208 – Unlocking Ultimate Partner Success to Thrive in the Microsoft Ecosystem

Today, we have a very exclusive interview. In November of 2023, over 300 Microsoft partners, leaders, experts, from Microsoft, and ambassadors all assembled in Dallas, Texas, for an incredible two days. Today, we bring you back to this incredible session with Kevin Peesker, Microsoft's President of Small, Medium, and Corporate business, where he takes us on a journey through technology and the advent of AI. We also deep dive on why this SMC business of over $75 billion within Microsoft is your rich "acre of diamonds" as a partner to grow your business in the coming years!

I'm excited to welcome back my next guest to Ultimate Guide to Partnering. Janet Schijns is a go-to-market and profitable growth expert, board member, ecosystem growth expert, and megacosm guru. As CEO of JS Group, a transformative market consulting firm, Janet is a visionary of the channel ecosystem, she is in charge of developing GTM plans and numerous 5-star, award-winning channel programs. Her approach is to manage challenges with a razor-sharp problem-solving skill set that delivers. Janet has the "street cred" and experience to close deals in business and operating models, sales channels, partner development, product innovation, digital transformation, robotics and automation, and ecosystem management. In this episode, Janet and I deep dive on why partnerships fail & how to fix them. Let's dive into the world of channels and ecosystems with Janet as she shares her expertise on the challenges executive-level managers encounter in channel strategy, marketplace predictions, the role of generative AI, market action planning, and fail-first strategy. She also discusses how to address the lack of women in partnerships, protect women from abuse through financial independence, and more.

In this episode of Ultimate Guide to Partnering®, join Vince Menzione as he shares a synopsis of the first four months of 2024. Throughout the episode, Vince dives deep into the shared quality time with leaders from the top hyperscalers and other successful tech giants, the importance of marketplaces and co-selling, rapid changes after the global pandemic, and the highly successful previous Ultimate Partner live event. Furthermore, you’ll get a glimpse of what’s included in the next live event we’re planning to have at the end of May 2024.

We are excited to launch our first AWS episode in years. Join us as we delve into marketplace development and partnership success at AWS with our special guest, Josh Greene. Josh is responsible for Marketplace Success at AWS and brings over 20 years of experience in startups, channel partners, and ISVs to this role. In this episode, Josh brings valuable insights into driving revenue generation, strategic partnerships, and global expansion, decoding AWS Marketplace Success, and how partners achieved billions last year. Josh shares his expertise as the Sr. Manager of Global Seller Innovation/MP Development at AWS. Discover how AWS and partners leverage cloud commitments for partner success, the strategies behind AWS Marketplace growth, and the pivotal role of partner engineering in streamlining the sales process.  Tune in to learn the importance of collaboration, innovation, and customer obsession in achieving success with AWS Marketplace. Don't miss out on actionable insights to scale your business and drive innovation with AWS.

Dexter Hardy, President and Chief Technology Officer of Integral, a company that brings over two decades of IT expertise to helping companies massively shift to Microsoft Azure. Last year alone, Ntegral's offerings drove over 100 million hours of Microsoft Azure consumption. In this Ultimate Guide to Partnering episode, he shares his journey from SI to ISV success, unlocking his cloud marketplace growth strategies. From cloud migration to fostering partnerships in the tech industry, Dexter Hardy, President and Chief Technology Officer of Integral, a company that brings over two decades of IT expertise to helping companies massively shift to Microsoft Azure. Last year alone, Ntegral's over 300 Marketplace offerings drove over 100 million hours of Microsoft Azure consumption. In this Ultimate Guide to Partnering episode, he shares his journey from SI to ISV success, unlocking his cloud marketplace growth strategies. From cloud migration to fostering partnerships in the tech industry, Dexter delves into key topics, including productization, brand building, and community focus for startups, with a focus on leadership, innovation, and adapting to technological shifts. In this Ultimate Guide to Partnering episode, Dexter shares invaluable insights on mastering marketplaces, nurturing personal growth, and orchestrating successful partnerships. This episode is packed with actionable strategies for business growth and navigating the ever-evolving tech landscape. Don't miss it.

Chelsea Berlucchi Joins Ultimate Guide to Partnering® Delve into the intricate world of co-selling strategies alongside Chelsea Berlucchi, head of Google Subregional Co-Sell, North AM, a trailblazing leader spearheading revenue acceleration and partner expansion throughout North America. Embark on a journey as Chelsea divulges priceless insights into harmonizing company growth initiatives with customer objectives, ensuring flawless integration and delivery. Gain unparalleled expertise from Chelsea Berlucchi as she imparts actionable tips and recounts real-world experiences aimed at optimizing co-selling opportunities. Don't miss out on this chance to enhance your partner collaborations and maintain a competitive edge in the ever-evolving tech landscape.

n this episode, Greg Sarafin, Global Managing Partner—Alliance Ecosystem at EY, joins us to explore the pivotal role of the Chief Partner Officers, his career progression, and the dynamics of successful partnership and organizational leadership. Discover how Greg oversees EY's Alliance Partner Ecosystem, driving substantial growth and impact. He has contributed a staggering 40% to EY's growth over the past six years, creating billions in revenue. With insights from his extensive experience, including leadership roles at IBM and BearingPoint, Greg shares invaluable perspectives on strategic partnerships, technology implementation, and leadership skills essential for C-suite roles. Learn firsthand about the intersection of technology, business, and partnerships as Greg discusses the tech industry's influence on GDP growth, AI value creation, and business process reengineering. Gain actionable insights into partner operations, cost management, and the profound impact of partnering functions on organizational success. Tune in to uncover the secrets of effective partnering, leadership, and capital allocation in today's rapidly evolving business landscape. Don't miss this enlightening conversation with Greg Sarafin, a seasoned leader with a wealth of experience in driving impactful partnerships and organizational growth.

Welcome to an exciting new episode of the Ultimate Guide to Partnering. Today, we dive deep into a topic we have not covered, Modern Selling and the Buyer's Journey, with special guest Brandon Lee, the Founder of Fist Bump and the Co-Host of Mastering Modern Marketing. In this engaging discussion, Brandon shares his experience navigating through the oversaturated world of marketing and sales, shedding light on the importance of creating demand rather than simply capturing existing demand. These insights are complemented by Vince's perspective on the need for a more cohesive and effective ecosystem for builders, innovators, and leaders in various industries. Join us as we explore the evolving landscape of digital content creation, the changing buying behavior of millennials, and the crucial role of trust in the selling process. Get ready to uncover valuable strategies for leveraging platforms like LinkedIn and revolutionizing marketing and sales approaches in the digital age.

Yvonne Muench, a seasoned leader in business strategy, product management, and partner programs. Together, Vince and Yvonne delve into the transformative power of marketplaces, emphasizing the growing importance of AI adoption within the Microsoft ecosystem. Gain insights into the rewards awaiting Microsoft partners, the tangible benefits of Microsoft's marketplace, and key strategies for success in the commercial marketplace. Discover how strategic alignment, deep audience understanding, and effective partner planning can drive marketplace growth and foster fruitful collaborations with Microsoft. Don't miss out on this invaluable discussion on navigating the evolving landscape of partner ecosystems.

I just finished an amazing episode with Jay McBain here in our new South Florida studio. Jay is Principal Analyst at Canalis, a global technology analyst firm with a distinct channel focus. We had such an incredible discussion on why every CEO needs to be a channel leader. We're here in South Florida at our new Boca Raton facility. When did you hit the big toe? It's time to uplevel the game apart is the this is Ultimate. This is the ultimate partnering Ultimate Guide to partnering and ultimate ultimate partner. So live from Florida. Yep. And you are our very first guest in our new facility here. They're nice courtesy of media zones, our partner and just excited to be here in person with you. Absolutely. Sort of that we talked about this Florida, this connection. We're all the channel chiefs are coming to Florida. What do you think about that?