I've spent more than 30 years in technology, 25 of them at Cisco, building the networks that companies and countries run on, and the teams that sell and design them.
I started in Buenos Aires as a consultant at Andersen Consulting, then ran data operations and engineering at Telintar, where my team kept the networks carrying 55% of Argentina's data traffic up and running during a major corporate transition.
At Cisco I went from consulting systems engineer to the first Distinguished Systems Engineer appointed in Emerging Markets, advising executives and customers across Russia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America. From there I moved into leadership: technology strategy, sales engineering, software sales, and finally architecture sales, where I led 120 specialists and managers across Latin America, the Caribbean and Canada and exceeded a $2 billion annual quota.
In 2025 I joined TD SYNNEX as Vice President of Global Cybersecurity and Networking, leading the global Cisco relationship and the push to bring AI infrastructure to the midmarket.
Across every one of those roles, the hardest problems were never in the rack. They were about helping people understand a new technology, trust it, and change how they work. That's the work I focus on now.
The route so far
$ traceroute mariano --from 1992
- 11992–1995
ConsultantAndersen Consulting, Argentina
3 yrsAdvised clients on technology and business transformation.
- 21995–1999
Manager, Data Operations and Data EngineeringTelintar, Argentina
4 yrsRan the networks carrying 55% of Argentina's data traffic: internet, Frame Relay and Telex, serving millions of users.
- 31999–2008
Consulting Systems EngineerCisco, Emerging Markets and Latin America
9 yrsLed sales engineering for service provider voice, collaboration and TelePresence. CCIE in 2004.
- 42008–2010
Distinguished Systems Engineer, Advanced TechnologiesCisco, Emerging Markets
2 yrsThe first ever appointed in Emerging Markets. Senior technical advisor to executives, customers and partners.
- 52010–2012
Director, Technology StrategyCisco, Emerging Markets
2 yrsLed technology strategy and post-acquisition integration of specialist teams across four regions.
- 62012–2014
Director, Sales EngineeringCisco, Latin America and Caribbean
2 yrsLed dispersed engineering teams across networking, data center, security and collaboration.
- 72014–2015
Director, Enterprise Networking and Security Business DevelopmentCisco, Latin America and Caribbean
1 yrRan technical go-to-market and demand generation for the enterprise portfolio.
- 82015–2019
Director, Software SalesCisco, Latin America and Caribbean
4 yrsBuilt a team from zero to lead the move to subscriptions. Grew from a $20M quota to overachieving a $100M target.
- 92019–2023
Director, Architecture SalesCisco, Latin America and Caribbean
4 yrsLed 70 specialists and managers, consistently exceeding a $1B annual quota.
- 102023–2024
Senior Director, Architecture SalesCisco, Latin America, Caribbean and Canada
2 yrsLed 120 specialists and managers and exceeded a $2B annual quota.
- 112025–2026
Vice President, Global Cybersecurity and NetworkingTD SYNNEX, Global
1 yrGlobal executive lead for the Cisco relationship across AI-ready infrastructure, security, Splunk and cloud marketplaces.
- 12Now
Speaking and advising on AI adoption
…
A few things worth knowing
Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert, certified since 2004.
Still the hardest exam I've taken.Distinguished Systems Engineer appointed in Cisco Emerging Markets.
Countries supported as a keynote speaker, executive briefer and technology evangelist.
Working languages: English and Spanish.
On stage
What sets me apart on stage is translation. I take complex technology, explain it in words anyone can follow, and connect it to what it means for the business: revenue, risk, cost and people. Engineers stay engaged, and the board finally gets it.
- AI-ready infrastructure, without the hype
- The human side of AI adoption
- Leading technical teams across borders
Speaker bio
For event organizers: copy and paste as is.
Mariano O'Kon is a technology executive, keynote speaker and advisor with more than 30 years in the industry, 25 of them at Cisco. He was the first Distinguished Systems Engineer appointed in Cisco Emerging Markets and later led architecture sales across Latin America, the Caribbean and Canada, heading a team of 120 that exceeded a $2 billion annual quota. Most recently he was Vice President of Global Cybersecurity and Networking at TD SYNNEX. An electronic engineer and CCIE since 2004, he is known for explaining complex technology in simple terms and connecting it to business impact any audience can understand. He speaks in English and Spanish on AI-ready infrastructure and the human side of technology change.