Develop Great Managers

In this podcast, I talk to Rupinder Saini who just recently joined Google as Director, Google Cloud Support Operations, about her career journey.

Prior to this, and for the last 13 years, Rupinder was at VMware as an executive in the Global Support Services organization. And before that, she worked at 01 Communique.

Rupinder has a Systems Analyst / Computer Science degree from Sheridan College and completed an Executive Women’s Leadership Program at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.

I had the opportunity to work with Rupinder while at VMware. She ran a good part of the support organization in Broomfield, Colorado while I was driving the reinvention of the support model. She was someone that volunteered to help, brought a tremendous amount of experience, and always delivered!

I think you will get a lot out of my interview with Rupinder.

In this podcast, I interview Rupinder Saini who just recently joined Google as Director, Google Cloud Support Operations.

Prior to this, and for the last 13 years, Rupinder was at VMware as an executive in the Global Support Services organization. And before that, she worked at 01 Communique.

Rupinder has a Systems Analyst / Computer Science degree from Sheridan College and completed an Executive Women’s Leadership Program at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.

I had the opportunity to work with Rupinder while at VMware. She ran a good part of the support organization in Broomfield, Colorado while I was driving the reinvention of the support model. She was someone that volunteered to help, brought a tremendous amount of experience, and always delivered!

I think you will get a lot out of my interview with Rupinder.

In this podcast, I respond to a request from a listener. The scope and complexity of his request are huge. As a result, I have focused on one aspect, which is driving change.

I discuss how important it is for managers to become great at evolutionary change. And how it is the unique manager who is confident, verging on cocky, that can also drive something revolutionary.

I hope that this podcast will be both interesting and helpful!

In this podcast, I talk to Anil Virmani, an experienced technology executive most recently with Adara, about his career journey.

Anil has had the opportunity to work at some great companies, including VMware, Coraid, Juniper Networks, Stratus Computers, HP, and Wipro. During his time with these companies, Anil has managed all aspects of product development and support.

Anil has his degree in computer science and through his career has worked on deep areas of technology across compute, networking, and storage. He has also worked most recently in big data and machine learning.

I got to know Anil while at Juniper. He was one of the seasoned leaders that I had the opportunity to work with while we were transforming the way JunOS was built and tested.

Anil is a leader who is deep technically, but his focus is on people. It is this combination that has made him successful, and the reason I wanted to have him on the show.

I know you will enjoy hearing from Anil!

In this podcast, I interview Anil Virmani, an experienced technology executive most recently with Adara.

Anil has had the opportunity to work at some great companies, including VMware, Coraid, Juniper Networks, Stratus Computers, HP, and Wipro. During his time with these companies, Anil has managed all aspects of product development and support.

Anil has his degree in computer science and through his career has worked on deep areas of technology across compute, networking, and storage. He has also worked most recently in big data and machine learning.

I got to know Anil while at Juniper. He was one of the seasoned leaders that I had the opportunity to work with while we were transforming the way JunOS was built and tested.

Anil is a leader who is deep technically, but his focus is on people. It is this combination that has made him successful, and the reason I wanted to have him on the show.

I know you will enjoy hearing from Anil!

As a manager, you need to lead others. To do this effectively, they must believe in the mission, vision, and challenges in front of them. They have to buy your story. They need to believe you.

Some people think this means you have to be a cheerleader. You have to get up, turn on the energy and charm, and convince your team on what you need them to do.  This can work iff (if and only if) that is your normal style. If it is not, they will see right through it and will not be on board. They might say they are… but their hearts will not be in it.

Instead, what you need to do is communicate in your own way. If you are deeply analytical, use this approach. If you are an introvert and prefer 1:1 conversations, do that.

“Just Be What You Is” simply means be who you are!

Now is the time to prepare for the new normal.

In this podcast, I share the five biggest changes that are likely to be a part of the plan to go back to work. These are:

• Screening and Testing
• More Spacing
• Use of Masks
• No Conference Rooms
• Continued Work at Home

You have learned to manage work at home employees. You know how to manage employees in the office. I share a number of things that will help you in this new normal.

I hope that you enjoy!

In this podcast, I talk to Laura Ortman, President and Chief Revenue Officer for Cologix, about her career journey. Without going into detail, they are a “data centers of tomorrow” company.

Laura has had a great career, learning and taking on challenges along the way. She started in sales and worked in or managed all aspects of sales, account management, business development, software program and technical management, customer support and success, revenue and renewals, and operations. She has worked for SOS Technical Services, Lockheed Martin, Jeppesen (a Boeing Company), VMware, Equinix, and Cologix.

I got to know Laura while at VMware. Our paths crossed a few times so I got to know Laura, but we never had an opportunity to work directly. All that I knew for sure is that she was an amazing manager and leader.

I hope you enjoy!

In this podcast, I interview Laura Ortman, President and Chief Revenue Officer for Cologix. Without going into detail, they are a “data centers of tomorrow” company.

Laura has had a great career, learning and taking on challenges along the way. She started in sales and worked in or managed all aspects of sales, account management, business development, software program and technical management, customer support and success, revenue and renewals, and operations. She has worked for SOS Technical Services, Lockheed Martin, Jeppesen (a Boeing Company), VMware, Equinix, and Cologix.

I got to know Laura while at VMware. Our paths crossed a few times so I got to know Laura, but we never had an opportunity to work directly. All that I knew for sure is that she was an amazing manager and leader.

I am very happy to have her on the podcast.

In this podcast, I talk to John Gilmartin, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Hyperconverged Infrastructure Business Unit at VMware, about his career journey.

John has been in high tech for all of his career. He started as a consultant at Marakon Associates, moved to Dell as a brand manager, then to VMware in product management. He left VMware to try working at a small company. He joined Coraid to run product marketing. He then returned to VMware and has quickly grown his responsibility to the role that he has today.

John has a computer science degree from Princeton and took some time out during his career to go back and get his MBA from Harvard.

I got to know John at VMware and worked for him for a couple of years. John is an incredibly well-rounded leader and manager that does a great job of balancing the urgent with the important, all while remaining incredibly calm.

I hope you enjoy!