Power to Sell

In this episode of Power to Sell, NDSU students sit down with Sandi Piatz, President and CEO of the United Way of Cass-Clay. Sandi walks through her impressive career path—from a startup software company, to sales and technology consulting, to serving as Microsoft’s site leader—before making the leap into the nonprofit sector. She shares how her long-standing commitment to community involvement consistently aligned with the values of the organizations she joined. That alignment ultimately led her to a role where she can combine her passion for service with her business expertise. Sandi also breaks down the United Way’s mission to inspire and mobilize the community to change lives by focusing on hunger, homelessness, and school readiness—all through a data-driven lens. Throughout the conversation, she highlights the powerful overlap between business and nonprofit work, noting that both depend deeply on relationships, data, and innovation. Sandi emphasizes that her most important sales skill is the ability to ask great questions and truly listen—skills that allow her to understand needs, build trust, and help others achieve their goals. For students hoping to stand out, her advice is simple and impactful: be curious, be humble, be hungry, and “be okay to start something before you’re ready.”