Sales Supports Financial Literacy

Bauer College students are learning in one sales class that business is about more than profits.

The Sales for Social Impact course in the Program for Excellence in Selling (PES) teaches students how to leverage their business knowledge to uplift a philanthropic cause. Recently, PES students elevated financial literacy for Houston area kids after presenting business solutions for Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas.

Professor of Practice Yara Suki (BBA ‘15, MBA ‘22) teaches Sales for Social Impact, and challenges students to consult and pitch solutions for a nonprofit.

The class doesn’t follow a typical syllabus format but rather pushes students to identify problems that the assigned nonprofit is facing and pursue what they believe is the best solution.

“This class will challenge your critical thinking skills,” Suki said. “Students are encouraged to reach out to potential donors and sponsors that can help make their ideas happen.”

Working with Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas, students focused on the Finance Park program, which teaches financial literacy to middle and high school students. Through money management simulations, students learn how to manage a budget and make financial decisions that enable a lifetime of success.

“The program allows anyone that comes from a first-generation background or someone who didn't grow up with a lot of money around them to have the ability to do better going forward,” finance junior Vanshika Dhawan said.

Throughout the semester, PES students conducted weekly calls with Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas, interviewed local teachers and brainstormed ways to secure funding. Ultimately, they recommended marketing campaigns, a referral program, collaboration with student organizations and an internship as ways the nonprofit can expand their services to more school districts.

Dhawan first became interested in PES after she learned the program teaches skills that are translatable beyond traditional sales settings. After supporting the needs of a nonprofit, she believes that she’s better equipped for any position.

Associate Director of Development Diana Pineda (BBA ‘17), who is also an alumna of the sales program, taught alongside Suki in the Spring 2026 semester.

“The most transformative part is when the students realize truly how much impact they're going to make,” Pineda said. “They may think it’s just another project at the beginning, but when they finally present to the nonprofit, they realize that they have sustainable ideas that can start a ripple effect afterwards.”

“Whenever you're in any people-facing field, you want to make sure that your client is taken care of, and that comes with being curious,” she said. “Throughout this class, we’ve continuously practiced asking good questions and solving big problems.”

With the semester-long project under his belt, junior Rajveer Surti said he connected with a different side of sales and learned that he could incorporate his finance major to support philanthropic causes.