November 05, 2024

Sophia Pasquariello ’25 secured a lucrative payday after talking herself into a first-place finish not once, but twice.

The advertising & public relations major took first place at Susquehanna’s Quick Pitch Sales Challenge and went on to claim the top spot at the Keystone Sales Challenge held at Commonwealth University, securing $2,000 total in prize money.

Pasquariello, who also minors in professional sales and marketing, said she entered the competitions as a way to work on her speaking skills, step out of her comfort zone and apply what she had been learning in class.

“These competitions offered a unique opportunity to put my skills to the test in a competitive sales environment, providing valuable hands-on experience,” Pasquariello said. “My professor Michele Welliver also emphasized in class that these events would be excellent opportunities to practice our sales techniques, and that encouragement inspired me to give it a try.”

For the Quick Pitch Sales Challenge, she had to deliver a 60-to-90-second pitch introducing herself and explaining why she would be a great fit for the participating companies. In the Keystone Sales Challenge, she took on the role of a sales representative, pitching a product to a company. Each round focused on advancing the sale, from securing meetings to presenting the solution and ultimately closing the deal.

Pasquariello said she went into the competitions hoping to make the Top 10, or at best Top 3.

“When they called my name, I was thrilled. Seeing my hard work and everything I’d learned pay off was incredibly rewarding,” Pasquariello said. “Both wins were truly inspiring and showed me that, with the strong foundation Susquehanna has provided, I could exceed my own expectations.”

After graduation, the New Providence, New Jersey, native plans to pursue a career in sales and continue to build on the skills she has developed through her academic and competitive experiences at Susquehanna.

“Through both my classes and competitions, I’ve learned to think quickly, communicate effectively and perform well under pressure,” she said. “The guidance I have received at Susquehanna has given me a new sense of hope and excitement for my career, proving that stepping out of my comfort zone can lead to incredible outcomes.”