Within the spirit of March being Ladies’s Historical past Month and Nationwide Science & Engineering Week, we’re thrilled to amplify the voices of some extraordinary girls from Cisco’s International Associate Engineering group. They’re among the many essential forces driving our enterprise and business ahead, accelerating progress and progress for Cisco, our companions, and our mutual prospects.

With a want to grasp what conjures up them, I requested a number of the gifted girls in International Associate Engineering at Cisco about their path and what retains them right here and joyful. Their genuine solutions ship relatable insights, enabling us all to realize a fair deeper appreciation for the important function each one among us—particularly girls in engineering and the channel—performs in shaping our historical past and driving innovation. #GreaterTogether

Tracy Tucker, Chief Technique & Gross sales Enablement

Q: How have you ever established and positioned your self for alternatives inside Cisco’s International Associate Engineering group?

A: One of many major strategies by means of which I’ve strategically positioned myself for alternatives inside Cisco’s International Associate Engineering Group at Cisco is by adopting a collaborative problem-solving method. When introduced with a brand new alternative, my preliminary focus is refraining from instantly formulating options. As a substitute, I prioritize the identification of Topic Matter Specialists (SMEs), root myself in information, and uncover the wants of each my major and secondary stakeholders.

By leveraging SMEs as adept advisors, I assemble my technique to navigate potential roadblocks with their steering. Subsequent, the utilization of information is important because it paves the best way for measurable success that may be tracked. It additionally facilitates efficient communication all through the method. Whereas profession progress is basically contingent on assembly the wants of major stakeholders, I’ve noticed that secondary stakeholders usually emerge as your largest champions while you aren’t within the room. Embracing a collaborative mindset and anchoring myself in data-driven insights has accelerated my profession and positioned me as a proficient downside solver able to delivering buyer enterprise outcomes.

Amanda Baker, Gross sales Enablement Supervisor

Q: How has Cisco enabled you to develop your profession?

A: Cisco is an organization that not solely fosters particular person progress inside present roles but additionally encourages exploration of completely new paths. My journey with Cisco started in 2010 as a part-time Foyer Ambassador, sporting the purple badge. The worth I delivered to this function paved the best way for a transition to supporting a industrial gross sales group. Since then, I’ve embraced change, switching roles 3 times, every time entering into uncharted territory. In every new place, I’ve had the chance to delve into the distinctive wants of the group and bridge any gaps to boost enterprise operations.

My newest transition led me to International Associate Engineering at Cisco after spending 12 years within the Business Gross sales group. I craved one thing recent and invigorating. Because of my popularity throughout the firm, Greg Gall approached me in regards to the Cisco’s International Associate Engineering place and urged me to attach with Tracy. It turned out to be a superb match, providing a very novel expertise not like something I’ve performed earlier than. Cisco’s openness to such transitions is a testomony to its dedication to worker progress and improvement.

Debi Hunter, Enterprise Operations Supervisor

Q: What recommendation do you give different girls about find out how to “present up” for fulfillment?

A: I encourage fellow girls to boldly occupy house with out apology. By no means really feel compelled to decrease your self or your concepts. If somebody feels misplaced on the desk, that’s not their burden to bear. The idea of Imposter Syndrome oversimplifies a widespread expertise, deflecting consideration from systemic obstacles to range and inclusion. Should you grapple with emotions of impostor syndrome, it indicators your rightful place in an area that urgently requires your perspective and voice for progress.

My journey to Cisco was unconventional. Whereas working within the Australian Public Well being Service, an opportunity encounter with an acquaintance employed by Cisco ignited discussions on work, mindset, and abilities. In 2018, upon relocating to Scotland, the celebs aligned, and I joined Cisco as a purple badge. With a various background spanning educating, private coaching, physique piercing, a zoology diploma, and challenge administration in bulletproof vest manufacturing, Cisco took a leap of religion in me. I epitomize how numerous experiences enrich and fortify the office.

In the present day, each Cisco job posting proudly declares, “Have colourful hair? Embrace it. Love tattoos? Showcase your ink. Obsessive about polka dots? You’re welcome right here. Geek out over popular culture? So do many people. Keen about expertise and altering the world? Be your self, with us!” That’s who I’m, and Cisco not solely accepts however celebrates the individuality I carry to the collective ‘us’.

Robin Aguirre, Technique/Gross sales Enablement Supervisor

Q: What flexibility and creativity alternatives exist in your function that help you make it your individual?

A: With greater than 25 years of expertise working with Cisco, I’ve held a number of roles. But, my journey has at all times been pushed by a want to contribute to the International Associate Group at Cisco. Initially a Studying Associate delivering technical coaching lessons on Cisco merchandise and guiding companions and prospects in the direction of varied Cisco certifications, I developed a powerful rapport which fueled my curiosity in serving to drive success for companions—and companions ship to prospects.

In 2022, I used to be lucky to appreciate this ambition after I joined International Associate Engineering at Cisco, main technique for engineers and appearing as a program lead for a number of associate initiatives (inside and exterior). This function frequently challenges me to raise our initiatives and drive better success.

My true ardour lies in enabling the success of people, and I discover immense success on this function the place I can foster innovation and creativity. Working alongside a group of thought leaders, I try to help companions by means of income enablement and revolutionary methods. Central to our method is making certain that our companions really feel heard and valued. Thus, I’m continuously exploring methods to exhibit our dedication to listening and implementing scalable actions based mostly on their suggestions. By way of collaborative efforts, we purpose to empower our companions to realize their objectives and drive mutual success.

Angel Golden, Gross sales Enablement Supervisor

Q: What recommendation do you give different girls about find out how to “present up” for fulfillment?

A: Relating this to my private journey and the way I consider girls can profit to “present up” for fulfillment and navigate the skilled panorama successfully.  Firstly, domesticate confidence by embracing your strengths and acknowledging your accomplishments. Confidence not solely influences how others understand you but additionally shapes the way you understand your self, permitting you to tackle challenges with resilience. Secondly, prioritize self-care and well-being. Success will not be solely outlined by skilled achievements but additionally by a stability of bodily, psychological, and emotional well being. Taking time to recharge and nurture oneself contributes to sustained productiveness and success in all elements of life.

Subsequent, construct a supportive community of mentors, friends, and allies (this is essential in life). Surrounding oneself with people who uplift, empower, and advocate for each other fosters progress, supplies worthwhile insights, and opens doorways to alternatives. Moreover, repeatedly spend money on studying and talent improvement. Embrace curiosity and search out alternatives for progress, whether or not by means of formal schooling, workshops, or self-directed studying. Staying adaptable and buying new data equips girls to thrive in dynamic and evolving environments.

Moreover, advocate for oneself by asserting boundaries, expressing wants, and negotiating for what you deserve. Acknowledge and problem societal norms and biases which will hinder progress, advocating for fairness and inclusion in all areas. Lastly, embrace failure as a possibility for progress. Success usually entails taking dangers and encountering setbacks alongside the best way. As a substitute of fearing failure, view it as a stepping-stone in the direction of mastery and resilience, studying from experiences to forge a path in the direction of success.

All in all, exhibiting up for fulfillment as a girl means embracing your strengths, pursuing your objectives with dedication, and uplifting others alongside the best way. By embodying these ideas, girls can navigate their skilled and private journeys with power, resilience, and authenticity.

Mamie Williams, Gross sales Enablement Supervisor

Q: In what methods does Cisco GPE equip you to develop?

A: I consider the versatile atmosphere that Cisco presents equips me to develop each professionally and personally. The flexibleness permits me to handle my time and tasks such that I can take time to re-charge to higher pursue and full my obligations. Worker Useful resource Organizations (EROs) additionally assist to facilitate private progress and supply avenues for self-nurturing. EROs that I take part in, embody Cisco for Christ and Weekly Recreation Challenges. Moreover, coaching platforms, corresponding to Cisco Udemy and Cisco Studying & Growth, provide a wide range of programs for each private {and professional} improvement. I’ve taken programs to boost my understanding of subjects like these under:

(1) Sustainability and its implications

(2) Thoughts mapping (a method that may help the short digestion of knowledge)

(3) Introduction to Ethical Philosophy

(4) The Ethics related to new applied sciences like ChatGPT and AI

(5) Emotional Intelligence

To sum up, the pliability to handle my time to nurture myself helps me to higher deal with my skilled tasks. Such nurturing takes place in accessing a variety of coaching and studying alternatives, in addition to accessing non-work pursuits corresponding to these obtainable through EROs.

We’d love to listen to what you assume. Ask a Query, Remark Beneath, and Keep Linked with #CiscoPartners on social!

Cisco Companions Fb  |  @CiscoPartners X/Twitter  |  Cisco Companions LinkedIn

Share: