From Lifeguard to Leader: How One Conversation at a Pool Changed My Life Forever

From Lifeguard to Leader: How One Conversation at a Pool Changed My Life Forever

Imagine this: You’re fresh out of university, filled with big dreams and a bit of uncertainty. During your recent internships, you often felt lost, struggling to navigate without proper guidance from busy supervisors. You had to figure things out on your own.  This is how my career journey begins. CSAP 2004/2005 Class in front of the Cisco Amsterdam office. Back in 1999, I went to San Jose State University as part of the exchange program…

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Finding My Place, Part Three: Translating Military Skills to Cybersecurity Leadership

Finding My Place, Part Three: Translating Military Skills to Cybersecurity Leadership

When I left the military, I had some big misconceptions. I thought jumping into a leadership position at a big company like Cisco would be a breeze. I had already led Marines into conflict zones, so how hard could it be? But, after being turned down several times for leadership positions at several different companies, I had to rethink my strategy. It turned out that I had a lot to learn about the business world, especially the business…

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Finding Support as a Navy Reservist at Cisco: My Bridge To Possible

Finding Support as a Navy Reservist at Cisco: My Bridge To Possible

Five years ago, I found myself sailing across the Arctic Circle to participate in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s largest exercise since the Cold War. Walking down the maze-like passageway, I passed miles of cable supporting the network onboard the large deck amphibious warship, where data would pass through hardware with a familiar “bridge” symbol. Standing watch in the Combat Information Center, we utilized phones with the familiar “bridge” symbol as well. Everything was in…

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