For the last four years of his 17 year networking career, Tom Nallen led the software transformation initiative at network vendor Cisco, focused on Enterprise License Agreement (ELA) and new software buying programs. In this business case planning and execution leadership role, he built systems and processes that addressed a number of the long-standing pain points around software licensing for networks. His team delivered a customer self-serve ELA licensing and entitlement management portal, delivering 10X faster licensing cycle times and enabling an 11X customer base growth. Along the way, Tom learned first-hand how network licensing works, where it's going and the potential opportunities and pitfalls for those who work with it.
Prior to his work in network software transformation, Tom held various product management and marketing roles in enterprise and service provider networking at Cisco, launching the segment-defining Integrated Services Router and Aggregation Services Router. Before Cisco, Tom held P/L responsibility at Verizon, leading data and hosted web services strategic planning and product/project management, including the launch of the groundbreaking online shopping directory and ecommerce site BigYellow.com.
Tom lives in Westford, Massachusetts, with his wife Margo and their Golden Retriever, Phoebe. He recently founded Network Licensing Strategies, whose main mission is to help companies and organizations navigate the transition to the next-gen cloud and software-defined network with an emphasis on licensing and entitlement management.
The opinions expressed in this blog are those of Tom Nallen and do not necessarily represent those of IDG Communications, Inc., its parent, subsidiary or affiliated companies.
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