Professional Sales
With the boom in Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) providers the demand for Business-to-Business (B2B) Salespeople has grown dramatically. Top companies like Salesforce, Zendesk, and Amazon Web Services increasing rely on cloud computing and other non-native hardware and software to support their operation. These businesses, however, struggle to find qualified entry-level salespeople, most notably because there are only approximately 80 colleges in the United States who have a Sales Department on their campus. Furthermore, sales education is often outdated or purely theoretical. As a result, the majority of the companies we have spoken to are intensely focused on finding college graduates that have practiced skills in professional sales.
Professional Sales, however, is not just a professional skill that will lead to a good job. In many ways, it is a liberal art in its own right. Professional Sales teaches empathy, compassion, listening skills, and lateral thinking – all vital hallmarks of a liberal arts education. And sales in and of itself is an immensely valuable skill for students to have. Over 40% of jobs, and countless daily activities – deciding where to go to dinner, for example – have some component of sales built in. Thus in completing our program in professional sales, students will attain life skills that are valuable both professionally and personally.
What makes this program special?
Industry Focused:
The learning objectives in this program were developed in collaboration with Fortune 500 companies and fast-growing technology startups to ensure they match as closely as possible with hiring needs.
Practical Experience:
Every class in this program requires students to engage in simulated sales activity with classmates, faculty, and industry experts.
Program Requirements
PS I - Relationship-Driven Professional Selling
Uses roleplay and other experiential leraning to teach students how to sell and introduces them to the best practice method for successful sales.
Credit Hours: 3
PS II - Negotiation in Business and Sales
Teaches students how to negotiate effectively in a variety of contexts, both personal and professional.
Credit Hours: 3
PS III - Sales Leadership
Teaches students both data-analysis and personnel management skills while preparing them for a role as a sales manager.
Prerequisites: Relationship-Driven Professional Selling
Credit Hours: 3
PS IV - Advanced Relationship-Driven Professional Selling
Builds upon skills introduced in Relationship Driven Professional Selling and provides more robust sales skills.
Prerequisites: Relationship-Driver Professional Selling
Credit Hours: 3
Experts, Professionals, and Sponsors
Dr. Lukas Forbes
Western Kentucky University
Lukas Forbes is the Department Chair of marketing and the Director of the WKU Center for Professional Sales. He formerly served in the US Army, attaining the rank of Captain.
Forever Labs
Forever Labs is an Ann Arbor based Biomedical company that seeks to preserve and extend healthy human life through the preservation and reintroduction of an individual’s stem cells.