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🚀 SQE MEETING BATTLE PLAN

🎯 CORE POSITIONING

Your Mantra: "I don't need a job - I need a revolution to believe in"

Your Value: "I've built the networks you're trying to secure, and I know exactly where the bodies are buried"

💡 OPENING GAMBIT

First 60 Seconds:

"When I first saw your technology, I realized this is the answer to problems I've been fighting my entire career. At AWS, Verizon, Charter - I've seen how broken our security foundations are. Your approach to the 'harvest now' problem isn't just innovative - it's necessary."

🛠️ YOUR UNIQUE VALUE PROPOSITION

Channel Development

  • TBX Experience: "I built channel strategies for Meraki and Fortinet from ground zero"
  • Proven Playbook: "I know how to take disruptive tech to market through partners"
  • Immediate Activation: "I can have 3 qualified VAR conversations within 30 days"

Technical Credibility

  • Scale Experience: "At AWS, I saw what breaks at cloud scale - your solution addresses fundamental limits"
  • Enterprise Migration: "I've moved Fortune 500 companies from Cisco to next-gen solutions"
  • Automation Mindset: "I don't just understand networks - I understand how to automate them at scale"

Security Depth

  • Compliance Experience: "PCI-DSS, NIST frameworks are in my DNA"
  • Real-World Hardening: "I've secured everything from financial trading floors to healthcare data"
  • Vendor-Neutral Perspective: "I've worked with every major vendor - I know their weaknesses"

🎙️ CONVERSATION TRIGGERS

When They Mention...

"Channel Strategy"

  • "At TBX, I learned channel success comes down to three things: partner enablement, clear margins, and technical support. Which of these is your biggest focus?"

"Technical Complexity"

  • "Having implemented ACI and VXLAN, I appreciate elegant complexity. How does your synchronization handle real-world network jitter?"

"Competition (Cisco, etc)"

  • "Having migrated Avis from Cisco to Versa, I know exactly how to displace incumbents. The key is addressing pain they can't solve."

"Enterprise Adoption"

  • "At Verizon, I saw that enterprises buy solutions to three problems: compliance, cost, or capability. Which are you leading with?"

💼 PROBLEM → SOLUTION MAPPING

Their Problem Your Experience Solution
Channel Development TBX: Built Meraki/Fortinet channel programs from scratch
Technical Credibility AWS/Verizon: Enterprise-scale deployment credibility
Product-Market Fit Charter/Kaiser: Knows where security breaks in real networks
Scalability Concerns AWS: Designed for cloud-scale automation
Funding Proof Points All roles: Can deliver immediate customer validation

🎯 STRATEGIC QUESTIONS TO ASK

Business Questions:

  1. "What's your ideal partner profile - are you looking for technical integrators or sales-focused VARs?"
  2. "How are you balancing direct sales motion with channel development?"
  3. "What's the funding timeline and how does partner traction influence it?"

Technical Questions:

  1. "How does the entanglement process handle multi-site latency differences?"
  2. "What's your disaster recovery story without traditional key escrow?"
  3. "How are you addressing the performance overhead concerns?"

Partnership Questions:

  1. "What does success look like for your channel partners in the first 90 days?"
  2. "How are you structuring partner incentives - margin, enablement, co-sell?"
  3. "Where do you see the biggest gap in your current partner strategy?"

🚀 YOUR "WOW" MOMENTS

Drop These Strategic Insights:

  • "The incumbents are vulnerable because they're trying to bolt quantum resistance onto architectures that were never designed for it"
  • "Channel partners will follow the money - we need to show them this solves a CISO-level problem with budget attached"
  • "Having implemented F5 OSPF and mainframe routing, I understand how legacy infrastructure creates your opportunity"

Reference Specific Experiences:

  • "At Kaiser, I found buffer tail drops on Data Domain replication - exactly the kind of encrypted data that's being harvested today"
  • "Migrating Avis from Cisco taught me how to overcome vendor lock-in - your solution breaks that model entirely"
  • "AWS showed me that scale breaks everything - your approach seems built for cloud-native from day one"

💰 PARTNERSHIP FRAMING

Your Opening Position:

"Through my LLC, I'm structured to deliver immediate value while we figure out the long-term fit. I'm thinking: 90-day engagement focused on activating my top 3 channel relationships, with success-based compensation."

Your Walk-Away Position:

"I'm looking for a passion project, not a paycheck. The right structure balances my need for meaningful work with your need for measurable results."

🛡️ DEFLECTING OBJECTIONS

"We're not hiring yet" → "Perfect - my LLC lets me deliver results without you carrying overhead. Let me prove the value first."

"Funding is next year"
→ "My network can help make that round oversubscribed by showing real pipeline today."

"We have Denis for channels" → "Great - my experience complements his. I focus on technical enablement and enterprise adoption."

🎖️ YOUR CLOSING ARGUMENT

"Look, I've built networks for Amazon, Verizon, and Fortune 500 companies. I know what secure infrastructure looks like, and I know what broken looks like. Your technology addresses the fundamental break. I don't need a job - I need something worth believing in. This feels like that."

📝 PRE-MEETING CHECKLIST

  • Have LLC details ready (EIN, structure)
  • Review your top 3 channel contacts for immediate warm intros
  • Prepare 2-3 specific accounts you can approach within 30 days
  • Have your SOW draft ready to reference
  • Test your video/audio setup
  • Have notepad ready for their specific pain points

🧠 MINDSET REMINDER

You're Not: A job seeker You Are: A seasoned expert choosing where to deploy your talents

They Need: Your network, your credibility, your channel experience
You Need: A worthy challenge for your skills

Remember: The same gut that spotted this opportunity from a YouTube video is the same gut that built your career. Trust it.

You've got this. You're not walking into an interview - you're walking into a strategy session between equals. Now go show them what 15 years of battlefield experience looks like. 💥

Your signature confidence: "Cool solution no matter what" - and you're about to show them exactly why.

Professional Experience

Consulting Systems Engineer | TBX | May 2022 - Present

  • Serve as SME for service provider networks (Meraki SD-WAN/Fortinet Security Fabric)
  • Develop technical go-to-market strategies and conduct POC deployments
  • Implement network automation using Python/Ansible for configuration management
  • Deliver technical enablement through workshops and training sessions

Network Development Engineer | Amazon Web Services GovCloud TS/SCI position | Sept 2021 - May 2022

  • Troubleshoot complex cloud networking issues (BGP, OSPF, Direct Connect, Transit Gateway)
  • Develop network automation tools for monitoring/management (Python)
  • Create technical documentation including network diagrams and SOPs
  • Serve as Tier 3 escalation point for critical network incidents

Principal Network Architect | Verizon | Jan 2020 - Sept 2021

  • Design enterprise-scale networks (LAN/WAN, SD-WAN, data center solutions)
  • Lead RFP responses and technical solution design for Fortune 500 clients
  • Developed pre/post diff Bash scripts for config validation
  • Mentored teams in YANG, NetConf, and Meraki API Python automation
  • Led Avis migration from Cisco to Versa SD-WAN/Aruba solutions
  • Spearheaded Walgreens nationwide WAN optimization project

Cloud Network Engineer | Entrust | Jan 2020 - Present

  • Implement AWS network infrastructure with PCI-DSS compliance
  • Manage F5 BIG-IP load balancers and Palo Alto NGFW deployments
  • Automate network provisioning using IaC tools (Terraform, Ansible)
  • Built staging environment despite organizational challenges
  • Created Ansible playbooks (cisco.ios) for ACL whitelist management
  • Assisted Illinois CU VPN deployment for overwhelmed customer team

Senior Network Consultant | Zivaro | Oct 2018 - Present

  • Design/implement Cisco ACI fabric and DNA Center solutions
  • Developed network migration strategies for cloud adoption
  • Resolved Simmons Foods VOIP QoS issues; proposed Ansible over DNA Center
  • Designed VXLAN data center fabric for Denver Health
  • Implemented Layer 3 to edge for CDPHE despite team opposition
  • Played key role in Cisco Gold Partner recertification

Data Center Network Engineer | Charter Communications | Sept 2018 - July 2019

  • Managed F5 LTM/GTM and A10 Thunder load balancing infrastructure
  • Implemented EVPN/VXLAN overlay networks
  • Automated TACACS with Bash scripts
  • Implemented RANCID for config backups
  • Identified buffer tail drops on Data Domain SSL replication (port 29000)
  • Used PRTG to pinpoint saturated links
  • Coordinated cross-team Video VPN deployment

Network Infrastructure Engineer | American Residential Services | Jan 2018 - Jan 2019

  • Migrated 100+ sites to Cisco Viptela SD-WAN
  • Standardized firewall configurations (Cisco ASA/Juniper SRX)
  • Deployed Cisco Umbrella DNS filtering
  • Implemented RANCID for config management
  • Designed cost-effective OOB/UPS solution using eBay gear ($15K+ savings)

Senior Data Center Engineer | Kaiser Permanente | June 2016 - May 2018

  • Deployed Cisco ACI across multiple data centers
  • Migrated Nexus switching infrastructure (7K/5K to 9K)
  • Fixed Exadata OSPF issues to meet vendor deadlines
  • Resolved Data Domain buffer drops affecting encrypted replication
  • Rectified wrong SFP orders delaying DR buildout
  • Enhanced HPNA functionality for operational efficiencies

Senior Technical Architect | AT&T (TIAA-CREF) | July 2010 - May 2016

  • Led $100M network refresh (Nexus/ASR/F5)
  • Migrated load balancing from Brocade to F5 BIG-IP
  • Optimized mainframe OSPF (Area 51 routing)
  • Standardized blackhole routing configurations
  • Overcame challenges in DC buildout
  • Identified NetApp LACP RFC non-compliance via Tcl scripts
  • Implemented OSPF on F5 devices

Technical Skills

Networking:

  • Routing: BGP, OSPF (including F5/mainframe implementations), EIGRP, MPLS
  • Switching: VLAN/VXLAN, EVPN, ACI, Nexus
  • SD-WAN: Cisco Viptela, Meraki, Fortinet, Versa
  • Load Balancing: F5 LTM/GTM, A10
  • Protocols: LACP (RFC compliance analysis), STP

Cloud & Automation:

  • AWS: VPC, Direct Connect, Transit Gateway
  • IaC: Terraform, Ansible, Python
  • Scripting: Bash (config diffs/TACACS), Tcl (NetApp analysis)
  • Monitoring: PRTG, RANCID, Splunk

Security:

  • Firewalls: Palo Alto, Cisco ASA, FortiGate
  • Compliance: PCI-DSS, NIST
  • VPN: Site-to-site, client (including troubleshooting)

Management & Collaboration:

  • Technical documentation (SOPs, network diagrams)
  • Cross-functional team leadership
  • Vendor management (Exadata, NetApp)
  • Cost optimization strategies

ATT

  • Backup -- spanning-tree bridge
  • F5 -- OSPF
  • Pre/Post diff bash script
  • DC build out -- many roadblocks
  • mainframe OSPF - assist team optimize OSPF area 51
  • NetApp -- LACP TcL script -- identified NetApp didn't follow RFC
  • Blackhole project -- standardized config and validated functionality

Kaiser

  • HPNA -- added to functionality -- improved efficiencies
  • DR data center build-out -- order wrong SFPs
  • data domain -- identified buffer tail drops -- port 29000 SSL encrypted replication
  • Exadata -- help vendor with OSPF issues to meet his deadline -- learned ES switch OSPF config

Charter

  • RANCID
  • DNS helped Linux team ran network topology refresh SME
  • PRTG -- identified links being saturated
  • TACACS -- automated with BASH
  • Video vpn -- over-all project -- drive different teams

Zivaro

  • Simmons QOS -- difficult customer -- lowered VOIP call quality issues
  • Simmons automation -- SoW for Ansible -- Steered away from DNA AE didn't agree $$$
  • CDPHE layer 3 to edge -- team didn't agree
  • Denver Health -- vxlan DC build out
  • Cisco gold partner -- took over high profile role

ARS (Consulting Systems Engineer III, Zivaro (Oct 2018 - Jan 2020))

  • RANCID -- setup
  • Data center design -- team didn't agree with approach -- simplified design
  • OOB/UPS project -- prior to roll out manager had to come in to reboot for us -- save $$$ using ebay to obtain gear
  • Umbrella --

Entrust (Consulting Systems Engineer III, Zivaro (Oct 2018 - Jan 2020))

  • Staging build out -- VP difficult
  • Il CU VPN assistance -- customer in over his head
  • Whitelist -- ACL Ansible playbook using cisco.ios

Verizon

  • Avis -- Cisco shop -- SA went Versa and Aruba
  • Walgreens -- over-all above and beyond
  • DRs-in calls -- mentor SAs to learn automation -- YANG, Netconf, API, Meraki Python package