Cisco’s advocacy neighborhood, Cisco Insider Advocates, brings our clients collectively and supplies a manner for them to make highly effective connections, broaden their skilled and private networks, and study from prime consultants of their discipline. Considered one of our targets with our advocacy neighborhood 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 study extra about their tales and backgrounds.
Immediately, 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 somewhat bit about who you’re.
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 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 expertise are a piece in progress, however it’s all in regards to the enjoyable, proper?
One factor you possibly can rely on with me is my glass is perpetually 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 yr, 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 turned nice mates, and I’ve the pleasure of working in partnership with one in every of them to today. 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 develop 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 procurement to develop into one in every of just some consultants inside 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 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 provides to assist its companions.
Quick ahead a decade, and I’m now collectively heading up the community options crew 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 happy with the latter since sustainability performs an important function inside our enterprise.
Prosperity 24/7 have a devoted Atmosphere & Sustainability focus crew that works towards lowering the influence companies have on the setting. We companion with native companies which can be aligned and devoted to lowering 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 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 via to the customers desks, computer systems, and displays.
Let’s transfer on to our buyer advocacy neighborhood. It appears 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 neighborhood and the way, via 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 via the Cisco Retailer. Becoming a member of and taking part in an energetic function inside CIA actually is a win-win state of affairs, 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, a couple of colleagues and mates joined the neighborhood and had 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 neighborhood, I too started collaborating 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 Stay introduced a right away reference to them, particularly after we had been discussing our shared approaches to expertise and growing enterprise. I fashioned new and valued friendships, and I’m trying ahead to the following time we meet, whether or not that’s at one other Cisco Stay or after we go to one another’s nation.
On an expert stage, 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 crew helps Cisco Insider Advocates, and so they’re excited to help and encourage advocates to develop themselves and in flip, their careers. To achieve the upper ranks, advocates can full challenges that may contain writing on-line opinions, talking at a Cisco occasion, and so forth. These could also be out of the odd for a lot of engineers and consultants; nonetheless, 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 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 neighborhood and members of Cisco’s Buyer Advertising crew for the primary time! What did you take pleasure in most about assembly everybody at Cisco Stay this yr?
Cisco Stay 2024 in Amsterdam was nothing in need of wonderful. Assembly friends from inside the neighborhood felt like I used to be seeing outdated mates that I hadn’t but met in individual. What an important bunch they had been!
Regardless that we’re new mates, dwelling in disparate jurisdictions, we may collaborate and share concepts and experiences with one another. It’s protected to say that the Insider neighborhood has enabled like-minded consultants, odd 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 trying ahead to the following time we reconnect in individual. Cisco Stay 2025, right here we come!
Throughout 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 obtainable throughout Cisco Stay 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 whole. All of us realized an important deal and loved the newfound style explosions through 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’ve got any recommendation for anybody attending Cisco Stay for the primary time? What are your finest tricks to them to assist them put together, each earlier than and through the convention?
- Make sure that to affix the Cisco Insider Advocacy neighborhood and climb these ranks.
- Make sure to e book Cisco Stay early and start scheduling your occasions earlier than they replenish.
- Make sure that to present 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 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 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 part of us!
For our clients who’ve already joined our Cisco Insider Advocates neighborhood, say good day to Rob if you happen to haven’t met but. And if you happen to’re a Cisco buyer however aren’t a neighborhood member, think about becoming a member of. You’ll be capable to:
- Join with friends in a gamified, on-line neighborhood
- Have a chance to satisfy with Cisco’s executives
- Share your suggestions, questions, and finest practices
- Get entry to ‘insider’ content material and assets
- 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 neighborhood and say good day!
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