EdSales Edge Show

Summary: Wondering when you should really start selling in the education market? In this episode, Josh Chernikoff dives into the right timing and approach for effective sales in the education space. Spoiler: it’s not just about waiting until you have a perfect offer. It’s about understanding the specific buying cycles and decision-making processes that are unique to educational institutions. Josh...

Summary: Are your sales calls feeling like one-way pitches instead of real conversations? In this episode, Josh Chernikoff uncovers a simple yet powerful shift that could change how you approach every sales call moving forward. Spoiler: it’s not about selling harder or pushing your offer more aggressively. It’s about tapping into a skill most salespeople overlook. Josh dives deep into how listenin...

Summary: Selling to schools and districts is more than just having a good product—it’s about really understanding the specific challenges and needs of the education market. In this episode, Special Guest: John Gamba (Entrepreneur in Residence at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education)  and I talk about how to deliver better sales demos, especially when technical issues or mult...

Join me as I sit down with Chris and Corey from Rocket PD to talk about how they revamped their entire sales process to feel more natural and focused on building relationships with their ideal customers. Chris and Cory have years of SaaS experience under their belt and they know a lot about marketing and selling software, but selling to schools felt like a whole different ball game. And so we work...

Summary Imagine a tool that could revolutionize how students manage their homework—built not by some big tech company, but by a parent and a 12-year-old visionary. Curious? In this episode, we're diving into a startup story that's as unique as it gets. A co-founder whose biggest challenge wasn’t just building the tech but navigating the labyrinth of the education market...  Join me as I...

Summary: Starting a business with the goal of solving complex educational problems is a tall order. But Sam Saarinen, founder and CEO of Edapt Technologies, embraced this challenge head-on. In this episode, Sam shares his entrepreneurial journey—one marked by ambitious starts, hard-learned lessons, and a game-changing pivot that led to remarkable business growth. If you’re an entrepreneur struggli...

In this episode, Josh Chernikoff discusses the importance of implementing systems in order to scale and grow an education business. He highlights three powerful systems: offer system, lead generation and sales system, and delivery system. He emphasizes the need for a repeatable and scalable offer, a lead generation system to attract and nurture ideal clients, and a delivery system to ensure client...

In this episode, Josh Chernikoff shares his experiences and challenges in growing his second business, Flex Academies. He discusses the importance of finding the ideal client, pivoting the business model, and building a strong offer. He also emphasizes the need for a lead generation system and the importance of surrounding oneself with experts. Josh highlights the significance of systems in scalin...

In this conversation, Josh Chernikoff interviews Kathryn Adabonyan, the founder and CEO of Go Pursue, a company that helps high school students explore career options and connect with professionals in those fields. They delve into Kathryn's journey as an entrepreneur, a testament to her resilience in overcoming sales and marketing challenges. Kathryn shares how the EdSales Elevation Experienc...

In this conversation, Josh Chernikoff discusses his nine-step process for building lead generation machines that produce high-quality and high-converting leads on repeat. He addresses the common challenge of not knowing how to get leads and emphasizes the importance of founder-led sales. Josh shares his own experience of starting a tutoring business without any sales experience and explains how he...

Don’t miss the Catalyst at Penn GSE Innovation Summit on June 21st at the University of Pennsylvania. It’s a must-attend event for entrepreneurs in the education sector, filled with insights on advancing your business. Register now at https://mailchi.mp/gse.upenn.edu/catalyst-summit-2024 Rose, a successful entrepreneur and educator, shares her experience with the Ed Sales Elevation Experience. She...

Don’t miss the Catalyst at Penn GSE Innovation Summit on June 21st at the University of Pennsylvania. It’s a must-attend event for entrepreneurs in the education sector, filled with insights on advancing your business. Register now at https://mailchi.mp/gse.upenn.edu/catalyst-summit-2024 Welcome to today’s episode where we delve into the world of lead generation within the education industry. We&a...

In this episode, Josh discusses the importance of identifying the main stakeholders in the education space and how to sell to them effectively. He shares case studies of Brent and Katherine, who faced the challenge of determining who to sell to and how they overcame it. Josh emphasizes the need to focus on the benefits and transformation your solution can provide to the main stakeholder while also...

In this episode, Josh Chernikoff interviews David Dworkin, the CEO and founder of Hire Cause. They discuss David's experience in the Ed Sales Elevation Experience program and the impact it had on his business. David shares the challenges he faced before joining the program, including the difficulty of setting up consistent meetings with potential clients in the education sector. He also talks...

In this episode, the host discusses how to transform a LinkedIn profile into a sales page that generates more leads. The importance of having a professional and engaging profile picture is emphasized, as it sets the tone for others to perceive you. The headline is highlighted as a hook that captures attention and showcases how you can help your ideal client. The summary section is an opportunity t...

Summary In this episode, Josh Chernikoff discusses how to confidently start conversations with potential clients that lead to booking more calls. He addresses the challenge of initiating conversations and offers strategies for building rapport and making connections. Josh emphasizes the importance of offering value and following up with potential clients. He provides tips for opening conversations...

Summary In this episode, Josh Chernikoff discusses the importance of having a Signature Solution to generate more leads and close sales faster. He emphasizes the need for clear communication of value and the challenges entrepreneurs in the education space face in this regard. Josh explains that a Signature Solution is a clear visual roadmap that outlines the steps to take clients from where they a...

In this episode, Josh Chernikoff discusses the challenge of promoting oneself without feeling salesy or inauthentic. He shares his personal experience with imposter syndrome and how he overcame it. Josh also addresses common fears and challenges faced by entrepreneurs and provides tips to overcome the fear of self-promotion. He emphasizes the importance of not comparing oneself to others and highl...

In this conversation, Josh Chernikoff and Brent Newton discuss the power of LinkedIn for business growth and networking. They highlight the evolution of LinkedIn from a resume platform to a sales funnel and emphasize the importance of improving LinkedIn profiles. The conversation also covers the challenges of consistently posting on LinkedIn and the value of building a supportive community. They e...

In this episode, Josh Chernikoff discusses how to effectively use LinkedIn for lead generation in the education industry. He debunks common myths about LinkedIn and provides tips on optimizing your profile to attract the right audience. Josh emphasizes the importance of nurturing connections and leveraging social proof through testimonials. He also invites listeners to join a LinkedIn workshop to...

In this episode of Breaking the Grade, host Josh Chernikoff is joined by guest Rose Hastreiter to discuss breaking free from traditional goal setting. They explore the difference between goal setting and achieving goals, the importance of designing the experience of success, and the power of the past tense in goal setting. Rose shares actionable tips for goal setting and achievement, including wri...

Sher Downing has been a successful business owner for over 20 years.  She’s become the go-to in the ed-tech space and also hosts her own podcast, “Ed-tech Speaks”.  But Sher told us that she never discounts her own humble beginnings as an employee of a music store that really prepared her to climb the ladder in her own career.  We were lucky to have Sher join us in this episode as she tells us all...

A fantastic time spent talking with Erin Dowd and how she found her true calling in life! Erin comes from a family of educators, and she always looked up to her father and grandfather as mentors. They were more than just mentors; they were the key to unlocking her true potential. Erin's father, a master storyteller, weaved enchanting tales that made learning fun and relatable.  And let's...

For as long as she can remember, Susan Gold has been the “kid whisperer.” She just gets kids and they get that she gets them. A match made in heaven, especially since she founded her school in 2010.  But - that didn’t mean that Susan’s peers in school got her. In fact, her middle school years were packed with bad days and bullying.  By listening to our show about this excellent educator and even b...

Sher Downing has been a successful business owner for over 20 years.  She’s become the go-to in the ed tech space and also hosts her own podcast, “Ed-tech Speaks”.  But Sher told us that she never discounts her own humble beginnings as an employee of a music store that really prepared her to climb the ladder in her own career.  We were lucky to have Sher join us in this episode as she tells us all...