I'm adventurous at heart – always have been. People, cultures, and places – music, art, food, and leadership!
I have truly enjoyed living and working in Europe, the US, and Asia and traveling to places in-between.
I was born and raised amidst the fjords of Norway's remote West Coast.
Ole Bent Rye
Overview
35 years of global
business experience
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Executive with Cisco for 18 years based in Europe and Silicon Valley, California.
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During my tenure, we grew Cisco from start-up to the world's most valuable company and went on to become the indispensable heart of digital communication.
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Co-founder and Board Member of SynapC — a Norway-based Document Intelligence and Collaboration platform.
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CEO of Temasys Communications based in Singapore for 5 years. Global operations with offices in Palo Alto, CA and Bangkok, Thailand.
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Life-long adventurer. People, culture and places.
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Lived and worked in Europe, the US and Asia.
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Former long-distance mountain and marathon runner.
Professional Experience
SynapC
Co-founder & Board Member
2022 - Present
Our mission is to empower people to engage with everyone that shares their interests and passions, accelerating and improving collaborations worldwide.
— Norway-based AI start-up company Delivering Document Intelligence and Collaboration platform
OBR
Founder & Principal
2020 - Present
— Infuse your entire company with effective hybrid leadership!
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Leadership, Culture and Organizational Development
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Executive Mentoring
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At Cisco we pioneered the hybrid work methodology using our own Internet technology
Temasys Communications
CEO
2015 - 2020
Chairman & Board Member
Singapore
HQ in Singapore with offices in Palo Alto, CA & Thailand
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Leading a highly dynamic and innovative Asia-based technology company
Founder & Principal
OBR
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Leadership, Culture and Organizational Development
2011 - 2015
Palo Alto, California & Worldwide
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Executive Mentoring
Cisco
Director
1993 - 2011
Europe & Silicon Valley, California
Headquarters, Silicon Valley (1997-2011)
Stockholm, Sweden (1993-1996)
Worked extensively within all operating theatres:
US, Europe, Middle-East and Asia Pacific
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Joined Cisco’s European start-up team in 1993 as Head of Partners. We created incredible business success and growth.
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Relocated to Cisco’s Headquarters, Silicon Valley in 1997 — learned what it takes to build a truly great company.
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In 1999 nominated to Cisco’s “Global Leader Program” — A 12-month training program for high-potential leaders.
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Over a 10-year period, built and run Cisco’s Major Deals Organization worldwide.
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Grew my organization to have employees in 25 countries with responsibility for $15 billion worth of deals annually.
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Named "Leader of the Year" at Cisco’s 2006 Global Company Meeting in Las Vegas by Worldwide Sales Operations.
Macrotek
VP Sales
1990 - 1993
Stockholm, Sweden
— A technology systems integrator
Norsk Data
& Hughes Aircraft
Software Developer & Project Manager
1982 - 1990
Los Angeles, California (1985-1990)
Oslo, Norway (1982-1985)
Starting out!
I began my career as a communication software developer. I was fascinated by how computer technology could connect people around the world. I joined Cisco in the early 1990s — to realize my passion for creating genuinely global communication networks.
First programming experience!
Cisco
As a leader at Cisco for 18 years, I built and led Hybrid Teams around the world with employees in 25 countries. I started in Europe and later relocated to Cisco's Silicon Valley Headquarters in California.
During my tenure at Cisco, we grew the company to 60,000 employees, increased revenue to $40B, acquired 146 companies, and achieved a peak market cap of $555B, making it the world's most valuable company.
None of us at Cisco could have imagined the impact we ultimately would have on connecting our planet.
CEO
Later on, I had the opportunity to run Singapore-based Temasys Communications as its CEO for five years, from 2015 to 2020.
A great experience running a very dynamic and innovative Asia-based company.
Today, I want to give back from my enriching experience by training, coaching, and mentoring experienced executives and next-generation leaders.
This is truly my passion!
Speaker and Panelist
SLASSCOM People Summit
Engaging, Coaching, and Leading People in a Hybrid World
Capgemini, New York
Having lived and worked in different places around the world has brought tremendous richness and experiences to my life!
