Sandler Training

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and director of leadership and organizational development at LifeQuest Strategies, a professional training and coaching company. My main goal is to empower individuals and institutions through transformative and professional leadership programs.

What challenge were you trying to address with Sandler Training?

I needed their team to help me improve my sales system through their skills training.

What was the scope of their involvement?

I noticed that there were nuances in my sales processes since I went back to operating in Canada from my international sales operations in Latin America and Spain. Upon observing this, I instantly thought that it would be best to work on this aspect by devising a particular sales methodology to streamline my operations and increase my capacity to sell. Sandler Training provided specific tips and strategies that I incorporated into my system to improve my sales. I enrolled in their training course that consisted of comprehensive videos and other study materials that guided me to create an optimized sales system for my company.

What is the team composition?

I mainly communicated with Francesco (Franchise Owner), who worked as my sales trainer and coach.

How did you come to work with Sandler Training?

I knew Francesco from our previous work engagements. I found out about his newly franchised company, and I was more than happy to try out their services since I was already familiar with Francesco’s great reputation.

How much have you invested with them?

I spent about $10,000–$25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our collaboration ran from March 2020–April 2021.

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

Sandler Training employed a professional philosophy that positively changed my sales abilities — I became more efficient and confident when it came to engaging investors. I can now confidently walk away from leads that won’t take my business anywhere and focus on the ones that I can convert to improve my sales. Their supportive practices and feedback motivated me not only to qualify leads accurately but also to aim for better personal branding.

How did Sandler Training perform from a project management standpoint?

We mainly communicated via Zoom. We had weekly meetings wherein we discussed expectations and went over the training course. They were a team of professionals — the organization of their resources was both rich and easy to absorb. I liked how I was still given the opportunity to decide how much information I wanted to study and incorporate into my sales workflow. It’s unbelievable how they agreed to share that amount of knowledge with everybody.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was really impressed with how comprehensive their system was. Initially, I’ve had second thoughts on whether to commit to the engagement or not, but the results proved that I made the right decision. Sandler Training devised a beneficial system that set me up for success. It wasn’t based on plain theory alone — everything was achieved through applied practice.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It’s actually a strength in terms of organization, but my only complaint was that I personally found their resources and constant follow-ups to be intense and overwhelming. It was a rigorous program and I sometimes felt like there was no room to slack off. While I thought this was understandable, it’s also an area that they could consider improving.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our organization is Agincourt Community Services Association (ACSA), a community-based social service agency in Scarborough, Toronto. 

What challenge were you trying to address with Sandler Training?

We were given an opportunity to work with Francesco (President) for us to receive leadership skills enhancement coaching sessions.

What was the scope of their involvement?

I have regular coaching sessions with Francesco. The goal of this engagement is to improve my leadership skills and, in turn, enhance the leadership of our agency’s management team. The sessions occur on a regular basis depending on my schedule, and they happen either every two weeks and every month. 

What is the team composition?

I only work with Francesco. 

How did you come to work with Sandler Training?

We were introduced to Francesco several years ago through a coaching opportunity. The current engagement is a collective effort, and the coaching and mentoring services are offered through an organization called Toronto Neighborhood Centers. 

How much have you invested with them?

The services I receive from Sandler Training are pro bono.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started engaging with Sandler Training in January 2018, and it’s ongoing.

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

Francesco is extremely professional. He always comes to the table with presence and knowledge, and he gives relevant feedback, suggestions, and ideas that are very pertinent to the nonprofit sector. The tools and materials that he makes available are relevant to me, too. I can read further and examine them deeper; I can also use them to enhance the experience of my agency’s leadership team. 

Overall, Francesco is very present, knowledgeable, and always ready to go. He’s also an unbelievable listener. I have the autonomy over the direction of our conversations and what I want to unpack and learn in each session. It’s magnificent that he is able to navigate those conversations, and I feel extremely fortunate to be able to have this kind of support. 

How did Sandler Training perform from a project management standpoint?

Francesco and I meet on a regular basis for coaching purposes. Otherwise, we usually communicate through email. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Sandler has an amazing way of applying the principles of sales and marketing to the nonprofit sector. This is something I’ve noticed from the very beginning. They can show me how I can increase our fundraising revenues using those same principles. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there aren’t any. I don’t have anything to compare their services to, and it has been an invaluable experience. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Give it a go, and test some of the models and principles that are being shared by the Sandler professionals. These are principles that really make sense, and if you stick to them until the end, you’ll see results. They'll serve you in the long run.