The stories you must tell to sell

Whitney Sales is a sales pro whose last name is literally…well, Sales. While it might seem like a goofy coincidence, it’s not an irony that she lets go unused. It’s actually an easy ice-breaking joke that loosens up most rooms she’s in. From that starting point, she’s been able to develop strong customer relationships, command the attention of prospects in meetings and yes, close sales. Big ones. In fact, Sales has helped four companies enter the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies List, from LoopNet to Meltwater to SpringAhead. At the photography equipment retailer Joby, Sales scaled the company from a few hundred thousand in revenue to $9 million a year. She’s now a general partner at Forum Ventures ventures and mentors startups for Stanford University’s StartX and Alchemist Accelerator.