From Small Village to International Profession: My Journey at Cisco

Earlier than Cisco was a brand on a campus poster, it was a dream I used to be unsure belonged to me.

I grew up in a small village in Uttarakhand, India, in a lower-middle-class household. My father is a farmer, and my mom runs a small dairy enterprise. I watched her work within the fields from 3:30 within the morning till 8 at night time. Her willpower formed me lengthy earlier than I understood what a profession may appear like. I needed to construct a life that may give my mother and father extra consolation and safety.

The Interview I By no means Anticipated To Cross

Once I accomplished my grasp’s diploma, Cisco was the primary firm to return to my faculty for on-campus hiring. All through my life, I had studied in authorities faculties the place we realized in Hindi, and English was nonetheless a barrier for me. I had solely simply began writing exams in English.  

Once I entered the room, I used to be actually shaking, however the interviewers instantly handed me a glass of water and mentioned, “As a lot as you’ll like to be part of Cisco, we additionally need to see you at Cisco, so simply give it your greatest.” One among them informed me, “Talk your ideas in no matter method you may. Language can all the time be realized, however what we’re actually searching for is ardour and robust communication expertise.” That kindness modified all the things.

That dialog grew to become the start of my journey. Solely three folks from the grasp’s batch had been chosen.  

I used to be one in all them.

In 2019, I joined Cisco as a technical advisor intern in Bengaluru. I may hardly imagine it, and I keep in mind staying awake that night time interested by how somebody from my background had reached an organization so many college students dreamed of becoming a member of.

Cisco gave me the prospect to develop into the individual I had hoped I may develop into.

A Profession That Stored Opening New Doorways

When the pandemic modified the way in which we labored, I grew to become interested by life on the opposite aspect of the world and dealing throughout totally different cultures, however I didn’t need to depart the group that had supported me — I had realized the foundations of technical consulting, made lifelong mates, and even met my husband at Cisco. My search led me to Poland, the place my supervisor, Piotr, took a daring wager on me. He sponsored my transfer, patiently navigating the visa course of and retaining me linked to the crew all through the wait. 

A couple of months after I arrived, crew modifications created a large hole in supporting main enterprise prospects. As a substitute of letting that overwhelm us, Piotr and our management crew gave us the boldness to step up. I bought to assist rent and mentor new crew members whereas managing these key accounts — an expertise that gave me great confidence and visibility.

My profession at Cisco has been a collection of “uncomfortable yeses” taking me throughout three continents to this point. I shifted into implementation engineering and finally moved into management for Buyer Supply Engineering, the place I now lead the product adoption operate for ThousandEyes Skilled Companies, serving to our most strategic enterprise prospects resolve actual enterprise issues whereas driving development for the enterprise. All through this journey, I’ve had the privilege of scaling groups, defining and governing packages like our ThousandEyes regional onboarding requirements and international buyer adoption playbook, and incomes a CE Affect Award for cross-regional management in Buyer Expertise. 

Alongside the way in which, I’ve seen vivid, beneficiant colleagues push themselves whereas making room for others to develop, which impressed me to do the identical. I’m nonetheless studying, however I discovered myself bringing folks collectively, serving to join the dots, and ensuring folks felt supported when issues bought tough. It’s a shared effort, and it taught me that management is just not about having all of the solutions. It’s about displaying up, creating readability, and making it simpler for the crew to do their greatest work. 

From India to Poland and, most not too long ago, america, the place I now reside in North Carolina, every transfer introduced a brand new function, new expectations, and new classes. In addition they supplied me with alternatives I as soon as would have discovered intimidating, together with the prospect to step onto a stage. 

For my first talking session, I used to be surrounded by younger college students who had been about to graduate, and I may see how they checked out Cisco as their dream firm — similar to I as soon as did throughout my very own faculty placements. That made the session really feel very pure. 

Cisco Reside, nonetheless, was way more nerve-wracking. The room was full of individuals with years of business expertise, all there to take heed to me, which felt virtually unreal. My supervisor, crew, and husband supported me all through. My supervisor shared talking ideas, my crew helped me apply by way of demo periods, and my husband inspired me to submit the session and put together the content material. 

Once I walked out of that room, I felt like a way more assured individual. It made an enormous distinction. That’s why I all the time encourage the folks I mentor to present public talking a strive. Most of us have stage concern, however generally doing it simply as soon as can change the way you see your self and what you’re able to. 

The Folks Who Make the Distinction

What makes Cisco particular to me isn’t just the dimensions of the expertise, however the individuals who encourage you to take the following step. My husband and I met as interns, and his assist has been one of many regular components of my journey. We every moved from India to Poland and later to america by way of totally different roles and alternatives, however someway on the identical time. Trying again, pulling that off feels nothing wanting a miracle.

Reflecting on all of it, I’ve realized that the ‘fixed’ at Cisco is the profound respect and transparency I’ve present in management. Whether or not I used to be in India, Poland, or the US, I’ve been in a position to be trustworthy about what I would like, and my leaders have all the time responded by treating me as a companion on the identical journey. Having my husband as a companion who really understands the rhythm of this life — and having a management crew that treats me with this stage of respect — has made each profession threat really feel like a shared journey.

Cisco has given me greater than a profession; it has given me a group and a life I as soon as may solely think about. Most significantly, Cisco helped me create a extra peaceable and delightful life for my mom and my household. That’s the a part of my story I maintain closest. Each promotion, new function, presentation, and transfer has which means due to the place I began and who I needed to assist.

The Braveness To Knock

For me, Cisco began as a dream I may barely say out loud. It grew to become a profession throughout three continents, a circle of individuals I like, and the chance to vary my household’s life. I’ve realized that development usually begins with an uncomfortable sure — and that the following door could open solely after you discover the braveness to knock. 

Able to take the following step in your international profession journey? Discover alternatives the place you may develop, thrive, and make an affect at careers.cisco.com. 

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