With the vacation season upon us, I discover myself reflecting on what has been a very particular yr, one which included a milestone birthday for me. It was the right motive to embrace new adventures and rejoice with family members. From operating a 10-mile race with my household to selecting up judo once more with my boys, and even whale watching collectively in Quebec, this yr grew to become a journey of claiming ‘sure’ to residing life totally. It’s been a reminder that typically essentially the most significant moments come from merely embracing the current.
These private adventures have been complemented by an equally rewarding journey at work. I’m grateful for the prospect to contribute to one thing actually transformational—constructing the Cisco 360 Companion Program—a program constructed with one aim in thoughts: that will help you, our companions, develop your small business, ship extra worth to your prospects, and thrive in an ever-evolving market.
Why this issues to you, our companions
Our work started with a transparent focus: to create a program that places your wants on the middle. We listened intently to your suggestions, collaborated deeply with business analysts, and made daring strikes to align our efforts with what issues most to you — simplicity, profitability, and differentiation.
To realize this, we prioritized your suggestions at each step. We engaged with numerous companions and business analysts to grasp what’s working, what’s not, and the place we will enhance. The outcome? A program that simplifies engagement, focuses on worth over transactions, and units you up for long-term success.
The journey to constructing the Cisco 360 Companion Program
Bringing this imaginative and prescient to life has been a journey marked by relentless dedication, innovation, and collaboration. In March 2024, underneath the steerage of Rodney Clark, Cisco’s Senior Vice President, Partnerships and Small & Medium Enterprise, we started shaping a program that not solely displays Cisco’s dedication to innovation but additionally permits your continued success.
We structured our work into 5 agile sprints, aligning key milestones with pivotal Cisco occasions like our fiscal year-end, annual gross sales convention—GSX, and our premier accomplice occasion—Companion Summit. Every dash started with a transparent focus and ended with suggestions classes to make sure we had been all the time enhancing. All through the method, your enter guided us, serving to us construct a program that displays your wants and the realities of the market.
This transformation represents a major evolution, as famous by Shelly DeMotte Kramer from theCUBE Analysis:
“The brand new accomplice program’s emphasis on worth over transactions represents a elementary shift, and one which aligns with trendy enterprise shopping for patterns. By shifting away from conventional volume-based metrics to give attention to buyer outcomes and lifecycle worth, Cisco is positioning its companions to seize extra recurring income whereas constructing deeper buyer relationships.”
Regardless of the progress we made, this journey was not with out its hurdles. The previous ten months required intense collaboration, together with late nights and weekend classes to make sure we delivered our imaginative and prescient in time for Companion Summit. However the effort paid off. We capped off every dash with a second to rejoice, not simply to acknowledge our achievements however to acknowledge the arduous work and dedication everybody dropped at the desk.
Finally, this evolution has been about extra than simply launching a program. It’s a place to begin—one constructed with intention, classes realized, and a dedication to steady enchancment. We all know the work is way from carried out. The journey forward would require the identical dedication, collaboration, and openness to studying that introduced us right here. Within the months and years to come back, we’ll take these classes ahead, refining and evolving this system to fulfill your wants and the altering calls for of the market.
The Energy of Collaboration and Camaraderie
What actually set this expertise aside was not simply the creation of a program, however the deep collaboration and shared goal that made it extraordinary. As Brian Overmyer, Director of Companion Observe Engagement, fantastically expressed, “The previous few months have been essentially the most enjoyable I’ve had in my profession, and it’s 100% due to how shut I’ve felt to all of you—from folks I’ve labored with for years to the chance to fulfill and work with new people who constantly impress me. I’ve realized a ton from all of you and there’s no doubt that is essentially the most gifted group within the business.”
Ian Anderson, UK Chief Expertise Officer, Natilik, agrees and mentioned:
“One of many joys of partnering with Cisco is it actually is a two-way partnership, every of us benefitting from the collaboration. Natilik has thrived in Cisco’s accomplice program for a few years, attaining the very best customary throughout varied applied sciences that assist our enterprise targets and buyer digital transformations.
As know-how quickly evolves, it’s very important for a accomplice program to stay precious and related. Cisco recognises that companions are pivotal to any program transformation and their dedication to co-creation—listening, sharing, and collaborating—result in a profitable partnership for in the present day, tomorrow, and past. We at Natilik are excited to take this journey with Cisco and construct a program that rewards innovation and specialisation, delivering profitable outcomes for our joint prospects.”
This spirit of teamwork and camaraderie is what made the method so fulfilling—not simply due to the transformation we completed, however due to the unimaginable folks I had the privilege to work with. Each problem was met with teamwork, a “can do” mindset and a shared willpower to create one thing transformational. This serves as a reminder of the unimaginable issues we will obtain collectively. It’s these moments of progress and collaboration that made each problem value it and jogged my memory why I like what I do.
Designed for Your Success
Right here’s how this program delivers worth for you:
- Flexibility: Greater than a yr of transition time means that you can adapt seamlessly.
- Safety: Current investments are safeguarded as you embrace new alternatives.
- Enablement: Complete coaching and sources equip your groups for fulfillment.
Wanting Forward
The early suggestions we’ve obtained from you has been extremely encouraging, and it fuels our pleasure for the work forward. This program is already setting a brand new customary within the business.
“The Cisco 360 Companion Program is the IT business’s most revolutionary and forward-thinking accomplice program in 20 years. It’s resetting the bar of how one can acknowledge the worth companions supply to prospects with and round Cisco merchandise,” mentioned Denise Sangster, President & CEO, World Contact, Inc. “I count on this sort of accomplice program to brush the IT business over the subsequent two years.”
Zeus Kerravala of ZK Analysis additionally highlighted Cisco’s dedication to accomplice success, recognizing our efforts to supply loads of transition time, shield current investments, and prioritize coaching—together with a multi-million greenback funding in Cisco U that companions can benefit from in the present day. This value-driven method will proceed to drive progress, making certain our companions are arrange for fulfillment within the yr forward.
As 2024 involves a detailed, I wish to lengthen my deepest gratitude to all of you—our companions, prospects, and colleagues—who made this journey so rewarding. Collectively, we’ve laid the inspiration, however there’s nonetheless extra to be carried out.
Looking forward to 2025, our focus will stay on refining and rolling out this program to make sure it continues to serve your wants. Collectively, we’ll drive higher profitability, ship distinctive buyer outcomes, and solidify our place as leaders available in the market.
As we replicate on this season of gratitude, I’d love to listen to what you’re grateful for this yr. Please put your solutions within the feedback under. Have questions or suggestions? Electronic mail us at askpartnerprogram@cisco.com or discover extra particulars on the Cisco 360 Companion Program web page.
Wishing you a joyful vacation season and a affluent 2025!
We’d love to listen to what you assume. Ask a Query, Remark Beneath, and Keep Related with #CiscoPartners on social!
Cisco Companions Fb | @CiscoPartners X/Twitter | Cisco Companions LinkedIn
Share: