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CALL FOR PAPERS – GSSI 2026

The Global Sales Science Institute (GSSI) invites scholars, educators, and practitioners to submit full papers and structured abstracts for the 2026 GSSI Conference, to be held on June 3–5, 2026 in Ancona, Italy.

"The Future of Sales: Attracting, Retaining, and Exploring"

Sales organizations worldwide are undergoing a profound transformation. Advances in technology, evolving buyer expectations, hybrid work environments, and talent shortages are reshaping how sales functions create value. The 2026 conference seeks to address three fundamental questions:

1

How do we attract the next generation of sales professionals?

2

How do we retain and support talent in a competitive, burnout-prone environment?

3

How do we explore new models, technologies, and paradigms that will shape the future of sales?

Important Deadline Approaching!

Submission Deadline (GSSI 2026 Conference / JPSSM Special Issue)
A quick reminder: the deadline to submit your work for the 2026 GSSI Conference or the JPSSM Special Issue “Global Perspectives in Sales” is Thursday, January 30, 2026.

Submissions options

Option 1 - Submitting to the GSSI 2026 Conference Only
If you plan to submit your work only to the conference (not the JPSSM special issue), email your manuscript to: submission@gssi2026.com.

See the instructions on the ​PDF​.

Option 2 - Submitting to the JPSSM Special Issue and the GSSI 2026 Conference
If you plan to submit to the JPSSM special issue, please:

  1. Submit your manuscript as a regular issue paper through the JPSSM submission portal.
  1. After submitting, email both :

See the instructions on the PDF.

Topics of Interest

Submissions are welcome in (but not limited to) the following areas:

  • Recruiting and developing the next generation of sales talent
  • Salesperson retention, motivation, and well-being
  • Exploring boundary-spanning sales roles and cross-functional collaboration
  • AI and technology’s role in shaping future sales strategies and influencing buyer-seller relationships
  • Innovative sales training and education methods
  • Hybrid and remote sales team management
  • Sales enablement and the future of CRM and data analytics
  • Gender, diversity, and inclusion in sales careers
  • Buyer-seller relationship evolution in an omnichannel world
  • Sustainability and ethics in modern sales practice
  • Navigating cross-cultural challenges and opportunities in global sales
  • Adapting strategies for diverse buyer expectations

Paper Types Welcome

Both empirical and theoretical papers are welcome.

Review Process

A double-blind review process will be used.

Awards

Awards will be presented for the best empirical, theoretical, and doctoral student papers.

JPSSM Special Issue

Proposals submitted for consideration for the JPSSM Special Issue:
“Global Perspectives in Sales: Advancing Theory and Practice Across Borders” will be submitted through the official JPSSM website.

Authors with accepted proposals will have the opportunity to present their work and receive constructive feedback during a dedicated session at the GSSI 2026 Conference.

View the dedicated PDF.

Conference Co-Chairs

For more information about the GSSI Conference, please contact our dedicated Conference Co-Chairs, who are leading the organization of this event.

Prof. Colleen E. McClure

University of Ohio

cemcclur@ohio.edu

Prof. Silvio Cardinali

Università Politecnica delle Marche

s.cardinali@univpm.it

Prof. Paolo Guenzi

SDA Bocconi School of Management

paolo.guenzi@sdabocconi.it

Prof. Edward Nowlin

Kansas State University

elnowlin@ksu.edu