Reaching My Ultimate Goal: Cisco Live!

In undergrad at East Carolina University, I stumbled across Cisco Live.

Although I was a communications major interested in journalism and mass media, I was familiar with the lucrative opportunities in the Raleigh-Durham area at various tech companies and I wanted to land a great job at one of them someday. Cisco was the second company I researched. The first thing I saw on the homepage was Cisco Live. I was intrigued by the collaboration with the featured companies that year, pictures of the diverse attendees, and, as elementary as this may sound, the colors were phenomenal. I had no clue what this event nor the company was about, but the landing page was so inviting, I immediately knew I wanted to be a part of that world!

When I finally joined Cisco as a Technical Consulting Engineer in CX, Cisco Live was still top of mind. On the first day when the opportunity arose to ask questions, my immediate question was, “How do you qualify to attend Cisco Live?” The answer I heard was unsatisfying which made me even more determined to find my way to that conference.

I found my opportunity when I came across the Women of Cisco Executive Shadow Program, where I saw the types of executives whom I could shadow. I was VERY intentional in my application video and specifically said, “I want to shadow someone who is heavily involved in Cisco Live and travel to the conference with their team. If I cannot be paired with that exec, I’ll withdraw my application and try again the next round.”

I became the first “shadow” of Heather Henderson Thomas, who had recently become a director of event marketing, or as I would call her, “the Director of All Things Cisco Live!” Heather had previously participated in the WOC Global Executive Shadow Program as a mentee herself, so she fully understood how the program could impact my career and experience at Cisco. Now that she was an executive, Heather assured me she was fully prepared to fulfill the role as mentor and give me an unforgettable experience.

Oh, how she lived up to that promise!

During one of our bi-weekly check-ins in the early planning phases of Cisco Live 2024, Heather asked what I ultimately expected to get out of my mentorship with her. I learned a long time ago to be direct when answering questions. So, I said, “I want to attend Cisco Live!” Her response was, “You’ve got it. Cisco Live! IN-PERSON it is.” I was elated!

As part of my duties while shadowing Heather, I participated in creating and activating the FanCave gamification project. This virtual experience allowed eventgoers to log in to their Cisco Live app and take an interactive quiz that defined their personality with names like “Posh Puppy,” “Fearless Fun Seeker,” or “Galactic Go-Getter.” Then, based on their results, they received recommendations for activities in Vegas, from exquisite culinary options to adventurous activities to relaxing rendezvous—there was something for everyone.

I initially expected to solely work with the team during the conference, but Heather encouraged me to immerse myself into the experience as if I were a guest. With the yellow all-access “Event Staff” lanyard and badge she provided me, I obliged without a doubt! Amidst that, another director of events, who I’d previously met about a year ago, gave me a daily wristband to the exclusive IT Leadership hub space. My access truly was unlimited!

The speaker sessions I attended were empowering and impactful. My favorite was the keynote session with Cisco’s CEO, Chuck Robbins, and Tom Brady. With my special access, I was allowed to arrive early to shadow Heather’s team as they prepared to go live. Meeting and watching the affiliate production team work was super cool. I even got a chance to catch up with my favorite Cisco TV colleague who allowed me to stand with her to observe some pre-show Executive Leadership Team interviews.

As the arena filled with excited eventgoers, I stood in front of the row where every member of the ELT would be seated. Before I knew it, they were making their ways to their seats.

As I took a sip of coffee, I looked up to see Chuck Robbins standing less than three feet away. Initially, I decided not to introduce myself, but the opportunity was too perfect to resist. There wasn’t a crowd around him, nor was he in conversation with anyone—he was just there. I knew I’d regret not taking advantage of this moment, so I introduced myself, we shared a laugh, and captured the moment. It was most definitely the icing on the cake of the entire experience.

Outside of the conference itself, the opportunities were innumerable. My experience as a “first-timer” was featured on the @WeAreCisco Instagram page, and recording that was so much fun! I met so many great people I’d only ever spoken to through Webex, members of senior leadership, old friends and new colleagues alike, and participated in amazing Inclusive Community activities and events. I even had the ultimate concert-goer experience at the Cisco Live Celebration, where I received an exclusive wristband to the Champions Club for great food and the perfect view of Elton John.

Heather described herself as “a rookie exec” in the WOC Global Executive Shadow Program, but there was nothing “rookie” about this experience AT ALL. My expectations of Cisco Live were surpassed, and so was my experience as a mentee.

Opportunities like these are just one of the many reasons why Cisco is a great place to work. Whether it’s through mentorship programs, innovative projects, or incredible events like Cisco Live, Cisco is a place where you can grow, learn, and achieve your ultimate goals. They might turn out to be better than you ever imagined.

We’re achieving goals and making progress to power an inclusive future for all. Find out more in our 2024 Purpose Report.

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