Cisco Podcast Network

Kat enters her MBA era and quickly learns that going back to school with a full-time job is less glow-up and more calendar Tetris, midnight accounting homework, and life choices made over coffee and mild panic. We get into the real reason she chose to go back to school, and the career pivot logic before the conversation turns to time management, burnout, and the very real kitchen-counter study sessions.

Kat shares insights into the cost (financial and other...), tradeoffs, and the networking perks of being in an executive program. Ian does his best to avoid sounding like Michael Scott as he asks questions throughout.

An honest, slightly chaotic look at balancing work, school, and real life—plus why going back to class hits differently when you actually chose to be there.

If you like the show, and want us to keep our jobs, give us a click here: https://www.cisco.com/site/us/en/solutions/small-business/index.html

Thanks, Kowalski!

What if the real competitive advantage isn’t the technology—but the story you tell about it?
In this episode of Shift Happens, Jeff Edwards sits down with Jason Marks, CEO of Techrategy and LEAD Above, to explore why storytelling—not specs—is what actually wins in tech. From simplifying complex platforms to making AI readiness feel practical (not risky), this conversation breaks down how the One Cisco story drives clarity, trust, and better outcomes when it’s told well.
💡 Why listen:
• 🎯 Outcomes beat features—here’s how that changes buying decisions
• 🧠 The right story de-risks AI and future investments
• 💰 Partners win bigger, more durable deals with a cohesive platform narrative
If you sell, design, or influence technology decisions, this episode shows how to turn complexity into clarity—and stories into results.

We’re talking “managing up” today—yes, that elusive art of keeping your boss in the loop (without sounding like you’re bragging or, you know, a robot). Kat and Ian break down what it really means to make your boss’s life easier, from running those infamous one-on-ones to knowing when to say “no, but here’s a solution.” Along the way, we tackle the big questions: Can a yellow sweater actually help you survive February? Is it possible to be strategic and human? And why is it so hard to talk about your own wins without feeling icky?

Spoiler: We don’t have it all figured out, but we’ve got stories, hacks, and plenty of self-deprecating humor (plus a cameo from Ian’s dogs).

If you haven’t already, and you want to keep these half-baked insights coming, check out Cisco’s solutions for small and medium businesses: https://www.cisco.com/site/us/en/solutions/small-business/index.html

Digital information is constantly in motion, crossing borders and jurisdictions. Learn about the current dynamics around data sovereignty and the importance of understanding the path your data takes.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
03:38 Data in Flight
06:52 Consideration Factors for Data Paths
10:17 Failover Considerations
12:13 On Encryption and Quantum Computing
13:57 How AI Adds Complexity to Data Sovereignty
16:17 Key Takeaways

For additional insights, check out The Internet Outage Survival Kit: https://www.thousandeyes.com/resources/the-internet-outage-survival-kit?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fy26q3_internetreport_q3fy26ep131_podcast

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Want to get in touch?
If you have questions, feedback, or guests you would like to see featured on the show, send us a note at [email protected]. Or, follow us on LinkedIn or X:.

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ABOUT THE INTERNET REPORT
This is The Internet Report, a podcast uncovering what’s working and what’s breaking on the Internet—and why.

Tune in to hear ThousandEyes’ Internet experts dig into some of the most interesting outage events from recent weeks, discussing what went awry—was it the Internet, or an application issue?
Plus, learn about the latest trends in ISP outages, cloud network outages, collaboration network outages, and more.

Catch all the episodes on your favorite podcast platform:
- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-report/id1506984526
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ADFvqAtgsbYwk4JiZFqHQ?si=00e9c4b53aff4d08&nd=1&dlsi=eab65c9ea39d4773
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/ciscopodcastnetwork/sets/the-internet-report
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCewXUwLMfn7Y69C6vGRVwyw

🚀 What if the future of marketing isn’t campaigns—but conversations?
Jeff Edwards sits down with Bryan Jones, SVP of Global Revenue Field & Partner Marketing at Cisco, to unpack a core belief behind The Cisco 360 Partner Program: stop marketing to people and start talking with them. From simplifying how partners go to market, to increasing velocity with less friction, to turning marketing into a true force multiplier, this episode gets real about what actually drives pipeline and long-term customer value.

Why listen:
• How The Cisco 360 Partner Program shifts marketing from campaigns to human connection
• What it really takes to move partner marketing from good to great—with speed and simplicity
• How partners can amplify differentiation, generate pipeline, and prove real business impact

Ready to make Shift Happen?