SHIFT HAPPENS-EP.32: Feedback is a Gift - But you have to Open It w/Gary Wolfson

In the latest episode of Shift Happens, Jeff sits down with Gary Wolfson, Director of Global Partner Communities at Cisco, for a behind-the-scenes look at what it really took to co-design The Cisco 360 Partner Program—not just in theory, but in practice. This isn’t just a story about partner programs—it’s a masterclass in trust. Gary breaks down the difference between listening and hearing (and why partners know instantly which one you’re doing), and introduces a simple but powerful framework: listen → interpret → act → be accountable. Sounds simple… until you try to do it at global scale, across thousands of partners, in the middle of massive change. What unfolds is a story of courage, vulnerability, and consistency—where trust wasn’t built through words, but through action, rhythm, and follow-through. From early skepticism in Dublin to confidence at Partner Summit, this episode captures the real shift: when feedback stops being a checkbox and becomes your identity. Why listen: • 🎯 Learn the 3-part framework that turns feedback into real action (and trust) • 🤝 Understand why “listening vs. hearing” is the difference between credibility… and noise • 🚀 See how co-design, done right, becomes a true competitive differentiator—not just a buzzword Let’s make shift happen #CiscoShiftHappensPodcast

The Internet Report podcast explores the telemetry behind recent SaaS disruptions to reveal how NetOps leaders can regain control of business continuity during an outage.    ———    CHAPTERS  00:10 Intro  00:52 Cloudflare 08:38 Salesforce 13:27 Outage Trends: By the Numbers  15:34 Get in Touch    ———    Explore the Cloudflare and Salesforce outages further in the ThousandEyes platform (no login required):     - Cloudflare: https://apfjyufeawshlcxbsvhsicakwoupobbf.share.thousandeyes.com/internet-insights/views/?roundId=1771612800&metric=interfaces&scenarioId=outageTraffic&filters=N4IgZglgNgLgpgJwM4gFygIYActQgYwxggHsA7AERIFsMIyAVDAczQG0BdAGhG1wKKkyAeQCuMFnADK%2BEljjsQAQQBiKgKIBhBuooB9HVIZ7hAJT0BJAHJ7NShkoAywgOIhuvJGXYBGAMwBAKxcAEwADACcIQAsIR4wCBhgkPhiEszSsvKKqhraugbqRibm1rb2Tq7uAL7VQA      - Salesforce: https://awzppfpqlujxnslfkbxhmhbdtpkugkks.share.thousandeyes.com/network-app-synthetics/views/?testId=8329769&startTime=1773723600&detailId=map&metrics=httpAvailability&timelineWindow=1773702000,1773744000&prefixId=13533839    
  For additional insights, check out The Internet Outage Survival Kit: https://www.thousandeyes.com/resources/the-internet-outage-survival-kit?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fy26q3_internetreport_q3fy26ep133_podcast    ———    Want to get in touch?    If you have questions, feedback, or guests you would like to see featured on the show, send us a note at [email protected]. Or follow us on LinkedIn or X: @thousandeyes    ———    ABOUT THE INTERNET REPORT  This is The Internet Report, a podcast uncovering what’s working and what’s breaking on the Internet—and why.     Tune in to hear ThousandEyes’ Internet experts dig into some of the most interesting outage events from the past couple weeks, discussing what went awry—was it the Internet, or an application issue?    Plus, learn about the latest trends in ISP outages, cloud network outages, collaboration network outages, and more.    Catch all the episodes on your favorite podcast platform:      - Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-report/id1506984526      - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ADFvqAtgsbYwk4JiZFqHQ?si=00e9c4b53aff4d08&nd=1&dlsi=eab65c9ea39d4773      - SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/ciscopodcastnetwork/sets/the-internet-report      - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theinternetreport_official

We jump right in by asking a deceptively simple question: do you have a personal brand, and if so...what is it? That quickly turns into Kat and Ian accidentally hyping each other up, questioning their professional identities, and landing on the idea that being good at work starts with being a good human. Ian explains why he’s sending out 360 feedback surveys “because he’s insecure,” while Kat defends her commitment to being on time (something Ian can't comment on...) Then we get into actual tips: how personal brands are built day by day. From accountability and consistency to perception and reputation, this episode is all about how people experience you at work — and why that matters more than ever in a virtual world. If you found this insightful, funny, or just like us...give us a click to keep the show funded! https://www.cisco.com/site/us/en/solutions/small-business/index.html

In this episode, we interview Liz Rice, a contributor to eBPF. She tells us what this technology means for the linux kernel but also for future security app, for kernel observability and last but not least for container networking. A technology so good it's even coming to Windows.

Unlock AI for Retail and Predictive data analytics success with Samsoe Samsoe and Cisco Meraki. In this episode of Tech Unscripted, Bryan Jones (SVP, Cisco) sits down with Simeon Solarsky, Head of IT and Operations at Samsoe Samsoe, to explore how to bridge the gap between online presence and brick-and-mortar stores. We dive deep into how leveraging Predictive data analytics and modern infrastructure like Wi-Fi 7 can turn IT from a cost center into a powerful engine for growth.

In this special edition of Shift Happens: Talking Shift, Jeff Edwards sits down with Ari Butler, founder of AB3 Communications, to unpack a powerful tension in today’s workplace: how you can be more productive than ever… and trusted less at the same time. From his roots in theater to advising leaders across companies like Cisco, Google Cloud, and Goldman Sachs, Ari brings a unique perspective: leadership isn’t just strategy—it’s a creative, performative act. And every interaction? It’s either building trust… or quietly eroding it. We explore what most leaders get wrong—focusing on what they want to say instead of what others need to hear—and why the best communicators don’t just inform… they move people to act. 💡 Why Listen: • 🤖 Close the AI trust gap—learn how to stay human in an AI-powered world • 🎭 Rehearse vs. practice—unlock better outcomes by staying in “rehearsal mode” longer • 🎯 Prepare for impact—shift from showcasing intelligence to driving real action If you’ve ever left a meeting thinking “that didn’t land…”—this conversation will change how you show up. Because in the end, it’s not just what you say… it’s how it lands.

A prompt from former guest Brad Oliver sparks this week’s conversation as Kat and Ian swap their favorite life hacks — from AI-powered routines to everyday habits that (mostly) keep things on track. Kat shares her go-to method for turning a packed morning into a time-blocked, lock-screen-ready game plan (truly, you should steal this), while Ian brings ideas on using AI as a personal coach for growth, productivity, and even wellness. They also get into practical strategies like the two-minute rule, quick-start momentum tricks, journaling habits, and small upgrades that make a big difference. Along the way, they touch on discipline, habit stacking, why being on time is harder than it should be (at least for Ian), and a simple relationship tip that can change how you show up for others. A mix of useful ideas, honest moments, and a few habits still in progress. Another life hack: buying Cisco products for your small or medium business. Check them out here: https://www.cisco.com/site/us/en/solutions/small-business/index.html#tabs-9da71fbd27-item-1288c79d71-tab

In the latest episode of the Cisco AI Insights podcast, hosts Rafael Herrera and Sonia Marques are joined by Dr. Catarina Carvalho, a Cisco leader in machine learning engineering. Together, they unpack the complex academic paper " Multi-Crit: Benchmarking Multimodal Judges on Pluralistic Criteria-Following," developed by researchers from the University of Maryland and the University of Waterloo. As the industry moves toward more reliable multimodal models, traditional pass-or-fail evaluation is no longer sufficient. This paper introduces a hierarchical framework that uses "LLM-as-a-judge" to evaluate outputs across five distinct criteria: visual grounding, logical coherence, factuality, reflection, and conciseness. Dr. Carvalho guides the discussion through the nuances of this "judge of judges" approach, exploring why human alignment remains the gold standard even as we automate evaluation processes. A special thank you to the teams at both The University of Waterloo and The University of Maryland, College Park, for developing this month's paper. If you are interested in reading the paper yourself, please visit this link: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2511.21662.

30 episodes… already?! 🎙️ And this one hits different. Jeff sits down with Stacy Betts—VP leading Splunk’s Americas Partner Sales—to unpack a career that spans from the early days of the internet to the frontlines of AI transformation. But this isn’t just about strategy or a $28B acquisition… it’s about leadership that lasts. From not knowing what the “internet” was in 1994 to helping shape one of Cisco’s most important moves, Stacy brings a rare perspective—and even rarer humility. Along the way, he shares unforgettable stories, powerful frameworks, and the kind of quotes you’ll carry with you long after the episode ends. And one idea you won’t forget: Who’s packing your parachute? Listen if you want to: 🔍 Rethink leadership through the lens of purpose, gratitude, and action 🤖 Understand where Cisco + Splunk + partners are headed in the AI era 💟 Walk away with stories and frameworks you’ll actually use (and repeat) 30 episodes in—and this is what it’s all about. Let’s make shift happen #CiscoShiftHappensPodcast

AB sits down with Tom Gillis, Cisco’s SVP and GM, Infrastructure & Security Group, to explore the crucial role security plays in the ever-changing AI landscape.