
- Anxiety does not go away, but learning to manage it changes everything
- Speaking openly and asking for support improves both mental health and performance
- Being dropped in football developed resilience that now shows up in sales
- Coaching provides belief and structure when you don’t yet have it yourself
- Identity outside of work strengthens how you show up professionally
- Enjoying your work directly impacts performance and consistency
Chapters & Timestamps
00:00 – Introduction to the SDR DiscoCall Show
01:12 – Meet Kirsten: An SDR’s Journey
04:18 – Kirsten’s Path to Sales
09:36 – Overcoming Challenges in Career Choices
11:57 – Lessons from Scottish Power
12:46 – Lessons from Scottish Power
15:24 – Transitioning to New Roles
18:26 – Exploring Account Management
21:18 – Navigating the Pandemic
24:08 – Career Progression and Opportunities
27:01 – The Impact of Social Media on Sales
39:37 – Career Progression and Opportunities
41:37 – Building a Strong Foundation in Sales
44:43 – The Importance of Coaching and Mentorship
49:17 – The Role of Sports in Personal Development
55:50 – Navigating Anxiety and Mental Health
01:06:34 – Advice for the Younger Self
Soundbites
- “Ask questions and accept help”
- “Resilience is key in sales”
- “TikTok opened new doors for me”
Support & Resources
