HIS Story
Results, Not Rhetoric
Mike Bates earned his MS in Organizational Leadership from Cairn University. For 40 years, he has worked in EdTech publishing as an accomplished executive business leader, providing in-field leadership development for sales personnel and professional development specialists.
Mike is highly effective in sales operations leadership and has extensive experience managing teams focused on strategy, territory management, key account management, and revenue growth.
In 2009, Mike founded Michael Bates Strategic Solutions, a consulting business providing organizations with professional management expertise.
His track record spans twelve countries — establishing successful sales frameworks, orchestrating seamless transitions from teacher-level to district-level to ministry-level sales, and building teams with multi-million dollar pipelines.
In a world of buzzwords and bravado, Mike believes in results, not rhetoric.
A Track Record Built Over Decades
Career Timeline
2009 – Present Founder & Principal — MB Strategic Solutions
Pioneered the launch and continued management of this provider of outsourced sales leadership. Served as trusted advisor to client executives — including interim roles as National Director of Sales (OnCourse Systems), Interim VP of Sales (Collaborative Learning), and VP North American Operations (Blue Duck Education).
2022 – 2023 Senior Strategist — BLOQQ
Part of a team bringing 75+ years of combined executive organizational leadership to client organizations in the right size and proper role.
2018 – 2020 VP North American Operations — Blue Duck Education
Served as architect of a formal sales infrastructure — sourcing, hiring, and onboarding top performers, and leading training in product specifications, competitive advantages, and client service.
2015 – 2018 VP of Global Sales — Matific
Drove revenue for this multi-award-winning EdTech company, building a sales team of 32 professionals across twelve countries with a pipeline valued at $12.8MM.
2010 – 2015 VP of Sales — EPS Literacy & Intervention (School Specialty)
Rose from Senior Account Executive to Regional VP to VP of Sales at this K–12 blended-media publisher, closing the achievement gap in reading and math.
2002 – 2009 Regional VP of Sales — Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Built a strong team across a newly-formed 20-state Northeast territory for this K-12 Reading and Math research-based instructional technology publisher.
What I Offer
EdTech Management Services
Outsourced Sales Leadership
Serving as interim executive sales leader for EdTech companies — national director, VP, or regional lead — when you need experienced leadership without a full-time hire.
Revenue Growth Strategy
Building strategies that increase revenue while improving sales effectiveness — consistently exceeding performance goals by aligning teams with organizational objectives.
Sales Infrastructure Design
Architecting formal sales frameworks from the ground up — sourcing, hiring, onboarding, and training teams to build enterprise-level sales capability.
Sales Model Transition
Successfully transitioning business models from teacher-level to district-level to ministry-level sales — a rare capability built over 40 years.
Global Team Building
Proven experience building multi-country sales teams — 32 professionals across twelve countries at Matific alone, with a $12.8MM pipeline.
Trusted Advisor & Strategist
Providing guidance and direction to client executives on strategy, territory management, key account management, and organizational alignment.
Coaching
How it Works
Coaching
Coaching is partnering with you in a thought-provoking process that inspires you to maximize your personal and professional potential. The coaching method is to unlock your untapped intrinsic sources of imagination, productivity, and leadership.
Workshops and Seminars
Workshops and Seminars focused on forging relationships and equipping teams in effective communication strategies to develop leaders from within. Effective communication fosters team cohesiveness, increases productivity, and positively influences each team member.
Mastermind Groups
There is a synergy of energy, commitment, and excitement that participants bring to a mastermind group. My facilitated groups offer a combination of masterminding, peer brainstorming, education, accountability, and support in a group setting to help sharpen your business and personal skills.
What Clients Say
"Mike is a colleague, mentor, and friend. His title, 'EdTech Growth Architect,' is an understatement. I have consistently been in awe of his strategic mind, which he uses to build and scale global sales frameworks with remarkable precision and success. His ability to navigate complex sales models, from the classroom to the ministry level, is unparalleled in the industry."
T
Josh
Founder, Edtech Company