Most people don't lose deals because their product isn't good enough. They lose them because nobody ever taught them how to sell.
Todd Laurence has spent 30 years closing some of the largest deals in enterprise software history. Eight-figure contracts at Oracle. The largest enterprise deal in Cloudera's history. 50%+ quarter-over-quarter bookings growth as VP of Global Sales at Avidbots. He's built global sales organizations, turned around underperforming teams, and helped early-stage startups find their first customers — all without ever fitting the stereotype of a "salesperson."
As Managing Director of Thimble Peak Advisors and a former adjunct sales and entrepreneurship instructor at OSU-Cascades, Todd now teaches founders, operators, and builders how to do the same.
In this talk, Todd will show you how the conversations you're already having — with customers, partners, and peers — can turn into projects, partnerships, and ongoing collaboration. No scripts. No pressure tactics. Just a practical, honest framework for turning genuine relationships into closed business.
You'll leave knowing why you're already selling, how to move conversations toward commitments, and what separates operators who close from those who don't.
Todd's career spans Oracle, Cloudera, i2 Technologies, and Avidbots. He holds an MBA from UCLA Anderson and a degree in Economics from Princeton.
## What to Expect
- 60-minute talk followed by Q&A
- Curated introductions before and after the talks, so you walk in knowing exactly who you should meet and why
- Food and drinks while the conversations keep going
- A room where serious work happens in an unserious setting