We had the pleasure of welcoming James Barlow from Cisco to speak with our Year 8 pupils about working in the technology sector and his role working in sales. With a decade of experience across multiple industries – including hospitality, estate agency, car sales and recruitment – James provided valuable insights into the skills needed to excel in sales and how his journey led him to IT sales at Cisco.
James used a creative analogy to gain the attention and interest of our pupils, comparing sales to Professor X’s telekinesis. He explained that a great salesperson can anticipate customers’ needs as if they have entered their minds, providing them with the perfect solution. This fun and imaginative example helped pupils better understand the art of sales.
James then set the pupils a task: selling a pen. This exercise challenged the pupils to think about how they could persuade people that they really wanted and needed something that they use every day and probably take for granted, this helped to develop their persuasive techniques to market their product. Taking the activity a step further, pupils were challenged to invent and pitch their own unique products to the class. Some of the fantastic ideas included:
- A paperweight gym tool – a weight that attaches to paper but can also be used for workouts.
- A Smart Stick – a multi-functional tool that transforms into a pen, pencil, and back scratcher.
- The Ultimate Bundle – a dictionary featuring every language, combined with a handwriting pen that ensures neat homework.
- Magic pens and pencils – writing tools that bring drawings to life.
- A paperweight with unlimited strength – capable of holding down any amount of weight.
- A water bottle with endless possibilities – able to create any drink on demand and containing ice that never melts.
As the session came to a close, James encouraged pupils by stating: “Anyone can sell; it’s your attitude and general outlook that create the success you hope to see.” His words left a lasting impression on our pupils, with one pupil commenting: ‘It was so interesting and he was very good at explaining what his job involved.’ Another pupil added: “Listening to James’ talk has really helped with my confidence and made me think about a career in sales, I think this is something that I could be good at.”
The session was such a success that pupils have repeatedly requested for James to return next year, they enjoyed his talk so much. This was a fantastic opportunity for our pupils to unleash their creativity, build their confidence and develop key persuasive skills. James’ engaging approach and interactive activities made this an unforgettable experience and we look forward to welcoming him back in the future!