Dulce Rabassa | Spain Partner Marketing & Communication Manager
Programa Escuela (Conexión EMEAR Team) combines visits to schools where Cisco Employees talk to the children about how important education is, and the limitless opportunities that Technology, and in particular IT, offers today for them. The goal is to inspire young talent to pursue STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) studies by showcasing Cisco's Internet of Things (IoT) and how we are changing the way we Live, Play, Work and Learn. Promoting Technology, ICT & #IoT Devices, Sensors, Actuators & Controllers. The sessions include "hands on" activities and a competition where the children, in small groups endeavour in creating their very own IoT project with Arduinos, model their ideas and formally present their projects to an independent jury that selects a winner.
How does the competition work? The children are distributed in small groups and they compete among teams in the same school. The winning team from each school get invited to participate in a Telepresence Session with the other schools across locations such as San Jose, Miami, Mexico, Monterrey, Madrid and Barcelona. The Telepresence session counts with the participation also of a Cisco Executive.
For me as a #Cisco Volunteer it is really gratifying when I deliver the sessions and see the impact that the program has in the children, and how #ProgramaEscuela gives them the opportunity to experience the meaning of teamwork and presentation skills. It also provides development in areas such as creativity, verbal and written communication which is very valued by teachers as well as parents. Last year I taught IoT to 180 children and this year I repeated, I enjoyed the Amazing Projects! Creativity, Imagination and Enthusiasm!
Check out more information by following on Twitter @CiscoEscuela or #ProgramaEscuela. And the #ProgramaEscuela Video
Elena Prassaki | Marketing & Communications Manager, Greece-Cyprus-Malta
Let's talk about Customer Events and The Success Elements!. It’s not only, event management… Its strong human relationships… Cisco People personal engagement and Partner Power Empowerment equals to happy Customers! Cisco Events always to meet their expectations!. The main elements that we are using for the success of the events that we are doing in Greece, Cyprus & Malta are: 1. Customer relationships development all over the year (direct sales & marketing & partner involvement!) 2. Customer executive round tables (ex. Security club, DC/Cloud club - vertical or direct sales) 3. Targeted vertical & horizontal database lists based on interest (Mktg /Sales by Industry/Tech)
4. Content is the key! 5. Cisco Stakeholders, Experts / Presenters 6. Local customer success stories – live on site or video representation. Let the Customer speak about Cisco story! 7. Sales team engagement on promoting events / marketing initiatives: We design together We promote together!. S(ales) + M(arketing) = S(upper) M(ethod) to succeed !!
8. Use of important strategic partnerships for all marketing initiatives & communication. Such as: CEO Club membership, SEPE (Greek Association of ICT companies), etc. 9. Participation to almost all C-Level big market events (3rd party) like: IT Directors forum, CIO Forum, Banking Forum, Tourism, Health, etc. Networking, awareness, preference, loyalty, brand exposure, side/direct cross messaging delivery. 10. Media sponsors (no budget) + under the support of various associations (adv – promote their subscription / opt-in DB use).
11. Our partners promote our events…even if they are sponsors or not (they sell anyway)! 12. Demo, Demo, Demo….. On stage and / or @ booth(s) (Customers love hands-on!) 13. Close pre-event follow up by marketing, sales & agency (reminder, reminder, reminder…but with tact!)
14. Social Media promotion – no paid media for GR-CY-MT so, this is a “power” tool currently 15. Quantity is very good but Quality is even better! Qualified customer database – ongoing updating 16. Reminder(s) with Tact! Promotion of key content topics as part of pre-event digital campaign and communication 17. Side / parallel key customer 1:1 meetings on site. In side meeting rooms we take advantage of guest speakers, Cisco stakeholders. Management Teams…pre-scheduled discussions with customers.
