Melissa Marquais

​It wasn’t just the occasional hiccup I was seeing; it was a pattern. Sales teams were often mismanaged, and the issues—whether it was poor leadership, a lack of proper training, or poor sales strategies—were more common than anyone cared to admit. As someone who had been successful in sales, I knew firsthand that a sales team couldn’t reach its potential unless it was built on a strong foundation.

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A New Vision

Solving the Problem from the Inside I realized that my years of experience had given me a unique perspective. As someone who’d climbed the ranks, coached others, and used strategies that worked, I had the ability to see what wasn’t working—and, more importantly, how to fix it.

That's when I decided to make a bold move: I launched Sales Onion, a company dedicated to fixing broken sales operations by identifying inefficiencies, optimizing team structures, and implementing actionable strategies to drive growth.

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I spent three decades at the top, but I didn’t just learn how to sell. I learned how sales organizations operate—or, often, don’t operate. I saw firsthand what happens when sales leaders are focused on the wrong things.

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Sales Onion: Peeling Back the Layers of Sales Dysfunction

The idea behind Sales Onion is simple: peel back the layers of an organization’s sales processes to identify where things are going wrong, then fix them. Just like peeling an onion, the process involves digging deep—getting past surface-level issues to uncover the root causes of inefficiencies. It’s a methodical approach that can transform not just the sales numbers, but the entire culture of a sales team.

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My approach is rooted in my belief that to optimize a sales team, you need to understand the full picture. Most companies only look at the results. But they miss the bigger picture—the systems, the structure, the culture. You can’t just put a Band-Aid on a broken system and hope for the best.

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That’s why Sales Onion doesn’t just offer a quick fix; it focuses on long-term, sustainable growth by getting to the heart of what’s not working. I work closely with companies to dive into their sales operations, uncover inefficiencies, and implement strategies that lead to lasting results. It’s a comprehensive approach that includes leadership training, process optimization, and building a team that’s empowered to succeed.

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A Purpose-Driven Approach: For me, launching Sales Onion wasn’t just about tapping into my expertise in sales operations. It was about creating a company that would make a difference.

I’ve always been driven by a desire to help others. When you’re at the top of the leaderboard, it’s easy to focus on your own success. But at the core of who I am, it’s about lifting others up and showing them how to succeed.

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My commitment to helping others extends beyond just business. My passion for giving back is evident in my work with The Kindness Objective, my nonprofit that promotes kindness and empathy in the community. This sense of purpose shapes everything I do—from the way I lead my clients to the way I engage with everyone.

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The Future of Sales Optimization As Sales Onion continues to grow, my vision remains clear: to help businesses create high-performing sales teams that don’t just hit numbers but thrive in an environment where they can be their best.

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Sales organizations are often treated as a numbers game. I’m bringing humanity, and common sense, back into the equation. By focusing on what truly drives success, Sales Onion is shaping the future of sales operations, one layer at a time.

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For me, the decision to launch Sales Onion was not just a career move; it was a passion—a passion to fix the broken pieces of sales organizations and build something stronger, smarter, and more sustainable.