Was it just me or did most the ELT look worn out during Beat? Chuck and Chris both looked like they were on an all night bender before turning up and Rowan isn't looking that fresh lately. Must be stressful at the top.
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@KqFPUWU-4ezh - You took the words out of my mouth. They seemed aggravated that people were questioning their 'grand vision' and shocked when questions about strategy were asked. That combined with their tone of 'we're so witty and funny, now laugh with us' made for a cringe worthy hour. They reek of the 'Emperor has no clothes' syndrome - a bunch of dopes that surround themselves with 'yes men' who tell them how wonderful they are.
I was worried about this company before I watched this. After watching it, I'm mortified for the future. There's absolutely no connection with the rank and file employee and their struggles.
A lot of unexcited people are going to take them up on the offer to leave.
Beat felt beaten up.
Trollope is no class act, he's as incompetent as the other execs. Collaboration sales have been falling for 6 months. The new products are failing. No major customers signed up for Spark and daily usage is flat. Yet, they keep doubling down on failed strategies to save their skins. The "Three Stooges" (Trollope, Rosenburg and Meggars) who lead the Collaboration Group will likely all be gone within the next 12-18 months.
Today's beat will be Q&A , but only the Q&A I want to do !!!!
One easy way for Chuckie to avoid having to answer the top voted questions of the employees at the start of these meetings is to drop the meetings entirely. Oh wait, he doesnt really answer those questions anyway! Never mind.
I can't see these Beats going on too much longer. I see fewer and fewer people in the audience and the tone has turned to tense and labored.
I understand that Chuck might not like the questions, especially the one about Biri. However is he so out of touch to not know that the culture inside Cisco has degenerated into looking over your shoulder and working out who is between you and the door, rather than get behind the strategy.
Cuts are necessary when business declines, but the year on year cut cycle is just destroying teamwork and belief. Everyone I know is trying to decide "who is next?", "do I look elsewhere or wait for the axe?".
The irony is all the talk about high performing teams. High performing teams have to be able to fail, how can you do that with the grim reaper around all the time?
@1xzd - you mean the same Trollope who saw their Collaboration brainchild fall again this quarter? The same guy who is going all-in with Spark? The product line nobody wants to pay for?
Well in this Post-Fact world the truth don't matter ... boy. The anger at having to answer the top 5 questions was the most illuminating thing. Having committed to answering the most voted for questions all he did was blame people for making a big deal of these questions . Well sorry ... this was democracy my friend, you signed up , no. So "Why did Biri leave " wasn't answered , ok but the other part about a new CTO and general direction vis a vis technology wasn't answered.
Bottom line is that a sales guy should not be running Cisco . Gotta be either Trollope or Goeklar ..clearly the class acts.
i heard that their coke dealer was late. so no blow before the show.
Or acting like they're tired.
Maybe a little too much of the "fun" Chuck was talking about.