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If you had been to return in time and ask 20-year-old Robert Yee the place he can be working in 2023, Cisco would have been an unlikely reply. Working in any technical discipline would have been an unlikely reply. Why? Because I made a decision to alter majors from Chemical Engineering to Asian/Asian American Studies. I needed to grasp the wants of my neighborhood and assist these like my mother and father. And talking of my mother and father, this determination was simply the newest in a string of minor disappointments. Despite this alteration in majors, my mother and father nonetheless supported me.
Upon commencement, with my newly minted Bachelor of Arts in Asian Studies diploma, I discovered a full-time job at a regulation agency … in accounting. My objective on the time was to review for the LSAT and go to regulation faculty. But life had different plans for me.
The regulation agency was going by way of a expertise migration however didn’t have a methods administrator. With some luck, I used to be provided the chance to separate my time between accounting and IT work. It become a full-time function, and I formally had my first IT job. I picked up the brand new abilities rapidly however knew if I needed to proceed on this profession, I would want to review. This was the beginning of the certification growth.
While finding out for my first certification, I got here throughout an article on-line from somebody in Hong Kong that talked about this tremendous onerous certification known as the Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) and the frilly testing course of. This “Cisco” factor actually intrigued me. I filed that thought away however by no means forgot it.
In 1999 (pre-Y2K), I had my first alternative to deploy an end-to-end Cisco community. Up till this level, I had by no means touched a router, a change, or a firewall. It was all on-the-job coaching, I needed to be taught quick, and I had numerous assist from accomplice engineers that put up with my many questions. When the venture was performed, I noticed I LOVED networking. I doubled down on my finding out. I earned many Cisco Certifications, however that CCIE nonetheless appeared simply too daunting.
That identical 12 months, I attended my first native Cisco Users Group assembly. It was superb to be with a bunch of like-minded people who additionally needed to be taught Cisco expertise. Members of this group began to earn their CCIEs, and their tales impressed me to present it a shot. I met my good buddies Jason Bomar and Joe Young right here, and we fashioned a examine group. We met many weekends to review. Jason was the primary to move his CCIE. Then, Joe and I handed our exams inside one week of one another in May 2003.
In 2008, after years of hesitation and interviewing with three totally different groups, I lastly made it to Cisco as a pre-sales Systems Engineer on the Commercial group masking Los Angeles. My very first day at Cisco was my birthday. It was a profession change, and I struggled to grasp the gross sales cycles, discover inner sources, construct trusted relationships with clients, and perceive and venture “my brand.” These had been all vital to achieve success, they usually had been all new to me. With numerous assist and help from teammates, mentors, managers, and particularly my spouse, Sara, I used to be capable of finding myself on the opposite aspect of this wall.
Being a Cisco SE was the toughest job I’ve ever had. Learning new options and applied sciences challenged me continuously. I needed to be proficient with the portfolio, perceive how my clients’ companies labored and clarify in easy phrases how an answer may benefit them. However, it was additionally essentially the most rewarding and satisfying job I’ve ever had. The outcomes of my work had been tangible. I may see the belief I constructed with my purchasers and the outcomes of months or years-long initiatives.
It’s onerous to think about that I’ve been at Cisco for 15-plus years in 4 totally different roles. I began as a Systems Engineer, have been a Technical Solutions Architect, and my final two positions have been in management. I’m presently the Systems Engineering Manager for a group of Data Center Networking Technical Solutions Architects, and I’m really grateful for the dedication, information, and talent this group brings to the desk. Among them are one CCDE, two Cisco Press books, one upcoming Ph.D., and ten CCIE certifications.
Even although my profession path took me in a distinct path, I’ve by no means absolutely forgotten my unique intent after I modified my school main to Asian and Asian American Studies. Cisco provided me the chance to make a distinction in my neighborhood. In 2020, I began the Southern California chapter of Connected Asian Affinity Network (CAAN), an ERO/ERG/Inclusive Community for AAPI and AAPI allies at Cisco. We’ve grown the chapter from about 30 at first to over 90 members presently. It’s been an awesome alternative to showcase and share AAPI cultures and provides again to my neighborhood. As nice as my time at Cisco has been, I’ve seen all through my profession there haven’t been lots of people who appeared like me, particularly in gross sales management. I feel there may be actual alternative to alter that. This has been a tremendous alternative to attach with and spotlight AAPI expertise, encourage them to think about management at Cisco and assist open these doorways for them.
Some folks might imagine that 15 years at a single firm is a lifetime. For me, it’s occurred in a blink. Every day brings totally different challenges and new alternatives to be taught or educate. I’m grateful that Cisco has provided me the chance to develop my profession and pursue my ardour all inside one firm.
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