The facility of neighborhood helps Cisco Insider Rob Taylor carry innovation to his clients.
Cisco’s advocacy neighborhood, Cisco Insider Advocates, brings our clients collectively and offers a approach for them to make highly effective connections, increase their skilled and private networks, and be taught from prime consultants of their area. Considered 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.
Right now, we’ve got 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 as we speak. Let’s kick issues off by studying a bit of bit about who you’re.
I reside 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 kids, and my household is every 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 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 may rely on with me is my glass is eternally half full. I imagine 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 determination or alternative helped lead you to your present position?
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, shifting 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 tasks, 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 supplied 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 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 pals, and I’ve the pleasure of working in partnership with one in all them to at the present time. 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 position?
Partnering with Cisco has change into 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 change into one in all just some consultants 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 in a position to 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 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 position 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 assets to realize this aim. It’s truthful to say that just about all respected companies desire 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 by way of to the customers desks, computer systems, and displays.
Let’s transfer on to our buyer advocacy neighborhood. 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 neighborhood and the way, by way of gamification, I may take pleasure in studying about new services 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 taking part in an lively position 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 number of colleagues and pals 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 by way of 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 number of of the CIA members at Cisco Reside introduced a direct reference to them, particularly once 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 once we go to one another’s nation.
On knowledgeable 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 workforce 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 evaluations, talking at a Cisco occasion, and many others. These could also be out of the strange 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 abilities as optimistic 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 Reside 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 workforce 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 wanting wonderful. Assembly friends from inside the neighborhood felt like I used to be seeing previous pals that I hadn’t but met in particular person. What an important bunch they had been!
Though we’re new pals, 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, strange guys who share a thirst for all times, to attach and make a optimistic distinction.
I will likely be staying in contact, and we’re wanting ahead to the following time we reconnect in particular person. Cisco Reside 2025, right here we come!
Through the convention, we supplied 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 out there 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 discovered an important deal and loved the newfound style explosions through the wine sampling (the perfect bit).
My due to 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 perfect questions for final! Do you may 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 through the convention?
- Ensure that to hitch the Cisco Insider Advocacy neighborhood and climb these ranks.
- You should definitely guide Cisco Reside early and start scheduling your occasions earlier than they refill.
- Ensure that to offer 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 may.
- Take the time to socialize with like-minded pals that you just haven’t met but.
- Select your lodge and placement properly.
…and we’d love to complete with three issues you may’t reside with out?
That’s simple (nevertheless it’s going to sound very boring!)
No.1 My household & pals (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 clients who’ve already joined our Cisco Insider Advocates neighborhood, say howdy to Rob when you haven’t met but. And when you’re a Cisco buyer however aren’t a neighborhood member, think about becoming a member of. You’ll be capable of:
- Join with friends in a gamified, on-line neighborhood
- Have a chance to satisfy 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 neighborhood and say howdy!
(Requires registration / login)
Share:
