Why Every Future Leader Needs a Sales Mindset

During a recent interaction with students, I was asked about career paths, leadership journeys, and what really prepares someone for the CEO’s role.
And here’s what I shared with them — a truth that took me years to understand but only minutes to explain.

Every Function Is a Cost Centre — Except One

In any organization, whether it’s a startup, a corporate, or even a growing SME, every department contributes in critical ways. But structurally:

• R&D is a cost centre.
• HR is a cost centre.
• Operations is a cost centre.
• Finance is a cost centre.

Only one function brings in the fuel that keeps the engine running:

Sales is the only profit centre.

No matter how innovative your product is, how efficient your operations are, or how strong your finance team is — without revenue, the business stands still.

The Most Successful CEOs Have One Thing in Common

Across industries and across decades, I’ve observed a consistent pattern:

Most leaders who reach the CEO’s chair have had a strong sales stint in their careers.

And it’s not a coincidence.
Sales teaches lessons no classroom, textbook, or workshop ever can.

Sales builds:

• Empathy — understanding customers deeply
• Patience — because deals take time
• Resilience — especially against rejection
• Ambition — the hunger to grow
• People connection — the art of communication

These are not “departmental skills.”
These are leadership skills.

Why Sales Should Be Taught in Schools

Before wrapping up, I left the students with one thought:

“Schools should teach Sales as a foundational skill — not just Finance and Operations.”

If young people learned how to communicate, persuade, understand human needs, negotiate, and build relationships early on, the world would produce far more confident professionals and far more effective leaders.

A Spark in Their Eyes

What truly moved me was the shift I saw in the room.
Students who once saw Sales as a back-up option or a “less glamorous” role now looked at it with curiosity — and perhaps even admiration.

If this session nudged even a few of them to consider Sales as a powerful career path, I’d call it a win.

Beyond EVs. Beyond ThunderPlus.

For me, this interaction wasn’t about the EV ecosystem or ThunderPlus alone.
It was about shaping perspectives and inspiring the next generation of leaders — leaders who can sell ideas, build trust, and drive change.

Because at the end of the day, Sales isn’t just a job. It’s a catalyst for leadership.