As a small business development center (SBDC) counselor, you see a wide range of entrepreneurs looking to you for guidance on how to make their dream of starting a business come true. But having in-depth knowledge on a multitude of industries can be time-consuming.

I’ve talked to a lot of Vertical IQ customers lately about what meeting with customers looks like in the COVID-19 era. The consensus is that it is a different world than what they are used to. Many people who call on customers and prospects used to being face-to-face. Being relegated to phone calls and video conferences goes against...

As the senior sales associate at Vertical IQ, I am always interested in learning about the new sales strategies and tactics that are being used by banks and bankers; it gives me insights into ways that the industry intelligence on Vertical IQ can be better integrated into their processes. To that end, I recently attended the 2019...

As a mom of soccer players, I hear my kids’ coaches reiterating the importance of anticipating what is going to happen next on the field—where the ball is going to go, when the opponent is going to make their move. If you think about it, the ability to foresee what is going to happen before it happens is a vital talent in many sports....

In March 2005, I was promoted to the branch manager position for one of the local branches of the bank for which I worked. Having managed a different department for the bank, I was excited about the new challenge. But, being tasked with both management and sales of the branch was going to require a different skill-set. I was ready. I was...

During my 13 years in the business banking world, I came to realize that almost all bankers want to think they know their customers. Several years ago, my manager shared a story about a time he “knew” his business banking customer…or so he thought.