Philanthropy fuels growth at Grau Center for Professional Selling

Philanthropy is empowering University of Cincinnati business students with the top skills needed for some of the most in-demand careers in sales. The unique skill set for sales roles is a growing need, particularly for those pursuing the tech industry. The Carl H. Lindner College of Business is teaching professional selling, and companies across the country are seeking out UC students.

The Lindner College of Business is home to the Grau Center for Professional Selling, which focuses on teaching the fundamentals of professional selling, developing graduates who are well-prepared for a successful sales career. UC’s sales program students graduate with real-life sales training and experience. A Professional Selling minor is available to all UC students, regardless of their college or field of study. Current students pursuing a minor in sales include those majoring in finance, art and design, engineering and IT, to build upon and strengthen their career options.

A recent philanthropic gift has leveraged the Grau Center’s impact, and a March ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrated the gift.

Students, faculty and staff of the Lindner College of Business joined UC President Neville G. Pinto and Dean Marianne Lewis in dedicating the Grau Center for Professional Selling Sales Lab and thanking Jim Grau, BBA ’73.

Grau, a Lindner alumnus and retired CEO of Cross Match Technologies, made a generous $8 million donation in 2024 to the Lindner College of Business and UC Athletics. At Lindner, the gift will support the Grau Center and provide financial resources for upgrades to the sales labs, where students collaborate with UC's corporate partners on real-world business activities.

Family, friends and colleagues gathered with Grau at the ceremony, reflecting on the impact of his philanthropy and leadership at UC.

“Jim realized during his remarkable career how fundamental selling was to every business,” said President Pinto. “Students from all over UC — not just from Lindner — can now understand how selling is beneficial to advancing their ideas.”

UC’s professional sales program, named one of the top programs in North America by the Sales Education Foundation, combines classroom teaching with experiential learning. A robust list of corporate partners assist students with mock interviews, elevator speech practice, classroom sales competitions, networking socials, workshops and the bi-annual Sales Expo, a sales-focused career fair.

The program has grown exponentially over the years. Its first sales class had 25 students; today, 400 students are enrolled in class every semester.    

“The Sales Expo hosts more than 350 sales students and 55 corporate sales recruiters,” said Jennifer Barlow, executive director, external relations, Grau Center for Professional Selling. “It began with 20 sales students and 20 corporate recruiters. This growth of sales opportunities available to UC students has been fueled by Jim and the corporate partnerships the Grau Center identifies and cultivates.”

Jane Sojka, PhD, academic director for the Grau Center, said there has been an increase in corporate employers’ interest in recruiting students from the program.

“Employers tend to value college students not just for their academic knowledge, but for their fresh perspectives, adaptability and eagerness to innovate — qualities that drive growth and bring a new energy to the workplace,” she said.

“As some industries like insurance and manufacturing face an aging workforce, they are turning to college campuses and sales programs to strengthen their talent pipeline. That’s where the Grau Center for Professional Selling makes an impact, connecting our motivated sales students with employers who are looking for their next sales leader.” 

Featured image at top: Jim Grau and Lindner College of Business students. Photo/Joseph Fuqua for the UC Foundation.