Leadership society teaches students to sell skills

Students in IU's Global Sales Leadership Society dive in head first. They are sometimes under intense pressure, making presentations before Fortune 500 companies during their freshman year.\nDressing in suits and attending meetings, being in the GSLS is designed to give students a feel for what corporate life will be like.\n"Our job is to prepare people for the corporate world as best as possible," said Kevin Lloyd, a senior and CEO of the GSLS.\nThe GSLS is a student-run group that is organized and run like a corporation. The group even has a chain of command with promotions.\n"It's helpful in a job to know the totem pole because it's how the business world works," said Christie Cash, junior and sales manager of the GSLS.\nStudents who wish to join must complete an application and then follow up with a 15-minute interview. Students are examined and screened for their charisma, leadership abilities, academic history and ability to work well in a group, according to the Web site www.iugsls.com.\n"We hire nothing but the best of the best," Lloyd said.\nMembers of the GSLS are expected to participate in one event each semester where they fine-tune their sales abilities, Lloyd said. The events range from speaking to crowds of high school students and X104 classes, to charitable fundraisers. Which event a student will participate in will be dependant on his specific task force which he or she works for.\n"We give them real world opportunities to practice their sales skills," Lloyd said.\nLloyd struck hands with one of his colleagues in a not so formal handshake for such a formal group. \n"The best of the best also play well together," Cash explained. "We also have all of these strong relationships with people."\nGroup members also said they focus on personal development. Junior Alix Moll, vice president of sales, said not only business majors are present in the group, but people from all different backgrounds.\n"Everyone in the room offers at least one skill that makes your conversation more than just words -- they offer something that makes you say 'wow,'" she said. \nLloyd said sales knowledge can benefit students focusing on careers in any discipline.\nEven if a student is not interested in working in sales, Lloyd said, one can benefit from being in GSLS.\n"You are always going to have to convince someone of something everyday," he said. "Our job is providing unique experiences they would not normally find that gives them the edge for the real world"