Cisco’s advocacy group, Cisco Insider Advocates, brings our clients collectively and offers a method for them to make highly effective connections, develop their skilled and private networks, and study from prime consultants of their area. Certainly one of our objectives with our advocacy group is to deepen relationships with our clients. 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.
At this time, we’ve got 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 immediately. Let’s kick issues off by studying a little bit bit about who you might be.
I stay 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 every little thing 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 possibly can depend on with me is my glass is ceaselessly half full. I consider in making probably 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 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 tasks, gaining expertise throughout gross sales, procurement, accounting, and finally, administration. It was probably 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 yr, 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 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 among them to at the present time. A few of you could 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 turn into the best sport changer in my profession thus far, enabling me to upskill and, even higher, to leverage experiences in engineering, gross sales, advertising and marketing, and procurement to turn into one among just some consultants throughout the Channel Islands to ship a compelling worth to service suppliers and digital integrators alike. By dedicating hours of learning and self-development, I used to be in a position to start deploying and designing sturdy 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 presents to help its companions.
Quick ahead a decade, and I’m now collectively heading up the community options group inside a tremendous 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 happy with the latter since sustainability performs a vital function inside our enterprise.
Prosperity 24/7 have a devoted Setting & Sustainability focus group that works towards decreasing the influence companies have on the setting. We companion with native companies which can be aligned and devoted to decreasing pointless waste and preserving our planet’s assets to attain this objective. It’s truthful to say that just about all respected companies want to companion 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 previous premises by managing the recycling and repurposing of their previous community infrastructure, from the racks by way 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 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 aware of it?
I joined Cisco Insider Advocates in 2023. I instantly noticed the worth on this group and the way, by way of gamification, I may take pleasure in studying about new services and products that provoke constructive conversations with shoppers, whereas constructing factors to redeem on future purchases by way of the Cisco Retailer. Becoming a member of and enjoying an lively function inside CIA actually is a win-win scenario, and I genuinely advocate everybody be part of.
What made you need 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, a couple of 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 way of the ranks collectively.
After I joined the group, I too started participating within the challenges and located a lot of them to be each inspiring and insightful. Assembly a couple of of the CIA members at Cisco Dwell introduced a direct reference to them, particularly once we have been discussing our shared approaches to know-how and creating 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 Dwell 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 group 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 forth. These could also be out of the peculiar for a lot of engineers and consultants; nevertheless, with Cisco Insider, you’re given the chance to excel and develop your worth at your individual tempo. Many organizations see these newfound abilities as constructive attributes and justification for a possible wage enhance, or the explanation 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 group for the primary time! What did you take pleasure in most about assembly everybody at Cisco Dwell this yr?
Cisco Dwell 2024 in Amsterdam was nothing in need of wonderful. Assembly friends from throughout the group felt like I used to be seeing previous mates that I hadn’t but met in individual. What an awesome 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, peculiar 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 wanting ahead to the following time we reconnect in individual. Cisco Dwell 2025, right here we come!
Throughout the convention, we supplied rather a lot 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 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 complete. All of us realized an awesome deal and loved the newfound style explosions through the wine sampling (the most effective bit).
My due to all of the group for his or her work and energy in making the entire expertise memorable.
Earlier than I allow you to go, I’ve saved the most effective questions for final! Do you have got any recommendation for anybody attending Cisco Dwell for the primary time? What are your greatest tricks to them to assist them put together, each earlier than and through the convention?
- Be sure to affix the Cisco Insider Advocacy group and climb these ranks.
- Remember to ebook Cisco Dwell early and start scheduling your occasions earlier than they refill.
- Be sure 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 making ready as early as you possibly can.
- Take the time to socialize with like-minded mates that you just haven’t met but.
- Select your resort and placement properly.
…and we’d love to complete with three issues you possibly can’t stay 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 speak 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 clients who’ve already joined our Cisco Insider Advocates group, say good day to Rob should you haven’t met but. And should you’re a Cisco buyer however aren’t a group member, take into account becoming a member of. You’ll be capable of:
- Join with friends in a gamified, on-line group
- Have a possibility to satisfy 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 good day!
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