Sounding Out Sales Conference 2026.

This workshop will look at how we can help experienced, time poor sales professionals by providing them with renewed energy, sharper positioning and fast frameworks that they can use to:

• Overcome Digital Fatigue
• Prospect and sell with customer-customised creativity and limited time to prepare
• Understand how your internal state impacts your performance
• Reset energy levels, sharpen mindsets and step into conversations with clarity and confidence
• Develop creative concepts for clients 

In addition to the above participants will hear from clients and sales teams from across the country and will gain insights into the current market trends, audio listening and much more. 

During this event you will hear from : 

Tara Rafter, The Navigation Coach 

Tara is an experienced navigation coach, facilitator and leadership specialist who works with individuals and organisations on resilience, mindset, communication and navigating change in high-performance environments. Tara’s sessions focus on helping people maintain clarity, confidence and energy while operating in demanding commercial roles.

Dave Sturgeon, Radio TV Agents, USA

Dave has spent over four decades behind the mic, in the control room, and across the boardroom table – living and breathing radio in ways most people only dream (or have nightmares) about. From morning show host to market manager, from ad agency founder to industry myth-buster, Dave’s career spans the golden era of FM to the digital frontier of today.

He’s the author of The Truth About Radio: A Myth-Busting Guide for Today’s Media Buyers and Sellers – a book for anyone who’s ever been told “radio is dead” and had the good sense to raise an eyebrow.

Paul Lanigan, Sales Consultant

Paul is one of Ireland’s most respected sales trainers and consultants, with extensive experience working with commercial teams across media, retail, technology and financial services. Paul specialises in consultative selling approaches that move beyond traditional transactional sales techniques, helping teams build stronger client relationships, uncover business challenges and position solutions more strategically. His sessions focus on areas such as questioning techniques, objection handling, negotiation, value creation, client conversations, account growth and building long-term commercial partnerships. Paul’s style is highly practical, energetic and directly applicable to day-to-day sales environments od direct sales teams in the radio sector.

Damian Scott, Creative Copywriter, UK 

Damian has been a creative leader in the advertising industry for 30 years as both a copywriter and Creative Director. Spearheading groundbreaking campaigns for brands such as Porsche, VW, BMW, Asda, Marks & Spencer, BT, HSBC and more, he has a unique approach to creative thinking and human empathy. Damian also has a deep connection with radio advertising, speaking and teaching regularly on the subject. He has been a guest speaker and panellist at Radio Days Ireland and works closely with Learning Waves.

Deirdre Ferry, Next Step Consulting 

Next Step Consulting is a revenue growth and sales performance consultancy that helps SMEs, sales professionals, and media sales teams scale sustainably and predictably.  Next Step, based in Leitrim and driven by senior consultant Deirdre Ferry who has over 20 years’ experience in sales and business development. Deirdre has worked in management and senior roles within Hospitality, Retail, FMCG and Media over the last 20 years and has managed award-winning sales teams. More recently she has worked with start-ups to develop and guide them on their journey to create their new brand and sales funnels for their new business’s.
Next Step consulting partner with businesses to design and execute high-impact growth strategies: Aligning business planning and sales process optimisation with deep media sales expertise.

More Speakers to be announced.