Twins Talk Tech Leadership

Why do relationships matter, and why are they essential for long-term success and growth? Trust is the foundation of healthy, thriving relationships, acting as the key currency that strengthens connections. Now may be an ideal time to conduct a "temperature check" with your current customers and strategic partners to assess and deepen these bonds.Chris Black, Chief Revenue Officer at Jolera, shares about the importance of cultivating existing relationships and leveraging strategic alliances for incredible growth and success.Highlights include:Jolera’s approach to building globally and the strength of their partnership with Lenovo; their depth of expertise and engagement.Finding talent all over the world.It’s about quality over quantity. Focusing on activity based selling and the power of understanding.Insight into his soon to be released book, which features his sales strategies and methodology for training; including MIA, which stands for Measurement, Inspection and Accountability.Are Conferences worth it? Follow Chris on LinkedIn and visit jolera.com to learn more about their MSP, their global reach and their partnership with Lenovo.  

As workflows become more automated and the use of cloud and communication platforms becomes more commonplace, organizations are understandably more concerned about their digital security postures. Prioritizing protection and delivering responsible AI are expected.Doug Fisher, Senior Vice President and Chief Security and AI Officer with Lenovo shares thoughts on Lenovo’s responsible AI governance initiative as well as guiding successful teams. Highlights include:Lenovo Pantheon platform.Military background and training as core to providing teams with structure, clarity of expectation and permission to lead.Teamwork and responsibility to deliver secure, ethical and reliable products.Joining the Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative (JCDC).Partnership with Formula One as they are all about performance.Lenovo Tech World 2024 Conference.His commitment to Oregon State University.Follow Doug on LinkedIn and visit lenovo.com

“Death to the Ticket!” This is the war cry from an organization shaking up the MSP community. When you increase the ability to service the needs of your clients, you increase profit margins while reducing both costs and stress.Matt Linn, Cofounder and COO of Thread shares an exciting update to support IT solution providers.Highlights include:When you think service delivery, think integrated chat with Thread.AI Powered automation to remove the administrative burden.Life after becoming the 2023 PitchIT Accelerator Winner.The dynamics of what makes his partnership work with Co-Founder Mark Alayev.Essential that you maximize your 'time and attention', your opportunity to shine. Core Values of Radical, Intentional, Customer Craziness aka Customer Centricity.Magic Agents; an agent dynamic reasoning platform.Follow Matt on LinkedIn and visit getthread.com/ to request a free demo and to learn more about ‘Magic Agents.’ 

For Managed Service Providers, sustainable growth is not just about increasing revenue; it’s about building a forward managed IT services model that adapts to their customers’ requirements while operating efficiently and increasing profits. There is an expectation of growth with a keen eye on managing costs. A strategy that many MSPs are implementing is that of aligning with industry partners who can help with sustainability and support best-of-class solutions. Kris Shoemaker, Head of Channel Sales, and Alexandra Kehayas, Head of Marketing at Cavelo share how their proactive all-in-one attack surface management solution is supporting those stated goals, including the opportunity for net new revenue streams. Cavelo's vision is to help MSPs gain greater visibility and insight 'into the world of their customers.'Highlights include:Create net new forms of revenue for your MSP.Elements of their platform to help offset current tool sets, lessen administration overhead and create net new revenue around data discovery and identity access management.Their Cavelo Connect Community.Resources including their ‘How to Conduct a PII Data Audit’ and 'The Definitive Guide to Attack Surface Management.'Their involvement as a PitchIT Accelerator Cohort. Alexandra's creativity and her Cavelo rap as well as Chris providings a Cavelo pitch.What's on the horizon for Cavelo.Follow Kris and Alexandra on LinkedIn and visit cavelo.com/ to learn more about their solutions and community. 

AI is revolutionizing how businesses reach their target audience. Additionally, new opportunities are unlocked to better understand and expand engagement with your consumers. Being able to connect at this level could mean an increase in referrals as well as customer retention.Jessica Koehn, Social Media Manager at ConnectWiseshares how AI can be used to optimize content and brand messaging, while improving employee involvement. This is a special episode as we enter IT Nation Connect 24; a premier MSP event in Orlando, Florida. Highlights include:You build your brand when you "share something memorable."Can use AI as a brainstorming partner, to reproduce and repurpose content.IT Nation Connect Conference will feature incredible speakers and events, including a keynote by Tony Hawk & an appearance by Stone Temple Pilots. Employee Advocacy Program; need to make it easy to share content.Design of marketing campaigns to reflect the different generations; how to best connect with the attendees.How Jessica stays grounded, including the importance of time management.Follow Jessica on LinkedIn and visit connectwise.com/theitnation to learn more about the community. If you are in Orlando, Florida for IT Nation Connect, stop by Podcast Alley aka Media Row to see your favorite twins. Social Media Strategy for MSPs: https://tinyurl.com/yhbmds2wPrompt Engineering Guide: https://tinyurl.com/3t8n537j

It costs much less to keep an existing client than to pursue a new one. This is why the personal touch has become increasingly vital to the overall success of any organization. A personal touch helps your customers feel valued and can be foundational for creating both loyalty and advocates.Dan Gilligan, President of IntegraMSP provides insight into why personal consideration is vital in an ever increasing impersonal world. This conversation is so refreshing, authentic and layered with tips on how to cultivate success with a personal touch.  Highlights include:What led to the formation of IntegraMSP.Understanding your ICP.How Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) can become a game changer.Building a depth of trust that listens and welcomes solutions.Benefits of joining a peer group.Significance of "Walking your own dog."Personal touch with your clients with no hidden agendaFollow Dan on LinkedIn and visit integramsp.com/ to schedule a free consultation.

How strong is your organization’s security? The thinking should not be ‘if’ your organization will be targeted, compromised or breached. The focus should be on doing everything within your power to prevent the dreadful reality for so many of the ‘when.’ Lack of awareness, training and compromised passwords are often the culprits, causing as much as 80% of all data breaches. This highlights the benefits of authentication for business security, employee security, and consumer security.Cristina Carretero, Director of Global Partner Marketing at LastPass addresses the importance of conveying the right message and solutions about protection. Trusted by millions, LastPass is a leader in password and identity management.Features include:Cristina’s leadership journey into her role.LastPass designed an MSP solution ‘with the MSP in mind.'Why MSPs should leverage a password management partner and a credential management strategy as part of their security stack.The complexities of integrating GTM strategies globally.Focusing on improving their partner portal to enhance the partner experienceThe LastPass T.I.M.E. Team - Threat Intelligence Mitigation Escalation Team.Hobbies of traveling, cooking and the benefits of journaling.The value of networking and curiosity. Follow Cristina on Linkedin and visit lastpass.com to learn more about how you can better protect your organization.

When you consider the success of your organization, don’t fall into the trap of focusing on the Return of Investment without considering the impact of the Return on Experience. How have your investments into product development, sales, training and marketing impacted customer success? Customer satisfaction and their experience with you, your product and or service is what drives true success. This is the new success metric.  Ed SooHoo, Lenovo’s Worldwide Chief Technology Officer (CTO) - Global Accounts shares how we can leverage communication skills and not just technology to drive experiences as well as growth. Highlights include:Ed’s leadership journey including his time as a competitive 3 Cushings Billiards professional.Acronym after Acronym to reflect important concepts and messages.Connecting through the art of storytelling and learning to ask the right questions; questions that are relevant, contextual and provoking. Earn the right for engagement.His passion for continual learning.Leaders help others become BOLD; in other words, Believe, Own, Live and Drive it.Follow Ed on LinkedIn, check out his creative content on YouTube and visit lenovo.com for insight into upcoming events and announcements. Ed is truly one that helps Lenovo clients rethink their Now, New and their Next.

What differentiates successful channel partner programs from less successful ones? The entire fabric of the Vendor-Partner relationship hinges on agility, alignment of goals and to ensure the best possible partner experience. This is at the heart and foundation of the Lenovo 360 Global Channel Partner Framework.  Pascal Bourguet, the Global Channel Chief & VP International Markets COO at Lenovo shares his vision and expectation for growing and supporting their partner community through their ambitious 360 Global Channel Framework. Highlights include:His approach to building global teams with the very best talent.Being recognized in 2023 as one of the top 50 most influential channel chiefs by CRN.Planning with the mindset of ‘don't break, but build.’Building with a view of simplicity, agility and predictability.4 elements of the value proposition: channel centricity, cloud portfolio, outcome based solution selling, flexibility of service offerings.Not being satisfied as we 'can further accelerate the program.'How he is able to perform at his peak performance.Experiencing the Summer Olympic Games.Follow Pascal on inkedIn and visit lenovo.com/ to stay informed about product releases, the channel partner program and to learn about the upcoming Lenovo Tech World 24’ Conference.  

Do you ever feel like you’re going in circles? It can feel as if little to nothing in your business is changing? You look up and wonder if you’ve even moved any closer to achieving your goals. If you’ve ever felt like you were in this place, know that you are not alone.Shawn Walsh, Partner and the Director of Educational Services with Encore Strategic joins us to speak about the value of peer groups and how through focus, “your business could be a tool, not just for profit, but to also have an impact in your community and with your family.” Encore Strategic empowers MSP leaders with personality profiling, peer groups, coaching, and strategic staffing services. Shawn is also the co-author of The Pumpkin Plan for Managed Service Providers. Highlights include:Background goes beyond technology. Dynamics of the partnership with Dave Cava.Incorporating Aruba into their business strategy.Benefits of peer groups.What he learned from writing the book. Inspirational example of giving.Speaking events and workshops surrounding the bookFollow Shawn on LinkedIn to see where he will be speaking, visit encorestrategic.io/ to learn more about their peer groups and don’t forget to check out his book, The Pumpkin Plan for Managed Service Providers.