José van Dijk ─ Global leader innovating a next generation dynamic partner experience…
November 9, 2021 • 3 Minute Read
Updated October 2022
José van Dijk
Partner Performance and
Experiences Organization
Cisco
(Previously — Vice President & Partner Performance, Global Partner Organization
Cisco)
Are you looking for a global leader who is innovating a next generation dynamic partner experience in an emerging consumption era? We know the person—José van Dijk!
José van Dijk is the Vice President of Partner Performance for Cisco's Global Partner Organization. She is responsible for managing and improving the daily business of Cisco partners. Her team creates industry-leading platforms, tools, and processes that simplify, digitize, and personalize the overall partner experience. Putting all this together provides a single view of the partner that aligns Cisco field sales with their partners to sell together. José and her team create actionable insights that accelerate sales enablement and readiness for partner growth and profitability. José, a Dutch native who relocated to live in many parts of the world before returning this year to The Netherlands, is married with two children and enjoys hiking, swimming, reading, and traveling.
Please meet this IT Wondrous Woman™, José van Dijk!
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?
As a Dutch person, I have only worked for American companies my entire career. I started with Texas Instruments, then to Apple, and now 24 years with Cisco.
2. Before the pandemic, how many air miles/KMs did you flying annually?
During the pandemic, you realize that we still travel a lot! We are always encouraged to do as many meetings as possible over Webex and limit the travel, but there are always meetings and events you have to do in person.
3. What is the most adventurous food you have eaten and what city/location did you eat it?
When I was living in Asia, our GM of China asked one of my colleagues what she fancied for diner, and she responded that she wanted something authentic. It was a snake gallbladder in liquor.
Your Career
4. What are the top two experiences, achievements or failures that shaped your journey as a successful leader?
Top experiences are constantly moving to a different part of the world. You get to know new people, cultures, different ways of working. It makes you realize that there is always something new to learn. It is important to be open to new experiences, new people, and new cultures. When you are open and embrace it all, you get the best out of your team and environment while learning yourself.
As an achievement, I committed to creating 25 legal entities worldwide in 9 months, for less than $20M. Normally one entity would take 3-5 years and a cost of a minimum of $30M per entity. With a lot of creativity and using the knowledge of about 23 cross-functional teams, we made it happen.
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?
Yes, I have had mentors, coaches, influencers throughout my entire career. The biggest lesson learned was about taking risks. You don't need to have the perfect answers or the perfect project plan. You surround yourself with people that know different parts of the business, and together you create the right answers for a project plan; and once you are 80% there, go!
Walking In Your Shoes
6. What is one piece of business or career advice you would give to your younger self?
Patience and listening go hand in hand.
7. As a leader, how do you remain a resource for people early in their careers?
I have about seven people I actively mentor. In addition, I allocate about two hours a week for 1:1 meetings.
Today’s Business Environment
8. What is the most interesting project you have worked on in the last few years?
It is called the Partner Experience Platform. We reduced the number of tools our partners used by over 30% and created a platform with a single sign-on where our partners could find all the relevant information to be successful.
9. What skills are you currently developing or refining (in yourself) that will make you a more successful leader in the digital economy?
In Dutch we say standing still is going backward, and learning is a constant activity. I am now working on operationalizing a new experience and opportunity with routes to market, including agencies, managed services, and market places, and how our partners will best work digitally with Cisco.
10. What is your greatest business challenge today?
There are so many different opportunities to improve. There is so much demand, making sure we focus on the highest business priorities while keeping our stakeholders happy.
