Alexandra Zagury ─ Consumption era leader driving next generation as-a-service RTMs…
September 30, 2021 • 3 Minute Read
Alexandra Zagury
Vice President
Partner Managed & *aaS Global Partner Sales
Cisco
Are you looking for a consumption era leader who is driving next generation as-a-service RTMs with partners and customers? We know the person — Alexandra Zagury!
Alexandra is the Vice President of Cisco’s Partner Managed Services and as-a-Service Sales Organization. She is responsible for leading the development of new business models, offers, and programs to drive sales in the partner managed and as-a-service route-to-markets. Alexandra and her team are accelerating and transforming meaningful business outcomes for partners and customers, and driving Cisco’s business and sales transformation. She is globally recognized for her ability to create successful market, account, and corporate strategies, and has worked, lived, and delivered dynamic results in 10 countries.
Please meet this IT Wondrous Woman™, Alexandra Zagury!
Our 10 Questions for this IT Wondrous Woman.
Fun Facts
1. What’s the one thing about you that your business colleagues don’t know about you?
I collect memes, and I am always looking for a recommendation on great meme dealers. If you catch me smiling on a video call, it probably is because a meme has dropped.
2. Before the pandemic, how many air miles/KMs did you flying annually?
Before the pandemic, I travelled quite a bit, both for business and pleasure. I have family in Europe including a daughter who is at university in the U.K. that I visited quite a bit. Without a doubt, my annual air miles were into the six digits.
3. What is the most adventurous food you have eaten and what city/location did you eat it?
I love sushi and like to try adventurous creations that an Itamae (sushi chef) creates.
Your Career
4. What are the top two experiences, achievements or failures that shaped your journey as a successful leader?
Given I have worked in 10 different countries and seven different industries, I have acquired skills, knowledge and unique perspectives into how business works, which have helped me be fearless in every mission I have been given and learn from any outcome.
5. Did you have a mentor in the early part of your career and, if so, what is the biggest lesson you learned from your mentor or influencer?
I’ve never had formal mentors during my career, but I’ve had informal sponsors. My method for career development has been to identify and pick the right leaders that I want to work for (when possible!) rather than picking a particular role or chasing a title.
Walking In Your Shoes
6. What is one piece of business or career advice you would give to your younger self?
Simple. Always work for a company that makes money and is growing. The rest will sort itself out. The opportunities for growth and development will come your way.
7. As a leader, how do you remain a resource for people early in their careers?
I’m very passionate about helping people who are growing in their career. I am a Cisco Executive mentor and I look forward to helping anyone looking for guidance in planning their next career moves.
Today’s Business Environment
8. What is the most interesting project you have worked on in the last few years?
Every mission I have been given at Cisco has been disruptive, challenging and fun. In my current role, we are standing up Cisco’s first global route to market team focused on growing our partner managed services business. This is a key growth area for Cisco and probably my most interesting “project” since I joined Cisco, as it requires challenging the conventional way that things are done.
9. What skills are you currently developing or refining (in yourself) that will make you a more successful leader in the digital economy?
Staying current with technology trends to ensure we can strategically understand how different technologies can be applied to accelerate or capture new business opportunities. I’m also starting to dive deeper into the dynamics of communities and what impact they are having on the sales process.
10. What is your greatest business challenge today?
When a team like ours is given a mission to disrupt and build a new business model by looking at doing things in a different way, we find quite a few big boulders on the way. Removing them one by one is a fun challenge. The really interesting challenge, though, has been to get everyone aligned to help lift the boulders.
