With the vacation season upon us, I discover myself reflecting on what has been a really particular yr, one which included a milestone birthday for me. It was the proper motive to embrace new adventures and have a good time with family members. From working 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 dwelling life totally. It’s been a reminder that typically probably 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 possibility 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 corporation, 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 heart. 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 attain 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 are able to enhance. The end result? 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, below 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 allows 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 associate occasion—Companion Summit. Every dash started with a transparent focus and ended with suggestions classes to make sure we have been at all times 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 associate program’s emphasis on worth over transactions represents a elementary shift, and one which aligns with fashionable 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 have a good time, not simply to acknowledge our achievements however to acknowledge the exhausting work and dedication everybody dropped at the desk.
In the end, this evolution has been about extra than simply launching a program. It’s a place to begin—one constructed with intention, classes discovered, and a dedication to steady enchancment. We all know the work is way from performed. 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 satisfy 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 function that made it extraordinary. As Brian Overmyer, Director of Companion Follow Engagement, superbly expressed, “The previous few months have been probably 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 individuals I’ve labored with for years to the chance to satisfy and work with new people who constantly impress me. I’ve discovered a ton from all of you and there’s no doubt that is probably the most gifted staff within the business.”
Ian Anderson, UK Chief Know-how 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 associate program for a few years, reaching the best commonplace throughout varied applied sciences that help our enterprise targets and buyer digital transformations.
As expertise quickly evolves, it’s very important for a associate 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 achieved, however due to the unbelievable individuals I had the privilege to work with. Each problem was met with teamwork, a “can do” mindset and a shared dedication to create one thing transformational. This serves as a reminder of the unbelievable issues we are able to obtain collectively. It’s these moments of development and collaboration that made each problem value it and jogged my memory why I really 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 lets you adapt seamlessly.
- Safety: Current investments are safeguarded as you embrace new alternatives.
- Enablement: Complete coaching and assets equip your groups for achievement.
Trying Forward
The early suggestions we’ve acquired from you has been extremely encouraging, and it fuels our pleasure for the work forward. This program is already setting a brand new commonplace within the business.
“The Cisco 360 Companion Program is the IT business’s most progressive and forward-thinking associate program in 20 years. It’s resetting the bar of how you can acknowledge the worth companions supply to prospects with and round Cisco merchandise,” mentioned Denise Sangster, President & CEO, International Contact, Inc. “I anticipate any such associate program to brush the IT business over the following two years.”
Zeus Kerravala of ZK Analysis additionally highlighted Cisco’s dedication to associate success, recognizing our efforts to supply loads of transition time, defend present investments, and prioritize coaching—together with a multi-million greenback funding in Cisco U that companions can make the most of in the present day. This value-driven strategy will proceed to drive development, making certain our companions are arrange for achievement within the yr forward.
As 2024 involves an in depth, I need to prolong my deepest gratitude to all of you—our companions, prospects, and colleagues—who made this journey so rewarding. Collectively, we’ve laid the muse, however there’s nonetheless extra to be performed.
Waiting for 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 beneath. Have questions or suggestions? E 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!
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