Redefining what it means to be a salesperson

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—With an eye for uplifting individuals, futurist Aleksander Slotwinski, a Western Michigan University student from Kalamazoo, is eager to work collaboratively with his future clients in the sales industry. As a sales and business marketing and Spanish double major, Slotwinski hopes to contribute to an inclusive sales industry.

“I chose my majors because I desire to position myself in the ever-evolving workforce of tomorrow: diverse and interconnected. I consider sales to be the face of the business where sales professionals truly speak about an organization’s value to its customers,” Slotwinski says. “I’m thrilled to see how I can be a problem solver, value presenter and advisor for a diverse range of customers with a wide range of needs.”

Slotwinski hopes to redesign who a salesperson is. Who do they serve and what does the salesperson look like? Are they in suits, making their way down the streets of a big city or are they reaching out to neighborhoods and building a community?

“I’m thrilled at the idea of redefining the public’s perception of what a salesperson is in the twenty-first century. As an aspiring sales professional, it’s my lifelong goal to be seen as an advisor or specialist who aims to connect the right solution with the right decision maker within an organization, maintaining the relationship long after the sale,” he says.

Researching different company values and missions and networking with those who share his own core values has been Slotwinski’s biggest takeaway from his time at WMU Haworth. His primary goal, however, is to connect with customers and develop a strong bond.

“Regardless of the type of company I work for or the industry I’m involved in, I’m driven to improve the lives of as many future customers as possible. Once I align with the values and products of a company, I beam with enthusiasm and passion, and I’m elated to share that with people. With this, I can lead a purposeful and impactful professional career in sales.”

Slotwinski found guidance through the Business Association of Mentors student organization, which helped him unearth his talents.

“My mentors early in my career at Western were (former student) Dalton Hancheck and (junior) Audrey Delano. They helped me better understand what my strengths were through various meetings. Learning from them helped me choose the sales and business marketing major.”

With the leadership skills gained during his time as the vice president of the American Marketing Association and director of member engagement for the Sales and Business Marketing Association, Slotwinski was able to successfully engage in and complete the Real Whirled Sales Development Program at Whirlpool.

“I assisted in creating the newest execution excellence product launch tracker that clearly outlines the different stages of the entire launch process through a color-coded scorecard system,” he says. “Throughout my time creating this launch tracker for the team, I quickly learned the fast-paced nature of business, and I fortified my creativity, organization, flexibility, agility and business communication skills.”

Though innovation will get Slotwinski far in the sales profession, it is his passion for people that will carry him even further. During his remaining time at Western, his goal is to include every person he meets and be their advocate. 

For more WMU news, arts and events, visit WMU News online.