Redefining Sales Readiness with Precision Skills Intelligence - David Shacklette

In this episode of The Emblazers: B2B Leaders Igniting Revenue, host Tim Riesterer sits down with neuroscientist and entrepreneur David Shacklette, founder of Skillcraft, to explore the next frontier in sales performance—precision skills intelligence. After leading research at Stanford and the Harvard Skills Lab, David is now applying science to one of revenue’s most persistent problems: knowing which skills actually drive performance. He explains how Skillcraft uses validated psychometrics and simulation-based assessments to identify the underlying capabilities that predict success in complex B2B selling. Tim and David unpack why most sales assessments fail (hint: self-assessments and manager observations just aren’t precise enough), how simulations and AI are changing the game, and why defining the right skills is just as important as training them. Tune in to learn: Why self-assessments and “manager gut checks” create noisy, unreliable data How performance-based simulations can reveal true skill levels What makes a skill measurable, coachable, and predictive How to link assessment, coaching, and onboarding with scientific precision Why precision in diagnosis drives motivation and behavior change Links and Resources Connect with Tim Riesterer Connect with David Shacklette Subscribe to The Emblazers for more episodes with top thought leaders Check out the Emblaze revenue community and start your membership today Learn about David Shacklette David Shacklette is on a mission to make skills intelligence accurate, actionable, and transformative for people and their organizations. Passionate about education, technology, and the intersection of neuroscience and behavioral psychology, David has conducted research at Stanford University and Harvard’s Skills Lab. He is the Founder and CEO of Skillcraft, a company pioneering precision skills intelligence for revenue teams through validated, simulation-based assessments that reveal the skills driving real performance. Learn about Tim Riesterer As Chief Strategy Officer at Corporate Visions and Chief Research Officer at Emblaze revenue leaders’ community, Tim Riesterer is a pioneering force in developing customer conversations that break through the status quo and drive measurable business results. His innovative approach helps companies craft differentiated messages and deploy them through powerful self-service and sales-directed tools that consistently outperform traditional content strategies. A recognized expert in value creation and capture, Tim enables organizations to transform their customer conversations through proven methodologies that elevate their market position and drive sustainable growth.