It's often been said Ottawa's tech community could use the equivalent of a sales booster shot, and a recently-started grassroots initiative – meant to help local tech firms grow larger and faster – set to kick off in early June aims to do just that.

Created by a host of local sales executives, the sales leadership initiative (SLI) will help increase and develop Ottawa's sales and leadership pool, and raise the city's profile as a sales hotbed, say organizers. "There are an estimated 6,000 sales professionals in technology companies in the Ottawa area; they convert technology to cash, often against tall odds," said Brent Thomson, co-managing partner of Peak Sales Recruiting and a member of the SLI steering committee.

"They deliver the cash that is the lifeblood of innovation in this community. For such an important role, it is often invisible or poorly understood."

Organizers say they hope to learn, examine and teach various best practices of sales gleaned either close to home or further afield.

SLI's first event commences June 13, at Ben Franklin Place, and will be headlined by best-selling sales author and motivational speaker Jeffrey Gitomer. 200 tickets are on offer at $179 apiece, with volume discounts available.

www.salesleadershipinitiative.org