Growing Opportunities for Women in Sales

Financial services sales jobs are expected to grow by 37 percent by 2006 as identified by Occupational Outlook Handbook and the American Council of Education Cooperative Institutional Research. Women are underrepresented in the industry and no college or university in the United States offered a program integrating sales and financial services in a comprehensive curriculum. Therefore in January 2001, the College of St. Catherine (CSC) launched a new Financial Services Sales Leadership program at the college funded with a $350,000 grant from American Express. The program, believed to be the first of its kind in the nation, allows participating students to earn a bachelor's degree in sales with a concentration in financial services and a minor in economics. It also features continuing education courses and research dedicated to financial services sales.

Senior executives at American Express and other financial services professionals provided intensive input on the curriculum. The college also consulted with the certified financial planner board of standards. In addition, internships at American Express and other participating financial services companies will be available to qualified students.

"The financial services sector is complex and requires sophisticated skills and a strong knowledge base," said College of St. Catherine Director of Corporate Relations Marjorie Mathison Hance. "As the nation's premier Catholic college for women, the College of St. Catherine long has been known for developing the leadership skills of women. It's highly appropriate that a groundbreaking financial services leadership program originate at this college."

Despite its increasing complexity, The program, offered through the Center for Sales Innovation at St. Catherine, is available at the college's St. Paul campus and serves both traditional day students and nontraditional students interested in changing careers or reentering the work force.

“Our students will benefit from a unique financial sales program that combines an in-depth education in finance with sales leadership development. The program will prepare students for leadership roles within a wide range of careers in consumer or business to business financial services sales," said Hance.

"The partnership between the College of St. Catherine's and American Express combines the strengths of both organizations. It allows students to gain a good liberal arts background from the college with the financial services experience of one of the industry's leaders in financial services," said Teresa Hanratty, senior vice president-Field Management and Advice Services at American Express. "Sales offers tremendous opportunities for individuals to excel in a performance-based field, as well as develop leadership skills that enable them to move into management positions within companies. This program gives students the tools they need to succeed."

The College of St. Catherine is the largest and most comprehensive Catholic College for women in the United States and the second largest private college in the state of Minnesota. The college serves nearly 4,500 students in bachelor degree programs in a full-time day and weekend college formats, professional certification, associate and graduate degree programs. The college maintains its commitment to the liberal arts as the broad base of learning. The Center for Sales Innovation at St. Catherine's has been featured in the Wall Street Journal and many other magazines and newspapers.
Currently the college is recruiting students interested in the sales major program. Contact the Center for Sales Innovation, Rachel Swan, 651-690-6970, for program information. Also, mentors and guest speakers are needed to add real world experience to the classroom learning. Mentoring projects are a time committed of 2 to 4 hours once a semester. Thank you for your support.