The sound of a child’s voice on a work call is usually something we apologize for, but for me, it’s nostalgic.
It takes me back to my childhood, when I was anything but quiet as my mom built her career at Cisco. My siblings and I were constantly running into her office, asking when she would be done with her meetings, begging her to make us lunch, or just trying to convince her to be done working. Back then, I was convinced her job was incredibly boring and I was never sure what she really did.
Like many, I was certain I would grow up and do something completely different from my parents. Life has a funny way of coming full circle.
Cisco was woven into the fabric of my childhood. It was on the magnets covering our refrigerator, embroidered on my parents’ jackets, and on routers and phones in my classrooms. Even today, a Cisco Meraki access point still keeps my family’s home connected. Looking back, Cisco wasn’t just where my mom worked, it was the backdrop of my entire upbringing.
For many people, work is simply where they earn a paycheck. For my family, Cisco certainly provided that but has always represented something much bigger.
Growing up, I watched my parents build meaningful careers while still being present for our family. Cisco gave them the flexibility to show up for school events, summer vacations, swim meets, carpool, and dinner every night. Watching that taught me something I’ll always carry with me: you don’t have to choose between building a successful career and building a meaningful life.
Now, I’m experiencing that same support firsthand.
Just a few weeks after accepting my role at Cisco, I got engaged. Six months later, my fiancé and I bought our first home, and now we’re only weeks away from our wedding. It’s been one of the busiest and most exciting seasons of my life, and through it all, Cisco has supported me both personally and professionally.
In just my first six months, I’ve had opportunities I never imagined having so early in my career. I’ve helped lead internal AI adoption initiatives, presented during my vice president’s all-hands meeting, facilitated a Women of RRA executive panel that gave me invaluable visibility into future leadership paths, and participated in the Global Executive Shadow Program. While navigating major life milestones outside of work, I’ve also been encouraged to grow, take on new challenges, and contribute in meaningful ways.
That balance is something I don’t take for granted.
Today, what started with my mom has grown into a true family tradition. My mom, my brother, and I all work within Cisco Customer Experience (CX). Every Tuesday and Thursday, we all work from the same building, on the same floor. People often ask why we don’t carpool together, but sometimes those quiet thirty minutes in the morning are worth preserving.
My brother and I are even on the same team as members of the PROPEL early-in-career program. We’ll grab lunch together now and then, and I still run into my mom while filling up my water bottle or walking between meetings. They’re small moments, but they’re the ones I know I’ll remember years from now.
As a child, I promised myself I’d never spend my days sitting on work calls. Now, I understand those calls were never just meetings. They were opportunities to listen, solve problems, build relationships, and help customers find the right solutions. Today, that’s exactly what I get to do.
There’s something incredibly special about contributing to the same company that supported my family throughout my childhood and now supports me as I begin building my own future. It feels less like joining a company and more like coming home to a place I already knew was special. The difference now is that I can help shape its future alongside colleagues who challenge me, encourage me, and inspire me every day.
If this journey has taught me anything, it’s that Cisco grows with you, evolving alongside the different seasons of your life — whether you’re raising a family, starting your career, or discovering where you’ll make your impact.
I hope people see Cisco as more than hardware, software, or subscriptions. I hope they see a place where careers and families grow together, and where people are truly supported. For me, it’s deeply personal. It’s sharing lunch with my mom, collaborating with my brother, learning from incredible teammates, and knowing that the company that shaped the childhood of the little girl running around her mom’s desk is now helping me shape my future.
I’m proud to be here, and even prouder to be part of a legacy that continues to put people first.
Ready to start your own legacy? Discover open roles to find your fit at Cisco: careers.cisco.com
