Gaining corporate confidence
According to Merriam-Webster, confidence is defined as “a feeling or belief that you can do something well or succeed at something.” Students who are part of the professional sales and business development minor (PSBD), a joint program offered by Moody College of Communication and McCombs School of Business, credit the minor for building confidence within themselves and giving them a head start in their professional careers.
Erika Fletcher, the director of corporate relations for the minor, emphasizes that students finish the program changed for the better.
“I have seen students grow in leaps and bounds,” Fletcher said. “I’ll see someone come in as a first-semester sophomore, and they have no idea what they are getting into. After a semester or two, these students are so much more confident. They are not afraid; they just need to learn the tools so that they can go out and be successful. I’ve seen the minor provide that for these students.”
The program is open to students of all majors and welcomes everyone, even if they don’t want to go into sales. The curriculum aims to help students develop skills in analysis, communication, presentation and persuasion, skills that are needed in all types of careers. PSBD students also receive the opportunity to build their networks and connect with local and national industry leaders.
Moody College students from different majors have found the minor to be a strong addition to their coursework and an excellent pathway to launch their careers.
“I would describe the minor as more of a program, rather than just taking classes,” says Tyler Dean, a senior communications and leadership major. “All of the professors are focused on getting you a job. They teach us real-world skills, whether that be KPIs, the SPIN method, or even just learning how to talk to customers on the phone.”
Dean had an internship at Amazon Web Services last summer. He said that the minor provided him with the network and skills to be able to secure his position with the company.
“I would describe the minor as more of a program, rather than just taking classes. All of the professors are focused on getting you a job. They teach us real-world skills, whether that be KPIs, the SPIN method, or even just learning how to talk to customers on the phone.”
“When I showed up to my internship, I knew that I was going to have to do jobs that other interns may not be prepared for,” Dean said. “I knew what I was getting myself into, and I felt so comfortable throughout the summer due to the classes that I’ve taken in the minor.”
Serina Menon, a senior corporate communications major, wasn’t sure that she wanted to go into sales after graduation but chose to add the minor because it gave her the opportunity to take classes that weren’t offered to other students. Menon says her classes and professors helped her lean into her future career. After receiving a return offer from her internship with CrowdStrike, she will now be working in sales post-graduation.
“Every class that I’ve taken within the minor has given me practice for real-world situations, which I then used in both internships that I’ve had,” Menon said. “Because it’s a joint program, you get opportunities from Moody College and McCombs that only students in our minor receive. So many people, including myself, have decided what they want to do with their career based on this minor, and I think many other students would also be able to find their purpose if they became part of the program as well.”
Every class that I’ve taken within the minor has given me practice for real-world situations, which I then used in both internships that I’ve had. Because it’s a joint program, you get opportunities from Moody College and McCombs that only students in our minor receive. So many people, including myself, have decided what they want to do with their career based on this minor, and I think many other students would also be able to find their purpose if they became part of the program as well.
Jack Mabley, a senior corporate communications major, interned at Dell Technologies over the summer. He’ll return to Dell following his graduation in the spring of 2027. He says the minor helps students learn how to speak, build relationships and communicate value, even if they don’t plan on going into sales in the future.
“I’ve always been interested in sales, so when the program became available, I thought it was a perfect avenue for me to learn more about the field and build connections through career fairs and mentors, eventually leading up to securing a job, which I was able to do thanks to the minor,” Mabley said.
Mabley recommends the program to all students, especially those in Moody College.
“The instruction is great with professors who want to see you win and develop as a person, they don’t just treat you as a student in their class,” Mabley said. “These classes will give you hands-on experience, so when you eventually get an internship, you’re not going in blind and you understand how sales work, what’s expected of you, and ultimately how to become the best salesperson possible.”
The instruction is great with professors who want to see you win and develop as a person, they don’t just treat you as a student in their class. These classes will give you hands-on experience, so when you eventually get an internship, you’re not going in blind and you understand how sales work, what’s expected of you, and ultimately how to become the best salesperson possible.
