Your new favorite tech podcast, hosted by two very non-technical people. Join Ian Thompson and Kat Macomson every Thursday for the latest and greatest in all things tech. Unscripted, unfiltered and unique.

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DevOps for Systems Engineers is critical, but still often misunderstood and confusing. How do I get started? Are my customers really seeing the need to incorporate these skills? We will do our best to demystify things in this session.

Episode 1 - DevOps for Infrastructure: Making it Real with Mike Younkers

Owning a small or medium business brings with it many unique challenges – from choosing which manufacturer to go with for your technology needs all the way to how to continue to grow and scale your business. The shift to hybrid work magnified to this, creating a new layer of complexity to both managing a business as well as employee satisfaction and retention. 

To sift through these challenges, and how he has successfully navigated them, today I am joined by Scott Kauffman, President of HighNoon, a full-service marketing agency located in Phoenix, AZ. Scott shares his perspective on business, technology and even provides a marketing tip for our listeners.

Small Business, Big Solutions: Building Your Business Through Technology

This is a special episode powered by the Cisco Emerging Talent Community (ETC) EMEA Chapter. Join our guest speakers, Chara Kontaxi (Director, Cisco Systems Engineering) and Paul Jordan (Vice President, Cisco US Global Enterprise), in a conversation with our host, Shaun Roberts (Principal Engineer, Cisco Customer Experience), talk about the Emerging Talent Community in Cisco, the importance of mentorship and sponsorship for a thriving career in Cisco.  
 
For questions, comments, or feedback, please email: cisco-techinsiders-podcast@cisco.com  
 
Director, Systems Engineering 
LinkedIn Profiles: 
Chara Kontaxi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charakontaxi/ 
Paul Jordan (paujorda): https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-jordan-216a36b/ 
Shaun Roberts: https://www.linkedin.com/in/srobertsmba/

Cisco Tech Insiders Podcast Episode 11: How to nurture a thriving career at Cisco

We interview Distringuished Engineer Ramses Smeyers from CX Datacenter who tells us two stories. In one, dozens of RMAs are done for a UCS server and each one makes the problem a little worse. In the other, Ramses prevents ACI to be released on time because it doesn't work in his lab. We also get his feelings about the Cloudization of this world.

Tech Stories - ep 04 - 99 problems and an RMA is one

Episode 14: Let's talk SaaS Support

In the holiday special, our producer, Elizabeth Chen, anchored the episode with the host, Shaun Roberts, on the hot seat! Their chat covers 2023 reflections, including what makes any innovation an award winner, what makes Cisco the best place to work, and their holiday plans! Wishing our viewers and listeners the best in 2024! Happy Holidays!  
Note: Please email cisco-techinsiders-podcast@cisco.com for queries, suggestions, or feedback .

LinkedIn Profiles: 
Elizabeth Chen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethchen01/  
Shaun Roberts: https://www.linkedin.com/in/srobertsmba/

Episode 16: A holiday special

Welcome to Line of Departure, power-packed interviews that take you on an unfiltered journey into the lives of veterans in tech who have not only served their country but have also conquered the corporate world of business and technology. In these concise conversations, we cut through the noise, and uncover the untold stories that have shaped their journey from the military to the forefront of the tech industry.  We dive into veteran-specific topics in business, dissect the latest tech news, and economic, and market trends, lessons on leadership, to civic duty and national security.  Nothing is off the table, Line of Departure is your compass in navigating the complex world of technology.
In each episode, we go beyond the surface and tell you the real story, delving into the raw and unpolished tales of personal hardship, growth, and ultimately success.  From discussing topics that uniquely impact veterans in the technology industry, to dissecting the latest tech trends, Line of Departure is your compass in navigating the complex world of tech leadership.

In the military, the term "Line of Departure" signifies the starting point of a mission, the aiming point for your journey.  Picture yourself having a cup of coffee with your future self in 5 or 10 years. What would you discuss? How did you reach that point, and where did you start? Line of Departure is thrilled to unravel the stories behind successful tech careers after military service, aiming to uncover the foundational lessons and principles underneath.

Join us on this journey as we connect with veterans in the tech industry globally, and help us creating a narrative that celebrates great people and the technology that binds them. Line of Departure is not just a podcast; it's a platform where tech leaders share their wisdom, connect with their peers, and inspire the next generation of leaders.

Episode 0: Line of Departure Intro

In the inaugural episode of this podcast, hosts Eric and Ben engage in a comprehensive discussion that spans various aspects of Ben's life journey. The conversation begins with insights into Ben's upbringing and the pivotal decision to become a Navy SEAL, leading to a decade of active duty and multiple combat deployments. The focus then shifts to the challenging transition from military service to the business technology sector, exploring the nuances of career 2.0 and the experiences of life post-career transition.

Listeners gain valuable perspectives as Ben shares advice for both veterans navigating their post-military careers and organizations looking to effectively employ veterans. The episode delves deep into Ben's impactful work in Veteran Advocacy, particularly addressing mental health concerns within the veteran community. The hosts touch on topics such as the veteran psyche, the search for a sense of purpose, and the evolution of self-identity. Throughout the conversation, the audience is treated to a rich exploration of the complexities and triumphs that define the veteran experience, making for an engaging and enlightening episode.

Episode 1: Navy SEAL to Cybersecurity featuring Ben Davis

Welcome to this week's episode of Line of Departure, where Eric and Ben dive deep with Morgan Mann, from his time serving in the Marine Corps to his current role as Vice President of Transformation at Cisco.

In this episode, Morgan chats with us about his passions for the outdoors, family, national security issues, along with the challenges and opportunities he faced transitioning from the military to the private sector.

We explore how Morgan found purpose beyond the Marine Corps, navigating the tech startup world before re-affiliating with the Marines post-9/11. His multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan offer profound insights into the post-9/11 veteran experience integrating into corporate life. 

Throughout our conversation, Morgan reflects on the importance of proactive career management, highlighting the need to break free from stereotypes and carve out new paths aligned with personal values. From starting his day with rituals to prioritizing family time, Morgan shares invaluable lessons on making every moment count.

Join us as we delve into the complexities of transitioning between two highly successful careers, from the challenges we all face, to the invaluable leadership skills learned along the way. Discover how Morgan's journey epitomizes resilience, adaptability, and the unwavering commitment to make a difference.

Episode 3: Choosing Your Own Adventure, Marines to Tech Executive with Morgan Mann

Jason Marks and Gladys Kline take you behind the scenes of building the BITS podcast, sharing their journey, insights, and challenges. They set the stage for the exciting episodes to come, offering a glimpse into the intersection of business, innovation, and technology that BITS will explore.

Welcome to BITS (Business, Innovation, & Technology Show), hosted by Jason Marks, CEO of Techrategy. Join us as we delve into the spheres of business, innovation, and technology, delivering insights from industry-leading experts worldwide. Join us as we delve into the spheres of business, innovation, and technology, delivering insights from industry-leading experts worldwide. Each episode is crafted to empower tech CEOs, VARs, MSPs, SPs, sellers, account managers, and their executive teams with the insights and strategies essential for success. Whether you're at the helm of sales, guiding corporate leadership, or driving engineering initiatives, BITS serves as your ultimate resource for staying abreast of the latest trends, tackling challenges, and discovering solutions that shape the ever-evolving tech landscape.

Crafting A Podcast, With Jason Marks & Gladys Kline

AI, brought to you by two people who use too much ChatGPT (but not on our work computers). Ian and Kat dig into if AI is making us dumb, how it can be implemented for businesses and where we think it is going, all while trying to not get too doom and gloom. 

"AI isn't going to replace people, but people who use AI are going to replace people who don't"

Learn more about Cisco's solutions for SMBs: www.cisco.com/c/en_uk/solutions/…mall-business.html

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We jump right in by talking...supplements? Kat may be Pablo Escobar, who knows. She makes her own preworkout, and the rules around here.

Kat then has a fire alarm, so we had to restart the show halfway through (shoutout to our production team, this ended up flowing really well).

We then get into what we meant to talk about: tips for balancing work and working out, and why we both think it is SO important. Spoiler: working out makes you a better employee. We share our best practices for committing and staying committed to fitness, no matter what our 9 to 5 throws at us! 

If you've read this far, and are actually looking for information on Cisco's solutions that you can use to work from anywhere, even the gym, you can check them out here: https://www.cisco.com/site/us/en/solutions/small-business/index.html#tabs-a107e9a621-item-6caff3e5bb-tab

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WELCOME to Episode 18 of 404 - today, we're joined by Cisco SMB sales leader Koko Burns, and while her resume is impressive, her tales from her time in the field are even more so. 

Koko shares with us her real life experience with a Tinder Swindler, obituary hunting, and how to navigate awkward client interactions - spoiler: some people make it impossible. And once again, Kat reminds us that she's easily scammed. 

If you have any interest in what tech sales is really like, we think you'll enjoy this episode. 

Oh! And now you can WATCH 404 on our channel: https://www.youtube.com/@404ScriptNotFound

If you've read this far, and are actually looking for information on Cisco's solutions that you can use to enable your sellers you can check them out here: https://www.cisco.com/site/us/en/solutions/small-business/index.html#tabs-a107e9a621-item-6caff3e5bb-tab

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There's a lot covered in this episode, but we can't promise that ANY of it has to do with tech outside of a mention of a certain service provider. 

Early on, Kat lays all of her superstitions (or stitions?) on the line, then Ian spends about 13 minutes of your time analyzing grocery store (technically a small business?) operations and logistics (and his recurring issues) Get this man in front of Publix's board!

Today we're here to yap, and we're so glad that you're here to listen - WE PROMISE to drop knowledge next week (Internet of Things...it's a doozy). 

If you've made it this far and are actually looking for information on Cisco's solutions, you can check them out here: https://www.cisco.com/site/us/en/solutions/small-business/index.html#tabs-a107e9a621-item-6caff3e5bb-tab

Oh! And now you can WATCH 404 on our channel: https://www.youtube.com/@404ScriptNotFound

404 Script Not Found: Things That Shouldn't Bother Us

We're back talking tech this week, and class is in session. To start, we have a monumental moment where Kat promises she's made her final bit about Ian's age (unlikely) (1:10). 

The meat of this episode is on the Internet of Things (IoT). Kat tries her absolute best to understand what IoT means (3:15), even though her prep for this episode may or may have started with a prompt to Cisco's AI tool of "can you explain IoT to me like I'm 5".  BUT after 15 minutes of IoT bootcamp with Ian, she finally understands how Cisco solutions are working in real time AND the necessity of Ian updating his temperature of his home from the golf course (7:11)

If we've piqued your interest in Cisco' IoT Solutions, you can check them out here: https://www.cisco.com/site/us/en/solutions/small-business/index.html#tabs-a107e9a621-item-6caff3e5bb-tab

Oh! And now you can WATCH 404 on our channel: https://www.youtube.com/@404ScriptNotFound

404 Script Not Found: Internet of Things

We're back and start by learning that Kat's addicted to grapes, and would like this episode to be over quickly so she can get back to eating them.

We then jump in by sharing our own experiences working in a hybrid environment, and all the technology Cisco provides that make it seamless. We dovetail into a bit of computer networking (teasing a future episode...) before we get to smart buildings and how incredible a smart office is (not to brag). From improving user experiences to creating a more sustainable building - the possibilities are endless, even if our dogs probably wouldn't love it. The office should be a magnet not a mandate. Now just need to solve for the traffic for Ian (and keep Kat off the roads). 

All in all, one of our smarter episodes! 




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The Cisco Podcast Network is a collective of podcasts from across Cisco spanning technology to culture and everything in between. Hear from Cisco customers, partners, and Cisco insiders on the topics that matter most to you. Email us with your feedback and suggestions. Discover your favorite playlists today!

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