MMMBop From Jump to Conclusions Mats to Cybersecurity Sales Engineering with Kirk Hanson

That Tech Pod

Today Kevin and Laura sit down with Kirk Hanson, a seasoned Sales Engineering leader with an impressive career spanning industry giants like SentinelOne, Splunk, BMC, and IBM. From kicking things off with a nostalgic nod to Hanson’s MMMBop to deep insights on the evolution of sales engineering, this conversation is packed with wisdom, humor, and career-defining moments.

Kirk shares how his journey into tech started with an unexpected edge—his fluency in Japanese—and how strong mentorship shaped his path. He goes into the balancing act of technical expertise and business acumen in sales engineering, how AI and automation are reshaping the field, and why human connection remains irreplaceable in building customer trust. We also explore trends in cybersecurity, cloud, and big data, including a candid discussion on false positives at SentinelOne. Kirk reflects on his time at Splunk, where he co-founded the Solution Architect team, and the impact of international experience on data privacy and cybersecurity strategies. Kirk offers advice for aspiring sales engineers, leadership lessons from his global career, and a glimpse into what’s next for him. Oh, and a friendly reminder: never miss your one-on-ones with your employees.

But it’s not all business—we make some fun detours into pop culture, from Office Space’s infamous “Jump to Conclusions” mat to Laura’s struggles with her futuristic WalkCar from Japan. Plus, Kirk shares his passion for supporting the Navy SEAL Foundation and his ongoing quest to collect challenge coins. Tune in for an engaging, insightful, and laugh-filled conversation with one of the best in the business!

Kirk Hanson is a highly experienced Sales Engineering Manager with over 20 years of expertise leading sales engineering teams at top software companies such as SentinelOne, Splunk, BMC, and IBM. Specializing in cybersecurity, cloud technologies, big data, and data analytics, Kirk is a strategic advocate for customers, leveraging value-based selling and consultative approaches to close complex sales. Throughout his career, he has built and led high-performing presales teams, created innovative sales tools, and consistently delivered strong results. Fluent in Japanese, he has conducted numerous presentations across Asia and led multiple executive panels for leadership networks. His notable achievements include co-creating the Solution Architect team at Splunk, earning multiple awards such as SE Manager of the Year (Americas), and receiving the Innovation Award for developing new demo platforms. He holds a BA in International Studies from the University of California, San Diego, and has pursued post-graduate work at Cal-State Hayward.