The We Are Cisco Singers: The Power of Authenticity and Connection

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The We Are Cisco Singers: The Power of Authenticity and Connection


Being your self is one thing that, for me, is vital to being profitable. One of the issues that I like probably the most about working at Cisco is that I might be my true self. During the day, I’m a Business Operation Manager and a part of the Global Staffing Team, and at night time, I’m a tough rock/ metallic singer.  

In 2020, throughout the pandemic, connecting with folks was troublesome on account of all of the uncertainty and restrictions to maintain us secure, so Gaby Córdova and I got here up with an thought to create a singing membership to have a secure area to attach and do what we love probably the most.

At first, we didn’t know if anybody would reply or if folks could be inquisitive about becoming a member of us. Also, giving singing classes remotely was a brand new problem for us, so we needed to adapt our instructing to verify anybody becoming a member of would get all of the information attainable. Honestly, we didn’t know if it will work.

Screenshot of people on a Webex call.

To our shock, lots of people joined the membership! People from throughout Mexico: Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara, and Puebla, to say some. We known as ourselves the We Are Cisco Singers and gathered nearly for weekly periods. After a while, we carried out two digital live shows for Cisco workers, household, and buddies. We additionally donated our time for a digital giveback exercise the place we sang for kids at a telethon throughout the holidays. It was so heartwarming to make use of our voices to do one thing good.

Cisco even created Music Mode in Webex, our collaboration platform, and that was actually music to our ears as a result of we might hear the music and our voices with extra readability, which allowed us to create all of the digital occasions we did.

Finally, in 2022, all of the We Are Cisco Singers had been capable of meet. We had been connecting and creating wonderful issues collectively for one and a half years, however to have the primary class in particular person was fantastic. We had been already a part of the singing membership, however now we’re additionally nice buddies. We are a Cisco household.

Group of people holding "Cisco Sleep Out" signs.

When we first began the We Are Cisco Singers, we needed to discover a connection in a time when that was troublesome, have enjoyable, and share our singing information. To our shock, among the college students shared that due to the singing courses, they’ve higher confidence and extra shallowness and that it’s helped them with communication and higher efficiency at work and of their private lives. It’s true that you simply by no means understand how your actions might impression somebody, and seeing now how this can be a wellness area the place folks can develop, chill out, do what they love, and have a superb snicker is unbelievable.

We’ve additionally gotten the help of Inclusion & Collaboration Mexico and Pavelka, Cisco’s world well being and well-being accomplice, to proceed this wonderful journey. It has given us nice alternatives to do what we love and create new friendships with others we could not work together with throughout our day by day jobs. Last 12 months, we had been honored to carry out throughout the CX Mexico All Hands assembly, and this 12 months, we carried out throughout the Mexico All Hands assembly with Cisco’s Chief People, Policy & Purpose Officer Fran Katsoudas, in attendance.

Cisco additionally gave my band and me the chance to carry out nearly on the SleepOut, an annual Cisco fundraising occasion, in 2021, and in 2022, we had been lastly capable of be there in particular person. We additionally took the stage throughout the Great Place to Work Mexico celebration (The 6th 12 months we received this award in a row!) and at a Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) occasion for little women to encourage them to be no matter they need to be and present them that, at Cisco, we’ve a spot for them.

Two women on the floor smiling.

The journey is just not over but. We have extra thrilling actions deliberate for subsequent 12 months, like performing for the kids of a few of Cisco’s registered charitable organizations throughout Children’s Day and on the subsequent SleepOut occasion.

Looking again, it’s loopy how one thought, one dream, can change your life. My key message is rarely to surrender in your goals and all the time be your self. When you might be your entire self, you open your self as much as connection, and the We Are Cisco Singers gave me connection after I wanted it probably the most. We’ve grown, had enjoyable, change into nice buddies, and at the moment are Cisco household. Cisco is the place the place I’ve felt embraced to be myself greater than ever in my entire life, and I’d not change it for something. Every day, I really feel empowered to point out I’m proud to be a Cisconian.

See how our objective cultivates an atmosphere the place all of us thrive.

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