How to Transition From SDR to AE With Ease Featuring Sonya Kuci from Geckoboard

As an SDR-turned-AE, Sonya Kuci thought she’d landed the dream opportunity, an inbound ICP lead with the decision-maker on the first call, smooth comms, and a live trial underway. But just before close, everything unravelled.

In this episode of Why Did It Fail? Sonya unpacks the hard lessons from losing a “can’t-miss” deal: the hidden risks inside inbound opportunities, how to spot green flags disguised as red ones, and what SDRs need to know before stepping into AE life.

If you’ve ever been ghosted by a hot lead, or you’re moving from prospecting to closing, this conversation is a masterclass in qualifying deeper, multi-threading smarter, and managing your own mindset.