Saravanan Balakrishnan
Industrial Sales Coach
Saravanan Balakrishnan is one such figure. With decades of frontline experience and a passion for empowering others, he stands not just as a coach, but as a growth catalyst for people and organizations in the industrial sales arena. His work goes beyond teaching His coaching goes beyond skills—driving transformation that reshapes careers, elevates performance, and fuels business growth.
Hailing from Thirukkalukundram near Chennai in Tamil Nadu, Saravanan Balakrishnan began his professional life with a Diploma in Electronics and Communication Engineering in 1989, stepping straight into the rugged world of industrial automation and instrumentation. For over two decades, he lived the sales life, from engineer to manager to leader, navigating some of the most competitive industrial environments. A defining chapter was his 11-year tenure managing automation distributors, where he built high-performing teams, expanded brand presence, and opened new markets across regions. His stint at Rockwell Automation solidified his reputation as a growth-focused leader who blends strategy with execution.
Through years of building brands and empowering sales teams, he saw a powerful need structured training was missing for most automation sales professionals. By 2015, he traded corporate comfort for a mission. He founded Brixen Sales Academy, dedicated to elevating sales talent in industrial automation and engineering companies. “I owe my growth to this industry. The best way to give back is by empowering the people who drive its progress”, says Saravanan Balakrishnan.
Unique Value Proposition
What sets him apart is not theory, but lived wisdom. Every framework he teaches has been battle-tested in the field.
“I don’t teach from books. I share what has worked, what has failed, and what can be replicated for success”, says Saravanan Balakrishnan. His training programs focuses on habit-building, turning daily actions into lasting performance breakthroughs. A signature follow-up process ensures that learning translates into measurable performance shifts, supported by tools, workbooks, and ongoing guidance. From fresh graduates to CEOs, Brixen Sales Academy offers tiered programs tailored for each stage of the sales ladder.
One flagship course, MYSP- Master Your Sales Process and Client Management, has transformed Thousands of industrial sales professionals into sharp, client-focused performers. Beyond sales, his academy helps leaders across functions build organizational growth strategies under the banner Craft Your Growth. Recognizing the talent gap at the entry level, he has pioneered a six-week program - Automation Career LaunchPad for fresh engineers - a bridge from classroom theory to the demanding realities of industrial sales.
Every organization is unique, and so is Saravanan Balakrishnan’s approach. He and his team invests in discovery meetings to understand a company’s products, goals, market, geographical territory, and culture, tailoring both content and delivery to match. Whether it’s a compact regional distributor or a global automation giant, the training resonates because it speaks the organization’s language. Not all training requests come with clarity. Sometimes HR just wants ‘a two-day program’ without defined goals. Saravanan counters this by shaping outcomes in partnership with management, addressing gaps not just in people, but in sales processes themselves. He challenges the quick-fix mindset head-on, reinforcing that real transformation demands time, consistency, and leadership commitment.
Bringing innovation to the forefront, he created the ‘AI for Sales’ program to empower teams with practical AI tools. He also co-authored the book Revolutionizing Technical Sales – The Power of Generative AI to shape the next era of industrial sales.
Building a High-Performing Team
Behind his visible role is an 11-member powerhouse senior coaches, content creators, marketing minds, and post-training support specialists. They’ve developed proprietary tools like the Weekly Sales Planner, 25+ Sales Tools and manage Brixen’s LMS and YouTube learning resources, ensuring value flows to clients long after the sessions end. His learning diet is rich and varied conversations with automation leaders, collaboration with fellow coaches, mentorship from industry visionaries, and a steady stream of reading.
One standout success came from a recent six-week program for a Abrasive Major, where fresh graduates entered with minimal sales exposure. Through structured training, tools, and coaching, they emerged as confident, customer-ready professionals, earning such praise that the HR head immediately requested the next batch. His accolades are the trust and referrals of clients. Over 8,500 sales professionals trained, and 120 organizations served stand as his living trophies.
Future Vision
By 2032, Brixen Sales Academy aims to empower 100,000 industrial sales professionals and support 1,000 automation companies across India. This vision is driven by multi-tiered training and coaching, the Automation Career Launchpad (ACL) for fresh graduates, and a nationwide Industrial Sales Community for ongoing learning and collaboration. Because in the end, Saravanan Balakrishnan isn’t just teaching sales, he’s reshaping how an entire industry thinks about it. Not as a numbers game, but as a craft that, when mastered, fuels companies, careers, and national growth.
One flagship course, MYSP- Master Your Sales Process and Client Management, has transformed Thousands of industrial sales professionals into sharp, client-focused performers. Beyond sales, his academy helps leaders across functions build organizational growth strategies under the banner Craft Your Growth. Recognizing the talent gap at the entry level, he has pioneered a six-week program - Automation Career LaunchPad for fresh engineers - a bridge from classroom theory to the demanding realities of industrial sales.
Every organization is unique, and so is Saravanan Balakrishnan’s approach. He and his team invests in discovery meetings to understand a company’s products, goals, market, geographical territory, and culture, tailoring both content and delivery to match. Whether it’s a compact regional distributor or a global automation giant, the training resonates because it speaks the organization’s language. Not all training requests come with clarity. Sometimes HR just wants ‘a two-day program’ without defined goals. Saravanan counters this by shaping outcomes in partnership with management, addressing gaps not just in people, but in sales processes themselves. He challenges the quick-fix mindset head-on, reinforcing that real transformation demands time, consistency, and leadership commitment.
For Saravanan Balakrishnan, Industrial sales is not about closing deals, but about opening possibilities & building trust
Bringing innovation to the forefront, he created the ‘AI for Sales’ program to empower teams with practical AI tools. He also co-authored the book Revolutionizing Technical Sales – The Power of Generative AI to shape the next era of industrial sales.
Building a High-Performing Team
Behind his visible role is an 11-member powerhouse senior coaches, content creators, marketing minds, and post-training support specialists. They’ve developed proprietary tools like the Weekly Sales Planner, 25+ Sales Tools and manage Brixen’s LMS and YouTube learning resources, ensuring value flows to clients long after the sessions end. His learning diet is rich and varied conversations with automation leaders, collaboration with fellow coaches, mentorship from industry visionaries, and a steady stream of reading.
One standout success came from a recent six-week program for a Abrasive Major, where fresh graduates entered with minimal sales exposure. Through structured training, tools, and coaching, they emerged as confident, customer-ready professionals, earning such praise that the HR head immediately requested the next batch. His accolades are the trust and referrals of clients. Over 8,500 sales professionals trained, and 120 organizations served stand as his living trophies.
Future Vision
By 2032, Brixen Sales Academy aims to empower 100,000 industrial sales professionals and support 1,000 automation companies across India. This vision is driven by multi-tiered training and coaching, the Automation Career Launchpad (ACL) for fresh graduates, and a nationwide Industrial Sales Community for ongoing learning and collaboration. Because in the end, Saravanan Balakrishnan isn’t just teaching sales, he’s reshaping how an entire industry thinks about it. Not as a numbers game, but as a craft that, when mastered, fuels companies, careers, and national growth.
