Cisco’s advocacy group, Cisco Insider Advocates, brings our clients collectively and supplies a method for them to make highly effective connections, increase their skilled and private networks, and be taught from high specialists of their subject. Certainly one of our targets with our advocacy group is to deepen relationships with our clients. 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.
Immediately, we now have 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 at the moment. Let’s kick issues off by studying just a little bit about who you’re.
I stay 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 youngsters, 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 courtroom or making an attempt my luck at badminton. Let’s simply say my abilities are a piece in progress, however it’s all in regards to the enjoyable, proper?
One factor you possibly can depend on with me is my glass is eternally 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 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, 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 techniques 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 provided 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 associates, and I’ve the pleasure of working in partnership with considered one of them to today. A few of you might 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 grow to be 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 grow to be considered one of only a few specialists inside 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 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 affords to help its companions.
Quick ahead a decade, and I’m now collectively heading up the community options crew 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 Atmosphere & Sustainability focus crew that works towards lowering the impression companies have on the atmosphere. We accomplice with native companies which are aligned and devoted to lowering pointless waste and preserving our planet’s assets to attain this aim. It’s truthful to say that just about all respected companies favor to accomplice 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 way of to the customers desks, computer systems, and displays.
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 might 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 taking part in an energetic function inside CIA actually is a win-win scenario, and I genuinely advocate everybody be a part of.
What made you need 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 associates 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 way of the ranks collectively.
After I joined the group, I too started collaborating within the challenges and located lots of them to be each inspiring and insightful. Assembly a couple of of the CIA members at Cisco Reside introduced a direct reference to them, particularly after we had 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 Reside or after we go to one another’s nation.
On an expert stage, Cisco Insider Advocates is proving to be the proper vacation spot for self-development and encouragement to step exterior of your consolation zone. A tremendous crew 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 bizarre 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 abilities as constructive attributes and justification for a possible wage increase, or the rationale to decide on one candidate over one other.
Let’s transfer on to Cisco Reside 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 crew for the primary time! What did you take pleasure in most about assembly everybody at Cisco Reside this yr?
Cisco Reside 2024 in Amsterdam was nothing in need of superb. Assembly friends from inside the group felt like I used to be seeing outdated associates that I hadn’t but met in individual. What an incredible bunch they had been!
Regardless that we’re new associates, dwelling in disparate jurisdictions, we might collaborate and share concepts and experiences with one another. It’s protected to say that the Insider group has enabled like-minded specialists, bizarre guys who share a thirst for all times, to attach and make a constructive distinction.
I can be staying in contact, and we’re wanting ahead to the following time we reconnect in individual. Cisco Reside 2025, right here we come!
Through the convention, we provided 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 accessible throughout Cisco Reside 2024, all of which had been really 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 incredible deal and loved the newfound style explosions in the course of the wine sampling (one of the best bit).
My because of all of the crew for his or her work and energy in making the entire expertise memorable.
Earlier than I allow you to go, I’ve saved one of the best questions for final! Do you will have any recommendation for anybody attending Cisco Reside for the primary time? What are your greatest tricks to them to assist them put together, each earlier than and in the course of the convention?
- Be certain to hitch the Cisco Insider Advocacy group and climb these ranks.
- Remember to e book Cisco Reside early and start scheduling your occasions earlier than they replenish.
- Be certain to present your self time in between classes to recoup—they’re going to be lengthy days!
- Benefit from the free Cisco examination and start getting ready as early as you possibly can.
- Take the time to socialize with like-minded associates that you just haven’t met but.
- Select your lodge and site properly.
…and we’d love to complete with three issues you possibly can’t stay with out?
That’s straightforward (however it’s going to sound very boring!)
No.1 My household & associates (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 part of us!
For our clients who’ve already joined our Cisco Insider Advocates group, say hiya to Rob in the event you haven’t met but. And in the event you’re a Cisco buyer however aren’t a group member, take into account becoming a member of. You’ll be capable to:
- Join with friends in a gamified, on-line group
- Have a possibility 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 hiya!
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