Women of Cisco

Reaching My Ultimate Goal: Cisco Live!

Posted on by Admin
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…

Read More

Redefining Parental Leave at Cisco

Posted on by Admin
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…

Read More

From Academia to Cisco: How I’m Inspired and Empowered as a Woman in Tech

Posted on by Admin
From Academia to Cisco: How I’m Inspired and Empowered as a Woman in Tech

Graduating with my Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and securing a post-doctorate position, I was well on my way to staying in academia and becoming a professor. After a year into my post-doctorate, I realized I sought something beyond the satisfaction of publishing in scientific journals and peer recognition. I found myself standing at a crossroads, contemplating my next move. That is when an exciting opportunity at Cisco arrived. The position — Wireless System Engineer —…

Read More

My Journey with Cisco: A Decade of Growth, Opportunity, and Empowerment

Posted on by Admin
My Journey with Cisco: A Decade of Growth, Opportunity, and Empowerment

“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” This quote, attributed to Roman philosopher Seneca, perfectly captures how I found myself here, in the extraordinary world of Cisco. I was browsing the shelves of a huge bookstore when suddenly my eyes landed on the CCNA guide preparation books. It felt like a sign from the universe to buy them. Sure, I may not have had all the networking skills at that moment, but I knew…

Read More

Celebrating Latinas in Tech

Posted on by Admin
Celebrating Latinas in Tech

To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, Cindy Valladares and Laura Elena Garza discussed their experiences as Latinas in tech. Valladares, director of brand strategy, customer advocacy, and storytelling at Cisco security, and Garza, manager of the Site Reliability Engineering Delivery team for Cisco Duo, hadn’t met before but quickly connected over how their cultures have impacted their lives and careers and how they both currently call the Pacific Northwest home. If you also value connection, authenticity,…

Read More