In 2015, I had just moved to the Raleigh, NC area – and I knew no one. I was lucky enough, however, to quickly secure a contract position at Cisco. Nervous and frightened, I took a deep breath and then entered building 4 of the Research Triangle Park (RTP) campus.
As I stepped into the elevator and hit the button for the floor just above me, it felt like the longest elevator ride ever! I knew I could do this job; I was qualified and equally excited – but I was a country girl, coming from a small town, with no technical background. In fact, I had never worked for a technology company before. So, while I knew my skills were transferable, just the thought of being outside of my comfort zone made me feel uneasy.
In that moment, a quote from the late Maya Angelou came to mind, “Hope and fear cannot occupy the same space at the same time. Invite one to stay.” I chose to proceed with hope, said a little prayer to myself, and confidently jumped off the elevator to hunt for my new team.
Little did I know at that time just how much my life was about to change. A meager opportunity as an entry level case agent for a software help desk marked the beginning of a new and exciting career journey!
In the beginning weeks I worked three times as hard to keep up with some of my co-workers –learning Cisco jargon and acronyms are a feat all their own. And in addition to speaking the language, I had to learn route-to-market, the basics of various architectures and Cisco technology that we supported. My husband laughed at my homemade flashcards, but I studied diligently each night until I had it in the bag!
In record time I was making a name for myself, building my personal brand as a fast learner, hard worker, and dependable Cisco “leader-in-the-making”. Learning new things is a huge motivator for someone like me. I was taking it all in and even working alongside senior leaders.
Naturally, this desire to grow and learn led to ideas of promotion.
Initially, I thought that hard work would equal increased responsibility – but quickly learned this is not always the case. Letting go of ego, and the chase of titles is so difficult – our society places such high value on climbing a ladder – but it was here that I learned not every pivotal move involves a big career change or a new fancy title.
Eventually, I saw the beauty in lateral moves. Lateral moves can indeed be power moves if used in the right way, and when I caught on to this, the game changed!
Feeling stuck, with no sign of a promotion in sight – I wasn’t quite sure what my next step should be. So, I volunteered to serve as a mentor on the floor, guiding my peers.
Did it come with a fancy new title? No. But serving as a mentor in this capacity shined a light on my leadership qualities. My teammates trusted me, and Cisco leaders saw this and took note. When my team leader was promoted, it was without question who earned the right to be his successor. That lateral move (mentoring) positioned me for my next forward step, and it would be the first of many lateral moves that would continue to position me for a multitude of opportunities throughout my Cisco career.
When you come to a crossroads and are feeling stuck yourself, consider a lateral move using these three suggestions.
1. Increased exposure: If you’ve mastered your current role, and upward movement doesn’t seem to be on the horizon – have you entertained the possibility of exploring other business functions? Making lateral moves afforded me some much-needed experience and exposure to the work environments of cross-functional teams. Who knows, you might find that you love working in that new space! This, in due time, could also aid in providing more clarity on what your next “move up” could be.
2. Increased Connections: You may know exactly where you want to be in the next 3-5 years, but in your current position you have no access to the network of people that can help get you there. I found that lateral moves into roles that worked closer with my desired network quickly increased my social currency! Sometimes it is “who you know” not “what you know”.
3. Increased Marketability: Lateral moves gave me more marketability in the long run. By understanding more aspects of the company as a whole and how different departments fit together, I was better suited for leadership roles, and – who knows – maybe even executive positions down the road!
Don’t let the pressure of ‘climbing a ladder’ distract you from the many opportunities – lateral moves included – in front of you. Through strategic stretch assignments, volunteering to help with projects led by various Cisco Employee Resource Organizations, and other lateral opportunities I ‘skilled up’. Although still not a technical resource (per se), I can now confidently lead a discussion among my very technical peers and OWN the room.
I went from contractor to full-time employee, from mentor to team lead, then senior team lead, and now lead a new function for one of our Customer Experience Professional Service Delivery teams on a global scale. Experience and skills gained from lateral moves certainly contributed to my success in a major way.
If you’ve spotted a Cisco opportunity, but you are hesitant to take that leap, push that fear aside. Apply! Connect with one of our amazing recruiters. The sky is your limit, and do not allow yourself to get hung up on titles.
In today’s work environment career paths are no longer linear or traditional. Embrace the new modern career trajectory and grow your potential with Cisco. Be your “best self” and explore the amazing opportunities we have to offer!
Ready to join our global teams? Apply now.
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Great nuggets for ALL!
Thank you for taking the time to read this Belinda! Definitely poured my heart into it and hope that this insight can help another!
Great article – really enjoyed reading it. Lovely to see the opportunities that are out there if you make yourself available and open to them!
A great read! Always nice to hear other people’s career experiences within Cisco!
Thank you!
Awesome advice, Tiara!
Growth opportunities are endless at Cisco and no one got to decide your growth potential except you.
I really enjoy your points of view.
Thanks for taking the time to read. You know, you are absolutely correct… YOU are in control of your own destiny. Its up to you to make the best of whatever scenario is thrown at you. You can most certainly do or be whatever you desire, and even if it takes you longer to arrive at that destination than others, you can still achieve it!
Many things learned which would definitely help me grow in my career
Thanks Pooja! I think you have a bright future ahead of you at Cisco! Just remember to be flexible, have an open mind, and have a growth mindset. If you keep those things in mind you will be just fine!
Thank you for sharing, this is very inspiring!
Sophea, thank you for reading! I hope my story can help another in navigating Cisco’s corporate culture. Being flexible is key in career path planning!
I love, love, love this article. Not being hung up on titles is exactly the kind of mindset we need to grow within this organization. It was an eye-opening piece of advice I learned from my mentor and I’ve held on to that. Doing what you like and constantly looking for connections is absolutely the right thing to do. WONDERFUL article Tiara! I love that picture of us at Watermark 🙂
Prajakta, my friend… I hope you are well! Yes! This was a hard lesson for me. Once I figured out that I could be a standout leader, regardless of whether or not I felt my title reflected that, it was a serious game changer! I appreciate you reading. Hopefully we will have the opportunity to connect again in person soon. Until that time, continue taking care.
Love this, Tiara! Such helpful suggestions and your opening “in your head” narration pulled me right in.
This is powerful stuff.
“Letting go of ego, and the chase of titles is so difficult – our society places such high value on climbing a ladder – but it was here that I learned not every pivotal move involves a big career change or a new fancy title.”
Sam, so glad that you took something away from the article. You absolutely DO NOT need a fancy title to lead and be a rock-star! Shine bright from wherever you are. Also, don’t compare your path to that of another. There is always more than one way to arrive at a destination. Do what seems to work for you; even if it’s non-traditional. Take care!
I happen to see your article today and it is very inspiring! I just moved into a new role learning a new program! I have been at Cisco 10.5 years and I agree with you! I also love the quote from Maya Angelou, “Hope and fear cannot occupy the same space at the same time. Invite one to stay.” This is so relevant to all that is going on right now! Thanks again for the time you took to write this article!
Thank you for the support and giving the article a read. It feels good to know that so many others can relate to my story. Appreciate the kind words! Take care.
Tiara, I am so inspired by your story and thank you for taking the time to share all the great advice about taking small steps while you navigate towards finding the next career move. I was also at Watermark last year and I wish I would have had a chance to meet you – Love this group photo. We do work for the best company!
Karene, navigating corporate culture at such a huge company like Cisco can be a bit tricky at times. It is so easy to find yourself lost, not knowing where to go next, or not even really understanding where to start. I only wish someone had given me this advice day 1 (smile). Thanks so much for your support and taking the time to read my article!
I knew in the first 5 minutes of interviewing Tiara that she was not only an amazing Cisco employee, but a truly inspiring person. We had little more than an elevator pitch of what her new role would be, but she took that and built one of THE MOST critical functions of our organization. She is constantly thinking outside the box and connecting people to build new relationships, new functions, and new process.
It has been an absolute pleasure to work with her and I’m thrilled to have her supporting our organization!
Patrick, why are you so amazing? lol… Thank you for the kind and encouraging words. I have learned so much from watching you; such a fine example of true leadership! Thanks for always betting on me! Also, I really appreciate this support and you finding the time to read my article.
Good for you! I have been with Cisco 21yrs this March. I have gotten grade promotions but remain an Individual Contributor. I had other priorities in my life (raising my daughter, taking care of health issues, husband’s progression with his career) that I chose to remain an individual contributor. Regardless, I have been sought out as a mentor by individuals throughout the years- and I am proud to claim that many of the individuals I have mentored have moved on to bigger things – both in and out of Cisco.
This is so encouraging to hear. It only further supports the fact that you can standout as a leader regardless of your title or role. Also, helping others is always the way to go. Start there, and your personal success will follow! I do appreciate you sharing this comment and thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to read the article!
Thank you very much for sharing your story Tiara. It was a great and very inspiring . All the very best to you.
Cynt, no thank you for reading. I appreciate the feedback and support!
What a wonderful article Tiara, full of great nuggets, wisdom and so encouraging. Thanks for taking the time to share and since I had the chance to work with you just a little, I know that you will have continued success and growth in all you do.
Sherri, Wow! Thank you for saying that. It was my absolute pleasure in having the opportunity to work with you. I’m glad you found encouragement in the read. Thanks for showing support!
I love this! Thanks for sharing your story!
Molly, glad it was an enjoyable read. Thanks for checking it out!
Such an important message for all of us to hear, Tiara! Thank you for sharing your journey and the wisdom these experiences have afforded you. Last year I heard someone say “climbing the ladder” is a thing of the past. It is now a career lattice, not a ladder. Your article expanded on that sentiment putting a clear cut “why” behind it. Great stuff!
Rosalie, I really appreciate this add to the conversation. I would agree, although in the past “climbing the corporate ladder” was considered the definition of success, now-a-days there are many other untraditional pathways to follow that lead to capturing a role enabling your play as an integral part of a team contributing to overall company success. Thanks for reading!
Tiara, Great Story with awesome nuggets!!
Good tips on quick learning and championed as fast learner!!
Tarunesh, thanks for taking the time to read. Honestly, if you are a fast-learner and can easily adapt, you can fit it in across a large multitude of work environments and industries. Flexibility is key in unlocking your full potential and identifying new opportunities for growth.
Great story, great quote! Loved it all. I should read more of these, as every time I do, I find them really enjoyable. This was no exception!
Casual – T, thank you so much for taking the time to read and connect. I appreciate the support! Also, that is one of my absolute favorite quotes by Maya Angelou.
No one gets to make it happen…but you! Well done Tiara. Cheers from your fellow 2015 classmate! 🙂
Mark, very wise advice. Absolutely, it is up to each individual to step up to the plate and take control of their career path planning and development. No one will ever be as invested in you as “YOU”. Thank you for taking the time to read the article and connect!
Tiara.. Really great article and very helpful. Thanks for sharing !
So glad that you found it to be an interesting read and insightful! Your support is much appreciated!
Sage advice and wisdom, thank you for sharing your journey, Tiara!
Karen, so appreciative that you made time in your busy schedule to read the article and engage. I really thought this was an important message. There is a multitude of great talent nestled in every nook and cranny here at Cisco (both red and blue). Some may silently struggle in trying to find ways that let their talents shine bright. This hopefully served as a nudge to keep going. Even if an opportunity has not yet manifest, enabling achievement of some particular role or title… there are still plenty of ways to be a “super star” right where you are today! In time, the right opportunity for you will come along! Be patient and get creative. No room for excuses (smile).
Tiara, thanks for sharing your journey and advice! Love this!
Leah, Hi there! Thanks for your support in reading the article. Speaking from the heart here and only hope that me sharing my story helps another with navigating corporate culture. It can be tricky and requires some creativity at times in relation to identifying growth opportunities that align with both your vision and goals.
Thanks for sharing. It is inspiring to hear these experiences
Carlos, it is commendable that you care to learn more about your fellow colleagues and their experiences. We all work better together when we take the time to ask questions and understand everyone’s unique stance and perspective. Thank you so much for reading the article. Your support is much appreciated!
Congrats, Tiara, we are lucky to have you and to receive this wisdom!
Jeff, Thank you so very much for giving the article a read and taking the time out to engage. Your support is much appreciated!
Excellent tips and an inspiration to all Tiara! When I first met you, I knew you were a star!
Leanna, you are always championing for me! It’s great to work with inspiring leaders such as yourself that I can aspire to. Thanks for the support and taking time to read the article.
Tiara, great story. I too went through the same experience and continue to use your story as inspiration.
Jay, I’m coming to find out that my same experience was shared by many of our fellow colleagues. Thank you for reminding me I wasn’t alone. I appreciate your support in reading the article!
Within a very short span, you brought new insights into the SVS business which had not available to us for years! But more than that, its the speed and energy that you actually bring to the job that has made you OWN (in your words) your role Tiara! As always, it’s a great pleasure working with you.
Sadiq, thank you for these very kind words. Any contribution I have made would not have been possible if it weren’t for amazing leaders like yourself willing to pitch in and lend both an ear and helping hand! I appreciate our conversations and have learned much from them. Thanks for taking the time to read the article and engage.
Great advice, Thank you Tiara!!
Sima, you are so extraordinary and have helped me more times than I can remember. Thank you friend! Definitely one of the people I’ve met on this journey that makes moving forward, even when things get hard, a much easier thing to do! Thanks so much for the support in reading my article.
Very inspiring story, thank you for sharing, Tiara!
Yoshinobu, thank you for taking time out to read it! Glad you found it to be insightful!
Tiara, you are an inspiration to us all! You have shared great insight into what it takes to excel and move forward in our careers! I appreciate your authenticity! Thank you!
Lynita, thank you for reading! I’m always looking for creative ways to stretch myself and grow. I think the ability to be flexible and quickly adapt will be critical post-pandemic skills hiring managers and recruiters will be looking for in candidates!
So many great nuggets of wisdom in this blog! I love it!
Isabella, I appreciate this feedback. Thank you for reading!
I just loved reading this! You’re amazing and an inspiration! ❤️?
Geri Lynn,
Thank you. You have been such a true friend. It was my pleasure in working with you. I hope you gained some useful insights from the read.
I absolutely did! I loved working with you and thrilled that we have become friends! Looking forward to getting together after things get back to normal. ? ? ? In the meantime, I will continue to enjoy reading your posts! Hugs ?
Excellent advice, Tiara! It’s not all about the titles!
India, It was very nice meeting you virtually today. I thank you for the kind words and for reading the article.
Great article and advice Tiara! Congratulations on all your success, more to come I’m sure!
Mark, Thank you! I had such a pleasure working with and learning from you the brief time we spent together for the official launch of GFEP. I really appreciate you taking time to read my article and for the encouraging words.
Awesome! These are such great points. I’m a witness to a lot of them and I have to say my mindset wasn’t like this for a while! 🙂 Love this! Thanks so much for sharing!
Laverne, right there with you. I had to adjust my mindset as well. Boy did that shift of thought make such a major difference! Thanks for sharing some feedback and for taking the time to read the article.
Thank you for sharing your journey!
Toni,
Thank you for taking the time to read and engage!
Tiara -so many great points in here that I will point my own team to. Thank you for sharing.
Ella, Awesome! I am so happy you found the information useful. I really appreciate you taking the time to read and share with your team!
It’s awesome to see your career journey play out, Tiara. Well done!
Thank you for your kind words and for taking the time to read.
I love to hear the background around someone’s journey through Cisco and the insights they can provide to others. Thank you for sharing your story!
Mark, I am the same. You can learn so much from the experience of others. So glad to learn many benefited from the article. Thank you for reading!
Tiara, great advice and inspiring. I am grateful to have worked with you along your journey. Great example of Cisco culture and leadership.
Dave, You have definitely been a positive influence and a great example to follow along the way. I’m still growing and very thankful for each and every work experience Cisco has afforded me. Thank you for serving as a mentor source when needed and I really appreciate your support in reading the article!
Hi Tiara! Great story very useful advices to grow your Network !!
Hi Karla!!! I hope you had a wonderful shutdown break! I’m glad you enjoyed reading the article. Thank you for your support.
Go Tiara!
Hi Josh!!! Thank you for taking time to read and for the encouraging words.
Wonderful advice Tiara!
Thank you Jeneen! You were one of the amazing leaders at Cisco that helped facilitate a lateral move by extending a stretch assignment to me for the CBP Elevate project! I learned so much while serving as PM. I’ve said it a million times already, but it doesn’t hurt to say it once more… I appreciate you (smile)!
I really enjoyed reading this, an inspiring example of how hard works pays off and creating your own opportunities along the way 🙂 thank you for sharing Tiara
Thank you David! Never afraid to bring my “own seat” to the table when there isn’t one already prepared for me (smile)!
Great encouragement Tiara, thanks for sharing your experiences!
Thank you for the support in reading the article Michele!
The power of the lateral move! Congratulations Tiara, you are inspiring and I can definitely relate to taking on stretch assignments to grow skills and gain visibility to see what other areas of Cisco there are to explore and continue growing. Well written!
Thank you! Sometimes you have to take matters in your own hands and create opportunities if none already exist!
Thanks for sharing, Tiara. This is such a beautiful and inspiring story 🙂
Miglena, thank you for your support in reading the article. Happy to hear you found it inspiring.
Wonderful perspective Tiara, thanx for sharing your amazing story! I can say that I witnessed you following your 3 guiding principles (hence our connection through Cisco’s Multiplier Effect Program) and they have certainly paid off! :o)
Shawn, thank you for always being an advocate and mentor source for me! Appreciate the support in reading the article!
Thank you for sharing your story.
Lavanya, Hi there! I’m so thankful that many of my fellow colleagues both understood and could relate to my story. Hoping it inspired some and was informative.
This was amazing! Your back story really spoke to me as well. Love your transparency and your willingness to learn. Cheers to knocking fear out the room! I see “exec” in your near future.
Micaela, Hey girl hey (smile)! In a world where woman, especially women of color, aren’t swimming in opportunity… I wanted to level set and ensure that others recognized this one very thing… THERE IS ALWAYS A WAY! You may have to be more creative than others in doing so, but if you really want to achieve, it’s possible. Lateral moves are a great way to gain visibility and improve your marketability!
Love that you mention EROs!
Such brilliant spaces to meet and connect with folks from across the business, take on stretch assignments or contribute to projects. These so often lead to new and unexpected opportunities.
The Cisco network really is our most valuable career asset.
Congrats Tiara! Great read.
Debi, Absolutely they do. Something else, EROs provide you with a sense of community! Everyone wants to belong. You won’t always be motivated, there will be occasions when you feel discouraged. Being a part of these communities gave me instant work family and helped me stay encouraged at times when I felt near defeat. Thank you for reading!
Thank you Tiara
It was a pleasure to share my story and so remarkable to see the tremendous support from my Cisco family. We all learn a little something just by listening to each other’s experience. To my surprise so many of us related to this and were encouraged. I appreciate your support in reading. Thank you!
Excellent advice Tiara, thank you for sharing your journey and learnings.
Wendy, we can all learn so much from each other’s journey. Thank you for taking the time to explore mine. Glad you could take something away from it.
Beautifully written, Tiara! Thank you for sharing this with us!
Thank you for taking the time to read it! The support is much appreciated.
Tiara, you are not only a leader (obviously), but hold such a command in motivating people! Thank you for your time to author and share your story. You have given me hope!
Wow! Thanks Carol for such kind words. It is so amazing to see how in sharing my story I have connected with so many and most could relate and take something away from it! I appreciate your support in reading the article!
Thank you for the advice, very inspiring .
Curtis, Thanks for connecting and I appreciate your support in reading it! So wonderful to hear that you found it a source of inspiration.
I appreciate that you shared your story and advice. Very helpful to remember our career paths are not ladders going straight up. They are very zigged zagged.
Ginger, perfect description… career paths are definitely more “zigged zagged” than straight-forward in nature now-a-days for sure (smile)! I really appreciate you taking the time to read the article and it warms my heart learning that you could take something away from it!
Hey Tiara, thanks for putting this together, this is very insightful . There is no end to opportunities, its up to us how we want to steer our career. At the end of the day, job satisfaction is a real thing.
Deepthi, it was my pleasure to share. I think we all can learn so much just from sharing our experiences with one another. I am glad you could take something away from it! I appreciate you taking the time out to read it!
Powerful message! We met at the Watermark Conference in Feb before the world shut down and I remember your wonderful spirit! I will definitely take your thoughts to heart.
Awesome article! So inspiring! Thank you so much Tiara for sharing your journey with us!
Love this!!! Thank you for sharing.
Great read thank you for sharing. I am a strong believer in the lattice. Lateral moves underpin skills and capabilities and grow them further. Lots of gold nuggets to take out of this but I especially love ” Hope and Fear cannot occupy the same space, so invite one to stay