Today is a fun discussion for those of you interested in the business implications of the cloud, specifically Azure, and some experiences I have to share about my time at Microsoft working with some of the largest businesses in the world, empowering business value through novel technologies mostly centered around Machine Learning and AI. I am joined in this recorded LIVE discussion by today's host, Bret Cullivan, Azure Applications and Infrastructure, Global Partner Director, at Microsoft.  As you will see, Bret and I really share a lot of ideas around business empowerment through technology, and we talk through a lot of key concepts, learnings, and trends, as Bret hosts the discussion, with the help of his peers moderating the session: Srinivasan Venkatarajan, and Shalini Chandrashekar - Azure Global Partner Directors at Microsoft. We were joined by a LIVE global audience of Microsoft partners, with a total of 175 registrants across (2) LIVE discussions, with folks dialing in from places far beyond the shores of the West Coast where Bret and I are dialing in from.

Thank you for taking the time to listen to today's discussion.

Key Take-aways:

[07:19] A short introduction by Bret Cullivan

[11:32] How to build new skills – experiences as a newcomer in the tech industry

[14:53] A quote from Satya Nadella in a recent CRM Magazine interview, around the criticality of a partner ecosystem in big tech.

[17:04] Emerging trends and data points for how lines of business are leveraging cloud computing, specifically Microsoft Azure

[23:15] The meaning of “outcome selling”, and why it’s never been so important

[30:01] How to have a business decision maker conversation, centered around technology

[32:49] How to start engaging an executive discussion

[37:57] AI and jobs: how to present a perspective on AI to businesses

[43:11] Different methodologies around advocacy, sales, and landing an effective idea across organizations

[51:15] The importance of telling good stories 

Memorable Quotes:

[24:17] “When you’re thinking about outcomes… you’re teaching, you are tailoring, you are taking control. Those are the three specific things that you have to build in an engagement model. We are trying to get into that outcome or that business so that they can then start to transform and translate and traverse all the things that need to happen from an I.T. perspective to activate services, to activate products, to activate cloud consumption, etc. – Derek Russell

[32:55] “One thing I’ve done very well…if you understand what resonates with these people (executive decision makers), you can start there. And the way that you understand what resonates is understanding their strategic priorities.” - Derek Russell

[38:26] “I think the theme of Microsoft, in one of the things we are doing, our AI strategy is to deploy AI everywhere and not to replace or dispose of folks who are in the market but to empower them to do more. – Derek Russell

Resources:

Contact Guests on LinkedIn

Bret Cullivan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bretcullivan/

Srinivasan Venkatarajan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/srinivasanvenkatarajan/

Shalini Chandrashekar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shalini-chandrashekar-95a08b5/

Microsoft Azure: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/

CRM Magazine: https://www.crn.com/slide-shows/cloud/microsoft-ceo-satya-nadella-10-boldest-statements-from-crn-s-exclusive-interview

Brand Storytelling: Put Customers at the Heart of Your Brand Story authored by Miri Rodriguez: https://mirirod.com/en/

*The views and opinions expressed in this discussion are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the official position of their employer, Microsoft" 

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Thank you for listening!

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