SLIM NASCO: Empowering the sales force of Sri Lanka to reach new business heights

It is my great pleasure to pilot NASCO, the only national level event for sales personnel in Sri Lanka, for the second consecutive year.

It is indeed a privilege to witness professional sales men and women who are the driving force and front-liners of business, recognised at the national level for the 11th successive year.

Today’s corporate world is changing at an unprecedented pace, where all professionals need to be on the ball all the time. Gone are the days where sales representatives could reach new business heights solely on experience and skill. The sales field of today is impenetrable and extremely populated by professionals, and only those who stand out from the rest will reach the next level.

NASCO is the ideal stage for sales professionals to make their mark and stand above the rest, by reaching new business heights and steering their respective businesses towards excellence.

The NASCO was initiated by former President of SLIM, Deepal Sooriyaarachchi, through recognising the need for national level recognition for sales personnel. SLIM as the national body for marketing, has facilitated and enabled this event to reach the magnitude that it has evolved into, at present.

Up until the ninth year, NASCO was a one day session which involved motivational and inspirational speeches. The participants were nominated by their respective organisations and at the end of the one day session; they were each awarded a certificate.

But recognising the responsibility of grooming high quality sales professionals to take up the business challenges of the next level, SLIM decided to make a drastic change to the entire design behind NASCO.

The 10th NASCO was a real turning point, where participants were extensively assessed through a series of exams and interviews. The award winners from different categories of business were real heroes who demonstrated extraordinary skills and capabilities in relation to their profession.

This change was initiated by the organising team of NASCO 2010 and the changes to the event blue print were designed by an elite panel of industry professionals. Just like in any other change, deviating from a well set format was not at all easy.

But SLIM emerged victorious in rediscovering and redefining NASCO to cater the demands of modern day business needs.

Following the massive success of NASCO 2010, this year too we seek to fulfil the duty of the national body of marketing by recognising the front line driving force of business at NASCO 2011. We also wish to announce to all aspiring sales professionals that the entry deadline for participation in NASCO this year is 20 May 2011.

(The writer is Project Chair – SLIM NASCO 2011)