Spring 2020 grads reflect on Professional Selling Program experiences
For Hannah Ehmcke, participating in the School of Business Professional Selling Program just made sense. The spring 2020 graduate studied business analytics and marketing and first learned about the program from marketing area director Kissan Joseph.
Ehmcke made the most of her time in the program, learning from in-class speakers, networking at events and joining selling competition teams.
“Traveling with KU’s selling competition teams was by far one of the biggest highlights of my time in the program,” she said. “I have been able to travel with selling teams to Indiana University, Illinois State University, and New Orleans with selling teammates and program faculty, and each experience was incredibly unique and exciting.”
Ehmcke is starting her career as a management consultant for Accenture. Even though it isn’t a traditional sales role, the Business Jayhawk said the professional selling program helped her understand the value of understanding sales skills in every position.
“Sales goes beyond moving merchandise, making polished selling skills important when selling yourself in interviews with employers, vying for spot on an upcoming project team, or recruiting new talent and business for any company you end up at,” Ehmcke added.
Marketing graduate Lily Valeo took the professional selling class offered at the School of Business knowing the skills she learned would be applicable to her everyday life. Valeo also enjoyed the company presentations that were part of the class.
“It was a great opportunity because not only did you get to hear how those individuals joined their company, but many of them came with full job and internship opportunities,” she said.
As Valeo prepares to start her career as a chain sales representative at E&J Gallo Winery, she said the takeaways she learned from the class will help her tremendously.
“Every lesson we did in class was paired with a real-life scenario,” Valeo explained. “We did role playing, partner work, and even a sales pitch. It was very hands-on and an involved class, I was able to come out of that class with the confidence to now sell myself or a product in any career moving forward.”
