Rachel Barger ─ Delivering profitable growth while forming deep customer engagement...
September 9, 2021 • 3 Minute Read
Updated October 2022
Rachel Barger
Senior Vice President,
Americas Sales
Cisco
(Previously—Senior Vice President, Global Enterprise Sales
Cisco)
Are you looking for a sales leader with experience in delivering profitable growth and forming deep customer relations? We know the person—Rachel Barger!
Rachel is Senior Vice President of Cisco’s Global Enterprise Business in the Americas. She is responsible for overseeing Cisco’s largest sales theater, and engages with Cisco’s most strategic customers. One of her key talents is building award-winning, high-performing teams to help customers realize the benefit of technology transformation. Her passion for business is driven by building deep customer relationships based on value realization and industry relevancy.
Please meet this IT Wondrous Woman™, Rachel Barger!
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?
One of my true passions is field hockey – I’ve been on the US Women’s National Team, coached at Duke University and I am currently on the US Masters team.
2. Before the pandemic, how many air miles/KMs did you flying annually?
So many that I can’t even count! I was flying internationally in Asia 2-3 times a week and simultaneously held top tier status in the frequent flyer programs for Singapore, Qantas and Delta airlines.
3. What is the most adventurous food you have eaten and what city/location did you eat it?
My favorite food experience was sitting outside eating an amazing local meal of banana leaf cooked chicken and rice with my Indonesian team, in a town located about 2 hours away by train from Jakarta.
Your Career
4. What are the top two experiences, achievements or failures that shaped your journey as a successful leader?
I’ll never forget when I won a Porsche as recognition for being Top Global Salesperson, which was extremely meaningfully to me as I had done a bit of a “reset” to my career at the time.
The other experience I’ll mention is my time spent at Arthur Anderson. It was a great learning experience for me, especially so early on in my career, about risk and failure and realizing everything will be ok: you pick yourself up and move on to the next opportunity.
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?
Early in my career my mentor was Ravi Kumaraswami. He taught me how to negotiate, that spending quality personal time with your team is just as important as “getting the work done”, to not shy away from having hard conversations and to always be fearless with transformation by trying new approaches.
Walking In Your Shoes
6. What is one piece of business or career advice you would give to your younger self?
I wish I would have understood the power of having a unique perspective and being my authentic self earlier because once I embraced this, I became a much better and more successful leader.
7. As a leader, how do you remain a resource for people early in their careers?
I have an Open Door Policy with everyone on my team no matter their role, am a mentor both within and external to Cisco, and am proud to be Executive Sponsor for Women of Cisco in the Americas.
Today’s Business Environment
8. What is the most interesting project you have worked on in the last few years?
I was on location of a large global mining company’s operations site, focused on finance and supply chain transformation. This particular expedition was so valuable because it provided me the chance to see my company’s solution and application in use, to better understand where the solution was adding value and in turn where we could amplify performance.
9. What skills are you currently developing or refining (in yourself) that will make you a more successful leader in the digital economy?
I’m always learning from my team, our partners and customers, and right now I’m passionate about how we can help shape the future of work with an environment that’s safe and inclusive for everyone as we return to the workplace.
10. What is your greatest business challenge today?
As we return to work, it will be crucial to consider how a hybrid work model makes everyone feel included with a seat at the table. Everyone should be empowered to be their best and most authentic self, whether they’re remote, in-person, or whatever the situation may be.
