Cisco Podcast Network

When you see new tech, the first questions are often about safety and control. The focus should be on building critical infrastructure that doesn't just look "shiny" but actually addresses cybersecurity and scalability needs. Learn how to solve the problems of today while preparing for the future.

In this episode of Shift Happens, Jeff Edwards sits down with Kevin Brown, VP of Partner Management at Insight, to unpack what it really takes to build durable partnerships in one of the most disruptive moments in IT history. With a career shaped by crisis management at RSA, ecosystem design at Vectra, and years of deep collaboration with Cisco, Kevin shares why trust—not transactions—is still the ultimate differentiator.
From his candid perspective on The Cisco 360 Partner Program to Insight’s bold pivot toward becoming an AI-first solutions integrator, this conversation explores how the best partners are shifting from simply moving product to architecting long-term business outcomes. Along the way, Kevin reveals his practical framework for evaluating partner investments, why “human APIs” matter more than automated portals, and how Cisco + Insight may be sitting on one of the biggest growth opportunities in modern IT—if they execute it right.

Why Listen:
• 🚀 Hear how top partners are evaluating AI, data readiness, and ecosystem bets—and why the old fulfillment model is no longer enough.
• 🤝 Learn why foundational trust and the “Batphone” still matter in an era obsessed with automation, tickets, and digital workflows.
• 💡 Get Kevin Brown’s real-world playbook for doubling partner growth by focusing on outcomes, human infrastructure, and long-term customer success.

Shift Happens is where partner strategy, leadership perspective, and industry transformation collide—because in tech, standing still is never an option. Let’s make Shift Happen

Kat is back, and immediately finds a mystery pair of sunglasses to derail us. Ian then somehow turns seeing 11:11 into a segue about emotional intelligence. It’s a chaotic start.

Then we get into what we actually meant to talk about: why emotional intelligence matters at work, and how much of it comes down to self-awareness. Kat brings MBA-class receipts, Ian reflects on how badly young-20s Ian handled feedback, and together they unpack the biases that shape how we lead, hire, and work with other people.

From the halo effect and similarity bias to a live on-air diagnosis of Ian’s fundamental attribution error, this episode is equal parts leadership conversation, workplace reality check, and accidental therapy session.

Spoiler: emotional intelligence won’t solve everything, but it can make you a lot better at your job.

If you liked this, like us, or just enjoy Cisco...check us out here: https://www.cisco.com/site/us/en/solutions/small-business/index.html

The Internet Report examines the April 2 Microsoft 365 service disruption, an Outlook issue aboard Artemis II, and what these events reveal about critical paths within enterprise architecture.
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CHAPTERS 
00:54 Anatomy of the Microsoft 365 Disruption
02:52 What the Failure Pattern Shows
03:41 Mitigation vs. Resolution
04:58 Outlook Issues on Artemis II: Coincidence?
08:11 Takeaways for NetOps
10:18 Outage Trends: By the Numbers 
13:24 Get in Touch 
 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_q3fy26ep134_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 the past couple 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/@theinternetreport_official

Ian and THE Sammy Brenner are back, and Sammy has officially negotiated her way into the co-chair seat for this week’s episode. We’re ditching the usual format to get into the nitty-gritty of the "art of the ask." Sammy shares her journey from "begging" to co-hosting, while Ian reflects on his own early-career lessons and the realization that if you don't ask, you simply won't get.

Beyond the banter, we dive deep into the tactical side of career growth. We’re breaking down how to research your worth, why you should never be the first to drop a number, and the secret power of the pause. Whether you’re staring down a new job offer or prepping for a promotion cycle, we’re sharing the strategies—and the stories—to help you stop leaving money on the table.

While we miss Kat this week, you won't want to miss this one. Tune in now!