Inclusion and Diversity

Giving voice to the diverse perspectives of our people on topics around diversity, inclusion, and collaboration.

How Two Cisco Women Leaned In and Supercharged Their Careers

How Two Cisco Women Leaned In and Supercharged Their Careers

In honor of International Women in Engineering, we spotlight two extraordinary women at Cisco, Priya Aiyer, and Christelle Mombo-Zigah. Here, they share their career journeys, experiences and insights from their participation in Cisco’s Exemplar Diverse Female Mentee program.

Celebrate History and Culture This May

Celebrate History and Culture This May

In May, we celebrate the history and culture of the Asian American Pacific Islander, Jewish, and Haitian communities, but we also can focus on heritage overall. At Cisco, we are committed to ensuring a welcoming, diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment for all.

Let's Just Go! How I Was Shaped by My Cuban-American Heritage

Let's Just Go! How I Was Shaped by My Cuban-American Heritage

At age 12, Alvio Barrios left Cuba as a refugee on the Mariel Boatlift, a six-month period in April of 1980 allowing Cubans to emigrate to other countries. Alvio shares how his journey influenced his identity, leadership style, and belief in a life lived with a sense of adventure.

Sharing career opportunities and advice with the women of Bennett College

4 min read

A recent Women at Cisco event at Bennett College demonstrated how entry-level digital and cybersecurity skills can enhance students' competitive edge, no matter their career choice. Cisco is dedicated to creating opportunity for non-technical students in the IT field as we support the strategic sustainability and legacy of HBCUs like Bennett College.

February 7, 2022

INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY

A Conversation on Mentorship

3 min read

Having a mentor can prove to be a fantastic experience, providing a source of support, feedback, advice and inspiration. Maite shares a discussion on mentorship with friends and colleagues, providing guidance on seeking a mentor and making the most out of this unique relationship.

December 20, 2021

INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY

Disabilities Around Us – Turning Awareness into Action

2 min read

In celebration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3rd) our offices in multiple cities around the world were lit purple. This global movement was started by PurpleSpace.org to celebrate and draw attention to the economic contribution of the 386 million disabled employees around the world.

November 3, 2021

INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY

Sponsorship is an Action Verb

5 min read

I’ve always thought I had a strong support network, until I saw what that looked like for others. I wondered how my peers were able to navigate these corporate streets, arriving on time and unscathed. They were climbing the proverbial ladder and progressing in ways I wasn’t; even the ones I outperformed - by far. I learned it was because they had active sponsorship.

September 15, 2021

INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY

Proximity: Changing the Narrative

4 min read

I thought for sure Cisco would reject someone like me. I was shocked when my leader, Tschudy Smith, took the time to get proximate to me; it changed my personal journey.

Year-End Reflections: Learnings with Women of Cisco

3 min read

Last week was Cisco’s fiscal year earnings announcement, so now seems like a great time to take a look at some of my learnings from my tenure as co-lead of Women of Cisco Americas board.

20 Years of Conexión

3 min read

Happy 20th birthday to Conexión, our Employee Resources Organization (ERO) for Latinx employees.

Commemorating Juneteenth: Together We Prevail

2 min read

As Cisco commemorates Juneteenth for the second straight year – more than 150 years after the last Black American slaves were freed – I see my family’s history being validated, and see myself represented.

Discovering Proximity: An Interview with Mayte Marquez Querol

5 min read

Proximity is like opening curtains on a bright, sunny day: the light comes in and shows you all the details of the room, especially the things you may not have noticed before.