Kumar Ramachandra-Rao

Director, Digital Workplace and Network

• Developed high-performing teams by providing mentorship, guidance, and opportunities for professional growth which resulted in highest pulse survey results.
• Implemented innovative solutions using M365 Suite to solve complex problems, resulting in increased productivity and secure operations which resulted in supporting the business to increase headcounts on an average of 20% YOY
• Improvement of security score and reduction of vulnerability - Process improvement and efforts resulted in security score by 40%
• Managed budgets effectively to ensure optimal use of resources while maintaining financial stability.
• Secure Cloud first strategy resulted in moving all services to cloud
• Supporting business during Covid by leveraging AR/VR technologies and moving all services to Cloud

Sr Manager, Communications,Network and Security

• Video to Desktop - Wi-fi, Site internet bandwidth improvements and content streaming internal platform
• Zero Trust strategy :Rollout of Cisco ISE and migration to security capabilities on Microsoft cloud

Sr Manager, Unified communications

• Improved end user experience -Stabilization of Skype and Integration of Skype with Telepresence
• Cost optimization and SPOF reduction - Migration to SIP trunks
• Enterprise webcasting-Movement of AEM's from in person to webcast

• Collaborated with the sales, marketing, and Customer support teams to launch capabilities on time and within budget.
• Rolled out Collaboration software Zoom for all employees and partners after requirements gathering and testing.
• Delivered support for on-prem Active Directory,Microsoft applications, Office 365 cloud and SaaS capabilities to meet end user requirements.

• Conceptualized, planned and executed original designs for a wide range of Cloud Applications like Google Apps, Slack, Box, LucidChart, etc.
  
• Developed the monitoring framework for the Cloud program.
• Conducted security audits to identify potential problems related to the applications and automated these to build internal tools for risk mitigation.
• Built capacity management tools to report/alert on software and hardware asset utilization of Bluejeans collaboration system, Cisco Call Manager and Cisco Telepresence.
• Led bi-weekly Scrum planning meetings to develop team strategies and define project goals.
• Led communication with stakeholders regarding product goals and progress made.
• Initiated rollout of new collaboration software solutions across the company.
• Was responsible for the service delivery to end users post purchase of Linkedin by Microsoft which included rollout of Office 365, Skype, etc.

• Infrastructure Track Leadership owner for the SDN program.
• Led the blueprint for the Extranet transformation Initiative.
• Lead the Global team across multiple continents the implementation of network and video (telepresence/ Tandberg ) in over 300 branch sites and 20 campus sites .
• Drove the initiative for an enhanced innovation center to implement latest network technologies with minimal business impacts .
• Supported Americas Cup Network environment in San Francisco for wireless, audio and video infrastructure .
• Recommended architectural improvements, design solutions, and integration solutions.Designed and implemented new standards for core business services and implemented complex Datacenter infrastructures on multiple platforms.
  
• Influenced Cisco's revenue by having transformational engagements with global customers, advising them on data center best practices via executive briefings and industry events.
• Collaborated with several business units to test and implement their solutions ( ex: Collaboration group for integrating Tandberg Telepresence solutions, Webex, etc )
• Influenced Cisco's and other vendors forward-looking product roadmaps, partnering with Cisco's business units and other vendors to bring new solutions to market.
• Optimized the support costs by developing a global implementation team in different geographies and this resulted in improved SLA and an annual savings of approximately 1.5 M.
• Managed the 100M+ budget which includes external hardware /software vendors.Accountable for the Cisco IT relationship with EMC and NetApp.

• Designed strategic plan for component development practices to support future projects.
• Implemented company policies, technical procedures, and standards for preserving the integrity and security of data, reports, and access.
• Research and develop designs, including the strategic roadmap for all infrastructure SAN/storage devices - Netapp, EMC and associated software and tools, ensuring enterprise-wide architecture consistency. This was the key blueprint for Global data center program in terms of storage.
• Key contributor and Critique in the design review board which included UC platform, Datacenter and Campus/Branch/Extranet partners.

• Architected application environment for various internal applications at a Cisco.
• Provided continued maintenance and development of bug fixes and patch sets for existing web applications.