From Intern to Partnership Manager – Career Spotlight of Hannah Mandaza

[BELovattUK]

I’m Hannah Mandaza, UK&I Nutanix Alliance Manager. I live in Tadley, Hampshire, UK and I grew up in Maldon, Essex, UK.

My career with HPE started when I joined as an intern in the Sales Strategy and Planning team in 2015. I was assigned to servers, and it was a lot of working in the background with numbers, statistics, and forecasting what was coming.

I enjoyed the work and felt that I was pushed to do better and make the processes better for the next intern, although my role was mainly in the background I was asked to support and help run face to face events which allowed me to try something new and experience working outside of my immediate team.

When I returned to university in 2017, I had to decide what I wanted to do after I graduated. After a couple of years in different industries and roles, I returned to HPE as the UK&I Core Compute Business Development Manager. I interviewed in the room where I was given my send-off as an intern, so it felt like a full 360 experience!

There was a lot to learn in my new role, but I love a challenge and thrive by being put in the deep end and figuring it all out. Getting back into the mindset of working in the IT industry and what was expected of a Business Development Manager took a bit of time - I fell flat on my face in some of my initial meetings but each time I picked myself up with the support of my managers and vowed to improve each time, which I did!

Remote wine tasting event with the team.When I first started the role, within a few months the industry had some supply difficulties and then COVID hit. Just as I started to feel like I was figuring this role out and getting out to see partners, resellers, and customers, I had to learn all over again how to do this role solely from home and still grow the business while everyone else was adjusting to this new way of living and working. Adapting to the new normal was a challenge to people in all industries and circumstances but I believe everyone I know and have met rose to the challenge and made it work.

The support from HPE and management during this time was amazing, whatever we needed we got, a chat about business or how you are personally coping was available whenever you needed, and there were virtual quizzes to end each week on a high and get some social interaction. This kept work not just about work and meeting your goals and quota each quarter but brought some of the office atmosphere home. We got to just chat as a team and just have a laugh like you would in the office!

It was exactly what everyone needed when we were all stuck inside. More things were going on than I can remember or explain but all I can say is we all pulled together as a team to make sure everyone got through and got to be themselves rather than just talk about business all the time.

At the end of 2020, I was offered a new role within the Compute team to be the UK&I Nutanix Business Development Manager, I was informed when I took this on that it would be a challenge and there would be a few obstacles to overcome - they weren’t wrong!Not your typical business 'obstacles'.

There were some perceptions internally that we needed to change that would help open the door to achieve more with Nutanix DX. This involved a lot of relationship management and developing the partnership between HPE and Nutanix. We did this through training, virtual socializing, and bringing the two teams together.

Changing the perception of Nutanix and showing the size of the business that we could gain through the HPE and Nutanix partnership meant that the business in UK&I has gone from strength to strength and it continues to grow by unlocking and enabling different parts of the business.

Representing team HPE!There isn’t a quick fix or standard route to use so there has been a lot of trial and error, but every small win means we are a step closer to where we want and need to be for this partnership. In my second year of looking after the Nutanix and HPE relationship, we are starting to see the results and the hard work in the first year has paid off! Not only have we improved partnership and work relationships between the two businesses but also met our targets for both HPE and Nutanix.

We are going from strength to strength, and we will continue to work on this partnership and get the business to where both companies want it to be!

How has your experience of working at HPE differed from your expectations before you started?

As I worked for HPE as an intern I knew some of the things to expect but I knew since I left in 2016 and returned in 2019 that the company had gone through some changes, so I didn’t know how that had impacted the culture and workplace.

However, the basis and core of HPE always stayed the same, they respect their employees and want employees to always strive for better, for the business and within their careers.

I have worked in other companies since university and I can say I have always felt comfortable at HPE, always being myself within the role and knowing that I am always being pushed to be the best version of myself, without question.

It has always felt that the team you work in is like your team of cheerleaders supporting you and celebrating your wins at work and home.

What have been some of your greatest achievements or highlights of working at HPE?

My greatest achievements are all the personal achievements and growth that I have had since I started at HPE in 2019. However, if I was to pick one achievement it would be when I was offered this role with Nutanix, to work and build a relationship with the partner within HPE.

I was told it would be a challenge but that I had the skills I needed to make it a success. Even though I may not have believed it at the time, I do always enjoy a challenge, so I was ready for it and so far, we have hit all the goals we have set since I got the role in November 2020.

At HPE people see your strengths and only want what is best for you, even if you don’t always see it in yourself. You are challenged and pushed out of your comfort zone so you can keep growing and improve your area of the business.

What is the most exciting part about the team that you are part of?

The team gets to work on amazing products and partnerships that make a real difference to the business in UKIMESA. Also, the team itself is very supportive and encouraging for every one of us to do our best. Although in some parts of the team we look after competing products within Compute we still work together and advise so we can all improve all areas of our business. There is room for all solutions within the Compute business so there is no need for internal rivalry.

What would you say to those interested in a career within HPE? What have you learned and would like them to know?

HPE is a company that celebrates your wins and always pushes for you to be your best, who wouldn’t want to work for a company where their employees are at their core? HPE offers support to all employees in their personal and work life, here you can accelerate your career and try new things while taking on real responsibility to impact and influence the different teams within HPE to get the results you need for your side of the business.

In the Business Development team, we are given a part of the business and told to run it as if it is your business, you are given full responsibility with all the support you need, decisions are yours to make and influence different departments as you see fit.

This gives you independence and conviction of your actions but there is always support for actions that you cannot complete without outside influence and team support to discuss difficult decisions to help select the right outcome.

What inspires you?

I am always inspired by my family; I always strive to build a life that I can be proud of and enjoy with my family and make those around me proud of my achievements. I am also inspired by those I work with, seeing how they have committed to and grown their careers and I look at how I can do the same for myself. Overall, I am inspired by a lot of things and people around me that I talk to or read about. People can achieve so much and witnessing or reading about their adventures are so inspiring and can inspire you in your journey through life.

How do you relax?

I relax in several ways; I go to the gym for my physical health but also to clear my head. I enjoy going on long walks with friends and watching a good show or film in the evenings. I make greetings cards in my spare time for friends and family, it keeps me busy, but it also gives me such a warm feeling when I see people’s reactions to what I have made, rewarding but also nice to take time out to relax and do something creative.

What is your advice for getting the most out of life?

Value your time and find a way of switching off so you can relax and enjoy time with your family and friends. Don’t feel guilty for making time for yourself and trust in yourself that you are being and doing the best you can. Slow down to enjoy and embrace all the big and small things in your day-to-day life.

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