Episode 76 – Preparing for the Increasing Demand of Remote Work, Tools to Grow Employees’ Performance

Connection

Host: James Hilliard

Guest 1: Microsoft- Kyle Van Son, US Commercial Master Trainer

Guest 2: Intel- Rhett Livengood, Director, Digital Business Enabling Client Computing Group Intel® Corporation

Guest 3: Lenovo- Burton Kersey, Channel Account Manager

Description: Short- and long-term impact of a worldwide pandemic has companies reevaluating remote work strategies.  Minimum working arrangements, for the most part, have been met and now the challenge becomes improving and thriving during adverse conditions. Will employees return to the office?  At what capacity? How are companies boosting “digital dexterity”, keeping the company assets secure all while utilizing best practices and sticking to a continuity plan?  While financial departments evaluate cost-cutting measures during a lean economy, the need for a modern device, easy deployment, security, and compatibility may no longer be a luxury but a necessity.   Hear from our 3 subject experts how they have been more productive working from home thanks in no small part from modern devices. 

Key takeaways:

[2:42] Kyle talks about the work from home situation for him.

[3:54] Burt shares the shifts in his work as a result of the pandemic.

[4:34] Rhett talks about his level of productivity working from home.

[6:30] Microsoft Teams has been a success to online workers and students.

[7:44] Burt talks about Microsoft Teams on Lenovo computers to make work from home more productive.

[9:28].How Intel experienced the transition during pandemic times.

[10:56] The benefits of Wi-Fi 6. 

[12:30] Kyle talks about how they have been encouraging people to move to the newest version of Windows.

[13:43] The benefits of acquiring modern devices.

[16:16] The challenges of transitioning to full work from home.

[17:03] Rhett shares what he does to stay productive

[19:20] Kyle talks about how they manage at his team to stay efficient and motivated at the same time.

[20:49] How can you keep your team engaged?

[22:57] Having great tools can help attract the right talent.

[24:33] Employees are going to start demanding the flexibility of working from home.

[26:10] The matter of safety and the devices that can provide it.

[27:10] Rhett, Burt, James, and Kyle share what they learned and implemented to enhance the working from home experience.



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Learn more about our guests:

Kyle Van Son has been delivering training and evangelism with Microsoft in different capacities since the days of Windows 7, from humble beginnings showing of Windows Live Photo Gallery in Win 7 at a Sam’s Club to helping build Best Buy’s Microsoft Expert program, and more, before transitioning to the commercial space in January of 2019.

Rhett Livengood is Intel’s WW Director of Digital Business Enabling working with solution providers (system integrators, IT outsourcers, resellers, managed service providers) to integrate Intel technology into customer workplace transformation solutions.  He was most recently Intel’s WW B2B Customer Engagement Director managing lead generation activities, Intel’s Enterprise Board of Advisors and online sales development working targeting Global 5000 enterprises and SMB customers worldwide.

 During his career in the IT industry, Rhett has managed regional and worldwide sales and marketing for Intel’s Services group. He was Worldwide Marketing Manager for Intel’s Software group and Product Marketing Manager of Intel’s Mobile Computing Group and held marketing and engineering positions in Intel’s memory, processor, software, and platform divisions. He was the worldwide director of Marketing at Lam Research. Rhett began his career as a design engineer at Honeywell.

Rhett holds a BS degree in Chemical and Materials Engineering from the University of Iowa and an MS degree in Electronic Materials Process Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. He is an Intel Achievement Award winner.

Burton Kersey is the Senior Channel Account Manager at Lenovo. His role involves managing  Mobile Workstation and Desktop Workstation sales for Connection and SHI, he  Developed and executed strategies to achieve Lenovo’s Workstation growth targets. Burton administered on-site product, sales, and technical workstation training to Connection and SHI account managers, he also consulted daily as a technical workstation expert on end-user opportunities, calls, and visits. Burton works at Cargo where he is the Inside Channel, Account Manager. His responsibilities include building relationships with Lenovo’s partners resulting in net new revenue, channel development and expansion, account acquisition, and SMB growth. Burton works with approximately 100+ certified partners currently and discuss Lenovo’s brand and channel program operations.

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