Marketing students represent School of Business at National Sales Challenge

SUNY New Paltz students Derya Rodoplu ’17 (Marketing) and Ema Savic ’16 (International Business, Marketing) travelled to William Paterson University in New Jersey to participate in the William Paterson University National Sales Challenge, a renowned collegiate competition aimed at refining students’ sales skills in real-world scenarios created and guided by seasoned professionals from major, international corporations.

Rodoplu and Savic became the first New Paltz students to participate in this competition. Both are Marketing majors who are taking new courses in Food Marketing as they eye the transition from college to career.

Participating in the National Sales Challenge (NSC) served not only as a chance to test the skills they’ve developed at New Paltz, but also as a networking opportunity with business leaders from a diverse array of industries.

“Whether you have the ambition to pursue a career in sales or not, the NSC is an opportunity to improve your presence in front of working professionals,” Rodoplu said. “Throughout the competition I was able to talk to different business men and women, who gave me helpful feedback as to how I could ‘close the deal’ and get the job. This experience was great for me in that I learned to keep my confidence and cool when talking to new people in a business setting.”

The first-ever New Paltz delegation to the NSC acquitted itself well, claiming a victory in the first round of the competitive portion of the conference.

“The National Sales Challenge was an eye opening competition, and I’m thrilled to have been a part of it, Savic said. “The sponsors of the event were dedicated in pushing us to hone in on our personal differentiators, and letting them shine during competition time. Advancing to the second round felt great, but emerging with a newfound confidence felt even better!”

Rodoplu and Savic were joined by Food Marketing Lecturer Russell Zwanka, who said “Derya and Ema represented SUNY New Paltz with poise, and professionalism, and embraced the unknown of being the first two students from New Paltz to ever compete in this challenge.”

More information about the School of Business can be accessed online.