Africans In Tech
Welcome to Africans In Tech, a podcast where inspiring journeys in the world of technology are explored. Hosted by Sahr Lebbie, join us for candid interviews with tech professionals sharing their stories, challenges, and triumphs. Whether you're new to tech or a seasoned veteran, valuable insights and mentorship opportunities await. Let's demystify tech together and drive positive change in the industry.
Africans In Tech
Africans in Tech Podcast Episode 54 | The Real Grind of Tech Sales: Breaking Into IBM and Beyond
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🎙️ On this episode of Africans in Tech, host Sahr Lebbie sits down with the incredible Taylar Smith — born and raised in Davenport, Iowa, now thriving in Atlanta as a tech sales professional, mentor, and founder of Taylar Talks Tech. This is one conversation you do NOT want to miss! 🔥
Taylar's journey is anything but ordinary. She came to Atlanta at 21 years old with barely any money, sleeping on her cousin's couch in Lawrenceville and commuting hours each way just to intern at CNN 📺. From those humble beginnings, she grinded her way through Enterprise car rental, built her own freelance media company Taylar Leigh TV, and eventually found her calling in tech sales — landing roles at major companies like Autodesk and IBM. 💼
Now she's on a mission to help others break into the tech sales space through her mentorship program Taylar Talks Tech — and she's just getting started. 👑
💡 In this episode we cover:
How Taylar went from aspiring CNN news reporter to thriving in tech sales 📺➡️💻
Why transferable skills like communication are MORE than enough to get your foot in the door
What SDRs & BDRs actually do day to day and why product knowledge is EVERYTHING 📚
The BANT framework and how to qualify leads like a pro
What it's really like navigating tech as a Black woman in a white male dominated industry 👑
The truth about entrepreneurship vs. staying corporate 💰
Why job hopping in tech is actually NORMAL and how to do it strategically
Performance plans (PIPs), salary negotiation, RSUs & total compensation — the real talk nobody else is having 💵
How AI tools like ChatGPT are changing the game for tech sales professionals 🤖
Why she lived in Milan, Italy for 6 months while working remotely 🇮🇹✈️
Her mentorship program Taylar Talks Tech, what it covers, and why she built it from the heart
The importance of discipline, visibility, and betting on yourself in 2026 💪
🗣️ Some gems from this episode:
"It could be easy getting into tech sales, but it's what you're going to do to STAY there."
"Get the product knowledge down in the first 30, 60, 90 days. Seriously."
"Don't shy away from startup companies — you could be sitting on life-changing stock options."
"Tech is always evolving. You have to evolve with it."
"Don't get caught up in the entrepreneurship hype without having something to fall back on."
🔗 Connect with Taylar: 📱 Instagram: @TaylarLeighTV 💼 LinkedIn: Taylar Smith 🎙️ Mentorship & Content: Taylar Talks Tech ✈️ Travel content: TK Travels
📧 Contact Africans in Tech: africansintechnology@gmail.com
📲 Follow Africans in Tech: ▶️ YouTube | 📸 Instagram | 🎵 TikTok | 🎧 Spotify | 🍎 Apple Podcasts
Africans in Tech is a podcast dedicated to building bridges and shaping futures in tech. Hosted by Sahr Lebbie, we highlight the stories, experiences, and journeys of Black and African professionals making waves in the tech industry. 🌍💻
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