Eric Cook
“If you can run through brick walls with a smile on your face, you are taking a step in the right direction.”
Eric Cook joined the Nutanix team just under two years ago because he says, “Nutanix is a big-time company, but still gives you that startup feel,” and he was attracted to our “all in” mentality.
When he’s not at work, you’ll find him on the golf course, at his favorite pizza place, or spending time with his new baby daughter and loving family. Eric’s team describes him as extremely energetic and “occasionally a little weird,” but they mean it in the best way possible!
“All In” on Day One
Before getting into tech, Eric worked in the insurance industry and says it was one of those “keep your head down and don’t smile” cultures where everyone was an individual, not part of a team. That didn’t mesh well with Eric, who likes to work hard and also have fun. “When you are able to bring those two things together, that’s when you will truly create greatness.”
Eric knew he would be happy to call Nutanix his home on his first day as a Nutant.
“I actually started in Las Vegas at our annual Sales Kick Off. Not only was it my first day of employment with a new company, but it was the first time I had ever been to Las Vegas, so needless to say I was sweating bullets. From the second I touched down, the other SDR Managers made me feel welcome. By the end of my first day, [my new teammates] had introduced me to my entire team and showed me the in’s and out’s of Nutanix so I wasn’t fending for myself. That “all in” culture immediately became embedded in me and I have tried to pay that forward ever since.”
Eric started at Nutanix managing eight amazing Sales Development Reps (SDRs) in the north. Since then, he’s taken on a new Inside Sales Rep (ISR) Manager role where he works with our Enterprise ISRs in North America and also our Founders Team made up of Nutanix Specialty Inside Sales Reps, Inside Account Executives and Sales Development Reps.
Leading by Example … and Laughter
Eric believes it’s important for leaders to role model the cultural behaviors and norms they want to see reflected across the company in order to lead their teams in the right direction. He focuses on empowering, teaching, mentoring, and supporting his teams to ensure everyone knows they are not on this journey alone. “By doing this and adding in a few jokes and laughs along the way, the culture continues to grow into something truly unique that you will not find at other large tech companies across the world.”
Diversity and Belonging
To Eric, diversity and inclusion are more than just about who you are or where you come from. It’s about ensuring a sense of belonging and having each other’s backs while working together towards a common goal. “I always tell my team that if you can run through brick walls with a smile on your face, you are taking a step in the right direction.”