Our Story
Over the years, Mike Bosworth has facilitated hundreds of Solution Selling workshops to thousands of participants. The biggest complaint from VP’s of Sales during this time was how the top 20% of sales reps loved what he taught, but the bottom 80% stop using his teachings after two weeks. Mike realized the missing link was an emotional connection. The top 20% do it intuitively. We needed to teach connection to the bottom 80% so they could gain trust. And, this is how Storyseekers was born.
"Scratch the surface in a typical boardroom and we're all just cavemen with briefcases, hungry
for a wise person to tell us stories."
- Alan Kay, Vice-President at Walt Disney
STORYSeekers Co-founder - United States
John Kratz
I am an Instructor of Marketing teaching Fundamentals of Selling and Social Media Marketing at the University of Minnesota Duluth, where I helped to establish the first public university sales program in Minnesota.
My passion is helping students transition successfully from the classroom to entry-level careers in sales and marketing.
Before entering the teaching profession, I worked 18 years in new business development at
Land O’ Lakes, The Pillsbury Company, Actmedia, Gage Marketing Group, and MCI Telecommunications.
When not under contract to teach at UMD, I lead Storyseekers© workshops for sales, marketing, leadership, and talent acquisition teams in organizations across North America.
I enjoy exploring the wilderness of Northeastern Minnesota, canoeing, hiking, and hunting ruffed grouse and muskellunge in the land of 10,000 lakes.
I have a B.A. in Speech Communications from the University of Minnesota Duluth and an M.B.A from the Carlson School of Management – University of Minnesota.
STORYSeekers Co-founder - United States
Rob Stenberg
I have over 30 years of experience in training sales professionals and leaders using a wide variety of sales techniques and methodologies, but my favorite is storytelling. I credit my success in sales over the years to being an “unconsciously competent” storyteller!
I really found my passion when I became conscious about my storytelling ability and the fact that rapport and connection can be taught. My belief previous to this revelation was that connection and rapport had to be intuitive and I was told by many sales trainers that this could not be taught. We didn’t know then what we know now about neuroscience and that it can be taught.
I am passionate about working with sales professionals who understand that sales is something you do “for” or “with” their clients, not something you “do to” clients.
I hold Bachelor of Arts degrees in both Management and Marketing from the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, MN.
"After 40 years of developing sales processes in B2B: Solution Selling, CustomerCentric Selling®, I have discovered the missing link that distinguishes 13% of the top salespeople from the remaining 87%."
- Mike Bosworth
Other STORYSeekers Worldwide
Inspiration and Story Master
Mike Bosworth
I am an author of three books on selling, a keynote speaker on sales, marketing, and leadership, and in my later years, enjoy being known as a ‘sales philosopher.’
My passion is helping people land the job of their dreams and assisting salespeople in exceeding their goals and support their families.
I enjoy leading experiential workshops on sales and leadership.
I began my career in the information technology industry in 1972 on the Help Desk for Xerox Computer Services. I was their top new business salesperson in 1975, managed the “Branch of the Year” in 1979, and was promoted to Manager of Field Sales in 1980. I founded my Solution Selling business in 1983.
I currently live on Orcas Island, Washington. I enjoy ‘awe walks’ in nature every day and you can email me directly at [email protected].
I have a B.S. in Business Management and Marketing from California State Polytechnic University.
Global Affiliate - Poland
Magdalena Petryniak
I am the CEO of Story Seekers Europe, dedicated to developing sales and leadership skills using the Customer Hero Selling methodology. I h ave been honing my leadership, influencing and marketing communication skills since my first social activism project as an undergraduate, and successfully lobbied the Polish Parliament for Smoke-Free Poland law in 2010.
As a consultant, business owner, trainer, and a university teacher with more than 15 years of experience in marketing and sales development programs, I am passionate about social change and intercultural learning.
Global Affiliate - Asia
Julian Cheong
I co-founded Mike Bosworth Leadership in Asia in 2014, with the vision of bringing the best sales education foundation to my community. I earned my sales experience and grit from spending 20 years in the fast-paced IT industry, selling to B2B buyers.
I also serve Sales Enablement Leaders, VP's of Sales and individual salespersons, who use my 1to1 coaching to practice using the power of story and connected listening skills in all their customer conversations – virtual or in person. When applied, these skills create trust, lower buyer’s resistance and in turn drive breakthrough sales results for the sales teams.
Apart from creating and leading Story Seekers workshops, I also mentor young entrepreneurs from Singapore Management University and assist them with sharpening their selling skills and setting up their own sales organizations.
What Great Salespeople Do: The Science of Selling Through Emotional Connection and the Power of Story
Build better relationships and Sell More Effectively With a Powerful SALES STORY
“Throughout our careers, we have been trained to ask diagnostic questions, deliver value props, and conduct ROI studies. It usually doesn’t work; best case, we can argue with the customer about numbers―purely a left brain exercise, which turns buyers off. This book explains a better way.”― John Burke, Group Vice President, Oracle Corporation
