The Pitt Business Professional Sales Academy

The Pitt Business Professional Sales Academy is a co-curricular experience designed to educate business students on the theory and best practices of effective sales practices and techniques. The academy consists of workshops, guest lecturers from leading industries, and ends with a sales case competition for scholarship money. Upon completion of the academy, students will receive the credential of Certificate of Completion.

What You Learn

Students will learn both the art and the science of sales, and will develop the confidence needed to close deals and build sustainable networks. These skills are useful whether students are entering a career in engineering, or in marketing, accounting, finance, human resources management, supply chain management, or global management.

Students participate in a Corporate Partner sales case study. Here students practice evaluating RFPs, developing, and presenting a pitch, and working with a team through a full sales cycle. 

About Our Partners

The Pitt Business Professional Sales Academy is delivered with the support of our Corporate Program Partners. These partners act as industry professionals and provide students with networking opportunities along with industry insights. These relationships are useful for job and internship opportunities. Corporate Program Partners get direct access to students in the program and act as judges for the Sales Case Competition. For more information on becoming a Pitt Business Professional Sales Academy Corporate Program Partners, contact Rebecca Rhoades, Program Manager.

 

Sales Academy Workshop Topics

Workshops are held monthly from October through February.

  • Demystifying Professional Sales (Gallup Strength Finders)
  • Generational Sales 
  • Key Skills for a Successful Sales Career: Forecasting, Prospecting, Basic & Needs Satisfaction 
  • Key Skills for a Successful Sales Career: Negotiation, Business Law/Ethics, Competitive Intelligence 
  • Selling the Invisible 
  • Sales Case Pitches  

Instructors

  • John Houston- Former Bayer Senior Executive, Senior Vice President of Business Development for MTG Consulting, Partner for CDI Global  
  • Claye Greene– CEO/President of TechBlue, Inc 
  • Christopher Meaner– Director of Career Development , Pitt Business

“The Sales Academy was an extremely beneficial experience that allowed me to learn how to create a proposal and ultimately “close deals”. Working with my team to come up with our pitch was a great learning experience. I am thankful for opportunities like this to network with professionals from amazing companies such as Stryker, Eli Lily etc.”

Megan Nagy

Marketing and Supply Chain Management

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