ABOUT SAYI
Fellow sales professionals,
B2B sellers power Australia's economy yet unlike other professions, we have no representative body.
There are an estimated 500,000 sellers in Australia, of whom 20,000–30,000 work in the B2B space (Source: ABS/LinkedIn/SEEK data analysis).
We drive high-value growth across finance, technology, consulting, and more but we lack the recognition, protection, and professional standards that law, medicine, and accounting established long ago.
Sales professionals often have tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars at stake, with up to 50% of their income tied to targets, territories and commissions and that are poorly defined, arbitrarily assigned, or withheld without recourse.
We are often misunderstood as professionals; our development and skills are inconsistent, we can face unclear expectations, while our goals and roles are often restructured on a whim.
Our Mission
We’re organising a member-led association to:
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Lift the standing of B2B sales as a respected profession
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Establish and certify standards, ethics, up-to-date skills, and member accreditation (e.g. CPD, credentials)
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Support employers with best-practice contracts and hiring, and members with employment issues and commission disputes
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Promote member careers and build structured, long-term career paths in B2B sales
This isn’t about antagonising employers; it’s about building a better career path for sellers.
You have been invited by a fellow professional seller to register your interest and have your voice heard as a Founding Voter for the new organisation.
Why This Matters
SAYI is a movement to professionalise sales and give B2B sellers a voice.
The average job tenure for B2B sellers in Australia is now under 2.5 years and falling: one of the shortest of any white-collar profession (Source: LinkedIn)
We all know someone who has had their earned commission disputed - and sometimes even had to engage lawyers to get paid
Just 30%-42% of B2B sellers hit quota each year, and falling (Source: Gartner, CSO insights, Repvue)
Sales is evolving fast and so must sellers.
AI, remote work, geopolitical shifts and evolving buyer behaviours are rewriting the playbook
Our employers have often been good for us, but the numbers show they won’t be with us for the whole of our careers, while every change of role can be a roll of the dice.
There should be a significant future for the profession but this change is long overdue; It’s time to shape our future before it’s shaped for us.
We’re often held accountable for things beyond our control. But what’s within our control- as individuals and as a profession - can be expanded. That’s the point of SAYI.
If we act together, we can shape a structured, respected sales career where performance leads to progress, not instability.
If we don’t, we know what to expect: more volatility, less clarity, and careers that reset every few years.
What Happens Next
SAYI is a movement to professionalise sales and give B2B sellers a voice.
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Help Shape the new professional association
Q2 2025 – Registration
Q4 2025 – Survey & Nominations
Q1 2026 – Voting Packs
April 2026 – Inaugural Meeting
Frequently asked questions
