Inclusion and Diversity

Redefining Parental Leave at Cisco

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Redefining Parental Leave at Cisco

When I was expecting my first child last spring, I was determined to make a parental leave plan that was best for my family and demonstrated leadership on a matter I am passionate about. My situation was a bit unique: while I identify as a woman and a mother, my wife was carrying our child. I sort of fell into both the traditional category of maternity leave as well as paternity leave. This led me…

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Preserving Culture Through Technology: An Unforgettable Experience in the Arctic

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Preserving Culture Through Technology: An Unforgettable Experience in the Arctic

In June 2024, two of my passions—Native American culture and technology—converged at the top of the world. Along with a small team from Cisco and IP Consulting, an African American Cisco Partner, I journeyed to Utqiaġvik (Barrow) Alaska, to support IỊisaġvik College and the Iñupiaq Alaska Native Tribe. My visit was a bucket list item I didn’t know I had until I was there. We weren’t there to change the Iñupiaq culture but to help…

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Serving With Honor, Finding Pride: Embracing Authenticity at Cisco

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Serving With Honor, Finding Pride: Embracing Authenticity at Cisco

I am what someone would call an enigma — I simply do not make sense. I grew up in a military family. That is what I knew, that is what I was exposed to. It was ingrained in me that this is what we believe, how we vote, and how we love. As a military child, I was preconditioned to be subservient without questioning authority. As a child, I was ok with this — life…

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Celebrating Authenticity at Cisco and London Pride

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Celebrating Authenticity at Cisco and London Pride

Last year, when I joined Cisco as a QA engineer on the Windows@Cisco Team, I remember being particularly worried by all the anti-trans and anti-LGBTQIA+ rhetoric appearing in the news at the time. So, I knew I was going to attend Pride, and Cisco gave me the opportunity. Luckily, London Pride was coming up a few months after my starting date. I joined the PRIDE Inclusive Community to meet other employees via Workday, which was…

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Embracing Authenticity Beyond June: A Decade of Pride and Progress at Cisco

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Embracing Authenticity Beyond June: A Decade of Pride and Progress at Cisco

Pride Month is a huge celebration and meaningful event for the PRIDE community globally. Our flags are waving, clack fans are clapping, and our community is putting on spectacular events to welcome and embrace our resilient and diverse LGBTQ+ community. It’s a time of year when we may feel safer expressing ourselves. Safety is something all humans need. June is also a time of year to reflect on how far we, the PRIDE community, have…

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Empowering Growth: My Journey with the Cisco MentorMe Program

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Empowering Growth: My Journey with the Cisco MentorMe Program

Have you ever been so inspired that you felt driven to give back? My involvement in Cisco’s MentorMe program was just that — a transformative experience of empowerment and growth that ignited my passion for guiding others toward success. Sadaf and her mentee, Maanya. This program embodies Cisco’s commitment to actively promoting diversity in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) by targeting underrepresented groups, particularly female tertiary students, in Australia and New Zealand. Women remain…

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How sponsorship is a catalyst for change

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How sponsorship is a catalyst for change

Here’s an (un)fun fact: Almost 90 percent of companies had sponsorship programs in 2021, yet only 33 percent of Black employees actually had sponsors, and even fewer Black employees (23 percent) felt support to advance in their careers¹. More shocking? The number of Black employees with sponsors dropped as low as five percent² a year later.  We need to improve these numbers and Cisco believes The Multiplier Effect (TME) is part of the solution. Through sponsorship,…

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