Loretta Nelson

Strategic technology executive with 40+ years scaling global businesses and partnerships at Cisco, VMware, Dell Technologies, and ServiceNow, growing Cisco's IBM business from $300M to $3B.

About Me

I am a strategic technology executive with more than four decades of experience across corporate strategy, global alliances, operations, and business transformation. After graduating from UC Berkeley, I began my career selling and integrating Unix-based computer systems before moving into networking software, strategic partnerships, and executive leadership. My career has given me the opportunity to help shape major technology relationships and lead complex global organizations at companies including Cisco, Arista Networks, VMware, Dell Technologies, and ServiceNow.

Career Highlights

At Cisco, I led strategic relationships with Microsoft and IBM, growing the Cisco–IBM business from $300 million to $3 billion globally. I later managed global technology and OEM partnerships at VMware before joining Dell Technologies, where I led its long-term strategic planning process, corporate consulting function, and executive decision framework. Most recently, as Chief of Staff and Global Vice President of Strategic Operations at ServiceNow, I helped lead a $3 billion organization spanning engineering, cloud operations, services, and support, while supporting its growth from approximately 5,000 to more than 10,000 employees.

Techquity Solutions

I help clients connect business, technology, operational, and people priorities so that complex initiatives deliver meaningful results. My experience allows me to bridge deep technical expertise with the needs of CEOs and boards, strengthen strategic client relationships, and bring multiple workstreams together into a cohesive story. I also help organizations scale responsibly, structure effective partnerships, negotiate mutually beneficial agreements, communicate with different executive audiences, and accelerate the adoption of rapidly evolving technologies such as AI.

Innovation & Impact

• Grew Cisco's global IBM business from $300 million to $3 billion
• Led strategic technology relationships with Microsoft, IBM, HP, EMC, and other global organizations
• Managed cloud and support operations serving organizations including NASCAR, the London Olympics, Warner Music, and Sony Music
• Led Dell Technologies' long-term planning, corporate consulting, and executive decision-making processes (Dell Management Model)
• Helped scale a $3 billion ServiceNow organization from approximately 5,000 to more than 10,000 employees
• Consistently managed annual budgets and staffing plans to within 1% of targets
• Led the rapid training of 9,000 engineers on AI tools and adoption practices
• Built extensive expertise in strategic partnerships, contract negotiation, organizational culture, and enterprise transformation

Why Techquity?

I joined Techquity because I believe strongly in the value of advice from people who have done the work, not simply studied it. Techquity brings together an exceptional group of experienced technology leaders whose collective judgment can help clients navigate complex decisions and major industry transitions. It gives me the opportunity to continue working with talented people, strengthen client relationships, and help organizations adopt new technologies and scale successfully—while applying my experience in a focused, high-impact way.