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The Ivanti UK Team Reviews American Snacks

Fri, 02 Aug 2019 20:23:23 Z

Oh, how the tables have turned…

One year ago, I transferred from Ivanti’s Utah headquarters to our office in Bracknell, right outside of London. Moving to a new country is pretty overwhelming in that you’re constantly surrounded by new sights, new smells, new sounds (you haven’t heard English until you've heard a Geordie accent), and most importantly, new tastes.

I dove into the world of British food with the basics: British biscuits. This is how I fell in love with Hobnobs and Orange Clubs. Next, I tried British crisps (chips, in the US), where I discovered my colleagues had a rather sadistic side when they subjected me to Pickled Onion Monster Munch and Lemon and Scampi Nik Naks.

It's obvious by my previous blog posts about British snacks that I can whip out insults and judgments all day long, but can I take a taste of my own medicine? I figured it was time to jump off my high horse and see. So I brought in some American snacks to see what my British colleagues thought. I included some classics, plus a couple of crazy flavored items to get revenge for the Mr. Porky Crackles (#NeverForget).

First, meet our esteemed panel of judges. On our panel today, we have members of the Ivanti marketing team (pictured below from left to right): Sara Coppock, Vijay Mistry, Lee Crombie, Roisin Tims, and Jeni McSkimming.

We also have a few quotes from Daniel Polisano and Sarah Lewis.

Fuego Takis (Spicy Lime)

“They’re not for me. I didn’t even taste the lime, just the fire.” – Roisin
“There’s nothing real about them. They taste like the equivalent of what I imagine Hell tastes like. These are disgusting.” – Lee
“Look at the color, they just look wrong.” – Vijay
“These are heavy! And they look like you can smoke it. But I don’t like that taste.” – Sara

Honey Barbeque Fritos

“No, absolutely not. That leaves a horrible taste in your mouth. It’s like BBQ flavor coated wood.” – Lee
“Wow, these babies are delicious! A bit like the consistency of a Wheat Crunchie but the flavor of heaven. Thank goodness they don’t sell these in the U.K. as I could quite easily become addicted!” – Sarah
“These are a kid’s crisp. The silly shape and sweetness keep small minds entertained.” – Dan

Plain Lays

“Better than Walkers Ready Salted Crisps.” – Lee

Bugles

“I like these, they have the perfect saltiness, and I like that they are little finger hats.” – Jeni
“Bugles are lovely. But I’m disappointed they didn’t make a tune when you open the bag.” – Lee
“Dull. A dull crisp.” – Dan

Gardetto’s

“These have a very nice taste but I don’t like the mix of textures.” – Jeni
“Most enjoyable, you can’t go wrong. I like the rye chips in the combination, it’s a good variety.” – Lee
“They’re like a pick and mix surprise! A really bad surprise.” – Sara

Dill Pickle Lays

*Note – Dill pickles aren’t really a thing here in the UK, so this was a double whammy of flavor experimentation. Also fun fact, in the UK, they call pickles “gherkins.”

“I really like these, I could eat a whole bag.” – Sara, said with wide eyes the moment she took a bite.
“My initial impression of this flavor was horror! My first taste was a shocker but weirdly I felt the need to have another one. I’d say these are a similar flavor to Pickled Onion Monster Munch but on steroids. Truly a party in my mouth!” – Sarah
“What a horrendous flavor. I wouldn’t eat a jar of pickles nor would I finish a bag of these. Absolutely not. Those are worse than the Takis.” – Dan

Cheez-it

“That’s like squirty canned cheese in cracker form. I like them.” – Sara
“Absolutely horrible. I couldn’t even swallow that, disgusting. Just horrid. If Takis are Hell, this is the next level of hell.” – Lee
“Tastes like someone’s mangy feet.” – Vijay

Barbeque Lays

“Lovely. Just a very nice crisp.” – Lee
“These are good, but they smell like the HMS Victory Ship.” – Jeni
“Awesome.” – Vijay
“The king of American chips. Also known as overrated. Barbeque sauce should be much more exciting than this, I don’t like it.” – Dan

Cheetos

“These are just the best.” – Sara

Swedish Fish

“Ugh. Yuck. Weird texture. It’s like eating a cotton bud.” – Jeni
“There’s just nothing to them.” – Lee
“Candlewax delights.” – Dan

Pink Starburst

“Love these.” – Lee
“Like a strawberry milkshake in a chew.” – Jeni
“That’s a keeper.” – Sara
“This I like. A burst of strawberry delight in your mouth.” – Roisin

Jolly Ranchers

“I like those. A perfect snack for teenage boys. And so much fun when your tongue goes blue.” – Roisin
“The watermelon ones are amazing. My absolute favorite.” – Jeni
“These should be illegal with this much food dye.” – Dan

Runts

“Surprisingly hard, I thought they would be chewy. They have a really strong flavor at first and then they just turn into powder. But the banana is nice.” – Jeni
“These are just bombs of sugar.” – Lee
“I’m liking it, but I wasn’t prepared for the texture.” – Vijay

Hot Tamales

“Tastes like medicine. I like it.” – Lee
“Kind of like spicy jelly beans.” – Sara
“Disgusting. They burned my tongue.” – Jeni
“These are a winner. They taste like medicine, but I’m down with that.” – Dan

Sour Patch Kids

“Yes. An absolute delight on the tongue. A dancing of flavors on the taste buds. Green is the best.” – Lee
“These don’t taste of anything except sugar. The green is disgusting.” – Jeni

Nerds

“They are too small, awkward to eat. It’s just sugar, isn’t it really?” – Lee
“The classic Nerd. Good, if you’re eight years old. And the colors! Can we turn the lights of and see if they glow in the dark?” – Dan

Even though the opinions were varied, my main takeaway is that when a British person is disgusted by something, somehow, they still sound so classy. I need to work on switching out my “ewww gross” with “absolutely horrid.”

Interchange Unplugged Behind the Scenes

Mon, 08 Jul 2019 22:41:59 Z

Interchange, Ivanti’s user conference, is an amazing chance for IT professionals to come together for networking, technical workshops, expert one-on-one sessions, and thought-provoking keynotes. This year, our two Interchange conferences were hosted in Madrid, Spain, and Nashville, Tennessee. In addition to these main events, we are offering 21 different one-day events globally, otherwise known as Interchange Unplugged.

Interchange Unplugged Japan

So far, we’ve already hosted these events in Dubai, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, France, Italy, and Japan. There are more coming in China, Australia, China, South Africa, the UK, Netherlands, Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway.

These events allow you to discover more about Ivanti’s solutions for IT Asset Management, Identity Management and Automation, Security, Service Management, Unified Endpoint Management and User Workspace Management. They all include break-out sessions and informative content, designed to extend your knowledge of Ivanti and its solutions.

Planning the Event

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#InterchangeUnplugged19 of the year in Dubai was yesterday. Great turnout, educational tracks and lots of insightful conversations between Ivanti customers, partners and executives! Thank you to everyone who attended. pic.twitter.com/AoBoolVuzW
— Ivanti (@GoIvanti) April 25, 2019

Before the day of the actual event, there is a ton of planning that goes into Unplugged. I asked Miko Arai, our Japan Field Marketing Manager, about what goes into planning an Unplugged event, as she just wrapped up Tokyo Unplugged. “It’s a lot of communication, internal and external. This includes collaborating with local media, getting a referral for a keynote guest speaker, getting partners onboarded to sponsor the event, working with customers to join as guest speakers (this is especially key because the customer session is the most popular session every year). It also includes reviewing presentation slides of internal speakers and partners as well as having the sales team and partners engage by inviting customers and prospects,” Miko said.

Jeni McSkimming, EMEA West Field Marketing Manager, added to the list of everything that needs to be considered when planning an event. “Planning any event is hard work, you literally need to think of everything, from the minor to the major. Staffing, electricity requirements, internet, speakers, and social media all need to be considered, and that is just scratching the surface. You need to start planning at least 10 months in advance to establish a location, venue, and content, but of course content can change up to the very last minute,” Jeni explained.

Christine Butsmann, our EMEA Central Senior Field Marketing Manager, and her team refer to their Unplugged events as their “Interchange Roadshow.” “With a sound system, furniture, and equipment such as a reception desk and a lectern, we’re basically a band on tour, just without the musical instruments. The atmosphere even makes us feel like roadies. We drive together, we eat together, and we help each other up to the moment we are all exhausted – but happy. That’s my favorite part of Interchange Unplugged, when everything is in the van, all bundles laced and off we go!” Christine said.

Cultural Differences

Another key part about planning any event is catering for your specific audience and keeping in mind cultural differences. You need to consider these differences depending on your location, an Unplugged event is going to look very different in London vs Japan. “In Japan, people are more serious, so it is hard to play around and make the event more entertaining. During the actual presentations, people prefer written surveys over Q&A sessions and they like printed presentation materials available the day of the event. Half-days are usually preferred over full-day events so people can work in the morning. We have a lot of workaholics here!” Miko said.

Interchange Unplugged EMEA South

“In Germany, people appreciate an event that they do not have to stay overnight at. We try to start an event no earlier than 10am and end it no later than 4pm. We also try to choose a venue that can easily be reached by plane, train, public transportation, or car. This gives everyone the freedom to travel in the morning and evening,” Christine said.

“I have found over the years of event planning that in the UK, we do like some social drinks at the end of an event. We’re happy with a full day of events as long as the content is engaging, and we get a nice long lunch breaks and plenty of time to check emails!” Jeni said.

During the Event

The Unplugged events are a great chance to meet with Ivanti experts and partners. We asked Anne-Pierre Guignard, EMEA South Field Marketing Director, what sort of value people can expect from attending an Unplugged event. “The events have great solution keynotes and demos in local languages. The number one topic this year was Ivanti Cloud. Attendees also have a chance to hear interesting customer testimonies, have one-to-one meetings with Ivanti experts, and discover the benefits of Unified IT,” Anne-Pierre said.

Jeni added to Anne-Pierre’s sentiments. “We have so many updates and product insight at the events. It is a chance for our customers to network, meet industry folk who know and breath Ivanti, meet peers, and of course enjoy the day at no charge,” Jeni said.

“The best part about Interchange Unplugged events are the interactions and discussions with the customers, prospects, and sponsors (plus the selfie opportunities!). As one customer told me, ‘It’s good to feel like being part of the Ivanti family at Unplugged.’ These events are great teamwork events where everyone is involved,” Anne-Pierre said. Even with all of the stress that comes into the actual event and the planning, it is very rewarding seeing our customers come out with a great experience. “The fun of Unplugged comes during the execution. To see a well-organized event take place and customers get what they wanted and what was intended from the day is so fun. It’s also great working with a team who support the event in all aspects and make good things happen,” Jeni added.

No matter where you are in the world, the Interchange Unplugged events are a great way to network, connect with and learn more about Ivanti, attend educational IT sessions, and hopefully have a lot of fun. Check out our Unplugged site to find a location near you. We hope to see you soon!

Highlights From Infosec Europe 2019

Wed, 19 Jun 2019 20:11:53 Z

If you’re looking for your Sweet Spot of Security, you need to visit @GoIvanti at #InfoSec19 at stand C80! Jelly beans, lollies and strawberries are waiting 🍓🍭 pic.twitter.com/4FHJVbcwQt
— e92plus (@e92plus) June 5, 2019

Earlier this month, Ivanti had the chance to partner with e92plus at the Infosecurity Europe Conference at Olympia London. The three-day event was buzzing with IT professionals from beginning to end. There were many opportunities for networking, educating yourself on the industry, and learning from other experts in the industry.

The Ivanti and e92plus Booth

There were a lot of amazing booths at Infosec, but the Ivanti and e92plus booth was definitely a stand-out. Our goal was to help people hit the sweet spot of security by bringing together their patch management, privilege management, and whitelisting. We had skeeball on the stand, so people could practice hitting the sweet spot, while serving people’s sweet tooth with strawberries and cream, lollipops, and jelly beans. We also had live demos available on the stand so people could learn more about Ivanti’s security solutions.

The booth was a hit! People were lining up to enter our giveaway by competing at skeeball. We also had crowds of people coming to the booth for our demos and a chance at a fresh snack in the form of strawberries and cream.

Expert Sessions

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When the #cybersecurity knowledge that @ChrisGoettl is about to drop is so 🔥🔥🔥 that you need headphones to fully appreciate it #infosec19 #SilentPresentation pic.twitter.com/jyrvmCAaSW
— Ivanti (@GoIvanti) June 5, 2019

On the second day of the event, Chris Goettl spoke at two sessions, a strategy talk and a technology showcase. The first was about modern cyber threats and prioritizing security controls to combat them. The session ran sort of like a silent disco, where everyone had headphones to listen to the presentation with.

Chris talked about phishing and how “to break into an enterprise network today, you can still follow the exact same process as you did in 1999.”

He also took a trip down memory lane (or should I saw malware lane) and looked back at ransomware attacks SamSam, Emotet, and TrickBot.

He also looked into the future and discussed BlueKeep. “BlueKeep has Wannacry potential. 35% of Windows workstations globally are affected by BlueKeep. It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when,” Chris said.

The second presentation covered why vulnerability management fails. Chris discussed BlueKeep in depth. He talked about the BlueKeep timeline over 14 days and how crucial patching the BlueKeep vulnerability is.

Chris also had a chance to speak to Infosec representatives about the value of breaking silos and providing technologies that IT need so that they can do their job.

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It’s a very full house for the @e92plus CyberSocial at #infosec19! Thanks to everyone who’s come along for a 🍻 pic.twitter.com/YAbuQ7AhJ6
— e92plus (@e92plus) June 5, 2019

e92plus Party

e92plus hosted a CyberSocial, which took place at Latymer’s Pub near the event. According to Field Marketing Manager Jeni McSkimming, “The place was full of partners and vendors all ready to enjoy the wonderful Thai buffet and free beer on offer. The numbers even sprawled out into the street. The evening was filled with fun, laughter, and a lot of wholesome conversation. Ivanti was pleased to be a part of it.”

Overall, Ivanti was excited to participate in such a wonderful industry event. We loved the chance to meet so many IT professionals and hear insights into what IT is dealing with in the field. We hope all those who visited the Ivanti booth had a “sweeter” experience at Infosec because of us! If you didn’t have a chance to visit us, check out our exclusive 60 day free trial for Ivanti Security Controls here.

The Definitive British Crisp Ranking (According to an American)

Tue, 18 Jun 2019 16:53:53 Z

About three months ago, I decided to completely alienate myself at the Ivanti office by writing a definitive ranking of British biscuits. I thought the UK was divided in the Brexit dealings, but it turns out all you need to unify the country is to have an American call Jaffa Cakes disgusting. I practically lost my visa over the controversy.

But baby, this American is back, ready to give my fire takes on an equally important topic: British crisps.

Here is a quick glossary of terms for my fellow Yankees:

Crisps (UK) = Chips (USA), which is kind of confusing, because:
Chips (UK) = Fries (USA). But to make the math even more difficult:
Chips (UK) ≠ Wedges, thin fries, sweet potato fries, or curly fries.

Example: If you want thicker fries with your fish, you order fish and chips. If you want thin fries with your burger, you order fries or French fries. If you want a side of sweet potato fries, you order that, not sweet potato chips.

And one more, to really screw with you:

French fries (UK) = A type of crisp (a USA chip) but also refers to a skinny chip (UK).

Now, I really don’t want to be the annoying American tweeting out insults and criticisms like a certain president of ours, and as a noted chip lover in the US, I wanted to fall in love with British crisps. But with crisps flavors like prawn (shrimp) cocktail, pickled onion, scampi and lemon, and marmite, it’s hard to feign that famous British politeness. So, let’s dive in as I laugh in the face of swimsuit season and eat the equivalent of two family-size bags in thirty minutes. I present to you the definitive British crisp ranking, from worst to best.

20. Pickled Onion Monster Munch

Description: A massive airy crisp in the shape of a circle with four fingers. You can smell them a mile away. You can feel them destroying your gums and the roof of your mouth as you chew.
My thoughts: A picture’s worth a thousand words, but in this video’s case, I’m speechless.

19. Mr. Porky Crackles

Description: These are bits of pork rind. I could smell the opened bag from across the room and sniffing the pork rind directly had me feeling nauseous. Some parts are extremely crunchy while other pieces (that contain the pork fat) are soft. Apparently, if you’re lucky, you’ll get one that still has pig hair on it.
My thoughts: There were a lot of gross crisps, but this is the only one that made feel like I was going to throw up.

18. Scampi ‘n’ Lemon Nik Naks and Scampi Fries

Description: Although both of these are different shapes and sizes, they have a lot in common. They smell like death. Opening the bag fills the room with the scent of an old fish that’s been sitting out in the sun.
My thoughts: These are truly shocking. First, I fundamentally believe that “Scampi and Lemon” is great for pasta, but is not a flavor that needs to be replicated and mass produced. I’ve never had a sour chip, but these somehow are both sour and stale.

17. Twiglets

Description: They look like little sticks with part of the bark stripped off. These traditional Christmas crisps are marmite flavor, which is basically yeast.
My thoughts: Are you in the mood to eat a burnt stick? Twiglets are perfect for you!

16. Pickled Onion Space Raiders

Description: Another airy crisp in the shape of little alien heads with very retro packaging. As far as presentation, these get a 10/10.
My thoughts: I just don’t understand why pickled onion crisps need to exist.

15. Salt and Vinegar Squares and Discos

Description: Both of these pack a punch of salt and vinegar flavor. Squares sort of have the consistency of a pita chip, where Discos are more stale circles.
My thoughts: I’m not a salt and vinegar person, so I didn’t like these, but I could see how a reasonable human would enjoy them.

14. Prawn Cocktail Skips

Description: Opening up a bag of Skips, you are immediately hit with the smell of the ocean and seafood. Which is great, if you’re at the beach. Inside of a little bag of chips? Not so much…
My thoughts: Like Nik Naks, their smell is worse than the taste. They fade away fairly quickly, sort of melting in your mouth, but not in a good way. They taste weirdly sweet, which is surprising in a shrimp flavored chip. Overall, everything about these was just plain weird.

13. Real Roast Ox Crisps

Description: A strong meaty smell and flavor.
My thoughts: Roast ox – the chip flavor nobody asked for but they made it anyway.

12. Spicy Tomato Snaps, Pom-Bears, Cheddar Quavers, and Salt and Vinegar Chipsticks

Description: These are four different crisps that are basically interchangeable. They all have the consistency of plain Veggie Straws in the US, but are just different shapes and are seasoned differently.
My thoughts: Spicy tomato flavor isn’t as bad as it sounds. Cheddar Quavers are probably the best of these four, but none of them are particularly special. One important thing to note, according to Ivanti Sales Development Representative and Englishman Lee Crombie, “Quavers stick around. You’ll burp three days later and taste it again.” I think that says it all.

11. Cheese Savouries

Description: Cheese flavored crackers
My thoughts: A half-assed version of Goldfish. Half the flavor, half the fun.

10. Nik Naks Nice ‘n’ Spicy

Description: Little squares with a spicy tomato flavor
My thoughts: These are pretty decent. Honestly, at this point, I’m just grateful for anything that isn’t fish flavored.

9. Hula Hoops and Wheat Crunchies (I tried the Crispy Bacon flavor and the Cheddar and Onion)

Description: Cylinder crisps that are completely hollow. Hula Hoops are smaller where Wheat Crunchies are longer.
My thoughts: These are almost too crunchy to eat, you could break a tooth of these if you aren’t careful. You must burn more calories trying to chew them than you gain ingesting them. But these will work in a pinch when you’re hit with a snack craving.

8. Wotsits

Description: The UK’s answer to my burning question: Where are the Cheetos?
My thoughts: First off, I feel like I’m living in a Dr. Seuss book. Between Wosits, Twiglets, Discos, and Frazzles, these crisp names are certainly stranger than fiction. Wotsits taste like puffy Cheetos with less fake cheese flavor.

I was treated to another “Sara Coppock Special” with Wotsits (remember, she is the creator of the famous Rich Tea Sandwich from the biscuit blog). It’s called a Crisp Butty, which is two pieces of bread with cream cheese and Wotsits in the middle. Basically if you’re in the mood for empty carbs, this is the sandwich for you.

7. Sensations Roasted Chicken and Thyme

Description: I’ve been told these are “posh crisps” aka rich people crisps. These have the same look and feel as Classic Lays, but BOY OH BOY the taste is something very, very different.
My thoughts: Remember in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory when Willy Wonka made a stick of gum that was a whole meal? This chip is a whole roast dinner squeezed into the metaphorical stick of gum. It really is shocking to bite into a chip and get hit by the overwhelming flavor of chicken. Even though these are really weird, they are tasty.

6. Ringos Onion Rings

Description: Very similar to Funyuns in the US. Onion flavored circles.
My thoughts: Your breath will be crazy after eating these. But to be fair, your breath will be even crazier if you eat all of these crisps in one sitting, so who am I to judge? These are very addictive though, it would be easy to blow through a bag.

5. Ready Salted Walkers (I also tried Beef and Onion flavor)

Description: Very similar to a Lays potato chip
My thoughts: A classic. Less salty than Lays but still hits the spot for any potato chip craving.

4. McCoy’s (I tried the Salted flavor and Cheddar and Onion)

Description: Like Wavy Lays or Ruffles, a classic ridge cut chip
My thoughts: There is a little bit less seasoning than an American chip would have, but these are great. Exactly what you look for when you want a crisp.

3. Crispy Bacon Frazzles

Description: They come in the shape of little pieces of bacon, streaks and all. They are another airy one, drenched in bacon flavor.
My thoughts: I’m a big fan of bacon, but not a big fan of bacon flavored stuff. I suppose you could call me a purist. But I have to admit, these are peculiar, but delicious. They stink, you’ll smell them on your fingers for ages, and they are very salty, but overall I really enjoyed them.

2. French Fries (I tried the Cheddar and Onion flavor and Plain Salted)

Description: Very thin and crunchy while still holding true to the airiness of a British crisp
My thoughts: Who would have thought that crisp with the name that perplexes me the most would end up bringing me the most joy? These simple little crisps were an absolute delight.

1. Sensations Thai Sweet Chili

Description: Classic potato chips with a sweet and spicy seasoning
My thoughts: This is the perfect crisp, and I’d venture to say, even better than most crisps in America (gasp!). They are spicy without being overpowering and a light sweetness brings all of the flavors together.

Final Thoughts

British crisps are better than American chips in three ways:

They have more interesting names
They come in fun shapes and there is a bigger variety of textures
They aren’t afraid of unique flavors and really commit to wacky combinations

Even considering these factors, America pulls ahead in the most important category: taste. Nothing can quite compete with our greasy, calorie-filled chips that leave a heavenly layer of fake cheese dust on your fingers.

America: home of the free, land of the Lays.

Get to Know Ivanti Territory Manager, Kimberly Little

Thu, 06 Jun 2019 01:31:24 Z

For anyone who has interacted with Kimberly Little, it is common knowledge that she is an absolute super star. Kimberly is a Territory Manager at Ivanti. She originally started at Landesk in the northern CA territory and covered several territories and customers in the east prior to her current role covering the mid-Atlantic region.

Kimberly has been highlighted several times at Ivanti for her dedication to her customers, so I wanted to spotlight her amazing work and personality as a focused, driven, customer advocate and territory manager. Not only does Kimberly share some amazing advice on how to excel in the sales world, she shares some best practices that can help you in whatever field you’re in, and even has applications outside of the workplace.

You are continually highlighted at Ivanti for being one of the best in your field. How did you get where you are now? What’s your “secret sauce”?

KL: I was very fortunate to have been raised in a military household with two parents who had very high expectations for us. We learned a respect from them that translated into only one option for my sisters and I, which was to be successful in whatever we chose to do with our lives.

When I learned at an early age that there were only the options I chose to acknowledge, things started to come into focus for me.

The “secret sauce” comes in envisioning what you want, feeling the emotion associated with getting it, and then letting it manifest as you go after it. It’s about having the discipline, grit, and character to do the things you may not want to do along the way.

It’s about setting the intention to do what you’ve committed to do and to be true to yourself and your commitment to provide value to others.

It’s about taking responsibility for your success, regardless of what others choose to do, and always operating in integrity. Integrity goes beyond being honest. The definition of integrity is about doing what you say you’re going to do, which impacts you directly as well as others. The influence you have on others by being out of integrity is not good. We have a tremendous responsibility that comes with success in continuing to raise the bar higher beyond operating in a zone of excellence into our zone of “genius.” We often accomplish great things and then think we’re done…we’re not even close!

It’s about having a fierce customer focus and loyalty. And it’s about observing, listening, and taking care of the little things for customers and co-workers that make the difference and that allow you to have greater impact and value.

What are you passionate about?

KL: Excelling and winning, maintaining a high level of physical fitness, I love to swim…and of course my family.

If you had to pick a word to describe one of your strengths, what would it be?

KL: Purpose driven

What is something you like about working for Ivanti?

KL: I believe we are making a difference for our customers and improving their lives and businesses. I also believe we are helping them understand and appreciate the true nature of a customer/vendor partnership and all that’s actually possible. I like that.

Any advice for sales professionals aspiring to grow in their careers?

KL: Make sure you’re trained in sales. One of the reasons sales can get such a bad rap is that many sales people are not properly trained. Sales is a profession, not a job. I was fortunate to have one of the best trainings from IBM, and Roy Chitwood’s World Class Selling, which is fundamentally what I use every day.

We talk a lot about Women in Tech at Ivanti. What is it like being a woman in sales?

KL: I started my career in sales at IBM, which at the time, was a largely male-dominated company and industry. I never really thought about it and actually don’t think about it now. The benefits gained from my sales career have come as a result of everything I’ve described, and what I’ve found is that if you perform and contribute, no one really cares if you’re a man or a woman, nor should they.

In terms of challenges, what I learned is that you train the people you work with by the way you behave, and when you train others the right way and earn their respect, they tend to behave appropriately towards you as well.

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

KL: I wanted to be a doctor, specifically a cardio thoracic surgeon. I wanted to help save lives and I’ve always been intrigued with the human machine. My mother saved babies in neonatal intensive care for over 35 years and influenced me greatly in looking to follow the path of medicine and healing. Having been greatly influenced as well by my father who flew fighter jets, I thought medicine might not be as exciting a life as I had envisioned. By stepping into sales, I realized early on that, just as with flying, there were no limits and I discovered that I thrive on that.

What are you currently reading or binging on Netflix?

KL: I love the Billions series on Netflix because I enjoy seeing the strategies the main character and his team create around winning and I can see that in the end analysis, what they do is “selling.” I’ve recently read The Big Leap, which is about how to conquer your hidden fear and take life to the next level. I’ve also recently finished The Talent Code, which discusses how greatness isn’t born, it’s grown, and how we have the ability to create neural pathways that enable new talents, regardless of our genetics. I am currently reading Real Happiness, The Power of Meditation. Some of the most successful people in the world practice the art of meditation, so I figured I better learn how.

Who inspires you?

KL: I am so fortunate in that I am surrounded by very smart, inspiring over-achievers. I would put my husband first in this category. What I know about him makes me better at what I do. He’s all about the power of influence and responsible leadership and I have learned more from him than any other influence.

Also, I grew up in a household where we were expected to raise the bar in everything we did, from making our beds and cleaning our rooms to excelling in our schoolwork, community involvement, music (we each had to choose an instrument) and sports. My mother was the first in her family to graduate from college and found her way into one of the highest risk areas of medicine, and my father set many records and was one of the most highly decorated fighter pilots in the Air Force when he retired.

I learned early on that there are no limits except the ones we put on ourselves and that everything we do impacts others in some way. I made a decision that if I were going to make an impact, I wanted it to be a significant differentiator – and a good one. For me in sales, I’d like to believe that we are changing the way people view this profession with the way we behave and how we manage our business.

My co-workers also inspire me. I work with so many top guns who make me better and I am careful to surround myself with people who are better than I in some capacity so that I can continue to improve and move from over-achieving to brilliance.

Anything else you want our readers to know?

KL: Anything is possible if you envision what you want. There are no upper limits other than the ones we impose on ourselves.

Crossing the Finish Line: What I Learned at SITS 2019

Tue, 07 May 2019 20:33:06 Z

Last week I attended my first ever SITS conference. For those who don’t know, SITS is the Service Desk and IT Support Show hosted at ExCel London. It is a two-day event focused on IT Service Management and IT Asset Management.

To be honest, I was a little nervous going in, since IT conferences can notoriously be a bit boring. But the moment I saw the crowds queuing at the entrance, I knew this conference was going to be buzzing. The live band welcoming the attendees added to the electricity in the air. And when there’s music, dancing is usually quick to follow.

SITS19 visitors are being welcomed in style #Sits19 #itsm @SITS_UK pic.twitter.com/ECS4HIXKZH
— SITS Insight (@SITSInsight) May 1, 2019

In Ivanti’s case, we were handing out dancing bots to everyone who visited the booth. The retro toy was a big hit, although some members of our team made sure the cute red bots didn’t upstage them by engaging the little guys in a dance off!

Honestly, I think we can call the event a success because no one threw a hip out when showing off their moves…

The fun didn’t stop with the music; we kept the excitement up in the booth all day. Our main focus at the event was to help organizations supercharge their business with world-class ITSM and automation. The racecar themed booth staffed by Ivanti’s friendly pit crew included one-on-one customised demos and six presentations throughout the conference.

You know your sales team is committed to the @GoIvanti #SITS19 race car theme when they show up with these cufflinks! 🏎💨 pic.twitter.com/orRsnXZFcv
— Erica Azad (@EricaAzad) May 7, 2019

The on-stand presentations included a focus on Ivanti Cloud and Automation. The Automation presentation showed examples of how unified IT improves the user experience. We showed a demo on how on-boarding and off-boarding can be fully automated with Ivanti solutions to take the new hire process from manual and time consuming to immediate and simple.

“Automation was a key theme at SITS. All of the on-stand presentations about automation were full, with many delegates specifically planning to attend because of this topic,” Peter Durrant, Ivanti Area Sales Director said.

“Customers expect everything to happen automatically. Automation is the new expectation.” - Peter during presentation #3 at #SITS19 pic.twitter.com/rxqAzfhbR7
— Ivanti (@GoIvanti) May 1, 2019

The Ivanti Cloud presentations were also a big hit. We dove into Ivanti Service Manager and Ivanti Cloud, addressing the requirements for a modern ITSM tool and how Ivanti Cloud can help you discover, provide insight, and take action. We finished with a helpful demo on Ivanti’s new cloud technology.

Standing room only during our first automation presentation today at #SITS19 pic.twitter.com/wioghkgMu0
— Ivanti (@GoIvanti) May 1, 2019

One of the best parts of these events is the opportunity to talk to different IT professionals. We sat down with many professionals from various industries and chatted with them over a coffee at our in-booth café about their current focuses, projects, and challenges.

“Self-service was a major focus of the event. It has become something everyone needs in order to reduce workload for the IT Service Team, allowing the team to focus on more strategic initiatives. There is a big push for automation, educating users, and enforcing processes,” Umar Naeem, Sales Development Representative said. “Another theme I noticed was how ITAM and ITSM are being used in conjunction to maximise the performance of IT assets and gain insights into key metrics.”

Service desk analysts have a bright future in store according to Nigel Seddon of Ivanti #sits19 @GoIvanti #itsm pic.twitter.com/lPXNybfUIx
— SITS Insight (@SITSInsight) May 1, 2019

Overall, the event was a great way for IT professionals to learn about different IT service management technologies and find ways to solve their IT challenges. Tradeshows and events are a lot of work, but the Ivanti team did an incredible job creating a comfortable, welcoming stand full of insights and examples of ways you can power up your IT processes.

I also learned that if you give Vijay Mistry, Ivanti’s Channel Marketing Manager, a dancing robot and a video camera, he might just get a little too excited about it. Presenting, An Unlikely Hero.

International Women’s Day Spotlight: Sally Hart

Tue, 05 Mar 2019 14:54:42 Z

It’s day two of Ivanti’s countdown to International Women’s Day, and we’re serving up a great interview with Sally Hart.

Sally is a senior HR manager at Ivanti. She took a unique path to get to where she is at in her career.

She started at Ivanti in May of 2000, which is nearly 19 years (and many acquisitions) ago. She started in the IT department and eventually transitioned to human resources. She and her team have responsibility for Ireland, Romania, Poland, and part of the UK. She works closely on a day-to-day basis with the UK sales team, who are mainly based out of the Bracknell office, right outside of London, where Sally is also based.

I first started working with Sally last August when my boss gave me the opportunity to transfer from Ivanti headquarters in South Jordan, Utah, to the office in Bracknell, UK. I was expecting the move to be difficult, but I had no idea how hard it would actually be. Sally guided me through the logistics, working with immigration lawyers, HR in Utah, my boss, and others to help my transition happen as seamlessly as possible. She helped me figure out what city to live in, gave me tips on how to minimize the shock of everything early on, and was basically my rock during the crazy six months I prepared my visa. I am forever grateful for Sally for helping me live out my dream of living abroad, so I consider myself very lucky to be able to spotlight her today.

Interview with Sally

Q: Tell us more about why you transitioned from IT to HR.

SH: I really enjoyed the people contact during the role I held in IT, but I struggled with a lack of analytical problem-solving skills and so my future was limited and honestly, I don’t miss anything about it!

I became very interested in people vs. organsational dynamics and how they can fit and work together (or not!). I spotted a part-time role in HR that was coming up and approached the manager at the time, asking if she would consider taking me on as her assistant. For about a year, I worked part time in HR and part time in my IT role until the company grew and I could transition full time into HR.

The best thing about working in HR is the opportunity to connect with and help your Ivanti colleagues navigate their working life in all its complexities.

Q: When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

SH: I used to watch musicals with my mum and so for a long time, I wanted to be a musical actress – however, I quickly discovered as I got older that I can’t sing (unless I am alone in the car, then I am Aretha Franklin).

Q: What are you currently reading and binging on Netflix?

SH: I just finished binge watching ‘The Sinner’ which was awesome but like a good book, it ended too soon. The last book I read was ‘The Tattooist of Auschwitz’ which was harrowing but educational.

Q: As part of the #MySuperPower campaign we ran in the summer, you picked “Resilient” as a word that describes you. Tell us more about why you chose that word?

SH: We have all faced adversity in our lives and I am no exception. They say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger and I am certainly more resilient following my experiences. I remember coming into work while going through a bad patch and a particular manager made a point of telling me every week how much he appreciated the work I did. At a time of self-doubt, those words cemented in a few cracks that were showing and helped make me more resilient. The people around you can help build your resilience, so work with people who care.

Q: Who inspires you?

SH: So many people have inspired me over the years, I could list pages of them, but currently the 116^th American Congress is bringing a smile to my face - the first Muslim and Native American congresswomen, the youngest ever congresswomen, and for some states, the first female, black, or Latina congresswomen. They are forging the way for future generations and showing them that we are all equal and deserve an equal voice. The way they handle themselves is powerful – Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and her lesson in dark money video- she owned it!

Q: What advice do you have for companies as they strive to promote gender equality?

SH: Flexible working for everyone – if an organsation is open to any flexible working discussion, including part-time arrangements, they would see many more applications from people who have caring responsibilities – either for children or relatives.

Also, in the UK, there is a little used right to share parental leave after the birth of your child. If companies encouraged their male employees to use this leave so that they too had children related gaps in their employment, the equality gap would start to close.

Q: What are you passionate about?

SH: Volunteering – small charities can’t survive without volunteers. I volunteer as a Trustee for a local charity who provide help and support to Victims of Domestic Abuse. As the chair of Trustees, I currently use ½ a days leave a month to go and work with the CEO. I was so delighted when Sue launched the Ivanti VTO programme recently. Small charities are crying out for Trustees and I would encourage anyone who is looking to volunteer to look into it. Most trustees only need to commit a few hours per month, outside of working hours.

Q: Anything else you want readers to know?

SH: Be kind, always. You never know the impact your words have on another.

Join the social media campaign!

International Women’s Day is promoting a global social media campaign that Ivanti is taking part in. Join the movement by taking a selfie with a #BalanceForBetter selfie card, post it on your social media using the #BalanceForBetter hashtag, and tag @TheTechieGirls so we can see your resolution to promote more balance!

International Women’s Day Spotlight: Christine Butsmann

Mon, 04 Mar 2019 12:09:44 Z

To celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8, Ivanti is spotlighting some of our amazing employees. Each day this week, we’ll be posting about a woman at Ivanti who excels at her job and inspires others.

Kicking off the week, I wanted to highlight a member of the Ivanti family who I personally find incredibly inspiring, Christine Butsmann. Based in our Frankfurt office, Christine is the field marketing manager of our EMEA Central region, which consists of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. She has been working with Ivanti for six years.

I first got to know Christine while on an office visit to the Frankfurt office. I was immediately impressed with her organization, obvious passion for her work, and pride in her accomplishments. In addition to her marketing skills, I was struck by how much she genuinely cares for the people around her.

When we came up with the idea of daily spotlights on women who shine in the office place, I knew straightaway that I wanted to interview Christine. Here are some highlights from the interview.

Interview with Christine

Q: What are you passionate about?

CB: Fashion, art, music… and (sometimes) my kids.

Q: Tell us about your favourite vacation you’ve been on.

CB: I have been to many places in many different countries and I enjoy it, for the most part. I can’t pick one, but I can definitely say that I love the sun and warm temperatures!

Q: When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

CB: Believe it or not, I wanted to become a worker at the packing table in a local fashion store in my home town. I love to wrap up parcels and look into happy, satisfied faces! (This is the truth, you can ask my mom…)

Q: Who inspires you?

CB: This changes constantly. Yesterday, it was Pink and Lady Gaga, but the night is long, so maybe tomorrow it will be someone else! Seriously, I adore music and lyrics, they inspire me.

Q: What is your favourite part of your job?

CB: Being responsible for the whole marketing palette, not just one single aspect. This can be exhausting and sometimes takes me to my limits, but it is exciting what can be achieved if you have creativity and staying power. This is where I get the energy for a rich life. I have no classic career path, but I take the chances I get and like the surprise when it works out (or not) ;)

Q: Anything else you want our readers to know?

CB: I want women and men to take chances and don’t hesitate too long. “Everyone said it would not work until someone came who did not know and just did it!”

Join the social media campaign!

International Women’s Day is promoting a global social media campaign that Ivanti is taking part in. Join the movement by taking a selfie with a #BalanceForBetter selfie card, post it on your social media using the #BalanceForBetter hashtag, and tag @TheTechieGirls so we can see your resolution to promote more balance!

Who Inspires You?

Fri, 15 Feb 2019 17:56:21 Z

To celebrate Galentine’s Day this week, @TheTechieGirls put together a social media campaign where we asked both men and women, “Who are the women who inspire you?” We got a massive variety of responses, from personal connections to colleagues to celebrities and public figures. Here are some of our favourite responses of the women who inspire us daily.

Family

Carla Thornley, Head of Service Desk, University of Oxford

My Two Daughters – “For challenging my assumptions and always keeping me grounded.”

Erica Azad, Marketing Manager, Ivanti

My mom – “For teaching me that backpacking Europe in college is just as important as studying. She is proof that all you need to be unstoppable in life is a map, a full tank of gas, time to wander, and Diet Coke.”

Preeti Sondhi, Engineer, Ivanti

All the women in my family – “My mom and three sisters have taught me so much about what it means to be a woman in the world, whether that’s as a mother, a sister, a friend – they were my first examples of the many facets of womanhood, and I learn from them every day. They inspire, challenge, and support me every day.”

Sara Coppock, Marketing Executive, Ivanti

My mum – “This is a woman that successfully brought up two very strong and independent children. She is my role model, someone that I inspire to be like in every way, a loving mother, and I have no doubt that without her I would not be the person I am today.”

Women in Tech

Amanda Rico, Software Engineer, Ivanti

Alexis Lincicome – “Alexis inspires me because she melds aesthetic beauty with high tech engineering. She runs her own thriving business of high tech costume piece design, and is the picture of a modern female entrepreneur and engineer.”

Vijay Mistry, Channel Marketing Manager, Ivanti

Jacqueline De Rojas – “Her approach to business is unrivalled, with strong leadership, guidance and tutelage provided to everyone across the organization. Watching her take gutsy commercial decisions for the overall benefit of the company showed me that there’s always a bigger picture in commercial decisions and to take a moment to step back and reflect.”

Sally Bogg, Head of Service Management IT Services, Leeds Beckett University

Dr. Sue Black – “She is an amazing role model, through sheer determination and hard work, she turned her life around for herself and her children and has carved out a successful career in tech. She gives so much to the community through her work with Tech Mums, Bletchley Park, and generally raising the profile of women in the tech sector.”

Jeni McSkimming, Field Marketing Manager, Ivanti

Hedy Lamaar – “Not only were her beautiful looks the inspiration for Snow White, but she helped invent WIFI through her development of ‘Frequency Hopping.’ She never let Hollywood get in the way of her love for tech!”

Sarah Lewis, Marketing Director, Ivanti

Emma Ashley – “Emma manages an amazing team of engineers, creating beautiful products, and still finds time to advocate for women in technology and volunteer for STEM initiatives.”
Sally Bogg – “Sally balances her amazing career and family life whilst being an advocate for diversity and women in technology – she really is super woman.”

Katie Langford, IT Communications Officer, Leeds Beckett University

Dona Bailey – “Dona was one of the original pioneer programmers in video games. She was the only female programmer at Atari in 1980 and programmed Centipede, which is one of the most influential games in history. Centipede went on to be the first arcade game to attract a large female audience and encouraged women to try gaming as a hobby.”

Public Figures

Sabina Agarunova, Marketing Manager

Scarlett O’Hara – “I love the character because she embraces everything about being female, being beautiful, and inspiring women whilst playing a tough survival game in the man’s world amid the Civil War in the 19^th century. She is desirable, clever, and knows what she wants and how to achieve it.”

Amberlyn Lamoureux, Customer Success Manager, Ivanti

Maya Angelou – “She taught me to hold my head high, be authentic, and always remember that ‘people will never forget how you made them feel.’”

Ben Dickshinski, Demand Generation Manager, Ivanti

Coretta Scott King – “In addition to her powerful contributions during the civil rights movement, Coretta helped lay the foundation for discussing issues of economic, racial, and gender inequality.”

Clara Uzan, Talent Acquisition Resourcer, Ivanti

Malala Yousafzai – “Malala is an activist for female education and the youngest Nobel Prize Winner. She inspires me because at such a young age, she is so brave and already changing the world through her words.”

Francesca Spencer, Senior Project Manager, Leeds Beckett University

Queen Elizabeth I – “Born a disappointment, she fought hard and dedicated her life to her people whilst staying true to her beliefs to become one of, if not the, greatest ruler of all times.”

June Dean, Marketo Consultant, Ivanti

Nancy Astor – “For being the first female member of UK Parliament breaking the ceiling for all women.”

Iulia Gheorghiu, Sales Development Representative, Ivanti

Waris Dirie – “Waris is a Somalian model who managed to get the United Nations to make the female circumcision process illegal in multiple African countries. She is an example of somebody who turned something tragic into something positive.”

Roisin Tims, Marketing Manager, Ivanti

Michelle Obama – “Michelle inspires me because she is not afraid to speak out on issues she believes in and support them the best way she can.”

Lynn Phillips, Web Content Manager, Ivanti

Tarana Burke – “The #MeToo movement has inspired women to speak out about their own experiences with sexual assault, transforming trauma and fear into empowerment and understanding. Because of her, the world is a safer place.”