Spencer Sells

About Spencer Sells

I build innovative businesses and help people around me achieve more—at work and in life. Over my career, I’ve scaled new opportunities from $1M to >$1B by combining product innovation, clear go‑to‑market strategies, and pragmatic changes to company processes.How I operate:* Customer‑obsessed: start with outcomes, ship MVPs, iterate fast* Vision + execution: evangelize a clear path, then drive measurable results* Cross‑functional collaboration: unite product, engineering, sales, and partners* Empowerment: coach teams, elevate talent, and create enduring relationships* Grit + adaptability: stay persistent and adjust as signals changeMy superpower is translating between business and technology—listening well, tailoring communication to the audience, and applying organizational foresight (who needs what, when). I believe you can learn from everyone—and I live by a simple rule: don’t be a jerk. Domains: AI, Cloud and hybrid cloud (AWS, Azure, Google), data/storage, virtualization, Kubernetes, containers, SaaS/IaaS/PaaS, storage networking, Skills: Alliances & Business Development, Product management, solution architecture, technical marketing, strategic planning, portfolio and market analysis, alliances, OEM, distribution, GTM, and high‑performance team building.Current focus: partnering to accelerate modernization across multi‑cloud and alternative virtualization stacks—turning complex transitions into simple, customer‑ready MVPs.

Experience

1. VP, Global Alliances

   NetApp

   May 2025 — Present · San Jose, CA, US

   I lead the team managing technical alliances for NetApp to create unique solutions and drive revenue through go-to-market activities. Our alliances and ecosystem are critical to protecting and growing our $6B+ business.

Education

• Stanford University

  Bachelor's degree, International Relations

  1986 — 1990

• Johns Hopkins

  Master of Arts (MA), International economics, Japan Studies

  1991 — 1993

Skills

• Saas
• San
• Storage
• Enterprise Storage
• Product Marketing
• Program Management
• Multi-Channel Marketing
• Partner Management
• Cloud Storage
• Operating Systems
• Business Alliances
• Storage Virtualization
• Channel Partners
• Data Center
• Fibre Channel
• Cloud Computing
• Professional Services
• Storage Area Networks
• Enterprise Software
• Nas
• Strategy
• Marketing
• Sales Enablement
• Virtualization
• Vmware
• Disaster Recovery
• Citrix
• Product Management
• Demand Generation
• Management
• Solution Selling
• Go-to-Market Strategy