Welcome to the Dear Future CRO Podcast powered by GrowthQ! In this episode, our host and Founder of GrowthQ, Esther Ayorinde-Iyamu engages in a compelling conversation with Tony Colon, SVP for Customer Success at ServiceNow. Tony takes us through his diverse career journey from his early life in Chicago to pivotal roles at Salesforce and Cisco. He emphasizes decision-making using both data and instinct, the value of ideas from diverse perspectives, and the importance of innovation within companies. Esther and Tony discuss the significance of learning from those making high-stake decisions and listening to frontline employees. They also dive into personal experiences, including handling racially insensitive situations, the impact of their upbringings, and building a sense of community at work. From the future of AI in customer success to Tony’s desire to educate future generations on financial management, this episode is rich with insights for aspiring leaders. Tune in for an inspiring and thought-provoking discussion geared towards shaping the future for Customer Success Leaders everywhere.

Timestamp Topics

00:00 Excited for guest, Mr. Tony Colon, SVP.

03:49 Upholding family legacy, providing generational opportunities, diversity.

07:37 Proud of breaking through, connecting diverse cultures.

12:09 Creating community through shared interests and passions.

14:11 Craving connection, seeking real talk in loneliness.

18:31 Immigrant parents' struggle and financial focus.

23:01 Unintentional mentorship led to love for programming.

26:31 Shifted careers after ten years, joined Cisco.

27:45 Transitioned from Cisco to hardware, then software.

33:07 Microsoft's copilot, our digital assistant, aids productivity.

35:22 Fear of speaking up hindered career success.

40:28 Career journey, challenging comment, vulnerability, leadership example.

41:33 Reflecting on confronting racism and fostering change.

46:27 Encourage and support innovative ideas from everyone.

48:55 Tony recognized for generosity, success and kindness.

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