S ales leaders, entrepreneurs, marketers and business executives gathered in Kathmandu on August 21 for the tenth edition of the Sales Summit, with discussions focusing on the growing role of data and analytics in shaping sales strategies and understanding consumers.
Organised by the Growth Leadership Academy, the annual conference was held at Soaltee Kathmandu under the theme “Data Drives, Sales Thrive”. The summit examined how businesses can use consumer data and analytics to improve sales performance while retaining the importance of human relationships in selling.
The event was inaugurated by Kamlesh Kumar Agrawal, President of the Nepal Chamber of Commerce. Samjhana Sharma, Chairperson of the Sales Summit Steering Committee, welcomed participants.
THE SALES SUMMIT IS NEPAL’S ONE OF THE LONGEST- RUNNING ANNUAL CONFERENCES DEDICATED TO THE SALES PROFESSION.
Opening the substantive sessions, Awashis Pd. Ojha, lecturer and vlogger, reviewed the nine-year journey of the Sales Summit and the evolution of its themes in response to changing dynamics in Nepal’s sales sector.
A panel discussion on “Decoding the New Nepali Consumer” delved into changing consumer behaviour and the growing importance of data and market insights in driving sales growth. The discussion was moderated by Sanjog Koirala, Showrunner of Shark Tank Nepal, and featured Darshana Shrestha, President of the Federation of Women
Entrepreneurs’ Associations of Nepal (FWEAN); Ramesh Krishnan, CEO of The Nepal Distilleries Pvt. Ltd.; and Vijay Sharma, Country Manager of KFC and Pizza Hut at Devyani International Nepal.
The summit’s central theme was explored in greater depth by Dr Sunil Dutt, President of Devices & Sales at Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited, India. Drawing on Jio’s experience in India, Dutt discussed how the use of customer data has contributed to the company’s growth and market expansion.
“Data is not just a tool for sales; it is the foundation of it. Every market Jio has won, we have won by understanding our customers better than anyone else. That is a lesson every sales organisation can apply.” he remarked.
Another session, “From Intuition to Intelligence,” discussed on the transition towards data-informed sales practices. Sunil Kumar Pokharel, Director at IME Life Insurance, discussed the growing
role of data in sales decision-making and performance.
The summit also addressed the risks accompanying the increasing use of customer information. In a panel discussion on “Responsible Use of Customer Data,” Gyanendra Prasad Dhungana, CEO of My Ewallet International FZCO, discussed issues of data privacy and responsible use of customer information. The session was moderated by Praveen Regmi, CEO of IME Khalti Ltd.
The human dimension of sales was also a major component of the programme. Yateen Gharat, Principal Facilitator (CPF-Master), led an interactive session titled “Who Am I? Knowing Self and Others Beyond Designation,” focusing on self-awareness and interpersonal effectiveness among sales professionals.
Prof. Dr Binod Krishna Shrestha of Kathmandu University School of
Management (KUSOM) provided an academic perspective on emerging sales trends in Nepal, while communication and voice coach Vijay Vikram Singh closed the programme with a session on resilience, communication and persuasive influence.
The tenth edition of the summit reflects the significant changes taking place in Nepal’s sales profession over the past decade. The discussions highlighted data and analytics as increasingly important competitive tools, while emphasising that technology alone
cannot replace customer relationships, ethical practices, self-awareness and effective communication, according to the Samjhana Sharma, Chairperson, Sales Summit Steering Committee.
The Sales Summit is Nepal’s one of the longest-running annual conferences dedicated to the sales profession. Organised by the Growth Leadership Academy, it brings together sales practitioners, business leaders and consumer-facing organisations to discuss emerging trends, tools and skills in the country’s sales sector.
