Some conversations can change the course of your career, but only if you're brave enough to have them!

In this WMYT “Best Bits” episode, Jelena Tarbuk (VP Sales at Onfido, and a seasoned tech sales leader) shares how she learned to navigate the hardest conversations to rise up in her career, from IC to leader of teams.

From growing up in a war-torn country to leading high-performing sales teams in the U.S. at some of the biggest scaleup names out there.

This is a masterclass in real leadership and communication.

Not the loud kind, but the kind built on curiosity, empathy, emotional intelligence, and the courage to speak up when it matters most.

🔥 What You’ll Learn:

How to handle difficult conversations with empathy and strength

Why intention + bravery beats aggression every time

How to coach others through discomfort and help them grow

The difference between being vulnerable and being unprepared

How understanding people’s stories builds trust and drives performance

Why being in a good place emotionally is essential for good leadership

🔗 Full episode with Jelena Tarbuk:

https://youtu.be/YzhYMEVrubQ?si=cYGhU9EIMRzBNBD9

⏱️ Clip Context:

This moment captures Jelena’s philosophy on leadership - how she turns high-pressure, emotionally complex situations into breakthrough growth moments, for herself and her team.

💬 Join the Conversation:

What’s a tough conversation you had to navigate as a leader, and what did it teach you?

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About the Guest - Jelena Tarbuk

Jelena Tarbuk is a VP Sales Americas, at Onfido - with over 15 years of experience leading high-performing sales teams across the tech industry. She’s known for her people-first leadership style, deep product curiosity, and ability to coach through complexity with clarity and care.

🔗 Connect with Jelena → https://www.linkedin.com/in/jelenatarbuk/

About the Founder of Tick Talent, Richard Washington

Richard Washington is co-host of What Makes You Tick, a GTM recruiter, and a trusted advisor to B2B SaaS companies scaling from $5M to $250M ARR. He helps founders build revenue teams that actually perform, with strategy, talent, and execution that scales.

🔗 Follow Richard on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/richwash/

📩 Read his newsletter Growth Magnet → https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7083793079794556928

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