Cisco’s advocacy group, Cisco Insider Advocates, brings our prospects collectively and offers a method for them to make highly effective connections, increase their skilled and private networks, and be taught from prime consultants of their area. Considered one of our objectives with our advocacy group is to deepen relationships with our prospects. Our Q&A collection permits us to shine a highlight on a few of our most passionate advocates as we be taught extra about their tales and backgrounds.
At the moment, we’ve one of many friendliest faces in the neighborhood becoming a member of us for a chat. I’m excited to welcome Rob Taylor from Prosperity 24/7.
Welcome, Rob! It’s so nice to speak with you at this time. Let’s kick issues off by studying just a little bit about who you might be.
I reside within the stunning island of Jersey, Channel Islands. It’s the southernmost gem within the English Channel’s crown, nestled simply 19 km west of the Cotentin peninsula of France.
I’m married with two grown kids, and my household is every little thing to me. We’re all about these household holidays and spontaneous adventures—the extra energetic, the higher!
I’m not a professional, however you’ll usually catch me on the padel tennis court docket or attempting my luck at badminton. Let’s simply say my expertise are a piece in progress, however it’s all in regards to the enjoyable, proper?
One factor you may rely on with me is my glass is perpetually half full. I consider in making essentially the most out of each second. So, right here’s to embracing life’s twists and turns with a smile and brightening every day with a smile!
The place did you begin your profession in IT? And, what skilled choice or alternative helped lead you to your present function?
I used to be launched to IT in 2001, when conventional enterprise phone techniques (PABXs) started transitioning towards IP telephony. I used to be a fish out of the water; simply 4 years prior, I used to be a budding electrician, shifting from apprentice to electrician, at an offshoot of Jersey Electrical energy Firm (JEC).
Then, JEC created a small splinter firm named Jersey Electrical energy Telecommunications; I used to be chosen to retrain as a phone techniques engineer. Throughout my time at JET, I took on many duties, gaining expertise throughout gross sales, procurement, accounting, and ultimately, administration. It was essentially the most difficult and enjoyable time of my profession at that time.
5 years later, I used to be supplied a senior engineering place with Jersey Telecom. Throughout the 12 months, I used to be appointed as senior account supervisor for company companies. Sadly, after 4 years, I spotted I used to be shedding my strengths as an engineer, and particularly in staying present on expertise and instruments, which was my ardour.
Destiny stepped in, and I used to be launched to the world of Cisco by a pair legendary consultants. These consultants turned nice mates, and I’ve the pleasure of working in partnership with one among them to this present day. A few of you’ll have heard of him, CIA Rockstar Legend Simon Watkins. (Learn extra about Simon on this Cisco Insider Advocates Q&A!)
How has partnering with Cisco helped you in your function?
Partnering with Cisco has change into the best sport changer in my profession up to now, enabling me to upskill and, even higher, to leverage experiences in engineering, gross sales, advertising, and procurement to change into one among only a few consultants inside the Channel Islands to ship a compelling worth to service suppliers and digital integrators alike. By dedicating hours of finding out and self-development, I used to be in a position to start deploying and designing strong community options for companies all through the Channel Islands. All credit score to Cisco and their pre-sales and technical specialists who I’ve labored with on the extra superior options, simply one of many many “olive branches” Cisco gives to help its companions.
Quick ahead a decade, and I’m now collectively heading up the community options staff inside an incredible digital integrations enterprise, Prosperity 24/7, a Premier Integrator for Cisco. We now maintain two Cisco specialisations: the Networking Specialisation and the Environmental Sustainability Specialisation. We’re particularly pleased with the latter since sustainability performs a vital function inside our enterprise.
Prosperity 24/7 have a devoted Surroundings & Sustainability focus staff that works towards lowering the impression companies have on the atmosphere. We associate with native companies which are aligned and devoted to lowering pointless waste and preserving our planet’s sources to attain this purpose. It’s truthful to say that almost all respected companies favor to associate with organizations working towards a zero emissions baseline and as such, new alternatives and contours of income have opened. An instance is when a enterprise relocates to new premises; Prosperity 23/7 takes care of their outdated premises by managing the recycling and repurposing of their outdated community infrastructure, from the racks by to the customers desks, computer systems, and screens.
Let’s transfer on to our buyer advocacy group. It appears such as you just lately joined this system and are already climbing up within the ranks as an Advocate Rising Star. How would you describe Cisco Insider Advocates to those that aren’t conversant in it?
I joined Cisco Insider Advocates in 2023. I instantly noticed the worth on this group and the way, by gamification, I may take pleasure in studying about new services that provoke constructive conversations with purchasers, whereas constructing factors to redeem on future purchases by the Cisco Retailer. Becoming a member of and enjoying an energetic function inside CIA actually is a win-win state of affairs, and I genuinely suggest everybody be part of.
What made you wish to be part of, and the way has being part of Cisco Insider Advocates impacted you each professionally and personally?
Over the previous couple of years, just a few colleagues and mates joined the group and have been clearly having fun with the expertise and the plentiful challenges they participated in. Not least, they loved the problem of rising by the ranks collectively.
After I joined the group, I too started participating within the challenges and located lots of them to be each inspiring and insightful. Assembly just a few of the CIA members at Cisco Dwell introduced a right away reference to them, particularly after we have been discussing our shared approaches to expertise and creating enterprise. I fashioned new and valued friendships, and I’m trying ahead to the following time we meet, whether or not that’s at one other Cisco Dwell or after we go to one another’s nation.
On an expert degree, Cisco Insider Advocates is proving to be the proper vacation spot for self-development and encouragement to step outdoors of your consolation zone. An incredible staff helps Cisco Insider Advocates, and so they’re excited to help and encourage advocates to develop themselves and in flip, their careers. To succeed in the upper ranks, advocates can full challenges that may contain writing on-line critiques, talking at a Cisco occasion, and so on. These could also be out of the odd for a lot of engineers and consultants; nevertheless, with Cisco Insider, you’re given the chance to excel and develop your worth at your personal tempo. Many organizations see these newfound expertise as constructive attributes and justification for a possible wage enhance, or the rationale to decide on one candidate over one other.
Let’s transfer on to Cisco Dwell 2024 Amsterdam held this previous February. You met a few of your friends from the group and members of Cisco’s Buyer Advertising and marketing staff for the primary time! What did you take pleasure in most about assembly everybody at Cisco Dwell this 12 months?
Cisco Dwell 2024 in Amsterdam was nothing wanting superb. Assembly friends from inside the group felt like I used to be seeing outdated mates that I hadn’t but met in individual. What a fantastic bunch they have been!
Regardless that we’re new mates, dwelling in disparate jurisdictions, we may collaborate and share concepts and experiences with one another. It’s secure to say that the Insider group has enabled like-minded consultants, odd guys who share a thirst for all times, to attach and make a constructive distinction.
I will probably be staying in contact, and we’re trying ahead to the following time we reconnect in individual. Cisco Dwell 2025, right here we come!
In the course of the convention, we supplied quite a bit of enjoyable actions on the Cisco Insider sales space. Amongst them, which was your favourite and why?
There was a plethora of enjoyable actions accessible throughout Cisco Dwell 2024, all of which have been actually nice! What stands out for me most was the panel session (and wine tasting!) held within the sales space. The occasion featured one of many world’s Masters of Wine, of which there are lower than 500 in whole. All of us discovered a fantastic deal and loved the newfound style explosions in the course of the wine sampling (the very best bit).
My because of all of the staff for his or her work and energy in making the entire expertise memorable.
Earlier than I allow you to go, I’ve saved the very best questions for final! Do you have got any recommendation for anybody attending Cisco Dwell for the primary time? What are your finest tricks to them to assist them put together, each earlier than and in the course of the convention?
- Be sure that to hitch the Cisco Insider Advocacy group and climb these ranks.
- Make sure to guide Cisco Dwell early and start scheduling your occasions earlier than they replenish.
- Be sure that to present your self time in between periods to recoup—they’re going to be lengthy days!
- Reap the benefits of the free Cisco examination and start getting ready as early as you may.
- Take the time to socialize with like-minded mates that you just haven’t met but.
- Select your resort and site properly.
…and we’d love to complete with three issues you may’t reside with out?
That’s simple (however it’s going to sound very boring!)
No.1 My household & mates (dishonest right here)
No.2 My well being
No.3 My zest for all times—adventures, enjoyable, ethical compass, and spontaneity
It’s been a pleasure to talk with you, Rob! Thanks for being a valued Cisco Insider and for becoming a member of us!
Learn extra advocate interviews.
You may take pleasure in this interview with Wouter Hindriks.
Be a part of us!
For our prospects who’ve already joined our Cisco Insider Advocates group, say whats up to Rob if you happen to haven’t met but. And if you happen to’re a Cisco buyer however aren’t a group member, think about becoming a member of. You’ll be capable to:
- Join with friends in a gamified, on-line group
- Have a chance to fulfill with Cisco’s executives
- Share your suggestions, questions, and finest practices
- Get entry to ‘insider’ content material and sources
- Develop your skilled and private model
- Amplify your organization’s success story with Cisco expertise
Able to get began?
Head over to the Cisco Insider Advocates group and say whats up!
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