Meet Apollo IRL: Recaps of SF and LA Community Meetups (With More to Come!)

Sales is an experimental and communal space. The more conversations you engage in, the more you learn, and the better you sell.

Which is why community is a cornerstone of the work we do at Apollo.

Over the past month, our Apollo Community hosted two incredible in-person meetups with co-hosts Willy Hernandez from Ampersand in San Francisco and Jordan Wilia from Teramind in Los Angeles.

Members came together to share experiences, grow their networks, and have some fun. 

I’m Faustine Hom, a community leader here at Apollo, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t take the opportunity to share my biggest learnings and takeaways from the 50+ sales leaders and innovators who attended these events.

Here’s a look back at what made these events truly special—and why you’ll want to join us at the next one.

Learning #1: An integrated tech stack is crucial

Something that kept coming up in our conversations was the growing importance of integrated sales tools. 

Sales teams today are looking for solutions that streamline their processes and boost productivity. Teams that are able to deliver organized, consistent outbound, across multiple channels, are 4x more likely to book meetings than sellers who fire off random emails.

(Not to brag but…Apollo’s all-in-one platform delivers just that.)

These conversations highlighted just how much sales organizations are leveraging technology to work smarter, not harder.

Learning #2: Mistakes happen — that’s just sales!

Industry insights weren’t the only thing to come out of these events. In fact, it wasn’t even the best thing. Ultimately, it was the opportunity to come together and relate over experiences we’ve all had in sales — good and bad.

Personally, one of the most memorable moments came from our hot topic Q&As. During our networking icebreaker, attendees shared their funniest “sales bloopers”.

One account executive shared that they once called a lead by the wrong name three times in one email. I wasn’t sure that was even possible.

The best part was, they still sealed the deal.

“They corrected me,” the AE laughed, “And still signed the deal!”.

It’s lighthearted activities like these that reminded me that even in sales, it’s okay to embrace your human side.

Learning #3: Community is built through fun, creative conversations

A key takeaway from our meetups was how creative activations can break the ice, foster deeper connections, and create lasting memories.

At both the SF and LA meetups, we mixed up the formats with a variety of activities to keep things engaging and interactive. From networking “speed-dating” style conversations to the wildly popular Confessional Sales Box with prize winners, there was something for everyone.

It was during the holiday season, so naturally we held an Ugly Sweater Contest.

Attendees donned their most outrageous holiday-themed attire, vying for votes and cheers and the most cherished prize, the Apollo Bomber Jacket! The winner proudly walked away with a highly coveted Apollo-branded letterman jacket, becoming the talk of the night.

Your invitation to the Apollo Community

I walked away from these meetups reminded of the power of connection, learning, and fun. 

If you’ve been looking for a place to grow your career, share ideas, and meet like-minded professionals, the Apollo Community is where it’s at.

Want to join our next event?

You’ll need to sign up for our community to get access to exclusive meetups, online resources, and more. Don’t miss your chance to be part of something bigger. 

👉 Sign up for the Apollo Community today!

For our friends in Austin, New York City, and Chicago, mark your calendars — we're coming to you next! Register here:

• Austin Community Meetup
• New York City Meetup
• Chicago Meetup