Mike Hayes

Collaborator
DISC Type : is

Managing Director, Insight Partners at Insight Partners

Westport, Connecticut, United States

Overview

Mike Hayes is a Managing Director at Insight Partners, a global software investment firm. He was previously the COO at VMware, where he guided the companys SaaS transition and global business operations. He earned his Masters in Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School.

Outside of his corporate roles, Mike is a best-selling author who wrote "Never Enough" and "Mission Driven. " He frequently speaks on aligning work with personal values and creating a mission-driven culture, drawing from his extensive leadership experience to inspire others.

Before entering the tech industry, Mike served for 20 years as a U. S. Navy SEAL, holding roles including Commanding Officer of SEAL Team TWO.

Personality Overview

Good Listener

Fair-minded

Example Driven

Unlike D or C types, they are calm as well as friendly and can give the impression of being more receptive than they actually are.  They are more likely to go for proven solutions. Win-win scenarios can appeal strongly to them.

Topics They Care About

Software Investing
As Managing Director at Insight Partners, his primary focus is on investing in and scaling global software companies across various stages of growth.
Mission-Driven Leadership
A core theme in his books and public speaking, he advocates for aligning professional work with personal values to enhance performance and fulfillment.
SaaS Transformation
As COO of VMware, he was directly responsible for leading the company's strategic shift to a Software-as-a-Service model.

Media Appearances

Insight Partners Managing Director Mike Hayes at RSAC 2025. Featured in New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) – Interviews

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Mike Hayes, Managing Director of Insight Partners at RSAC. Featured in YouTube

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Work History

1-2024
Managing Director, Insight Partners at Insight Partners
10-2020 - 1-2024
Chief Operating Officer, VMware at VMware
9-2018
Board Of Directors at Immuta
1-2017 - 10-2020
Senior Vice President and Head of Strategic Operations at Cognizant
12-2016 - 6-2023
Senior Advisor at Inherent Group

Education

2003 - 2005
MPP from Harvard Kennedy School
1989 - 1993
BA from College of the Holy Cross

More Information

Social Presence :

Prographics :

Exp : 17 Location : Westport, Connecticut, United States Job Level : Mid-senior Designation : Managing Director, Insight Partners at Insight Partners
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Insights For Selling To Mike

During A Call Or A Meeting

DO's

  • Show genuine interest in solving their problems
  • If possible, involve their colleagues in the sales process
  • Summarize the key points at the end of the conversation

DONT's

  • Don’t ask too many questions that sound too dry and objective
  • Don’t give the impression of being unproven or risky
  • Don’t get into excessive details unless prompted

When Cold Calling

When Writing An Email

While Negotiating & Closing

    The secret to closing fast with Mike is

  • Relationship and rapport play a major role, followed by low risk and the presence of proof points.
  • Will you ever get a clear answer from Mike

  • They are diplomatic when the need arises; they hardly ever say a direct no.

Insights For Deal Planning

    How fast (or slow) will Mike move?

  • They can take their time to reach decisions, even while they stay engaged and friendly.
  • Can Mike take some risk or not?

  • They are unlikely to take many risks.

You And Mike

Personality Compatibility


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