Sales Engineering for the Win | with Mike Bourgeois

Sales Engineering for the Win | with Mike Bourgeois

Author: Bill November 28, 2025 Duration: 1:05:33
In this powerful episode of 40% better, host Bill Lennan sits down with sales leader Mike Bourgeois to dive deep into the essential mindset that separates top sales professionals from the rest: customer-centric selling.
Mike argues that the key to sales success isn't aggressive closing tactics, but a relentless focus on serving the customer and building a genuine, long-term relationship. If you've ever wondered how to close more deals, stop making the sales process about your quota and start making it about the customer's needs!
🔑 Episode Takeaways
It's Never About You: Mike's core philosophy is that the salesperson's job is to serve, not to sell themselves.
The Power of Perspective: Why understanding the customer's long-term needs is more important than the immediate transaction.
Empathy in Action: How listening and empathy are the most critical tools for every sales engineer and professional.
The Blueprint for Repeat Business: Focusing on value creation leads directly to enduring customer relationships and continued sales success.

Connect with Mike on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/semikeb/

I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Bill and the 40 % Better podcast team
Connect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wblennan/ 
Visit the 40 Percent Better website here: https://40pb.com/

Listen to 40 % Better on these podcast platforms:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qkqdMPkR9BqYPM7UPa4P0
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/40%25-better---engineering-leadership/id1709546347 
Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/01ad162e-7a33-4df4-8c29-04c4af0405fc/40-better---engineering-leadership

#40PercentBetter #BillLennan #Leadership #TeamPerformance #EmployeeEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #BusinessGrowth #Kaizen #EngineeringLeadership #Coaching The 40% Better podcast with Bill Lennan unlocks previously unheard-of performance levels in teams and leaders. Bill Lennan, founder of 40 Percent Better, interviews experts on employee engagement, psychological safety, engineering leadership, and actionable mental models. Learn how to foster high-performing teams, improve team productivity, and achieve sustainable success in business through a focus on human-centered systems.

Hosted by Bill, 40% Better-Engineering Leadership is a conversation for those who build and guide technical teams. This isn't about abstract theory; it's a practical dialogue focused on the tangible mechanics of morale, motivation, and output. Each episode features a single expert in employee engagement, and together we dissect the specific strategies that lead to measurable leaps in performance. You'll hear detailed explorations into what actually moves the needle for engineers and their managers, translating research and experience into actionable leadership techniques. The goal is straightforward: to provide the insights that can help your team operate at a significantly higher level of effectiveness and satisfaction. Tune in for a focused, deep-dive podcast that cuts through the noise of generic management advice, offering concrete ideas you can apply directly to the unique challenges of engineering leadership.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

40% Better - Engineering Leadership
Podcast Episodes
Professor Rao on Soft Leadership - Episode 32 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:31
Professor Rao and I had a wide ranging chat about leadership, emotional intelligence, and employee engagement. Professor M.S. Rao, Ph.D.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/professormsrao Substack: https://professormsra…
Removing Friction - Episode 31 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:02
Most employees are disengaged, frustrated, and low performing at work.When we meet a happy and high performing employee - what are the behaviors of their team lead that makes this happen?First up is finding and removing…
Suraj on Leadership, Resilience, and Life  - Episode 29 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:58
Suraj wanted to be an astronaut - he may still get there :-)Suraj is on a mission to equip you with unparalleled leadership skills, strategic planning, and team-building expertise for groundbreaking roles in technology.L…
Art of the Question with Sean Grace - Episode 28 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:08
Sean has had a fascinating career spent spanning over 20 years as an executive in media, advertising, publishing and film production managing and developing sales, marketing, and creative teams.He studied performance at…
Executive Blind Spots and Team Lead Disengagement - Episode 27 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:34
This is costing companies a fortune.Execs and team leads can't read each other's minds. And they have very different perspectives on how to operate successfully.I hear about it in every conversation. Step 1 is awareness.…
Succeeding at life - Episode 26 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:34
Michael Hicks is a passionate life strategist and the visionary behind the Liv2thrive proven module framework, a transformative approach designed to empower high achievers to unlock their true full potential.With a deep…
Struggle For The Win - Episode 25 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:34
My first tech job was a strugggle.The second had all kinds of struggle - including building my first teams.The third had layoffs - and my responsibilities exploded.Struggle is good. Each time, we learn new skills, grow o…
Communication & Team Leadership - Episode 24 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:22
Most problems of leadership can be improved with better communication. How's your curiosity and growth mindset? Are you a scout for your team?Can you persuade effectively? Are you framing the conversation in your languag…
Financial Argument for Leadership Training - Episode 23 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:46
This is for the CFOs in the audience. I'm competitive, and business is a competition. If you care about the financial side of business - upscaling your first level team leads is the biggest productivity change you can ma…