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CRN: Did you have a hand in the selection of Bruce to succeed you?
Goodwin: So as Rob [Lloyd] said, it was clearly his decision, he made the call. But I give Rob a lot of credit, he was very thoughtful about it. We had lots of conversations together and I provided input throughout the process, and he sought input across the business. Rob took his time and at the end it was his decision, and we're all excited about Bruce taking on the leadership role.
CRN: It seems like public-sector-facing partners know Bruce and his organization, and obviously he'll get to know a whole heck lot more of the partners. But why in your estimation is Bruce the best choice to take over leadership of the WWPO?
Goodwin: A couple thoughts there. I've known Bruce for a lot of years in the industry. We were kidding each other a few weeks ago -- we worked together at HP, and I was young, and he was very young, just kind of getting started in the business. What I remember about Bruce is that he was calling on one of HP's big global accounts at the time, and I was working with him on that as one of the global account leaders, and he was the kind of guy where you make a mental note. I thought in the back of my head, 'He has huge potential in his career.' We worked a little together after that and then we kind of went different ways, and then we both ended up here at Cisco.
It's been great to see how Bruce has grown and developed and taken advantage of what I knew were some natural skills and capabilities way back when. He has just such a strong reputation for leadership within Cisco and leadership obviously within his own organization. Cross-functionally, the respect he has within the entire executive team and his approach to relationships -- not only short-term relationships but long-term relationships -- are really compelling.
The one factor I would focus in on with Bruce above all is that he plays well to where we're headed with our partners. We believe, and our partners tell us, that there's an opportunity for us to work even more closely in the field and be even more integrated in everything we do. Partner-led is a great example of that. We've said the words that we want to really think of our partners as an extension of Cisco, but we haven't put a lot of wood behind that arrow. That's what we intend to do going forward to deepen the relationships with our partners.
So what Bruce brings is that field experience in Cisco. He's currently running one of our largest field sales organizations and he knows how to drive engagement between the Cisco sales force, the partners and the customers, and he has a huge passion around that, and a track record of doing that in unique and compelling ways. I think that's the big differentiating factor of Bruce in terms of this decision. That's a unique element Bruce brings.
CRN: Bruce's purview, at least recently, seems to have been focused on the U.S., but I understand he does have quite a bit of international experience. Any concern about him transitioning to a global role?
Goodwin:The short answer is no. Bruce clearly does have international experience. He runs the public sector worldwide board, and has traveled extensively outside of the U.S., so he definitely has experience working outside the U.S. and successfully within Cisco. Bruce has a huge respect for different styles and cultures, and I think international is a natural [fit] for Bruce, just in the way he approaches things and approaches people. He'll have a strong ability to engage in different ways and different parts of world according to the cultures and needs of those countries. It's part of his approach to doing business.
NEXT: Goodwin's Message To Cisco Partners
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