From Healthcare to Tech: A Chief Customer Officer's Take on Customer-Centric Leadership

02/28/24 • 32 min

The "Dear Future CRO" Podcast by GrowthQ

Welcome to the Dear Future CRO Podcast. I'm your host Esther, and in this episode, we have the incredible Sandy Hogan, recently named Chief Customer Officer from SADA. Sandy took us through her inspiring career journey—from her roots in healthcare to her pivotal Tech career at companies like VMWare, Rackspace, HERE Technologies, and Cisco. She shared the importance of innovation in customer interactions and a customer-centric approach in the tech industry. Her insights on creating specialized roles and driving yearly growth are a testament to her strategy. Tune in to learn how understanding customer-centricity and quick recovery from setbacks can define your leadership success. You will not want to miss this enlightening conversation

00:00 Diverse, non-linear career journey in three chapters.
03:32 Gained valuable experience at Cisco for 15 years.
10:16 Building enterprise business through collaboration and specialization.
15:09 Dynamic work involving strategy, problem-solving, and teamwork.
18:29 A defining career moment led to personal conflict.
22:09 Displayed value with a visual summary on a corkboard.
24:32 Vice president pushed boundaries, secured $800M contract.
28:57 Solvers never sell; know your customer well.
30:13 Grateful for the experience and opportunity given.

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Previous Episode

From Lawyer to Tech Sales Leader: Shannon Redd's Unique Career Journey

Welcome to the Dear Future CRO Podcast powered by GrowthQ, where we bring you insights from sales leaders who are shaping the future. I'm your host, Esther, and in today's episode, Shannon Redd takes the spotlight.

Shannon's career has been a remarkable journey from advocating for social justice as an attorney in family law and criminal justice, to a sales leader revolutionizing the public sector. Today, she's here to share her story of transition, diving into how her law career provided a unique foundation for her unexpected rise in the world of technology sales.

Join us as we uncover how Shannon's ability to connect with people and solve complex problems helped her pivot from the legal field to thriving at Cisco, even with no formal sales training. From navigating new territories to surpassing sales goals, Shannon's tale is a masterclass in leveraging one's innate skills and passions to forge a path to success. Don't miss out on this dynamic conversation with Shannon Redd
00:00 Unexpectedly discovering new career possibilities at a young age.
05:46 Top regional account manager, global sales pitch winner.
06:36 Thrived in sales despite lack of training.
11:40 Entrepreneurship and sales leaders show correlation.
13:48 First role in Cisco: business development manager.
17:35 Mentor at Cisco elevated my sales skills.
21:02 Strong support system to translate greatness effectively.
23:13 Embracing mentorship to improve knowledge and growth.
27:32 Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers reveals human nature.
30:12 Endless lessons to share, advice for Shannon.
32:25 Grateful for your time and career insights.
Keywords: Shannon Redd, reading people, sales environment, building relationships, human nature, understanding customers, social media content, TikTok, success within the system, Cisco, African American Mayors association, account manager, mentorship, Nick Hamilton, representation, empowerment, alignment in sales, customer needs, team collaboration, CTO, marketing professionals, career transition, attorney, family law, AARP, business development, exceeding sales plan, problem-solving, networking skills

Next Episode

Susan Rothwell: Embrace Change and Propel Your Career as a CRO

Welcome to the Dear Future CRO Podcast, where we unlock the secrets to career growth with industry experts in Sales. I'm Esther, and in this insightful episode, I dive deep with Susan Rothwell, a Go-To-Market luminary with nearly three decades of experience across tech, media, and healthcare. Susan shares her journey of evolution, shedding light on how staying ahead of the curve transformed her into the CRO at Epsilon. We discuss the importance of mentorship and the game-changing role of sponsors in scaling the corporate ladder. If you're aiming for that C-suite or looking to bolster your team's performance, this is your playbook for success! Tune in to distill wisdom from Susan's era-spanning career and elevate your professional game today!