UNH Sales Students Gain Global Experience at International Sales Week 2026
The UNH Professional Sales Group recently traveled to Helsinki, Finland, to participate in International Sales Week 2026, hosted by Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences.
International Sales Week is an annual event that rotates among participating universities in Austria, Belgium, Finland, France and the Netherlands. The partner institutions are among the few universities in Europe that offer degree programs in sales.
The week combines sales competitions, professional development and cross-cultural collaboration. Students participated in personal pitching competitions, team-based sales role plays and master classes led by international sales educators. As we continue looking for opportunities to incorporate more global perspectives into the UNH sales program, this experience exceeded expectations.
Representing UNH were Elizabeth Walent, Emily Kearns, Caroline Susla, Benjamin Basoli, Jayson Gherlone and Ryan Matson. Each student was assigned to a four-person team made up of participants from different universities and countries, creating a truly international learning environment.
Students first competed individually in a personal pitch competition before participating in the ADSOTECH sales role-play competition. In that event, team members competed in pairs, with scores combined to determine team performance. While working with two salespeople in the same meeting differs from the format commonly used in U.S. sales competitions, it provided an ideal opportunity for students to collaborate, compete and learn alongside peers from different cultures and backgrounds.
The UNH students did an outstanding job balancing competition, teamwork and professional development while also taking time to explore Helsinki and connect with fellow students from across Europe.
A special thank you to Riku Hytönen, Hannu Koikkalainen, Tuula Ryhänen and the entire Haaga-Helia team for their hospitality and for organizing such a valuable experience.
The good news? UNH has already been invited back for International Sales Week 2027 in Vienna, Austria. We look forward to confirming the dates and continuing this international partnership.
