With more than 20 years of enterprise software sales experience, Dan Wangler serves as strategic account director with Oracle and focuses on SaaS and cloud computing. A top earning performer with the Java Global Business Unit, he excels in communicating product benefits with C-level executives and securing high-value contracts. Dan Wangler seeks out creative ways of deploying technology and assisting clients in overcoming critical business challenges.
Mr. Wangler guided sales efforts with Netegrity, Inc., in the early 2000s and provided software solutions across identity management and enterprise security infrastructure. Part of the Customer Lifecycle Management Committee, he helped develop the Netegrity Sales Process and was selected to the President’s Club across three consecutive years. He closed deals with major corporations such as Best Buy, Ameriprise, Deloitte, and Discover Card.
Taking a position as sales director, Central Region with Veracode in 2010, Mr. Wangler was part of a team that achieved rapid expansion in the area of cloud-based application risk management. Veracode’s ascendance to Business Insider’s “Digital 100” list of most valuable private companies worldwide led to a successful corporate exit. An avid Chicago Cubs and Bears fan, Dan Wangler has coached baseball and enjoys playing golf in his free time.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
Take kids to school, workout, go to work, and spend family time after work.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I bring ideas to life by combining clarity, collaboration, and execution. It starts with understanding the “why”—defining the problem or opportunity in a way that connects to real needs and impact. From there, I like to visualize what success looks like and break it down into actionable steps.
What’s one trend that excites you?
Artificial Intelligence.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Workout regimen.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Don’t sweat the small stuff.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Exercise.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
Meditate.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
A key strategy that’s helped me grow my business and career is focusing on relationships over transactions. I’ve learned that long-term success in sales comes from earning trust, not just closing deals. By taking time to understand each customer’s goals and challenges, I’m able to deliver solutions that truly make an impact—and that builds lasting partnerships.
I apply the same mindset internally by building strong relationships with colleagues and leaders across the business. That collaboration opens doors, strengthens execution, and creates opportunities for shared success. At the end of the day, investing in people—listening, adding value, and following through—has been the most powerful driver of my growth.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
Early in my career, I lost a major deal because I focused too much on the product and not enough on the customer’s internal dynamics and decision process. I assumed the value was obvious—but I hadn’t built alignment across key stakeholders, and the deal fell apart late in the cycle. It was a tough lesson, but it changed how I approach every opportunity. I learned that success isn’t just about having the best solution; it’s about understanding people, priorities, and politics inside the customer’s organization.
Since then, I’ve made stakeholder mapping and active listening core parts of my process. That shift not only improved my results, it made me a better partner—one who helps customers succeed, not just buy.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Chat GPT. I use it primarily for writing.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
A watch band. I saved $1,000 on buying a new watch.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
“Breaking Bad.” Acting and writing.
Key learnings
- Building lasting relationships and trust is more valuable for long-term success than short-term transactions.
- Bringing ideas to life requires clarity of purpose, collaboration, and the willingness to test, learn, and adapt quickly.
- Effective leadership and sales success stem from empathy—understanding customer needs, internal dynamics, and aligning solutions to real challenges.
- Failures can be powerful teachers when used to refine processes, improve stakeholder engagement, and strengthen communication.
- Sustained career growth is driven by a balance of professional excellence, personal integrity, and commitment to making a positive impact on others.