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 study from prime specialists of their subject. One among our targets 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 study extra about their tales and backgrounds.

Right this moment, we have now 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 right this moment. Let’s kick issues off by studying somewhat bit about who you’re.

I dwell 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 courtroom or making an attempt my luck at badminton. Let’s simply say my abilities are a piece in progress, however it’s all concerning the enjoyable, proper?

One factor you may depend on with me is my glass is endlessly 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 choice 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 duties, 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. Inside 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 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 considered one of them to today. 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 recreation changer in my profession thus 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 learning 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 presents to help its companions.

Quick ahead a decade, and I’m now collectively heading up the community options crew 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 pleased 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 decreasing the impression companies have on the atmosphere. We associate with native companies which can be aligned and devoted to decreasing pointless waste and preserving our planet’s assets to attain this objective. It’s honest to say that almost 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 previous premises by managing the recycling and repurposing of their previous community infrastructure, from the racks by means of to the customers desks, computer systems, and displays.

Let’s transfer on to our buyer advocacy neighborhood. It appears 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 accustomed to it?

I joined Cisco Insider Advocates in 2023. I instantly noticed the worth on this neighborhood and the way, by means of gamification, I might get pleasure from studying about new services and products that provoke constructive conversations with shoppers, whereas constructing factors to redeem on future purchases by means of the Cisco Retailer. Becoming a member of and taking part in an lively function inside CIA actually is a win-win state of affairs, and I genuinely suggest 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 couple of colleagues and mates 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 means 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 couple of of the CIA members at Cisco Stay introduced an instantaneous reference to them, particularly after we have been discussing our shared approaches to expertise and growing enterprise. I shaped new and valued friendships, and I’m trying ahead to the subsequent time we meet, whether or not that’s at one other Cisco Stay or after we go to one another’s nation.

On knowledgeable 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 crew helps Cisco Insider Advocates, they usually’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 evaluations, talking at a Cisco occasion, and many others. These could also be out of the strange 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 abilities as constructive attributes and justification for a possible wage increase, 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 get pleasure from most about assembly everybody at Cisco Stay this yr?  

Cisco Stay 2024 in Amsterdam was nothing wanting wonderful. Assembly friends from throughout the neighborhood felt like I used to be seeing previous mates that I hadn’t but met in particular person. What an awesome bunch they have been!

Although we’re new mates, residing in disparate jurisdictions, we might collaborate and share concepts and experiences with one another. It’s protected to say that the Insider neighborhood has enabled like-minded specialists, strange guys who share a thirst for all times, to attach and make a constructive distinction.

I can be staying in contact, and we’re trying ahead to the subsequent time we reconnect in particular person. Cisco Stay 2025, right here we come!

Through 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 accessible 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 realized an awesome deal and loved the newfound style explosions in the course of the wine sampling (one of the best bit).

My due to 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 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 in the course of the convention? 

1. Ensure that to hitch the Cisco Insider Advocacy neighborhood and climb these ranks.
2. Make sure to guide Cisco Stay early and start scheduling your occasions earlier than they refill.
3. Ensure that to offer your self time in between classes to recoup—they’re going to be lengthy days!
4. Reap the benefits of the free Cisco examination and start making ready as early as you may.
5. Take the time to socialize with like-minded mates that you just haven’t met but.
6. Select your lodge and placement properly.

       …and we’d love to complete with three issues you may’t dwell 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 get pleasure from this interview with Wouter Hindriks.

Be a part of us!

For our clients who’ve already joined our Cisco Insider Advocates neighborhood, say good day to Rob in the event you haven’t met but. And in the event you’re a Cisco buyer however aren’t a neighborhood member, contemplate becoming a member of. You’ll have the ability to:

• Join with friends in a gamified, on-line neighborhood
• Have a possibility to fulfill 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 expertise

Able to get began?

Head over to the Cisco Insider Advocates neighborhood and say good day!

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