Melissa Barr Email & Phone Number

Chapel Hill, Nc, Us

San Jose, Ca, Us

Cisco reorganized its entire marketing organization. In this reorganization, I:• Built a marketing program from the ground up, defining success benchmarks and company impact, directing program success aligning with senior executive vision.• Implemented a programmatic way to capture and craft stories about Cisco’s technology use aligned to the One Cisco narrative and GTM motions.• Lead a growing team in creating impactful stories and content across Cisco's portfolio, showcasing the value of products through customer stories and proof points.

San Jose, Ca, Us

• Promoted with expanded scope to lead two teams under my direction including Integrated Marketing Activations and Campaigns, as well as Developer Marketing.• Responsible for leading teams to develop integrated marketing campaigns and activations in support of Cisco's Corporate Strategy, Development and Incubation organization with a heavy focus on Artificial Intelligence and special incubation projects within Cisco.• Partner with the Executive Leadership Team, General Managers, and functional leaders to drive the company’s overall strategic direction and establish the next bold bets and moonshots for Cisco.

San Jose, Ca, Us

Leads and directs the Developer Marketing team including digital, campaigns, content, advertising, communications and social media functions.Creates strategic plans to establish and enhance Cisco Developer brand presence, allocating resources to different projects, and setting both short-term and long-term goals for the department.Ensures Cisco Developer brand message is strong and consistent across all channels and marketing efforts (inc. events, email campaigns, web pages and promotional material)Establishes and maintains relationships with key stakeholders within the developer community, including influencers, partners, and developer advocacy groups.Drives developer acquisition, influence and retention strategies through targeted marketing efforts and developer engagement programs. Marketing efforts should focus on awareness, education, and influence of key developer audiences. Identifies strategic partnerships and collaborations that can enhance the developer ecosystem and provide value to developers.Identifies opportunities to reach new market segments and expand market shareOversees all marketing activities within Cisco DeveloperDevelops marketing strategies, sets goals, ensures consistent brand messaging across various marketing channelsPrepares and manages monthly, quarterly and annual budgets for the Marketing departmentSets, monitors and reports on team goals and benchmarks.Implements process improvements to assist other departments for visibility.

San Jose, Ca, Us

- Responsible for Cisco Developer's thought leadership, customer storytelling, campaign, and web content globally, including leading content strategy, execution and measurement.- Collaborate cross-functionally with key stakeholders to translate technical material into compelling and differentiated stories that are easy to consume. Partner closely with the Corporate Comms, Product and Corporate Brand teams as we bring our story to external stakeholders and influencers.- Define the content strategy and plan that aligns to the complete customer journey and our Developer positioning.- Implement content programs that support large and small campaigns, always-on developer journeys, and lead editorial team in delivering world-class content to core user audiences in support of DevOps practices across various marketing channels in support of demand gen and customer loyalty.- Directly connect content into our go-to-market programs and enhance sales processes that help key audiences build a preference for Cisco products. - Establish goals and metrics to measure the quality of content, audience growth, engagement, and content reach and extensively analyze problems to seek understanding of the underlying issues in alignment with overarching business strategy- Build innovative assets that influence senior decision-makers, especially SecOps, DevOps, Infrastructure Engineers and Application Developers- Manage and support the team of content strategist, writers, editors, graphic designers, as well as third party agency partners to write, edit, produce, publish, and promote industry-leading content including white papers, eBooks, customer/developer stories, campaign emails, SEO content, and blogs- Stay up to date on the emerging trends and needs within the market and Developer personas and be responsive in adjusting content strategies to continue to stand out and differentiate Cisco software

San Jose, Ca, Us

Global GTM Product Marketing Program Lead for Cisco Nexus Cloud, Cisco Nexus Dashboard and Cisco ACI on the Cloud Networking Campaign team.- Digital Projects Lead responsible for managing and collaborating with key stakeholders to optimize web content on Cloud Networking external Cisco.com pages - Collaborate with product marketing teams and global regional teams to promote and develop compelling and strategic Cloud Networking promotional offers and webinars.- Manage strategic projects with key agency partners and product marketers to develop digital social and collateral for web (videos, infographics, etc.).- Manage social outreach in support of digital GTM activities including product launches and broader Cisco stories related to Cloud Networking.- Collaborate with global teams to support omnichannel standardization efforts.- Collaborate with Cisco's virtual demand center to optimize demand generation, improve customer buying experience, and increase conversion rates.- Recipient of Q1 FY21 Business Impact TEAM award for GTM work related to a Cisco Tier 1 launch for Cisco Nexus Dashboard, awarded by SVP.- Nominated for CSM All Star Team award Q3 FY21 for work related to Licensing Standardization.- Recipient of Q3 FY22 All Star Team Transformation Award for work related to Reimagining external Cisco.com web pages to support improved customer buying experiences, awarded by SVP.

Morrisville, Nc, Us

Responsibilities:• Lead the strategic planning and execution of Lenovo Data Center Group presence at key, global industry and analyst events including Mobile World Congress, Red Hat Summit, Nutanix .Next, SAP Sapphire, VMworld, Microsoft Ignite, Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo, SuperComputing, and Gartner IT Infrastructure, Operations & Cloud Strategies Conference, including event staffing and training.• Lead Data Center Group content strategy for the Lenovo owned event, Lenovo Transform in 2019.• Lead and manage the content planning for each event to include:• Identify and secure customer speakers in partnership with alliance, customer reference program manager and sales,• Identify and secure internal subject matter experts, executives and technology partners speakers with alliance and product marketing colleagues• Partner with alliance and product marketing to develop customized technology demos by event• Schedule and lead the pre-event review forums with customer and technology partners of their presentations within Lenovo’s in-booth theater and/or speaking sessions• Evaluation of messaging and copy provided by alliance and product marketing team members• Develop the key messages and input brief for agency created event assets (i.e. customer invitations, brand awareness signage, social media assets, etc).• Lead the monthly executive steering committee calls to share content plans, evaluate demo topics and offering prioritization• Partner with the event execution lead to ensure achievement of event deadlines, on-budget execution, delivery of assets for pre- and post event usage by Geo sales and marketing teams• Create and present executive summary charts of key messages, demos, and speaking sessions• Drive an ROI strategy and framework to measure impact of our marketing investments

Armonk, New York, Ny, Us

The With Watson Co-marketing Program Manager takes direction from the Director, Alliances and Client Experience to deliver a best-in-class co-marketing engine program experience to our Strategic With Watson partners, as well as the management of key marketing activities for Curated partners, as needed. Key Responsibilities:· Be the subject matter expert on co-marketing processes and operations.· Track program activity, as well as drive and support the timely preparation, submission and approval of the co-marketing plans in collaboration with partners to ensure program success.· Write and develop content to support co-marketing needs, as well as overall program web and internal enablement needs.· Maintain and develop the relationship with the With Watson Strategic partners, and applicable curated partners, by providing guidance on co-marketing activities.· Innovate and drive transformation and streamlining of the co-marketing processes to drive simplification and timely execution.· Share and /or adopt best practices with With Watson partners.· Work with the With Watson Strategic Watson Product Partnerships team to ensure co-marketing activities are in line with current technical program needs including the development of marketing plans, event participation, case studies, etc.· Contribute to the marketing strategy for the overall With Watson program including development of web content, internal communication content development, outreach and partnerships with key internal and external parties, and email nurture activities.• Support the presence of key partner and client stories and demos at IBM events, including World of Watson and Vivatech.· Liase with With Watson success managers to ensure proper marketing activities for curated partners.

Armonk, New York, Ny, Us

As an integral part of the IBM Watson Marketing and Communications Team, I was responsible for:• Developing and evolving the IBM Watson/Cognitive narrative - the key “story” that conveys the work of IBM's cognitive brand• Portfolio Marketing Management for IBM Watson Engagement Advisor (WEA)• Managing the operations and development of key customer references and case studies for external use.• Developing content for use by customer-facing teams, employees and partners as well as the general public that reinforces the Watson story, which includes presentations, infographics, demos, videos and other progressive storytelling techniques• Developing Executive Communications strategy and assets for use by senior executives in IBM Watson• Managing the core collection of assets that support the IBM Watson story for use by sales teams and the broader community of constituents including the IBM Annual Report (2015), as well as case studies, references and wins.• Supporting IBM Watson events through content, demos, and client engagement.• Supported the 2015 IBM Cognitive Launch through a collaborative effort to surface IBM Watson client stories and use cases for use in marketing and communications assets, resulting in a 2015 IBM Eminence and Excellence Award from the IBM Corporate CMO.

Armonk, New York, Ny, Us

• Responsible for assisting in the design and execution of strategic programs for IBM’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer with a special focus on content development, writing, editing, event execution, communities, and c-suite speaker and attendee engagement.Highlights:• Collaborate with corporate communications team to aid in editorial calendar for executive briefing materials and website content for various internal and external c-suite events.• Redesigned, strategized, and launched internal community for annual global recognition event honoring top 500 IBMers, resulting in a 400% increase in engagement among community members year to year.• Facilitated a ground-breaking social campaign at IBM THINK Forum targeting new buyers with a team of experts that exceeded senior leadership expectations, including: #THINKForum trending #5 on Twitter in the US with no paid media and no pre-event publicity, including: 22.4 million total impressions on Twitter in 7 days and nearly 3 million Twitter accounts reached.• Worked side-by-side with Vice President of Client Executive Marketing to recruit c-level speakers and other SMEs at C-Suite events in 2014. •Contributed to the execution of c-level client events in Johannesburg, South Africa and Lagos, Nigeria in January 2015 and January 2014 with a special focus on content development, event execution, and speaker engagement before and during the event resulting in an engaging main tent forum and reusable content for internal employee education on IBM strategic messages. • Developed demo strategy at strategic, closed-door, c-suite client meetings for IBM’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer.• Accepted into IBM’s prestigious Business and Technical Leadership (BTL) Program, designed to groom future leaders of the company.• Recipient of three Manager's Choice Awards for excellent performance. (2014-2015)

Armonk, New York, Ny, Us

• Executive Communications Lead for the first general manager of IBM Watson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/manojsaxena/)• Provided counsel, training, and advice to top IBM executives and their leadership teams on communications strategy.• Generated innovative content to help articulate and elaborate on strategy/direction for Software Group's senior leaders. • Generated and produced innovative web content (videos, blogs, internal news, etc.) to help articulate and elaborate on strategy/direction for Software Group’s senior leaders to targeted audiences, resulting in new best practices across the function• Wrote and executed memos, blogs, presentations, and videos for senior leadership.• Translated business strategies into targeted employee communications • Applied communications change management principles in identifying common objectives, while building communities to execute shared goals.• Trained new and existing global employees and IBM Leaders (SVPs and GMs) on communications best practices across the greater IBM brand.• Partnered with vice president of product marketing on communications strategies and internal outreach related to major IBM Watson announcements on both internal and external web sites and social mediums.• Developed internal and external videos and material that accurately reflects IBM Watson, example: A look inside the IBM Watson Solutions Lab: http://youtu.be/gaYDOiBl6gc, and Faces of Innovation: IBM Watson www.youtube.com/watch?v=blPYOhY8PtI• 2013 IBM Forward Thinker Award Recipient (Eminence & Excellence) for work with IBM Watson• Regularly worked with IBM vendors on internal and external media for IBM Software Group.

Armonk, New York, Ny, Us

As editor:• Served as global managing editor and writer for IBM Software Group digital content. Content included internal communications news articles, executive memos, internal social media campaign collateral (blogs, video blogs, and communities), and cross-company educational materials. • Managed global editorial calendar and global web team to develop more than 30 articles and blogs per month with a goal to increase employee engagement and understanding for an audience of 400,000 technical and lay readers. • Helped drive the internal social media strategy across IBM Software Group for 50,000 global IBMers including managing the design, usability, content and user experience of the IBM Software Community leading to increased user engagement and measured increase in website popularity and effectiveness.• Owned the web style guide for IBM Software Group and developed a content strategy that supported global product and brand launches, as well as internal engagement initiatives for IBM Software Group.• Identified and recruited subject matter experts, internal bloggers, and writers to create social media campaigns leading to higher adoption and awareness of campaigns and acquisitions through the use of web content.• Lead and organized the IBM Social Business coaching program for senior leaders and executives in collaboration with a team of social business strategists and experts. • Co-lead education sessions across Global Workforce Enablement on best practices in executive web communications and social strategy with 95% of attendees reporting “more than satisfied” results.• Provided strategic editorial direction in regards to digital content and effective communications. .• Drove internal social media strategy for IBM employees creating social media campaigns leading to higher adoption and awareness of social media as an effective internal communications tool within IBM, further driving IBM's social business platform.

Raleigh, Nc, Us

• Created and maintained more than 75 global relationships with potential and current high profile open source customers and key partners in order to accurately reflect global customer success with Red Hat solutions • Serve as liaison with global Brand and Marketing teams to create customer testimonials including videos (Examples: Travel Channel, NYSE Euronext), case studies, technical briefings, etc. • Spearheaded 2010 Innovation Award program (www.redhat.com/innovationawards) as part of Red Hat Customer Program, leading to nine new references in two months including Union Pacific, Marriott, Citigroup, salesforce.com, and Nationwide • Identifies opportunities to acknowledge and reward strategic customer references by arranging speaking opportunities at Red Hat Summit, executive meetings and awards• Maintained relationships with technology media in accordance with Customer Reference Program needs • Planned and managed 35 corporate ancillary events for 2010 Red Hat Summit and JBoss World for global customers, partners and open source community contributors • Created, edited and posted corporate press blogs and whitepapers on www.press.redhat.com and www.customers.redhat.com • Wrote and edited company award submissions leading to Top CFO and Healthiest Company awards • Wrote and distributed monthly global company newsletter for key partners and internal customers • Planned, coordinated and carried out 22 ancillary events at 2009 Red Hat Summit and JBoss World leading to stronger relationships between analysts, bloggers, key partners and customers • Supported public sector marketing team in planning and carry out stages of Red Hat presence at domestic government trade shows • Assisted in press interview monitoring between key technology media and Red Hat executives at 2009 and 2010 Red Hat Summit

St. Louis, Mo, Us

• Aided in the direction of statewide media training for physicians• Created deliverables, media alerts and invitations for large-scale government press conference leading to statewide broadcast coverage for client in all target areas• Created and maintained up-to-date media lists of bloggers and other media professionals• Developed strategic key messages, FAQs, and talking points for client advocacy campaigns • Created and edited media pitches with a focus on healthcare clients • Responsible for weekly and monthly coverage reports, yearly editorial calendars, monitoring daily media coverage, and maintaining clip books for healthcare and non profit clients

Armonk, New York, Ny, Us

• Created and edited press releases focusing on media relations for Lotus and Rational software brands • Authored International Customer Reference Press Release Package • Wrote executive and distinguished engineer bio and fact sheets • Created press kits and sparklers plus videos, wikis and other social media tools • Wrote executive memos and internal newsletter articles for IBM intranet • Attended industry trade show (Enterprise 2.0) and monitored executive press interviews with key technology bloggers and media • Pitched and monitored press interviews with IBM executives and product experts

Armonk, New York, Ny, Us

Software Group Customer References, Integrated Marketing Communications• Communicated with more than 700 global sales and marketing representatives to create, document and update written customer testimonials for use by worldwide sales and marketing organizations • Organized, designed and edited internal wikis and surveys

Brentford, Middlesex, Gb

• Wrote executive profiles, human interest stories, and assisted in creating presentations for town hall meetings and reviewing content for senior management

Raleigh, North Carolina, Us

• Served on staff that produced yearbook that won the National Pacemaker Award by the Associated Collegiate Press and was nominated for National Crown Award by the Collegiate Scholastic Press Association • Promoted to Section Editor after demonstrating strong leadership skills, excellent writing skills and a continued commitment to producing quality articles • Wrote articles for Agromeck yearbook and Technician newspaper that captured student life at NC State University

Bachelor, Organizational Communication And Public Relations, Minor In Journalism

Bachelor Of Arts - Ba