

Ultimate Guide to Partnering®
Vince Menzione - Technology Industry Sales and Partner Executive
Empowering partners to thrive during this time of rapid transformation.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 4, 2025 • 27min
254 – Mastering Tech Evolution: Regina Manfredi on AQ, Bold Partnerships & Modern Selling
What if the key to unlocking peak performance is not pushing harder but mastering the art of mental focus and well-being?
I traveled to LA to be at Mastery Labs to unlock the secrets of high performance with Michael Gervais, a renowned expert in mindfulness and psychology.
This is our annual Holiday episode of Ultimate Guide to Partnering and my gift to you, our amazing listeners, followers, and community.
Michael shares how mental training can revolutionize personal and professional approaches to challenges, from his roots in elite sports to shaping corporate cultures. He explores the pivotal moments that sparked his passion, revealing how psychological skills like confidence and focus can be trained to thrive in any environment.
This episode highlights actionable strategies for balancing well-being with ambition, applying insights from sports to business, and using mindfulness to direct focus effectively. With stories ranging from surfing competitions to Microsoft’s cultural transformation under Satya Nadella, Michael offers a holistic perspective on performance psychology and sustainable success.
Thank you for supporting Ultimate Partner and the Ultimate Guide to Partnering Podcast. Please tell your friends, subscribe, and leave us up to a 5-star Review, as it helps us get more amazing guests.
Jan 22, 2025 • 54min
253 – Strategize ISV Cloud Success with Justin Murphy
What if the key to unlocking peak performance is not pushing harder but mastering the art of mental focus and well-being?
I traveled to LA to be at Mastery Labs to unlock the secrets of high performance with Michael Gervais, a renowned expert in mindfulness and psychology.
This is our annual Holiday episode of Ultimate Guide to Partnering and my gift to you, our amazing listeners, followers, and community.
Michael shares how mental training can revolutionize personal and professional approaches to challenges, from his roots in elite sports to shaping corporate cultures. He explores the pivotal moments that sparked his passion, revealing how psychological skills like confidence and focus can be trained to thrive in any environment.
This episode highlights actionable strategies for balancing well-being with ambition, applying insights from sports to business, and using mindfulness to direct focus effectively. With stories ranging from surfing competitions to Microsoft’s cultural transformation under Satya Nadella, Michael offers a holistic perspective on performance psychology and sustainable success.
Thank you for supporting Ultimate Partner and the Ultimate Guide to Partnering Podcast. Please tell your friends, subscribe, and leave us up to a 5-star Review, as it helps us get more amazing guests.
Jan 14, 2025 • 0sec
252 – Secrets to Thriving in Microsoft’s Ecosystem: Reis Barrie Shares Proven Tactics
What if the key to unlocking peak performance is not pushing harder but mastering the art of mental focus and well-being?
I traveled to LA to be at Mastery Labs to unlock the secrets of high performance with Michael Gervais, a renowned expert in mindfulness and psychology.
This is our annual Holiday episode of Ultimate Guide to Partnering and my gift to you, our amazing listeners, followers, and community.
Michael shares how mental training can revolutionize personal and professional approaches to challenges, from his roots in elite sports to shaping corporate cultures. He explores the pivotal moments that sparked his passion, revealing how psychological skills like confidence and focus can be trained to thrive in any environment.
This episode highlights actionable strategies for balancing well-being with ambition, applying insights from sports to business, and using mindfulness to direct focus effectively. With stories ranging from surfing competitions to Microsoft’s cultural transformation under Satya Nadella, Michael offers a holistic perspective on performance psychology and sustainable success.
Thank you for supporting Ultimate Partner and the Ultimate Guide to Partnering Podcast. Please tell your friends, subscribe, and leave us up to a 5-star Review, as it helps us get more amazing guests.
8 snips
Jan 5, 2025 • 60min
251 – Tech Trends, Ecosystems, and AI: Jay McBain on Partnering for 2025 Success
Jay McBain, Chief Analyst at Canalys, shares his expertise on the evolving business landscape and the critical role of partnerships. He predicts a transformational shift in sales and marketing due to tech advancements, emphasizing the importance of a data-driven approach. Jay discusses the growth of digital marketplaces and hyperscalers, alongside the sustainability challenges facing the tech industry. With insights on AI and political dynamics, he highlights the necessity for companies to adapt and collaborate for success by 2025.
Dec 22, 2024 • 1h 6min
250 – Master Your Mind: Michael Gervais on Unlocking High Performance and Well-Being
What if the key to unlocking peak performance is not pushing harder but mastering the art of mental focus and well-being?
I traveled to LA to be at Mastery Labs to unlock the secrets of high performance with Michael Gervais, a renowned expert in mindfulness and psychology.
This is our annual Holiday episode of Ultimate Guide to Partnering and my gift to you, our amazing listeners, followers, and community.
Michael shares how mental training can revolutionize personal and professional approaches to challenges, from his roots in elite sports to shaping corporate cultures. He explores the pivotal moments that sparked his passion, revealing how psychological skills like confidence and focus can be trained to thrive in any environment.
This episode highlights actionable strategies for balancing well-being with ambition, applying insights from sports to business, and using mindfulness to direct focus effectively. With stories ranging from surfing competitions to Microsoft’s cultural transformation under Satya Nadella, Michael offers a holistic perspective on performance psychology and sustainable success.
Thank you for supporting Ultimate Partner and the Ultimate Guide to Partnering Podcast. Please tell your friends, subscribe, and leave us up to a 5-star Review, as it helps us get more amazing guests.
Dec 16, 2024 • 50min
249 – 2025 Cloud and AI Predictions: Hyperscalers, Ecosystem Shifts, and $400 Billion Opportunities
Rob Spee is the founder and CEO of Channel Journeys. With extensive experience as a vendor, reseller, and distributor, Rob has a proven track record of creating visionary partner strategies that drive revenue growth and unlock new market opportunities. As the host of the Channel Journeys podcast, Rob engages with industry leaders to share insights and innovation in the channel landscape, earning him recognition as a sought-after speaker and contributor to various channel events and publications.
Beyond his professional achievements, Rob is deeply passionate about advancing careers in the channel and inspiring others through fresh perspectives and innovation. His enthusiasm extends to personal pursuits as well, where he embraces challenges through cycling and bluewater sailing adventures. Rob’s unique blend of expertise and adventurous spirit makes him an engaging guest, ready to share his journey and empower others in the channel ecosystem.
Dec 9, 2024 • 0sec
248 – Redefining Partnerships in the AI Era: Unveiling Microsoft’s Vision for Platform Growth
The Ultimate Partner LIVE '24 event showcased the unparalleled collaboration between Microsoft, industry leaders, and award-winning partners, emphasizing the $827 billion opportunity in generative AI. A panel led by Neeti Gupta highlighted rapid AI-driven changes, while Dux Raymond Sy of AvePoint discussed monetizing AI and addressing data governance issues hindering GenAI adoption. Sri Ganapathy from Microsoft’s Azure AI team stressed the importance of strong data cultures and client readiness, outlining consulting opportunities in assessing technological maturity. Successful AI integration, they noted, hinges on secure, high-quality data and tailored solutions using tools like Copilot Studio. Examples like H&R Block and Vodafone demonstrated AI's transformative impact across industries.
Key takeaways included fostering leadership support, building strong data cultures, and addressing ethical and regulatory challenges in AI. As AI models grow cheaper and more efficient, pricing strategies and ROI localization become crucial. Microsoft’s efforts in responsible AI, data security, and educating policymakers on tech advancements underscore the need for collaboration to balance innovation with regulation, ensuring a simplified, transformative journey for customers.
Dec 3, 2024 • 1h 4min
247 – Unlocking the $827 Billion Generative AI Opportunity
The Ultimate Partner LIVE '24 event showcased the unparalleled collaboration between Microsoft, industry leaders, and award-winning partners, emphasizing the $827 billion opportunity in generative AI. A panel led by Neeti Gupta highlighted rapid AI-driven changes, while Dux Raymond Sy of AvePoint discussed monetizing AI and addressing data governance issues hindering GenAI adoption. Sri Ganapathy from Microsoft’s Azure AI team stressed the importance of strong data cultures and client readiness, outlining consulting opportunities in assessing technological maturity. Successful AI integration, they noted, hinges on secure, high-quality data and tailored solutions using tools like Copilot Studio. Examples like H&R Block and Vodafone demonstrated AI's transformative impact across industries.
Key takeaways included fostering leadership support, building strong data cultures, and addressing ethical and regulatory challenges in AI. As AI models grow cheaper and more efficient, pricing strategies and ROI localization become crucial. Microsoft’s efforts in responsible AI, data security, and educating policymakers on tech advancements underscore the need for collaboration to balance innovation with regulation, ensuring a simplified, transformative journey for customers.
Nov 18, 2024 • 9min
246 – Empowering Enterprises with AI: Glean’s Innovative Approach
I am thrilled to bring you my latest conversation with MP Eisen, VP of Partnerships at Glean, from the Google Cloud Marketplace Exchange! Glean is redefining the way enterprises access and utilize internal data, creating an "enterprise work assistant" that operates like an internal search engine, helping users find strategic insights, project updates, and account-specific information.
MP shares Glean's journey as a Google Cloud partner, from their first Marketplace listing in 2023 to a rapid trajectory that’s driven millions in consumption. Their approach? A laser focus on aligning Glean’s offerings with Google’s value propositions, from compute to Vertex AI’s Gemini, resulting in a partnership that has rapidly scaled across multiple industry segments.
Key takeaways from MP’s insights:
Clear Product-Partner Alignment: Ensuring Glean’s product naturally drives value for Google’s sellers and customers, particularly by tapping into incentives like quota retirement through Marketplace transactions.
Focused Market Approach: Instead of broad targeting, Glean zeroes in on specific industries, regions, and segments, building success one focused area at a time—a strategy that’s amplifying their presence within Google’s ecosystem.
Upstream Conversations: AI is shifting conversations to the C-suite, making executive buy-in critical for enterprise-wide adoption, with CIOs and CEOs seeing the transformational impact of AI in operations.
Listen in on The Ultimate Guide to Partnering to learn.
Nov 14, 2024 • 0sec
245 – Redis in the Google Cloud Ecosystem: Leveraging Marketplace for Growth
I am excited to introduce my conversation with Ash Vijay, SVP of Cloud Sales and BD Partnerships at Redis, live from Google Cloud’s Marketplace Exchange! Redis, a favorite among developers, plays a crucial role in the data ecosystem, powering applications with high-performance caching and database solutions integral to GenAI.
In this episode, Ash shares how Redis is leveraging Google Cloud Marketplace to meet customer demand for faster procurement and scaling, especially in light of large cloud commitments. Redis’s marketplace strategy not only retains customers but also expands deal sizes and accelerates closing times. Ash discusses Redis’s comprehensive partner program, enabling ISVs, OEMs, and SIs to build on the Redis platform, offering them both growth opportunities and collaborative engagement with Redis’s ecosystem.
Ash’s advice to partners? Invest in the marketplace and empower your sales teams to maximize its potential—a strategy that’s driving Redis’s top-down engagements and delivering significant business value.
Tune into The Ultimate Guide to Partnering to learn how Redis is redefining co-selling and scaling with Google Cloud!