Welcome back to the Dear Future CRO Podcast powered by GrowthQ!

In this episode, we sit down with Angie Perez Thomas, the North American Sales Leader for Enterprise Customers at Amazon Web Services (AWS). Angie, a powerhouse in the tech industry, shares insightful reflections on her career journey, from her childhood dreams of becoming an astronaut to navigating her role at AWS.

We delve into Angie's strategic approach to leadership, her outstanding communication skills, and her commitment to self-care and personal development. Discover how she managed a rapidly growing team amidst high-pressure targets and her advice for future Enterprise Sales Leaders on fostering growth and resilience.

Tune in as we explore Angie's robust career chapters, her transition from lab work to tech sales, and the significant impact of career coaching on her trajectory. With a rich background that spans various U.S. regions and cultural landscapes, Angie offers a unique perspective on empathy, diversity, and intersectionality within the corporate world.

Get ready for an inspiring conversation with Angie Perez Thomas on what it truly takes to succeed and lead in today’s dynamic business environment.

Timestamp Topics

00:00 Passion for technology, music, and space exploration.

05:27 Evolving communication skills became crucial in college.

10:27 Seattle diversity vs. Purdue's lack of diversity.

12:05 Empathy, perseverance, diversity, overcoming adversity, showcasing strengths.

14:46 Many Hispanic Americans don't speak Spanish, affecting inclusion.

18:20 Exploration of diverse cultural histories is fulfilling.

21:44 Transitioned from engineering to sales in manufacturing.

24:08 Hiring a coach built my career foundation.

29:05 Building newsletters, communicating effectively, and allocating thinking time.

30:49 Strategic vision essential for impactful business decisions.

37:08 Sales growth relies heavily on productive people.

38:10 Effective communication crucial for achieving team targets.

42:48 Continually build a supportive ecosystem for new challenges.

44:47 Act as if you're already in role.

GrowthQ is on a mission to unlock human potential.

GrowthQ is an AI-powered career navigation platform matching ambitious individuals with ideal roles, mentors, and career development resources all while allowing employers to apply to you. GrowthQ's AI-Assistant, Gigi, even uses data and AI to guide you on your dream career path.

Start navigating your career with our AI Assistant, Gigi at https://beta.growthq.co/

Follow us on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/company/growthq

Welcome to the Dear Future CRO Podcast powered by GrowthQ! In this gripping episode, host Esther goes deep with Denise Walter, the dynamic Chief Revenue Officer at Darktrace. Denise, a seasoned leader with a storied career in tech and sales, opens up about her relentless travels, transformative strategies, and the fine balance she strikes between long-term planning and tactical execution for public companies.

Denise takes us through her pivotal career moments, including her early misstep that set her on a path of leadership development and mentorship. Learn how she motivates her teams by understanding individual needs, the powerful role of tailored recognition, and the synergy of aligning personal and company values.

Dive into Denise's journey, from her roots as an individual contributor to scaling the heights of leadership at Cisco and now Darktrace. Get a candid look at her initial challenges in transitioning to her CRO role and the importance of embracing diverse skills for career progression.

Through her experiences in various business environments—from startups to realignment phases—Denise shares invaluable insights on driving transformation, culture, and people optimization. Join us for an inspiring conversation filled with actionable takeaways on leadership, learning, and creating a thriving workplace. This is an episode you won’t want to miss!

Timestamp Topics

00:00 Find strengths, embrace challenges, and pursue growth.

04:24 Great fit, felt like home, fantastic experience.

07:49 Career progression tied to diverse skills and experiences.

10:01 90-day role focused on people assessment and talent.

14:17 Constant change, optimization, and embracing opportunities.

16:27 Traveling and connecting with teams for change.

20:28 Reflecting on career success and meaningful relationships.

23:20 Took initiative, got a mentor, secured a leadership role.

26:26 Embrace your limitations and seek diverse expertise.

31:12 Align to core values, prioritize people intentionally.

GrowthQ is on a mission to unlock human potential.

GrowthQ is an AI-powered career navigation platform matching ambitious individuals with ideal roles, mentors, and career development resources all while allowing employers to apply to you. GrowthQ's AI-Assistant, Gigi, even uses data and AI to guide you on your dream career path.

Start navigating your career with our AI Assistant, Gigi at https://beta.growthq.co/

Follow us on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/company/growthq

Welcome to another insightful episode of the "Dear Future CRO Podcast" powered by GrowthQ! Today, we're thrilled to host Lynne Doherty, a remarkable leader whose unconventional career journey took her from a math and computer science major to a powerhouse in sales leadership. Lynne's philosophy? "Disruption is not a dirty word." In technology, it means innovations that reinvent how we, as consumers, experience the world. Lynne is not only an advocate for this kind of creative disruption but also a champion for accountability—doing what you say you will do.

Currently, as President of a go-to-market organization at Sonar, Lynne oversees a comprehensive array of customer interactions, from pre-sales engineering to marketing. Her team at Sonar is committed to helping organizations and developers worldwide create clean, quality, and secure code, essential for accelerating mission-critical software development. With AI-generated code becoming increasingly prevalent, Lynne understands the critical role solutions like Sonar play in leveraging these advancements.

In this episode, Lynne shares her transition from a developer to sales, driven by her passion for explaining technology in business terms, and how her technical background has given her a unique advantage. She reflects on her childhood in Philadelphia, where the values of hard work and gratitude were deeply instilled by her family, and how these principles have shaped her professional journey. We also explore her experiences with imposter syndrome, the impact of pivotal life events like September 11, and her shift from prioritizing perfection to valuing progress.

Join our conversation as Lynne offers invaluable advice for future CROs on surrounding yourself with good people, balancing professional demands with personal health, and staying informed and connected.

Tune in to hear Lynne Doherty's compelling story and practical advice for aspiring leaders!

Timestamp Topics

00:00 Mom's influence on work ethic and family.

03:44 Professionally developing and not taking success for granted.

06:56 Skilled at identifying and collecting good people.

10:47 Underestimated sales rep role, but learned respect.

15:10 Planning for short, medium, and long-term goals.

17:46 Balancing schedules and priorities in a busy life.

22:36 Time matters; something is better than nothing.

25:24 Insecurities in career persist despite senior level.

28:09 Small decisions shape life and career path.

33:38 Maintaining connections through small, thoughtful gestures matter.

35:27 Closing statement: Dear future CRO, what's your career advice?

GrowthQ is on a mission to unlock human potential.

GrowthQ is an AI-powered career navigation platform matching ambitious individuals with ideal roles, mentors, and career development resources all while allowing employers to apply to you. GrowthQ's AI-Assistant, Gigi, even uses data and AI to guide you on your dream career path.

Start navigating your career with our AI Assistant, Gigi at https://beta.growthq.co/

Follow us on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/company/growthq

Welcome to the Dear Future CRO Podcast powered by GrowthQ! In this episode, our host and Founder of GrowthQ, Esther sits down with the inspiring Sharon Martin, a seasoned systems engineering leader, to delve into the challenges and mindset shifts one faces throughout their career journey.

Sharon shares her personal story of growth and resilience, from her early days as an enthusiastic individual contributor to her current season of intentional leadership. She reflects on the values instilled by her parents, such as perseverance, grit, and gratitude, and how they have shaped her approach to both personal and professional life.

Throughout the conversation, Sharon and Esther discuss the importance of reframing career events as opportunities for growth rather than setbacks. They share their own experiences of resisting change and learning to embrace it as a chance to develop and evolve.

As a leader, Sharon emphasizes the significance of understanding oneself and aligning career choices with personal values. She discusses the shift from outward to inward leadership, stressing that genuine leadership comes from within and the ability to connect with others through emotional intelligence.

Sharon also shares valuable insights on navigating the first 90 days in a new leadership role, balancing patience with driving transformation, and gaining the trust and loyalty of one's team. She highlights the need to operate on a sliding scale of tactical and strategic priorities, juggling immediate actions with long-term goals.

Tune in to this engaging episode as Sharon Martin imparts her wisdom on embracing change, taking ownership of one's career, and the power of intentionality and clarity in becoming a better executive and leader. Get ready to be inspired and learn how to navigate your own career journey with resilience and grace!

Timestamp Topics

00:00 Leadership values rooted in family struggle and perseverance.

04:21 Challenging stereotypes and systems in engineering.

10:23 Leadership is about knowing yourself deeply.

14:53 Authenticity and intentionality are keys to success.

18:06 Balancing patience in leadership while driving transformation.

22:04 Assess, listen, establish; avoid missteps in leadership.

24:33 Continuous learning, adapting, and balancing short-term/long-term goals.

28:31 Adapting to change, learning, and personal growth.

32:32 Learning to accept others' limitations and grow.

35:01 Continuous learning through intentional daily habits is transformative.

37:31 Share tools with future leaders. Pass it on.

40:14 Passionate about success, Sharon pours into others.

GrowthQ is on a mission to unlock human potential.

GrowthQ is an AI-powered career navigation platform matching ambitious individuals with ideal roles, mentors, and career development resources all while allowing employers to apply to you. GrowthQ's AI-Assistant, Gigi, even uses data and AI to guide you on your dream career path.

Start navigating your career with our AI Assistant, Gigi at https://beta.growthq.co/

Follow us on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/company/growthq

Welcome to the "Dear Future CRO Podcast," powered by GrowthQ! In today's episode, we have the privilege of speaking with Garrett Claridge, the Regional Sales Leader of the West Coast for Cisco Webex, based in Seattle. Garrett shares his invaluable insights on understanding your business's impact on customers and bosses, the essence of curiosity, networking, and being open to change for ambitious leaders.

Garrett delves into his diverse career journey, from starting in sales with a small telecommunications provider to managing large accounts at Cisco during the financial crisis. He offers a behind-the-scenes look at transitioning from a specialist role to a leadership position, including the challenges and triumphs he encountered along the way.

We'll explore his experience as a global account manager at Amazon, the critical role of technical sales, and the collaboration between sales and product teams. Garrett also provides a candid perspective on the significance of building personal connections, establishing credibility, and driving change within teams.

Join us as we uncover how Garrett's leadership style turned his team around during the COVID-19 pandemic, leveraging remote work and cloud technologies to retain and acquire customers.

This episode is packed with wisdom for aspiring leaders looking to make an impact in their careers.

00:00 Curiosity led to graduate school and new opportunity.

03:47 Found amazing leaders, intentional about career path.

07:49 Navigating complex sales roles with multiple stakeholders.

10:53 Importance of technical sales at Amazon highlighted.

15:47 Garrett's diverse sales experience and leadership journey.

17:53 New leaders must establish credibility and captivate.

21:36 Overlays support and overlap across regions.

24:32 Build personal connections by understanding team members.

28:44 Building relationships, understanding goals, and adaptability.

30:28 Team effort during COVID led to success.

35:20 Teams cover west, deep tech expertise, cloud.

37:47 Effectively communicate business impact for future success.

41:12 Networking is essential for achieving goals.

GrowthQ is on a mission to unlock human potential.

GrowthQ is an AI-powered career navigation platform matching ambitious individuals with ideal roles, mentors, and career development resources all while allowing employers to apply to you. GrowthQ's AI-Assistant, Gigi, even uses data and AI to guide you on your dream career path.

Start navigating your career with our AI Assistant, Gigi at https://beta.growthq.co/

Follow us on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/company/growthq

Welcome to the Dear Future CRO Podcast powered by GrowthQ! In this episode, our host and Founder of GrowthQ, Esther Ayorinde-Iyamu engages in a compelling conversation with Tony Colon, SVP for Customer Success at ServiceNow. Tony takes us through his diverse career journey from his early life in Chicago to pivotal roles at Salesforce and Cisco. He emphasizes decision-making using both data and instinct, the value of ideas from diverse perspectives, and the importance of innovation within companies. Esther and Tony discuss the significance of learning from those making high-stake decisions and listening to frontline employees. They also dive into personal experiences, including handling racially insensitive situations, the impact of their upbringings, and building a sense of community at work. From the future of AI in customer success to Tony’s desire to educate future generations on financial management, this episode is rich with insights for aspiring leaders. Tune in for an inspiring and thought-provoking discussion geared towards shaping the future for Customer Success Leaders everywhere.

Timestamp Topics

00:00 Excited for guest, Mr. Tony Colon, SVP.

03:49 Upholding family legacy, providing generational opportunities, diversity.

07:37 Proud of breaking through, connecting diverse cultures.

12:09 Creating community through shared interests and passions.

14:11 Craving connection, seeking real talk in loneliness.

18:31 Immigrant parents' struggle and financial focus.

23:01 Unintentional mentorship led to love for programming.

26:31 Shifted careers after ten years, joined Cisco.

27:45 Transitioned from Cisco to hardware, then software.

33:07 Microsoft's copilot, our digital assistant, aids productivity.

35:22 Fear of speaking up hindered career success.

40:28 Career journey, challenging comment, vulnerability, leadership example.

41:33 Reflecting on confronting racism and fostering change.

46:27 Encourage and support innovative ideas from everyone.

48:55 Tony recognized for generosity, success and kindness.

GrowthQ is on a mission to unlock human potential.

GrowthQ is an AI-powered career navigation platform matching ambitious individuals with ideal roles, mentors, and career development resources all while allowing employers to apply to you. GrowthQ's AI-Assistant, Gigi, even uses data and AI to guide you on your dream career path.

Start navigating your career with our AI Assistant, Gigi at https://beta.growthq.co/

Follow us on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/company/growthq

GrowthQ Community, in this insightful session with the amazing Allison West Hughes, Corporate Vice President at Microsoft, Allison shares her transformative journey of embracing vulnerability and authenticity in her leadership style, thanks to the groundbreaking work of Brene Brown. We dove deep into the challenges and rewards of uncovering, the importancei of embracing your authentic self, being open about personal struggles, like disabilities, in the workplace and being intentional about what support and accommodations looks like.. Allison's experiences at Microsoft, Oracle, Cisco, Telcos, and ServiceNow taught her invaluable lessons about building trust, optimizing sales, and navigating complex stakeholder dynamics. Her resilience and intentional approach to professional development are truly inspiring. Allison's advice for future CROs? Embrace patience, enjoy the ride, and cultivate strategic partnerships within your organization. Trust me, you don't want to miss out on the wisdom she dropped in this session. Head over to the Dear Future CRO Podcast powered by GrowthQ to catch the full episode now!

Timestamp Topics

00:00 Resilience is my superpower in career setbacks.

05:33 Excitedly explored technology, then transitioned to leadership.

08:04 ServiceNow growth, leaders' impact, career development opportunity.

12:36 Overcoming disability fear to seek global role.

15:48 Microsoft launched new roles, hired 500 sellers.

19:45 Microsoft's seasonal operations and travel for planning.

20:52 Satya emphasizes growth, innovation, and global diversity.

24:06 Global role at Servicenow expanded my mindset.

29:06 Embrace mistakes, acknowledge, apologize, and improve leadership.

32:12 Intentional career development through reading and curiosity.

34:21 Encourage future leaders to enjoy the journey and develop critical cross-stakeholder partnerships.

GrowthQ is on a mission to unlock human potential.

GrowthQ is an AI-powered career navigation platform matching ambitious individuals with ideal roles, mentors, and career development resources all while allowing employers to apply to you. GrowthQ's AI-Assistant, Gigi, even uses data and AI to guide you on your dream career path.

Start navigating your career with our AI Assistant, Gigi at https://beta.growthq.co/

Follow us on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/company/growthq

GrowthQ Community, join us for an inspiring episode of the Dear Future CRO Podcast with Rhonda Henley, Vice President of America's Partner Sales at Cisco. Rhonda shares valuable insights from her remarkable career journey, discussing the importance of setting clear expectations, seeking feedback, and understanding what success looks like in a new role. She also delves into daily routines, productivity hacks, and the significance of accountability and staying true to oneself. Rhonda's candid reflections on missed opportunities and the constant pursuit of learning and growth offer powerful lessons for anyone navigating their career path. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from Rhonda's experiences and wisdom. Head over to the Dear Future CRO Podcast powered by GrowthQ to catch the full episode now!


Rhonda's Bio: Rhonda Henley is the Vice President of Americas Partner Sales at Cisco, leading partners across the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. Her team is focused on delivering exceptional customer experiences and driving growth through strategic partnerships. Prior to her current role, Rhonda held various leadership positions within Cisco's Global Partner & Routes to Market Sales Organization. Before joining Cisco, she worked in sales, services, and operations at AT&T and Lucent Technologies. Rhonda holds a Master of Science in Organizational Development from American University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Maryland. She is passionate about developing early-in-career talent and invests in coaching and mentoring both within Cisco and through community organizations.

Timestamp Topics

00:00 Professional admiration with a touch of restraint.

05:22 Moved to IBM, pivotal role in leadership.

09:33 Be clear on expectations; seek feedback.

10:34 Prioritize tasks, set clear expectations, and listen.

14:09 Prioritize partner and customer issues for growth.

19:39 Focus on business, not just working in it.

23:06 Expressing conviction, refusing to downplay past experiences.

23:55 Opportunities arise to learn and grow.

27:02 Sales leadership team learning from exposure and experience.

30:22 Future CRO, always choose improvement over bitterness.

GrowthQ is on a mission to unlock human potential.

GrowthQ is an AI-powered career navigation platform matching ambitious individuals with ideal roles, mentors, and career development resources all while allowing employers to apply to you. GrowthQ's AI-Assistant, Gigi, even uses data and AI to guide you on your dream career path.

Start navigating your career with our AI Assistant, Gigi at https://beta.growthq.co/

Follow us on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/company/growthq