Solutions Engineering Unleashed - Americas Engineering Leadership Podcast

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

Managing is easy, but leading is hard, and motivating and inspiring teams is no small task nor for the faint of heart. You don't want to miss this episode with Eric Knipp, VP of Americas Engineering at Cisco. He shares his thoughts on how a People-First focus, passion for what we do, hard work, determination, taking risks, having a vision, earning a seat at the table, grit, intellectual and intense curiosity come together to fire up and motivate his team at Cisco

Episode 2 - Fire Up Your Leadership with Eric Knipp!

Florent Dalencourt shares how superpowers are not reserved for just our favorite Superheroes (Batman, Harley Quinn, and Green Lantern). As a leader, you too can become a superhero by discovering and then putting your own superpowers into practice. Today, we will talk to an exceptional guest about grit and empathy. Grit gives those who possess it extraordinary endurance, tenacity, and focus. Grit is not just simple elbow-grease term for rugged persistence. It is an often invisible display of endurance that lets you stay in an uncomfortable place, work hard to improve upon a given interest, and do it again and again.” - Sarah Lewis
 
According to Brene’ Brown, Empathy creates connection. It is feeling with people. She goes on to say, “Empathy has no script. There is no right way or wrong way to do it. It’s simply listening, holding space, withholding judgment, emotionally connecting, and communicating that incredibly healing message of ‘You’re not alone.’

Episode 3 - Grit and Empathy: Unleashing these superpowers to power your leadership!

There is something daily which can stall or stop progress, but, if you have true purpose, you’ve found the “It Factor” to successful leadership. We've all worked for or with a person who seems to always move forward despite how tough circumstances are? What is it about these people that keep them moving? Today, Sharon Martin is going to take us on her journey in doing just that. You do not want to miss this one!

“Don’t aim at success. The more you aim at it and make it a target, the more you are going to miss it. For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side effect of one’s personal dedication to a cause greater.” — Viktor Frankl.

Episode 4 - Purpose: The "It Factor" of Successful Leaders

Welcome, to episode #5 of our Systems Engineering Unleashed Podcast! We will take an insightful, thought-provoking, and fun peek inside the minds and hearts of our elite engineers. Our guests, Cisco Distinguished Architects Errol Roberts and Craig Hill & our newest 5x CCIE, Lidiya Krunic, will take us on their unique journeys, but you will undoubtedly see a lot in common.

I hope you find that spark to get started on the hard path to being one of the best of the best. Reaching the top in your career journey is the same as summiting that seemingly impossible peak. It starts with the belief you can do it and years of training and hard knocks to make it real. Anything truly worth having is worth the struggle to get it.

A few great books referenced in this episode - Range -David Epstein, Think Again - Adam Grant and Endure - Cameron Hanes

Episode 5 - The Making Of An Elite Engineer

Welcome to Episode #6 of the newly renamed Solutions Engineering Unleashed Podcast - a change reflecting our Cisco Solutions Engineers' invaluable contribution to our customers' success. This episode delves deep into crafting and nurturing your personal brand. Our guests, Kori Younger and Darby Zero from Cisco's US Public Sector SE team and Amy Ryan, Worldwide Collaboration Principal SE, share their wisdom and experiences.

No matter where you are on your career journey, the importance of a personal brand remains constant. Kori, Darby, and Amy will shed light on their journeys, providing valuable tips and lessons they've learned. Join us to discover the relationship between international politics, pre-med studies, police work, and Solutions Engineering...hmmm.

This episode also references two impactful books: 'Chop Wood Carry Water' by Joshua Medcalf and 'What Got You Here Won't Get You There' by Marshall Goldsmith- invaluable resources for anyone looking to advance in their career.

Tune in for an enlightening discussion!

Episode 6 - Brand: Carve Your Path, Make Your Mark

This episode unveils the compelling journey of Nadine Fakhoury, an engineering leader whose path was shaped by resilience, curiosity, and a series of bold moves. Coming from a vastly different cultural background, she faced and overcame significant challenges, demonstrating the profound impact of adapting to new environments and embracing change. Her love for technology was sparked not just by an inherent curiosity but also through the courage to explore the unknown and make pivotal decisions at critical moments of her life.

We delve into the "What if" moments that punctuated her career, exploring how these crossroads were navigated with bravery and strategic choices. These decisions, often bold and against the grain, were instrumental in propelling her from one achievement to another, illustrating the power of taking risks and stepping out of comfort zones.

Join us as we explore the story of a tech leader whose journey is a testament to the strength found in daring to ask "What if" and the transformative power of bold moves in shaping one’s destiny in the tech world.

Episode 7 - Bold Moves Unleashed: Tales of a Fearless Engineering Journey with Nadine Fakhoury

In Episode 8 of SE Unleashed, "Engineering Your Brand: Digital Strategies for Career Growth and Customer Impact," host Marc Moffett chats with social media influencers Alexis Bertholf and Wes Noonan about the power of digital branding. They break down how today’s engineers can use social media to boost their careers and impact their customers. The discussion is packed with practical tips for creating a personal brand without relying on a marketing team. Tune in to learn how to take control of your online presence and turn it into a professional asset!

Episode 8 - Engineering Your Brand: Digital Strategies for Career Growth and Customer Impact

In this episode of SE Unleashed, we dive into the transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence and explore how Cisco is empowering engineers and businesses to harness its full potential. We’ll be joined by an engineer and an engineering leader to discuss the value AI brings, the challenges customers face, and how Cisco is uniquely positioned as a market leader in AI. From data-driven decision-making to AI-powered security and automation, this conversation will give SEs the insights they need to navigate the evolving AI landscape.

Episode 9 - AI Unleashed: Strengthening Cisco’s Strategy with Solutions Engineers

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