Professional Sales Academy

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JULY 28 - AUGUST 1, 2025


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ABOUT PROGRAM
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OVERVIEW
In today's world, it's essential that young, ambitious students know how to sell themselves and their ideas professionally and not just in a classroom.

The Professional Sales Academy, a pre-college summer business camp hosted by the Cotsakos College of Business and the Russ Berrie Institute of Professional Sales at William Paterson University, is a fundamental selling skills development and career exploration program for high school students interested in entrepreneurship, business, marketing, and professional sales. Student participants will have the opportunity to learn directly from business instructors, college students, and business professionals in a fun and interactive college environment.

Who should participate in this program?

The Professional Sales Academy is for high school students seeking to explore a career in entrepreneurship, business, marketing, and professional sales.

When you complete this program, you will:

  • Have the confidence to sell yourself during a college admissions interview or job interview
  • Know how to deliver a presentation to convey your ideas and thoughts
  • Understand the selling process and be able to apply it to sell your ideas, a product, and close the deal
  • Have the ability and understanding of how to learn in a college environment successfully
  • Understand career options that align with your personal and professional interests
  • Receive a certificate of completion for your achievements

FORMAT
The Professional Sales Academy is a 5-day sales education program. The program consists of six components – Impact Learning, Skill Development, College Exploration, Career Exploration, Sales Competition, and the Professional Sales Academy Online Community.

  • IMPACT LEARNING SESSIONS
    The Impact Learning sessions are 60-minute instructor-led business discussions that introduce participants to professional sales. Topics include Selling You, Selling Your Idea, and Selling Your Product.

  • SKILL BUILDING SESSIONS
    The highly interactive Skills Building sessions allow participants to engage in experiential learning exercises. Participants will develop influencing, problem-solving, and written and oral communication skills through role-play, presentation, and video creation projects. These skills are essential to be successful in any business environment.

  • COLLEGE EXPLORATION SESSIONS
    The College Exploration sessions are small group meetings led by students and the admissions department of William Paterson University. The sessions provide an opportunity for high school students to explore the day and life of a college student and how to apply to be one in the future. Participants will learn about the college experience, classes, student clubs, campus life, and tour the campus of William Paterson University.

  • CAREER EXPLORATION SESSIONS
    The Career Exploration sessions are small group meetings led by business professionals that work in professional sales and the William Paterson University Career Development Center. The sessions allow participants to explore career paths and the day-to-day life of business professionals and learn about job opportunities, business industries, salaries, etc. Participants will also assess their personalities to discuss which careers fit their passions, interests, and strengths.

  • SALES COMPETITION
    The Sales Competition allows participants to apply their newly developed selling skills in a fun and exciting competition-style learning environment. The competition will simulate real business scenarios and challenge participants' understanding of professional selling. Business professionals and college students will judge the competition.

  • PROFESSIONAL SALES ACADEMY COMMUNITY
    The Professional Sales Academy Community is an online community to provide participants with a safe and secure place to engage throughout the program. The career-focused community includes member profiles, discussion topics, chat rooms, program schedules, and other resources.



STUDENT REGISTRATION

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DATE & LOCATION
July 28 - August 1, 2025
8:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.
William Paterson University
1600 Valley Road, Wayne, NJ 07474

TRANSPORTATION LOGISTICS
Transportation services are not provided.
Participants are to make their own transportation arrangements.

PROGRAM SCHOLARSHIP
Apply for a program scholarship ($500 value) to waive the the registration fee.

 Click Here To Apply 


CONTACT US
For additional information, please contact us at rbisales@wpunj.edu.


PROGRAM SCHEDULE
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DAY ONE

SELLING YOU
Participants will develop an elevator pitch to sell themselves.

Monday, July 28, 2025

8:00 A.M. - 8:55 A.M.

Opening Session and Welcome Breakfast

 9:00 A.M. - 9:55 A.M.
IMPACT Learning Session: Selling You
Business Instructors

10:00 A.M. - 10:55 A.M.
Skill Building Session 1: Selling You
Business Instructors & Student Team Leaders

11:00 A.M. 11:55 A.M.
Career Explorations Session
WP Alumni & WP Career Development Center

12:00 P.M. - 12:55 P.M.
Lunch

1:00 P.M. - 2:55 P.M.
Skill Building Session 2: Selling You
Business Instructors & Student Team Leaders

3:00 P.M. 3:55 P.M.
College Explorations Session
Student Team Leaders & WP Admissions Department

4:00 P.M. - 4:30 P.M.
Departure
Valley Road Lobby

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DAY TWO

SELLING YOUR IDEA
Participants will develop presentation skills to sell their ideas.

Tuesday, July 29, 2025

8:00 A.M. - 8:55 A.M.

Breakfast and Networking

 9:00 A.M. - 9:55 A.M.
IMPACT Learning Session: Selling Your Idea
Business Instructors

10:00 A.M. - 10:55 A.M.
Skill Building Session 1: Selling Your Idea
Business Instructors & Student Team Leaders

11:00 A.M. 11:55 A.M.
Career Explorations Session
WP Alumni & WP Career Development Center

12:00 P.M. - 12:55 P.M.
Lunch

1:00 P.M. - 2:55 P.M.
Skill Building Session 2: Selling Your Idea
Business Instructors & Student Team Leaders

3:00 P.M. 3:55 P.M.
College Explorations Session
Student Team Leaders & WP Admissions Department

4:00 P.M. - 4:30 P.M.
Departure
Valley Road Campus Lobby

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DAY THREE

SELLING YOUR PRODUCT
Participants will develop selling skills to sell their product.

Wednesday, July 30, 2025

8:00 A.M. - 8:55 A.M.

Breakfast and Networking

 9:00 A.M. - 9:55 A.M.
IMPACT Learning Session: Selling Your Product
Business Instructors

10:00 A.M. - 10:55 A.M.
Skill Building Session 1: Selling Your Product
Business Instructors & Student Team Leaders

11:00 A.M. 11:55 A.M.
Career Explorations Session
WP Alumni & WP Career Development Center

12:00 P.M. - 12:55 P.M.
Lunch

1:00 P.M. - 2:55 P.M.
Skill Building Session 2: Selling Your Product
Business Instructors & Student Team Leaders

3:00 P.M. 3:55 P.M.
College Explorations Session
Student Team Leaders & WP Admissions Department

4:00 P.M. - 4:30 P.M.
Departure
Valley Road Campus Lobby

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DAY FOUR

SALES COMPETITION
Participants will apply their newly developed selling skills in a sales competition.

Thursday, July 31, 2025

8:00 A.M. - 8:55 A.M.

Breakfast and Networking

 9:00 A.M. - 11:55 A.M.
Sales Competition Preparation
Business Instructors & Student Team Leaders

12:00 P.M. - 12:55 P.M.
Lunch

1:00 P.M. - 3:55 P.M.
Sales Competition
Business Instructors & Student Team Leaders

4:00 P.M. - 4:30 P.M.
Departure
Valley Road Campus Lobby

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DAY FIVE
SALES COMPETITION
Participants will apply their newly developed selling skills in a sales competition.

Friday, August 1, 2025

8:00 A.M. - 8:55 A.M.

Breakfast and Networking

 9:00 A.M. - 11:55 A.M.
Sales Competition Preparation
Business Instructors & Student Team Leaders

12:00 P.M. - 12:55 P.M.
Lunch

1:00 P.M. - 2:55 P.M.
Sales Competition
Business Instructors & Student Team Leaders

3:00 P.M. 3:55 P.M.
Awards Ceremony

4:00 P.M. - 4:30 P.M.
Departure
Valley Road Campus Lobby

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Note: The program schedule is subject to change.


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