When a door to a path you didn’t know existed suddenly swings open, the air shifts, renewed and energized by the realization, “This is possible!” Recently, I saw this door swing open for two young girls from a local middle school, who were visiting Cisco, along with their class, to learn about the tech landscape. Throughout the conversation, these two young girls started to smile brighter and went from quiet observation to asking questions enthusiastically.

And there I was in front of them. No slides, no script. Just me, a room of curious kids, and the truth about how I got here.

The path to where I am today began somewhat untraditionally — in culinary school. Then, in the middle of the pandemic, I, like so many others, pivoted. I changed schools and majors … to marketing. I worried, at first, that I made the wrong decision, but stayed hopeful it would be the launch pad to a fulfilling career.

I struggled initially to find my bearings and understand where my strengths and interests fit into this vast, somewhat unfamiliar field. Building new connections virtually came with a learning curve. I was very fortunate, however, to have people in my life who saw something in me long before I did. These individuals took the time to care and shared a willingness to guide me. Their small acts of kindness wove a tapestry that helped me shape the fabric of my career.

Everyday people, living their everyday lives, were my cheerleaders.

During college, I befriended a retired tech industry professional working at a local store. She was one of the people who opened my eyes to the tech world and consistently cheered me on, even giving me words of encouragement before my first career fair. Everyday people, living their everyday lives, were my cheerleaders.

When I walked into that career fair as a junior in college, I was certain I wanted to work for a specific company. That feeling vanished the moment I was met with the dismissive, brusque attitude of the individual working the booth. A little deflated, I wandered to the next booth, where I met a Cisco marketer who was open, kind, and freely shared her experience. She saw me as a person first. Despite having grown up in the Research Triangle area of North Carolina — with my mom working near the Cisco campus — this was the first time I thought, “I can see myself here.”

That feeling of belonging only deepened during my year in Amplify, Cisco’s marketing new-grad pipeline program. It was the same program the marketer at that career fair had told me about, and her experience was the reason I decided to apply. People from earlier cohorts went out of their way to help me, even when they weren’t assigned as my peer mentor. Several former members willingly walked me through a change in management during my first year, advising me on whom to talk to and what questions to ask to navigate the uncharted territory.

Those experiences illuminated the impact of lifting others up and helping them to find their footing. I knew I wanted to be the person who went the extra mile to help; who aimed to get to know people without expectation of something in return. It goes back to something my father taught me early on in life: in God’s plan, there is always enough room for you and for the next person. It freed me to root for others without reservation — to help first, and to celebrate loudly when they win.

I’ve found that this outlook carries over into my role at Cisco, too. As a Web Producer, I act as a kind of digital “quarterback” for Cisco’s key moments — driving the strategy and quality behind the digital experiences our customers move through. The virtual networking skills I honed in college have become a massive advantage in our current work environment. At its heart, my job is about making things clear and making people feel seen. Whether I’m guiding a stakeholder through designing a digital journey or helping a colleague navigate a project, I’m applying that same principle of making room for others to succeed.

Which brings me back to that room. When I watched those students shift, when I saw their eyes brighten, something in me settled; this was exactly where I was meant to be. These students had a fire and curiosity about the world that I wanted to help ignite. Representation isn’t just seeing people who look like you or have similar backgrounds break barriers. It’s the everyday person who believes in you. People did that for me. Now, it’s my turn to be that person for someone else.

Ready to find a place where you can truly see yourself? Explore careers.cisco.com now!

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