[ad_1]
When dwelling in RTP, it’s inconceivable to not pay attention to who the highest corporations are within the space. I at all times had my eye on Cisco as “The One” for me and I used to be fortunate sufficient to have a number of earlier colleagues, who now work for Cisco, to teach me on what Cisco was all about. Each time I’d converse to somebody in regards to the tradition that Cisco cultivates and all the advantages that include working there, my need to work for Cisco continued to develop.
In November of 2019, I joined Cisco as a Collaboration Customer Success Manager supporting Webex international enterprise east accounts. I had lastly joined the corporate I at all times had my eye on, however I didn’t know then simply how life-changing taking this position would really be.
My ramp-up time in my new position was considerably shortened with the beginning of the pandemic and, with it, the skyrocketing demand for Webex help. With all of the exterior stress the world needed to supply throughout this time, I by no means felt that very same stress at work. Leadership at all times checked on our workloads, stress ranges, and psychological well being, and we had all the things we would have liked to succeed whereas guaranteeing a correct stability between work and residential life. This was eye-opening for me as I had by no means skilled this degree of help in a office. Because of this tradition, I used to be totally charged for every day. I took half in and supported a number of the largest occasions on Webex, together with the NFL Draft, high-profile authorities conferences, and a number of occasions the place high Fortune 500 executives throughout the nation strategized the right way to deal with the challenges round COVID.
2021 began as some other “normal” COVID yr for my household. It was crammed with masking up, digital education twin kindergartners, and maintaining our social bubble small. Due to the pandemic and Cisco’s stance on hybrid work, I grew to become a full-time distant employee. This allowed my spouse and I the chance to maneuver again to her hometown, the place her mom nonetheless lives. It took a little bit bit to persuade my spouse that we should always make the transfer, however there was a mild tug on my coronary heart main me there, so I used to be persistent. Two weeks after transferring, amidst unpacking bins, my extraordinarily wholesome mother-in-law was recognized with a number of myeloma. I instantly realized that our transferring there to be nearer to her was divine intervention at its best.

She accomplished 5 cycles of chemotherapy and was lucky sufficient to be a candidate for a stem cell transplant within the fall. While she was nonetheless studying to reside with the brand new life-style of frequent blood attracts, bone marrow biopsies, and upkeep chemo, our household was longing for a protracted future together with her. Ironically sufficient, my spouse is a nurse who used to work within the emergency division, and her sister is a nurse who used to work in bone marrow transplants. Both have now shifted their focus and at the moment work as nurses in analysis.
As 2021 continued, I picked up working because it felt like the proper factor to be lively whereas additionally social distancing. I began fascinated with setting some targets and regarded into the Boston Marathon, a pinnacle race in a metropolis I like. During some late-night web searching, I found the marathon’s fundraising element that will permit me to run whereas additionally elevating funds for a charity. With such a connection to a number of myeloma (MM), I discovered the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) very intriguing. The vital influence a corporation akin to MMRF can have in serving to establish new remedies is astonishing. Because of this, we could at some point have a treatment for MM. This made MMRF the plain selection as my chosen charity for fundraising efforts.
While I used to be assured I may increase the cash, I used to be splendidly stunned by the overwhelming help from my Cisco household in my fundraising efforts and of their supporting my ambitions to run the Boston Marathon. My Cisco group donated $3,200 and thru Cisco’s Bright Funds 1:1 donation matching program, that grew to $6,400 in whole from Cisco alone! Because of this, I used to be capable of increase a complete of almost $13,000 in prep for the marathon.

Just as their beneficiant donations had blown me away, so did my Cisco staff’s help throughout the marathon. They arrange a tracker system in our Webex group area to observe alongside, and the phrases of encouragement I noticed after the race have been overwhelming.
Fast ahead to October 2022 to seek out out that my mother-in-law, Linda, is formally in REMISSION! While she is going to nonetheless require medicine to maintain MM at bay, this was wonderful information. Our household is so very grateful for all of the great future reminiscences we’ll get to make together with her. In celebration, I’m comfortable to proceed my working and fundraising journey by becoming a member of the MMRF staff working the London Marathon on April 23, 2023. My entire household, together with my mother-in-law, might be there alongside the course. I do know that with the help of my Cisco household and group, I’ve each alternative to efficiently meet my fundraising aim of $50,000 for the MMRF whereas working every of the six main marathons.
To accomplish this aim whereas nonetheless being profitable in my profession is a dream come true! I by no means thought I’d have such a tremendous work-life stability, however really something may be achieved with Cisco’s second-to-none help of its staff.
Over the years, Cisco has gone from the corporate I aspired to work for to the corporate I need to stick with long-term. Now I’m the one telling non-Cisconians what this firm is all about. I get instructed, “I am drinking the Cisco Kool-Aid.” And my response to that is at all times the identical—you might be proper! I’m. It’s given me alternatives and adjusted my household’s life.
Are you prepared to hitch our unimaginable groups? Find a possibility now!
Share:
