Our Story
From Sales Leader to Leading Sales and Leadership Trainers
James started in IT sales with zero training. Pure trial by fire. Then he attended his first real sales training – and everything shifted. Within months, he was crushing his targets: closing more deals, negotiating better outcomes, protecting margins while competitors crumbled.
The results? VP at 22.
But his CEO was a masterclass in what not to do – volatile, unpredictable, cycling between ally and adversary without warning. James made a promise to himself: do better. Lead in a way that drives results and makes people actually want to show up.
It worked. Teams thrived. Numbers soared. And when James left to launch his own ventures – from interim executive roles to co-founding a neuroscientific institute – he carried those two principles with him: win, and make winning enjoyable.
Then came the breakthrough.
In 2011, while building his training practice, James discovered Neuro-Communication – 15 years of neuroscientific research from the University of Essen by Elke Schwarz and Dr. Gerhard Bittner. The science was groundbreaking. James partnered with them for 15 years, transforming academic research into high-impact sales, marketing, and leadership programs that consistently outperformed traditional approaches.
In 2025, Gain the Lead acquired the business, modernized every program, and doubled down on what matters: results you can measure, cultures people love.
Today, tech and pharma leaders come to us because they’re done with training that sounds good in theory but falls flat in practice. They want teams that close bigger deals, negotiate from strength, and actually enjoy the process – led by managers who inspire performance and build cultures where top talent stays.
If those two aspirations resonate – be successful and make work a great experience – let’s talk.
Leadership Team
Meet the experts
Five experienced professionals united by a shared passion: helping leaders and sales teams achieve exceptional results while enjoying the journey.
JAMES MILLER
Founder & Managing Director
“I love helping executives build high-performing teams and ensuring that everyone involved enjoys their work and their lives at the same time. This sets the course for sustainable success.”
EXPERIENCE
- Consultant, Trainer & Coach (>20 years)
- MIT Certified Leading Organizations & Change
- Certified Leadership & Management Trainer (ProAktiv)
- Certified Master Trainer for Neuro-Communication & Emotion Selling (Dr. Gerhard Bittner & Elke Schwarz)
- Certified in Systemic Coaching, Training Design, Training Methods & Workshop Moderation
- MD & Founder Neuroscientific Institute
- VP Networks
TRAINING FOCUS
MARKUS RIEKER
Founder & Managing Director Asia
“Efficient, successful sales, development, and expansion of international and multicultural sales structures and strategies, as well as the development of sales and management personnel, are my passion.“
EXPERIENCE
- Managing Director, Vice President & COO (15+ years)
- Miller Heimann Sales Expert
- Expert for successful management of sales & leadership teams in international & multicultural settings
- Setup, implementation and expansion of the global gift card business from 0 to billions of gross sales in EMEA, APAC & LATAM
- Successful collaboration with merchants, content & payment providers, till & POS system manufacturers, technical & commercial network providers
- University degree in International Business Management
(University of Cardiff Institute)
TRAINING FOCUS
MARIJANA KRAVOS
Director Operations & SENIOR TRAINER
“I am passionate about getting people and their mindsets moving. There is nothing more fulfilling than unlocking a person’s potential so that they can maximize their own performance and satisfaction.“
EXPERIENCE
- Consultant, Trainer and Coach (>20 years)
- Certified Communications- and Sales Trainer
- Certified Leadership Trainer and Business Coach
- Expert for sustainable learning concepts & training methods as well as instructional design and e-learning
- Managing Director Consulting & Training Academy
- Master’s degree in Sociology, Psychology and Pedagogy, LMU Munich
TRAINING FOCUS
Werner Braun
Executive Coach
“Whether something works should never be left to chance – achieving results can be trained and mastered.”
EXPERIENCE
- Executive Coach for Change, Sales Management, Personality and Communication
- Division Board Member Commerzbank
- Chairman of the Management Board Commerzbank Frankfurt
- Head of Transformation Management, Commerzbank
- Senator h.c. University Ulm
- Certified Trainer for Neuro-Communication & Emotion Selling™ (Elke Schwarz & James Miller)
- Certified Wild Herb Guide
TRAINING FOCUS
GEORG SCHOTT
Director Digital Products & SENIOR TRAINER
“Based on my sales experience with digital and payment products, my goal is to help salespeople in the tech, pharma and financial industries achieve lasting success in an increasingly competitive market and create value for everyone involved.”
EXPERIENCE
- Certified Trainer for Neuro-Communication & Emotion Selling™
- Certified Trainer & Business Coach (BaTB)
- Sales Roles in the Payment and Banking Industry (SDR, BDR, AE, KAM) in Enterprises and Startups
- Trainer for Non-Violent Communication
- Master’s Degree in Management (M.Sc.) from the Universities of Trier, Mainz and Auckland University of Technology
TRAINING FOCUS
Our Approach
The Neuroscience Advantage
NEUROSCIENCE-BASED
We go beyond theory. Our methods are rooted in the science of how the brain learns, makes decisions and adopts new behaviours, ensuring lasting change, beyond temporary motivation.
PRACTICAL & ACTIONABLE
Every training is +80% hands-on. We use your real-world scenarios to ensure the skills are immediately applicable and deliver a tangible ROI from day one.
CUSTOMIZED FOR YOUR WORLD
We speak your language. Whether it’s Tech, Pharma or B2B Sales, our content is 100% tailored to the specific challenges and opportunities of your industry.
Beyond our Core Team
A Global Network of Certified Experts
Our leadership team is supported by a carefully vetted network of certified trainers across Europe and beyond. Each partner has been personally trained and certified in our methodology, ensuring consistent quality and results – whether you need one facilitator or a team of twenty to scale across multiple locations simultaneously.
15+
Expert Certified Trainers
42
Countries
2
Offices
Germany and Singapore
Join the Ranks of Industry Leaders
Ready to Build a High-Performing Team?
Let’s discuss how we can help you achieve better results while creating a more engaged and motivated team.
Free 30-45 minute consultation | No obligation | Custom program design