Marek Wasilewski: Transforming Challenges into Triumphs

We had the privilege of sitting down with Marek Wasilewski, the dynamic Vice President of Sales for Americas and Latin America, to uncover the secrets behind his remarkable journey from aspiring fashion designer to sales powerhouse. Marek's story is a captivating narrative of ambition, resilience, and mentorship, painting a picture of how early experiences in selling timeshares and novelty memberships shaped his career. He shares invaluable lessons on how tough sales environments can be transformative, providing the backbone needed to succeed. Marek's tale is not just about climbing the career ladder but about sculpting one's character in the process and turning challenges into stepping stones. 

We also explore the TEAM framework, a game-changing strategy Marek developed to revitalize underperforming business units, showcasing the power of communication as a cornerstone of success. The conversation takes a futuristic turn as we dissect the impact of AI on sales, with frameworks like BANT, CHAMP, and MEDDIC offering foundational guidance in this evolving landscape. Marek offers insights into the philosophical dimensions of AI advancements, pondering their broader implications on the sales field. With AI's rapid evolution, epitomized by tools like ChatGPT-5, Marek's forward-thinking perspective challenges us to envision a transformed future where adaptability and team alignment become the keys to thriving in sales. 

Marek Wasilewski is a globally accomplished Revenue Leader with over two decades of experience leading high-performance teams and scaling multi-million-dollar growth across enterprise, SaaS, cloud, and service provider markets. From driving 28% growth in a major LATAM region to taking enterprise revenue from $0 to $5M in just 12 months, Marek has consistently delivered transformative results at scale. 

Currently based in Austin, Texas, Marek brings a powerful mix of boardroom credibility and field-tested resilience. He’s the creator of the T.E.A.M. Leadership Framework—Talk, Evaluate, Action, Mentor—designed to inspire performance and build trust across global teams. His leadership ethos? “Business is like cycling—every climb builds strength, and success comes from preparation, endurance, and shared effort.” 

Named to CRN’s Channel Chief list and a multi-time President’s Club and Chairman’s Inner Circle winner, Marek has held executive roles with some of the largest companies, leading teams across the Americas, EMEA, and APAC. His expertise spans GTM strategy, recurring revenue models, AI-driven sales transformation, and customer-centric execution. 

When he’s not leading global sales strategy, you’ll find him on two wheels—contributing to Dallas-based cycling charity events and recharging through endurance sports that mirror his leadership style: focused, resilient, and purpose-driven. 

 

Quotes:

Nobody grows up saying I want to be a salesman. I left school wanting to be a fashion designer, but sales found me, and it turned out to be my true passion."

"Selling timeshares and novelty memberships taught me resilience. It's about understanding that you're one call away from success and learning to deal with rejection."

"Effective communication is the cornerstone of success. Over-communicating both internally and externally can transform underperforming business units."

"The TEAM framework is built on four principles: Talk, Evaluate, Act, and Mentor. It's about creating a consistent and disciplined approach to revitalizing teams."

 

Links:

Marek’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mwasil/

Extreme Networks - https://www.extremenetworks.com

Find this episode and all other Sales Lead Dog episodes at https://empellorcrm.com/salesleaddog/