10 Reflections and Learnings From My Transformative First Year and a Half at Cisco

I am committed to changing the world for the better. My life is dedicated to that mission. I joined Cisco a year and a half ago because of the company’s passion for purpose-driven work, and my journey so far has been transformational.

Currently, I am a member of the People, Policy & Purpose (3P) FLEX Emerging Leaders Program, which is a leadership rotational program for early-in-career individuals to explore careers within the various 3P teams.

Through this program, I have had such impactful and varied experiences, from growing Networking Academy’s student population (Cisco’s largest corporate social responsibility initiative!) to supporting Cisco’s Strategy, Development, and Governance team on various purposeful projects, and recently, becoming the Chief of Staff for Leslie Gordon, the Vice President of the Office of Accessibility. I have kept VERY busy and learned a TON.

So, in honor of working at Cisco for a year and half now (!!), I want to share some of my reflections and learnings from my time in corporate America. I do not think I am qualified to give advice yet, but I hope anyone reading will come away understanding that A) we early-in-career folks go through many of the same things, and B) we encourage honesty about our workplace experiences!

1. Before meeting with someone for the first time, look them up.

It is underrated how much a little bit of personal information can help a relationship or project along.

2. Taking VTO feels weird.

It is hard to step away from the projects I am involved in, especially when I know everyone is still working while I am out or may need something from me. But my leaders are incredibly supportive. Because of my emotions, I am grateful Cisco has company-wide shutdowns, where we can all recharge without worrying about missing any work.

3. When working in the remote and hybrid world, take fun calls!

We often miss water cooler talk when we are working in different locations, and although extra calls might feel daunting, they can end up being energizing and create closer relationships with colleagues. I love doing 1:1s with my fellow FLEXers, whether we’re chatting about rotations, pop culture, or our weekend plans—they are a great way to recharge. Then, it is even more fun to catch up in person!

4. Network, network, network.

(It is hard! And scary! But SO worth it.)

5. Do not be afraid of reaching out to your skip level!

There is so much to learn from them, and people often love mentoring. The skip level for my second rotation was Elaine Mason, Senior Vice President of Strategy, Development & Governance (SDG). I was incredibly impressed (and grateful!) with her willingness to give me advice and guidance. I am having the same experience with my current skip level, Brian Tippens, Senior Vice President and Chief Social Impact Officer. Both leaders are also FLEX Executive Sponsors (dedicating even more time to support early-in-career talent!), and are examples of the many Cisco leaders who go above and beyond to make themselves accessible to their wider teams.

6. Volunteer when possible.

I did not volunteer enough this year. I am working on that for next year, especially because Cisco gives us 80 hours of paid time off called “Time2Give” where we can volunteer with organizations or causes we feel passionate about. And yes, this is IN ADDITION (!!) to our VTO!!! Can we pause for a second there and think about how COOL that is?!

7. When delivering difficult news for a project, try to end on a positive note.

It is important to be able to communicate hard news, but stay focused on your goals and keep things moving forward. Positive outlooks are key!

8. This may be debatable, but I have found that saying “yes” 98% of the time AND delivering on that “yes” has really helped me build trust with others.

For example, I recently said “yes” to attending Cisco Live, Cisco’s annual global conference for IT professionals, industry leaders, and tech enthusiasts to explore the latest innovations, as a Cisco Crisis Response volunteer. Although I had never been to Cisco Live before, and being in Las Vegas for four days sounded intimidating, I went and had one of the best weeks ever! Plus, I got to spend a lot of time in Cisco’s NERV truck. (Check it out! It’s one of coolest things about Cisco.)

9. Work is different than anything I have experienced in my life.

This is a marathon for the next 40 years, where I will continue to learn the concept of small wins and celebrate them when they happen! Patience is key in this professional world.

10. And last, but certainly not least: Work is important, but the relationships in life outside of work are REALLY important.

Being at a company like Cisco has shown me the beauty of having work-life balance—including taking advantage of Cisco’s “Days for Me”—which they give us as a company, once a quarter, to help us reset and connect with what matters most outside of work.

I am so thankful for the support during my workforce journey so far, and I am even more grateful to be at Cisco. I can’t wait to come back in ten years and share everything else I will learn along the way!

Which learning do you connect with the most? Leave a comment and share!

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