91探花

In a world where everyone鈥檚 selling something, it pays to be the best. At OHIO鈥檚 Ralph and Luci Schey Sales Centre, students aren鈥檛 just learning sales; they鈥檙e mastering the art of making connections, closing deals and building careers that last. 

With a curriculum rooted in real-world application and leadership from top-ranked sales experts like Dr. Adam Rapp, academic director of the Schey, and O鈥橞leness Professor of Marketing Dr. Nick Panagopoulos, who were recently recognized by ScholarGPS, the Schey prepares students for success beyond graduation.

At the Schey, students dive into sales through experiences that mirror the challenges of the real world. Role-plays, sales competitions and projects with corporate partners give them the chance to practice what they learn in the classroom.

鈥淚t's all about helping students develop the skills they need to succeed in any sales environment,鈥� Rapp said. 

These activities push students to think critically, ask the right questions and deliver value to potential clients.

Opportunities like the Global Consulting Program offer even more chances for students to apply their sales skills in diverse, cross-cultural settings, such as a study abroad trip to Belgium. Collaborations with other institutions like Auburn University also help students sharpen their recruiting and leadership abilities in a unique, hands-on way. 

Schey students benefit from both cutting-edge research and the practical applications of it. Professors like Rapp and Panagopoulos actively conduct research to keep the program relevant to today鈥檚 business landscape.

鈥淚 research how we can make sales organizations more effective, more efficient and more human.鈥� Panagopoulos said.

His work focuses on supporting frontline sales professionals in high-stakes, business-to-business roles, giving students insights into the complex world of corporate sales.

Data and research don鈥檛 just shape what鈥檚 taught in the classroom; they also influence how students prepare for real-world challenges, from understanding the impact of AI to mastering analytics. 

鈥淭alking to companies about what鈥檚 happening in their business and industry informs my research,鈥� Rapp said. 鈥淚t also helps me shape my curriculum because I鈥檓 always trying to update it to reflect what鈥檚 happening in the sales world today.鈥�

Panagopoulos and Rapp鈥檚 expertise and leadership have not gone unnoticed by the academy. Both are designated Highly Ranked in the Sales Discipline by the international academic ranking website , with OHIO ranked as #1 in sales in the past five years.

Rapp is ranked #9 (lifetime) and #3 in the last five years. Panagopoulos is ranked #12 (lifetime), which places both among the top .05% of all scholars in the field.

For students at the Schey, the road to career success starts early. From day one, students step into an environment focused on building skills that make them stand out in today鈥檚 competitive job market. 

Through resume workshops, mock interviews and personalized LinkedIn training, the Schey prepares students to put their best foot forward.

鈥淪tudents get great experiences,鈥� said , managing director at the Schey. 鈥淭he leadership team and the people on those teams... come out of the program with unique experiences that other folks just don鈥檛 get.鈥� 

This preparation shows at the program鈥檚 career fairs and networking events, where students connect directly with the Schey鈥檚 45-plus corporate partners. These partnerships provide a launchpad for internships and jobs, allowing students to get professional experience before they even graduate. 

At the Schey, students gain an understanding that sets them apart in the competitive sales field. Through leadership roles and practical exercises, they develop confidence and essential skills. 

鈥淲hat really makes the program work鈥攐ur special sauce, if you will鈥攊s the students,鈥� Scott said. 鈥淚t's the quality of students, the structure of how we engage with them and, realistically, the responsibilities we provide to the students.鈥�

Students at the Schey also learn to present themselves effectively. Zoe Geiss, a junior studying information graphics and philosophy, serves as director of advertising at the Schey; this role has been instrumental in building her portfolio and preparing her to enter the workforce.

鈥淚 feel confident in being able to tell them why I鈥檓 different from someone else,鈥� Geiss said.

Geiss said her time at the Schey has enhanced her ability to communicate her strengths, something that鈥檚 invaluable when pursuing internships and jobs. These opportunities allow Schey students to build a competitive edge with communication, leadership and problem-solving skills that extend beyond the classroom. 

The Schey makes sure students are ready for what鈥檚 next鈥攏ot just for today鈥檚 job market, but for the changes coming around the corner. Professors like Panagopoulos and Rapp bring emerging topics like AI, ethics and shifting buyer behaviors into the classroom to prepare students for an evolving industry.

Panagopoulos sees the role of salespeople only growing in importance. 

鈥淗umans in business-to-business sales are going to be more important,鈥� Panagopoulos said. 鈥淭he role of a business-to-business salesperson is changing. It鈥檚 not being replaced.鈥� 

He said students learn the importance of problem-solving and empathy, which are skills that technology can鈥檛 replicate.

Rapp also keeps students tuned into industry shifts by bringing his conversations with companies directly into the classroom. 

鈥淭alking to companies about what鈥檚 happening in their industry helps me to find what my curriculum looks like,鈥� he said.

At the Schey, students don鈥檛 just learn today鈥檚 sales tactics; they build the skills they鈥檒l need to tackle tomorrow鈥檚 challenges. 

The Schey isn鈥檛 just for business-related majors or students planning a career in sales. It鈥檚 a program built to help every student gain the skills they need to succeed in any field. 

鈥淚 want every single undergraduate student to apply to the Schey,鈥� Scott said. 鈥淲hy? Because at minimum, they get the interview experience... they get to interview with a corporate partner and a student leader, and they get feedback鈥攚hether they got in or didn鈥檛, we want to make them better. So, it鈥檚 zero downside risk and all upside,鈥�

Whether through career fairs, workshops or networking events, the Schey provides access to tools that prepare students for professional life. Even students who may not see themselves in a traditional sales role benefit from learning how to communicate, network and build their personal brand.

鈥淲hat I tell people is, look, every organization has a selling function,鈥� Scott said. 鈥淚n government, we call it politics... in nonprofits, it鈥檚 donor relations... in business, we call it sales. But to be clear, all of those areas: it鈥檚 all sales.鈥� 

With the Schey鈥檚 support, students head into the job market with the kind of polish and preparation that sets them apart from the rest.