EdSales Edge Show
EdSales Edge is the strategy podcast for education founders, consultants, operators, and leaders selling into education.
For years, this show was known as Breaking the Grade, a space to challenge the status quo in education and think differently about how change actually happens. That mission hasn’t changed.
But the work has.
Over time, one thing became clear:
Education founders don’t just need inspiration.
They need clarity.
They need real strategies for selling into schools.
They need predictable ways to generate leads.
And they need to understand how trust is built in a system that doesn’t move fast, and doesn’t give many second chances.
EdSales Edge was rebuilt to match that reality.
Hosted by Josh Chernikoff, a two-time education founder who’s built and exited companies in this space, the show breaks down how selling into education actually works—across B2C, B2B, B2B2C, and B2E—always through the lens of how education institutions really make decisions.
This is not a show about hacks, shortcuts, or quick wins.
Education doesn’t work that way.
On EdSales Edge, you’ll hear:
- Real strategy for selling into education systems
- Conversations with education decision-makers who explain how buying actually happens from the inside
- Stories from founders, CEOs, and operators who’ve built real traction selling into schools—what worked, what didn’t, and what actually moved deals forward
- Teachings from the EdSales Elevation Experience, the system used to help education founders move from unclear and invisible to trusted and in demand
You’ll learn how to:
- Define your Perfect Client
- Pull the right credibility lever
- Move from being hidden… to trusted… to building a real lead engine
Josh is joined by his good friend and mentor, John Gamba—Director of Innovative Programs and Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Penn GSE, and a former education founder who’s led companies through real growth and successful exits. John brings the institutional lens, shaped by years inside districts, universities, and education systems, seeing how decisions get made when the doors are closed and what earns trust over time.
Together, they sit on both sides of the table, the builder side and the system side, so the show stays grounded in reality, not sales theory.
If you sell into education and you’re tired of guessing,
guessing who to talk to,
guessing how decisions get made,
guessing why interest doesn’t convert—
this show is built for you.
EdSales Edge
Clarity. Credibility. Real traction.
If you sell into education, this is where you earn your edge.
EdSales Edge Show
Kathryn’s Lead Generation Transformation with the EdSales Elevation Experience
In this conversation, Josh Chernikoff interviews Kathryn Adabonyan, the founder and CEO of Go Pursue, a company that helps high school students explore career options and connect with professionals in those fields. They delve into Kathryn's journey as an entrepreneur, a testament to her resilience in overcoming sales and marketing challenges. Kathryn shares how the EdSales Elevation Experience helped her reframe her mindset about LinkedIn and establish herself as a thought leader in her industry. She also talks about the value of the mastermind group and the support she received from Josh and other members. Kathryn invites directors of career and technical education programs and employers in the DC area to connect with her.
Takeaways:
- The EdSales Elevation Experience was a game-changer for Kathryn, transforming her LinkedIn presence and propelling her to the forefront of her industry as a thought leader.
- The mastermind group provided valuable advice, different perspectives, and resource connections for Kathryn as an entrepreneur.
- Kathryn's success in generating leads and closing deals resulted from implementing what she learned in the EdSales Elevation Experience, not just on LinkedIn but in all aspects of her sales and marketing efforts.
- The support and generosity of Josh and the mastermind group members played a significant role in Kathryn's success.
- Kathryn is looking to connect with directors of career and technical education programs and employers in the DC area who are focused on career preparedness and building a talent pipeline.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Technical Difficulties
03:42 Challenges and Pain Points
07:17 The Importance of Confidence and Messaging
11:32 Implementing Sales and Marketing Strategies
21:45 Connecting with Directors of Career and Technical Education Programs and Employers in the DC Area
25:21 The Support and Generosity of the Mastermind Group
28:58 Conclusion and Invitation to Connect
