I was featured on an episode of Beyond the Blue Badge, podcast from the Microsoft Alumni Network. Season 8, Episode 10: From techie to generalist with Kenneth Rivera

Kenneth Rivera, a technology veteran who calls himself a "computer geek" who loves "programming, playing around with the computer." Kenneth, currently the VP of Engineering at Growth Acceleration Partners (GAP), offers humble and insightful lessons from his time as a Director of Customer Success Account Management at the Microsoft subsidiary in Costa Rica.

Kenneth explains that the Costa Rican subsidiary acts as a critical, high-exposure hub supporting the entire Latin America (LATAM) region. While working in a subsidiary can present unique career path challenges—as opportunities often depend on budgets outside the immediate team—it provides an unparalleled advantage: sharp exposure to diverse LATAM cultures, which hones vital sales and soft skills.

His career philosophy is defined by constantly acquiring diverse experiences, which he refers to as becoming a "Swiss Army Knife." This involved a deliberate, non-linear move from pure engineering into a sales role, all to build a broader executive perspective. He describes the move from the process-heavy "huge monster" of Microsoft to the more agile GAP as an opportunity to rapidly build and implement fresh, big-picture processes.

Kenneth Rivera's Key Takeaways for Technical Leaders

  • Be a Generalist (The Swiss Army Knife Approach): Kenneth believes aiming for an executive role requires a wide-ranging skill set. He advises leaders to "Actively seek out experiences in multiple areas like technology, sales, HR, and finance to become a 'generalist' with a broader view, essential for executive leadership."
  • Customer Exposure is Critical: According to Kenneth, the most valuable learning happens at the interface with the client. Being directly in front of customers, pitching solutions, and practicing negotiation builds the confidence needed to handle high-stakes contracts and ultimately accelerates career growth.
  • Network Constantly and with Intent: Networking is about authentic connection, not transactions. Kenneth stresses: "If you only try to reach out when you need something, they will see you as needy. That's not a relationship. That's a one-way direction." Effective networking requires investing time, being present, and adding value to others first.
  • Master Clarity in Communication: Technical leaders must be able to translate complexity into simplicity. Kenneth was inspired by Judson Althoff’s style, noting that clarity is more important than how smart one sounds.
  • Understand LATAM Culture: Kenneth highlights the cultural context of business in Latin America, noting that it is "relationship-driven and often more social, relying on person-to-person communication." For leaders, this means understanding that "People resist 'top-down communication' and expect leaders to explain the 'why' behind decisions," valuing knowledge and transparency over title alone.

Memorable Quotes from the Podcast

"I feel like I speak English, Spanish, and Technology... think about that as an additional language for you to talk with other people."
"If you only try to reach out when you need something, they will see you as needy. That's not a relationship. That's a one-way direction."
"The hardest thing is to simplify complicated scenarios into simple words. Clarity is more important than how smart you sound."
"It's a huge monster [Microsoft], and the good thing about the huge monster is the process... The bad thing is... sometimes you want to move fast, and the process is just too heavy."