How We’re Navigating Parenthood, Careers, and Connection at Cisco

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How We’re Navigating Parenthood, Careers, and Connection at Cisco


Once upon a time, there have been two Stanford University staff — a husband and spouse — who weren’t capable of e-mail each other as a result of their computer systems have been on totally different networks. Eventually, they found out a solution to join their computer systems, growing the multiprotocol router.

A man and a woman holding up mugs.

The yr was 1984, and this new connection … effectively, it’s how Cisco was born!

And due to the improvements of Leonard Bosack and Sandy Lerner, my husband and I are right here at present. You see, I’m a Collaboration Sales Specialist at Cisco, and my husband, Scott, is a Sales Admin at Meraki. You may name us Mrs. Webex and Mr. Meraki — however for the document, I used to be right here first!

I began my Cisco journey in March 2021, which I owe to a fellow Cisconian who pushed me to use for my position. I clearly talked sufficient about how a lot I beloved working right here that in January 2022, when Scott noticed a possibility that suited his background and skillset come up in Meraki, he jumped on the probability to use. I’m so glad he did!

As a lot as I used to be initially cautious of working on the similar place as my husband, significantly as a fiercely unbiased individual (as he’ll attest to!), it has turned out to be the most effective transfer for us as a pair and as a household. It’s simply as effectively that Cisco is such a BIG organisation, a lot in order that though my husband and I are each Cisconians working from the identical place (more often than not), we very hardly ever “run into one another” at work.

As dad and mom, Scott and I each really feel so grateful to work for an organisation like Cisco — a office that actually values working households and places the precise instruments and advantages in place to assist us as we juggle working and household life. Our oldest son, Charlie, was simply 18 months previous once I joined Cisco. Now, he’s almost 5 and is large brother to child Brodie, who not too long ago turned one. From maternity depart to the return to work assist I obtained after having Brodie, coupled with the healthcare and monetary advantages we obtain right here, as a lady seeking to progress in her profession and lift a household, Cisco makes it really feel doable.

Woman, man, and two kids.Our tradition that places folks earlier than all else makes having a profession right here a pleasure. In the town we’re each from, Glasgow, there’s a saying, “People make Glasgow.” I really feel the identical means about Cisco. The folks right here really make Cisco what it’s. From supportive managers to caring, hardworking, and enjoyable teammates, we’re surrounded by good folks each day.

As for a way we juggle all of it? The flexibility of hybrid work is vital for us as a household. Scott works predominantly from dwelling, whereas I take a blended strategy. I’m a Collaboration Specialist in spite of everything! Some days, I work at home; some days, I’m going into the workplace, and different days I’m on the go. Thankfully, with Webex we’ve acquired all of the know-how at our fingertips to make “working from anywhere” doable.

My position — protecting Scotland and Ireland — features a little bit of travelling, which, as a mum with two younger children, requires planning and the proper of assist. Thankfully, with Scott having the pliability to work at home and be round for the youngsters’ nursery drop-offs and pick-ups once I’m away, I don’t have any of the added fear or mum guilt that often comes with work journey.

Another added bonus we’ve discovered as a pair and as dad and mom working on the similar place is our holidays align! We may use the perks and advantages right here at Cisco, like Time2Give — 80 hours of paid time without work along with our common paid time without work — to assist initiatives at our youngsters’ nurseries or tasks in our area people collectively. There’s one draw back, nevertheless: a Day for Me — a quarterly break day for the entire firm to prioritise well-being — isn’t ever really a day for ME. It’s a day for us!

Scott and I’ve been collectively for 17 years. We’ve studied in numerous cities, travelled around the globe with and with out one another, and seen one another by means of our fair proportion of excellent and not-so-good jobs. Now, it’s simply nice to each be settled someplace like Cisco whereas navigating these whirlwind early years as dad and mom collectively.

Child looking at a computer screen. It has additionally at all times been Scott’s dream for us to boost our youngsters within the small village the place he grew up. For so a few years, I used to be reluctant to strive the concept as a result of there was no prepare station and no straightforward commute to work. Now, with the pliability of Cisco’s hybrid work tradition that we each take pleasure in and the connection that’s doable due to the pioneering know-how that Cisco was based on, we’re dwelling in that little “dream” village in spite of everything — and the commute a few times per week actually isn’t so dangerous. In truth, as a busy mum, the 40-minute solo automotive journey is definitely a deal with!

Are you prepared to start out your Cisco journey? Explore the probabilities.

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