At Cisco, we regularly speak concerning the energy of collaboration and connectivity. We design modern options to bridge distances, bringing folks and concepts nearer collectively. We additionally imagine within the energy of giving again. My expertise volunteering at Combine 92.6, a neighborhood radio station, has proven me first-hand how the spirit of collaboration brings communities collectively and transforms lives, together with my very own.  

Combine 92.6 is a neighborhood radio station nestled within the coronary heart of St. Albans, Hertfordshire, U.Ok. It serves as a beacon of connection and empowerment. Run 100% by volunteers and never for revenue. After I first stepped into the studios a number of years in the past, on the encouragement of the Cisco Management Pipeline Coaching Program I used to be a part of on the time, I used to be struck by the fervour and dedication of the volunteers who preserve it operating. The station’s mission is evident: To boost the every day lives of all sections of the neighborhood in our space by offering information, info, and leisure, sharing native tales, and fostering a way of belonging amongst residents.

Whether or not coordinating a reside broadcast, protecting native elections, managing suppliers, or just sharing tales from our neighborhood, I’ve witnessed the unbelievable synergy that arises when people come collectively for a standard goal. Simply as we at Cisco harness know-how to foster collaboration, Combine 92.6 makes use of the airwaves to deliver folks collectively, making a shared area for voices to be heard. This was particularly evident throughout COVID after we have been an important info supply and a pleasant voice for the housebound and lonely.

My function at Combine 92.6 began as an area information reporter and developed into presenter, engineering assist, and finally, Board Director. It entails collaborating with various people, from presenters to engineers to grant suppliers and OFCOM — the U.Ok.’s communications regulator. We additionally carried out broadcast-from-home capabilities, expanded our protection space, and rebranded throughout my time volunteering with the station. Simply as in my function at Cisco, the place I collaborate with colleagues from completely different departments to ship modern collaboration options for patrons, I discovered myself working in a dynamic staff at Combine 92.6, striving to create participating content material, coordinate interviews, and assist the station’s day-to-day operations, connecting with residents in the neighborhood. My expertise from my Cisco function actually helped throughout COVID after we needed to transition to digital instruments, together with Webex for conferences, interviews, and producing exhibits.

Volunteering at Combine 92.6 has been a transformative expertise in my life, each personally and professionally. The talents I’ve honed via my work on the station have confirmed invaluable in my function as lead of the Collaboration Demo Apply at Cisco. I’ve not solely improved my very own presentation expertise but additionally discovered new methods to teach others. Motivating volunteers is completely different from staff, however nonetheless requires understanding particular person wants and passions to get the perfect outcomes. By that, I’ve needed to get higher at managing via affect, and it has allowed me to develop a deeper sense of empathy and a heightened consciousness of the ability of communication.

Volunteering has expanded my community, connecting me with folks from various backgrounds and views. This expanded community has not solely enriched my private life however has additionally broadened my horizons at Cisco, serving to me strategy problem-solving with recent insights.

In case you really feel motivated to make a distinction, listed below are some easy steps to start your journey.

1. 1. There’s something for everybody: Begin by figuring out a trigger or group that resonates with you. Whether or not it’s schooling, healthcare, environmental conservation, or one thing else solely, there’s a volunteer alternative that aligns along with your pursuits. Discover your passions.
   2. Leverage Your Abilities: My expertise in Collaboration at Cisco has confirmed invaluable at Combine 92.6. As well as, my instructional background was in movie & TV manufacturing and the inventive arts. You could discover your present expertise well-suited for the chance, have acquired expertise you’ll be able to reawaken, and even have hidden skills ready to be found.
   3. Make Time for Giving: It’s really easy to get caught up within the hustle and bustle of labor that volunteer time slips away. That’s not the case at Cisco. It’s such part of our tradition that we’re inspired to present again with initiatives just like the Time2Give program, which gives 80 hours of paid time without work along with our common paid time without work for volunteering.
   4. Embrace the Journey: Volunteering will not be a one-way road. You’ll doubtless discover that the experiences you acquire will even profit your profession and private life. It’s a journey of mutual progress and enrichment.

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