Cisco’s advocacy group, Cisco Insider Advocates, brings our prospects collectively and supplies a means for them to make highly effective connections, broaden their skilled and private networks, and study from prime consultants of their discipline. One among our targets with our advocacy group is to deepen relationships with our prospects. Our Q&A collection permits us to shine a highlight on a few of our most passionate advocates as we study extra about their tales and backgrounds.
Right this moment, 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 in the present day. Let’s kick issues off by studying just a little bit about who you might be.
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 all the things 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 court docket or attempting my luck at badminton. Let’s simply say my expertise 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 without end 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 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 obligations, gaining expertise throughout gross sales, procurement, accounting, and ultimately, administration. It was probably 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 12 months, 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 mates, and I’ve the pleasure of working in partnership with one in all them to this present day. 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 out to be 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 procurement to turn out to be one in all 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 affords to assist its companions.
Quick ahead a decade, and I’m now collectively heading up the community options staff 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 Surroundings & Sustainability focus staff that works towards lowering the affect companies have on the setting. We companion with native companies which might be aligned and devoted to lowering pointless waste and preserving our planet’s sources to attain this aim. It’s honest to say that just about all respected companies desire to companion 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 by way of to the customers desks, computer systems, and screens.
Let’s transfer on to our buyer advocacy group. It seems 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 acquainted with 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 purchasers, whereas constructing factors to redeem on future purchases by way of the Cisco Retailer. Becoming a member of and enjoying an energetic function inside CIA actually is a win-win scenario, and I genuinely suggest 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, just a few 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 collaborating within the challenges and located lots of them to be each inspiring and insightful. Assembly just a few of the CIA members at Cisco Stay 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 subsequent time we meet, whether or not that’s at one other Cisco Stay or once we go to one another’s nation.
On knowledgeable degree, Cisco Insider Advocates is proving to be the right vacation spot for self-development and encouragement to step exterior of your consolation zone. An incredible staff 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 extraordinary 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 expertise 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 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 staff for the primary time! What did you take pleasure in most about assembly everybody at Cisco Stay this 12 months?
Cisco Stay 2024 in Amsterdam was nothing wanting superb. Assembly friends from throughout the group felt like I used to be seeing previous mates that I hadn’t but met in particular person. What an incredible bunch they have been!
Although we’re new mates, residing in disparate jurisdictions, we may collaborate and share concepts and experiences with one another. It’s protected to say that the Insider group has enabled like-minded consultants, extraordinary 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 subsequent time we reconnect in particular person. Cisco Stay 2025, right here we come!
In the course of 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 obtainable throughout Cisco Stay 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 realized an incredible deal and loved the newfound style explosions through the wine sampling (one of the best bit).
My due to all of the staff 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’ve got 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 sure to hitch the Cisco Insider Advocacy group and climb these ranks.
- Make sure you e book Cisco Stay early and start scheduling your occasions earlier than they replenish.
- Be sure to present your self time in between periods 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 mates that you just haven’t met but.
- Select your lodge and site correctly.
…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 & 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 would possibly take pleasure in this interview with Wouter Hindriks.
Be a part of us!
For our prospects who’ve already joined our Cisco Insider Advocates group, say hey to Rob if you happen to haven’t met but. And if you happen to’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 possibility to fulfill 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 know-how
Able to get began?
Head over to the Cisco Insider Advocates group and say hey!
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