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Michael Bates

Solutions

EdTech Management

Outsourced Sales Leadership
for
EdTech Organizations

40 years of executive experience — building formal sales infrastructures, leading global teams, and serving as trusted interim executive for EdTech companies at pivotal growth stages.

What I do

Trusted Advisor. Subject Matter Expert. Interim Executive.

I am highly effective in sales leadership, with extensive experience managing teams focused on strategy, territory management, key account management, and revenue growth. My success is driven by my ability to build strategies that increase revenue while improving sales effectiveness.

I leverage a unique mix of strategic and analytical expertise, consistently exceeding performance and revenue goals by aligning efforts with organizational objectives.

Through MB Strategic Solutions, I serve as a trusted advisor and subject matter expert — providing guidance and direction to client executives seeking to build strategies that ensure the successful launch of products and services in start-up and scaling markets.

Interim Executive Roles Held

National Director of Sales — OnCourse Systems for Education


Interim VP of Sales — Collaborative Learning


VP North American Operations — Blue Duck Education

40 Years of Executive Leadership

Career Experience

Founder & Principal

MB Strategic Solutions

April 2009 - Present

Pioneered the launch and continued management of this provider of outsourced sales leadership to commercial clients. Serve as a trusted advisor and subject matter expert, providing guidance and direction to client executives seeking to build strategies to ensure the successful launch of products and services in start-up markets.

Senior Strategist

BLOQQ

Mar 2022 – Sept 2023

As a member of The BLOQQ Team, we bring more than 75 years of combined executive organizational leadership, in the right size and in the proper role for your organization.

VP North American Operations

Blue Duck Education

Nov 2018 – Jan 2020

Served as the architect of a formal sales infrastructure, leading a campaign to source, hire, and onboard top-performing team members; coordinated and led training to build competencies in product specifications, competitive advantages, and the principles of effective sales and client service.

VP of Global Sales

Matific

2015 – 2018

Fulfilled a critical role driving revenue for this multi-award-winning education technology company with offices in New York, Israel, Brazil, and Sydney — evolving the sales force to achieve enterprise-level capabilities, building a team of 32 professionals in twelve countries with a pipeline valued at $12.8MM.

VP of Sales — EPS Literacy and Intervention

School Specialty

2010 – 2015

A demonstrated record of success at this publisher of K–12 blended-media solutions, marked by a series of promotions — from Senior Account Executive to Regional VP to Vice President of Sales — at a company building core skills and closing the achievement gap in reading and math.

Regional VP of Sales

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

2002 – 2009

A demonstrated record of success at this publisher of K–12 blended-media solutions, marked by a series of promotions — from Senior Account Executive to Regional VP to Vice President of Sales — at a company building core skills and closing the achievement gap in reading and math.

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

Get Started

Ready to Build an Organization That Scales?

Book a consultation and let's assess your organization's current state and where the biggest opportunities are.

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