Cisco’s Partner Summit is once again upon us. A multi-day, educational event the Summit this year will focus on current Cisco technology, their vision for the future and their partner ecosystem strategy, as well as how to maneuver and utilize the Internet of Everything (IoE) more effectively. Hosted this year in beautiful Montreal, Canada, the Summit promises to be an insightful experience chock full of industry thought leadership.
In terms of industry events, the Cisco Partner Summit is the pinnacle. The event is extremely well executed and attended. And, this year, like every year, the Summit delivers on the promise that you’ll learn something you didn’t know before you came. A main focal point this year is the Cisco partner ecosystem, suggesting that “you are at the center of a new world of opportunity.” Within the ecosystem sessions, there will be discussion around the IoE, Big Data, and the value of driving meaningful and lasting customer experiences.
When I attended my first Partner Summit, Cisco was expanding its portfolio rapidly. The company was a route/switch company with a solid PIX firewall. At the time, switches were just starting to take over from hub technology. It was an exciting time with announcements of wireless acquisitions and voice acquisitions. The product line was expanding, and the opportunity to breathe in the messaging during the general sessions and breakouts was incredible.
Lately – the conversation has shifted — and we’re seeing a new Cisco at the Partner Summit. Currently, Cisco is acquiring technologies not for explicit portfolio growth but rather for strategic growth. What Cisco is currently undertaking, as many are in IT, is they seem to be acquiring to enhance and expand on existing capabilities, like security, for example. As a result, I am looking forward to sessions that consider industry shifts like, “Why You Should Lead with Security,” presented by David Goeckeler, Senior Vice President/GM, Cisco Security Business Group, and John Negron, Vice President, Cisco Global Security Sales Organization.
Congruently, according to a recent article in Forbes, there are 9 million devices connected globally; the sheer number of devices online forces us to explore the IoE. Consequently, at this year’s Summit, I am also looking forward to gaining insight on Cisco’s IoE strategy.
The panel titled “The Power of Partnering in an IoE World,” presented by Andres Sintes, Senior Director, IOT/IOE Partner Sales Business Development, and Steve Steinhilber, Vice President, Industry Solutions Group Ecosystems, is on top of my Summit session list. Within this session in particular, presenters will address successful strategies for entering the IoE world with various models and approaches. I’m also interested in discussions surrounding cloud adoption and Cisco’s Intercloud.
The Partner Summit, for many, is all about being part of incredible experiences. When attending my first Summit, I was intrigued by how highly the Cisco team always spoke of their leader, John Chambers and his presence. As a result, I was excited to see him speak. And, seemingly everyone else was also; his session is consistently the most highly attended session.
Attending my first session by Mr. Chambers, I could see immediately why his session was so popular. He’s not a big, tall guy with a booming voice and an overpowering stage presence like I may have expected, but he owned that room with his message, his delivery, and his audience engagement.
Over the years, a lot has changed at the Partner Summit, from the ideas, concepts and technology we discuss to the people in attendance– but I am sure to attend Mr. Chambers’ session whenever I attend. It is a highlight. Needless to say, I am looking forward to Mr. Chambers’ session this year on the Internet of Everything, during the first Global Session of the Summit. In fact, I can’t wait.
I’ve been going to Partner Summit for a number of years, and I look forward to it each year. Yet, while I look forward to the panel sessions and keynotes, for me the Partner Summit is a connection point—a homecoming of sorts where I reconnect with old friends and forge new relationships. We are able to succeed in creating and maintaining these connections—all under the umbrella of our collective interest in seeing Cisco grow and succeed.
