Cisco’s advocacy neighborhood, Cisco Insider Advocates, brings our clients collectively and supplies a means for them to make highly effective connections, increase their skilled and private networks, and be taught from high specialists of their area. Certainly one of our objectives with our advocacy neighborhood 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 be taught extra about their tales and backgrounds.
As we speak, we now have 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 as we speak. Let’s kick issues off by studying slightly 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 typically 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 without end 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 methods (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 methods engineer. Throughout my time at JET, I took on many obligations, 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 grew to become nice buddies, and I’ve the pleasure of working in partnership with considered one of them to at the present time. 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 turn into the best sport changer in my profession so far, enabling me to upskill and, even higher, to leverage experiences in engineering, gross sales, advertising and marketing, and procurement to turn into considered one of only a few specialists 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 group 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 Atmosphere & Sustainability focus group that works towards lowering the affect companies have on the surroundings. 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 honest to say that just about 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 way of to the customers desks, computer systems, and screens.
Let’s transfer on to our buyer advocacy neighborhood. It seems to be such as you not too long ago 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 neighborhood and the way, by way of gamification, I might take pleasure in studying about new services 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 state of affairs, 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 buddies joined the neighborhood 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 neighborhood, I too started participating within the challenges and located lots of them to be each inspiring and insightful. Assembly a number 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 growing enterprise. I shaped 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 once 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 outdoors of your consolation zone. A tremendous group 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 evaluations, 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 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 neighborhood 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 wanting superb. Assembly friends from throughout the neighborhood felt like I used to be seeing outdated buddies that I hadn’t but met in particular person. What an ideal bunch they have been!
Regardless that we’re new buddies, dwelling in disparate jurisdictions, we might collaborate and share concepts and experiences with one another. It’s secure to say that the Insider neighborhood has enabled like-minded specialists, abnormal guys who share a thirst for all times, to attach and make a constructive distinction.
I might be staying in contact, and we’re trying ahead to the following time we reconnect in particular person. Cisco Dwell 2025, right here we come!
Through the convention, we provided 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 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 whole. All of us discovered an ideal deal and loved the newfound style explosions throughout the wine sampling (one of the best 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 one of the best questions for final! Do you could have 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 throughout the convention?
- Make sure that to affix the Cisco Insider Advocacy neighborhood and climb these ranks.
- Make sure to e-book Cisco Dwell early and start scheduling your occasions earlier than they replenish.
- Make sure that to provide your self time in between periods to recoup—they’re going to be lengthy days!
- Make the most of the free Cisco examination and start getting ready as early as you possibly can.
- Take the time to socialize with like-minded buddies that you just haven’t met but.
- Select your resort and site 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 & buddies (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 neighborhood, say hey to Rob when you haven’t met but. And when you’re a Cisco buyer however aren’t a neighborhood member, take into account becoming a member of. You’ll have the ability to:
- Join with friends in a gamified, on-line neighborhood
- 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 know-how
Able to get began?
Head over to the Cisco Insider Advocates neighborhood and say hey!
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