Cisco’s advocacy group, Cisco Insider Advocates, brings our prospects collectively and gives a manner for them to make highly effective connections, develop their skilled and private networks, and study from high consultants of their area. One in all our targets with our advocacy group is to deepen relationships with our prospects. Our Q&A sequence permits us to shine a highlight on a few of our most passionate advocates as we study extra about their tales and backgrounds.
Right now, we have now one of many friendliest faces locally 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 in the present day. Let’s kick issues off by studying somewhat bit about who you’re.
I dwell within the lovely 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 the whole lot to me. We’re all about these household holidays and spontaneous adventures—the extra lively, the higher!
I’m not a professional, however you’ll usually catch me on the padel tennis courtroom or making an attempt my luck at badminton. Let’s simply say my abilities are a piece in progress, nevertheless it’s all concerning the enjoyable, proper?
One factor you’ll be able to rely on with me is my glass is endlessly 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 determination or alternative helped lead you to your present position?
I used to be launched to IT in 2001, when conventional enterprise phone programs (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, transferring 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 programs engineer. Throughout my time at JET, I took on many duties, gaining expertise throughout gross sales, procurement, accounting, and finally, 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 noticed I used to be dropping my strengths as an engineer, and particularly in staying present on know-how 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 in all them to today. 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 position?
Partnering with Cisco has turn into the best sport changer in my profession to this point, enabling me to upskill and, even higher, to leverage experiences in engineering, gross sales, advertising and marketing, and procurement to turn into one in all only a few consultants throughout 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 capable of 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 workforce 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 an important position inside our enterprise.
Prosperity 24/7 have a devoted Setting & Sustainability focus workforce that works towards decreasing the affect companies have on the atmosphere. We associate with native companies which can be aligned and devoted to decreasing pointless waste and preserving our planet’s assets to realize this aim. It’s truthful to say that almost all respected companies choose to associate with organizations working towards a zero emissions baseline and as such, new alternatives and features 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 means of to the customers desks, computer systems, and screens.
Let’s transfer on to our buyer advocacy group. It seems to be such as you 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 accustomed to it?
I joined Cisco Insider Advocates in 2023. I instantly noticed the worth on this group and the way, by means of gamification, I might get pleasure from studying about new services and products that provoke constructive conversations with shoppers, whereas constructing factors to redeem on future purchases by means of the Cisco Retailer. Becoming a member of and taking part in an lively position inside CIA actually is a win-win scenario, and I genuinely advocate everybody be a part of.
What made you wish to be a part of, and the way has being part of Cisco Insider Advocates impacted you each professionally and personally?
Over the previous couple of years, a couple of colleagues and mates joined the group and had been clearly having fun with the expertise and the plentiful challenges they participated in. Not least, they loved the problem of rising by means of 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 a couple of of the CIA members at Cisco Stay introduced a direct reference to them, particularly once we had been discussing our shared approaches to know-how and growing enterprise. I shaped new and valued friendships, and I’m wanting ahead to the following time we meet, whether or not that’s at one other Cisco Stay or once we go to one another’s nation.
On knowledgeable stage, Cisco Insider Advocates is proving to be the proper vacation spot for self-development and encouragement to step exterior of your consolation zone. An incredible workforce helps Cisco Insider Advocates, they usually’re excited to help and encourage advocates to develop themselves and in flip, their careers. To achieve the upper ranks, advocates can full challenges that may contain writing on-line evaluations, talking at a Cisco occasion, and many others. These could also be out of the odd for a lot of engineers and consultants; nonetheless, with Cisco Insider, you’re given the chance to excel and develop your worth at your personal tempo. Many organizations see these newfound abilities as optimistic attributes and justification for a possible wage increase, or the explanation to decide on one candidate over one other.
Let’s transfer on to Cisco Stay 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 workforce for the primary time! What did you get pleasure from most about assembly everybody at Cisco Stay this 12 months?
Cisco Stay 2024 in Amsterdam was nothing wanting wonderful. Assembly friends from throughout the group felt like I used to be seeing outdated mates that I hadn’t but met in particular person. What a fantastic bunch they had been!
Though we’re new mates, residing in disparate jurisdictions, we might 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 optimistic distinction.
I might be staying in contact, and we’re wanting ahead to the following time we reconnect in particular person. Cisco Stay 2025, right here we come!
Throughout the convention, we supplied lots of enjoyable actions on the Cisco Insider sales space. Amongst them, which was your favourite and why?
There was a plethora of enjoyable actions obtainable throughout Cisco Stay 2024, all of which had 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 complete. All of us realized a fantastic deal and loved the newfound style explosions throughout the wine sampling (the very best bit).
My because of all of the workforce 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 may have any recommendation for anybody attending Cisco Stay for the primary time? What are your greatest tricks to them to assist them put together, each earlier than and throughout the convention?
- Be certain to hitch the Cisco Insider Advocacy group and climb these ranks.
- Make sure to ebook Cisco Stay early and start scheduling your occasions earlier than they refill.
- Be certain to provide 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 making ready as early as you’ll be able to.
- 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’ll be able to’t dwell with out?
That’s simple (nevertheless 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 would possibly get pleasure from this interview with Wouter Hindriks.
Be part of us!
For our prospects who’ve already joined our Cisco Insider Advocates group, say whats up to Rob in case you haven’t met but. And in case you’re a Cisco buyer however aren’t a group member, contemplate 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 greatest practices
- Get entry to ‘insider’ content material and assets
- Develop your skilled and private model
- Amplify your organization’s success story with Cisco know-how
Able to get began?
Head over to the Cisco Insider Advocates group and say whats up!
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