Cisco’s advocacy group, Cisco Insider Advocates, brings our prospects collectively and offers a method for them to make highly effective connections, broaden their skilled and private networks, and be taught from prime consultants of their subject. One in every of 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 be taught extra about their tales and backgrounds.
At present, now we 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 a bit of bit about who you’re.
I reside 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 youngsters, and my household is every part 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 typically catch me on the padel tennis court docket 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 eternally half full. I imagine 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 resolution 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 tasks, 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. Inside 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 dropping 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 grew to become nice mates, and I’ve the pleasure of working in partnership with one among them to at the present time. 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 develop into the best recreation changer in my profession to this point, enabling me to upskill and, even higher, to leverage experiences in engineering, gross sales, advertising, and procurement to develop into one among only a few 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 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 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 a vital function inside our enterprise.
Prosperity 24/7 have a devoted Surroundings & Sustainability focus workforce that works towards lowering the influence companies have on the atmosphere. We associate with native companies which might be aligned and devoted to lowering pointless waste and preserving our planet’s sources to realize this objective. 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 contours 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 via to the customers desks, computer systems, and screens.
Let’s transfer on to our buyer advocacy group. It appears to be like 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, via gamification, I may get pleasure from studying about new services that provoke constructive conversations with shoppers, whereas constructing factors to redeem on future purchases via 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 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 number 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 via 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 number of of the CIA members at Cisco Stay introduced an instantaneous reference to them, particularly once we have been discussing our shared approaches to expertise 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 an expert degree, 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 workforce helps Cisco Insider Advocates, they usually’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 opinions, talking at a Cisco occasion, and many others. These could also be out of the abnormal for a lot of engineers and consultants; nonetheless, 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 optimistic 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 Stay 2024 Amsterdam held this previous February. You met a few of your friends from the group and members of Cisco’s Buyer Advertising 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 previous mates that I hadn’t but met in individual. What an ideal bunch they have been!
Though 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, abnormal guys who share a thirst for all times, to attach and make a optimistic distinction.
I shall be staying in contact, and we’re wanting ahead to the following time we reconnect in individual. Cisco Stay 2025, right here we come!
In the course of the convention, we provided loads 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 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 discovered an ideal deal and loved the newfound style explosions through 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 could 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 through the convention?
- Be certain to affix the Cisco Insider Advocacy group and climb these ranks.
- Remember to e book Cisco Stay 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!
- Make the most 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 lodge and placement correctly.
…and we’d love to complete with three issues you possibly can’t reside with out?
That’s straightforward (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 may get pleasure from this interview with Wouter Hindriks.
Be a part of us!
For our prospects who’ve already joined our Cisco Insider Advocates group, say hiya to Rob for those who haven’t met but. And for those who’re a Cisco buyer however aren’t a group member, think about becoming a member of. You’ll be capable of:
- Join with friends in a gamified, on-line group
- Have a chance to satisfy with Cisco’s executives
- Share your suggestions, questions, and greatest 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 hiya!
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