I grew up in a beautiful, but snowy region of Russia. Who knew that years later, I would be living my life near the ocean, enjoying the best pastéis and sunny days in Portugal as a Cisco Customer Success Specialist working alongside high professional and creative engineers!
So, how did I get here? It all started with a dream. In 2016, while I was still living in Moscow, my colleague inspired me to join Cisco. At the time, I hesitated and had fears of doing so because being a woman in tech in Russia, as it is throughout many parts of tech, is somewhat a challenge. But I decided to go for it anyway, and that year became the first female member on the Cisco Krakow Routing Protocols TAC team. There was a steep learning curve from there to catch up with all the technologies and work to obtain my CCIE certification, but I had great support and mentors along the way.
Then, a visit to Portugal in 2018 changed everything, as I felt in love with Lisbon. In 2019, I entered my current role as a Customer Success Specialist and that same year, with the support of my manager, moved to Lisbon to join the growing Cisco office there. Now, I am one of the leads on the Customers Success team at the Lisbon Customer Experience Center, helping to build and develop our team.
I’ve come so far in just a few years’ time!
I can’t believe that I ever doubted myself in being a successful female engineer. I’m so happy and proud that I overcame those fears and stereotypes in my head! Cisco’s mission is to empower and inclusive future for all – and this has helped to open my mind even further. I am more curious, empathetic, and understanding. And, with Cisco being a global company, I’ve been able to meet people (both virtually and personally) from all over the world, with some of them becoming my close friends!
Being surrounded by some of the industry’s leading professionals, I have learned and grown so much. I now know it is okay to not know everything, because learning is a constant journey. At the same time, I have been given best opportunities and tools to accompany me during this journey – and with every day being different, this journey is an exciting one!
I also learned how important and productive a safe environment to bring your full self to work is. At Cisco your voice is heard and matters, we are all supported in our career growth – even if, someday, that growth brings you to a new role, team, or country!
I’ve now been living in beautiful Lisbon for over a year. I have met amazing people, am improving my Portuguese and love exploring this wonderful country and their culture. Every day it feels more and more like home.
Here are few things I have learned during my relocation:
1. Don’t be afraid. Take bold steps! You can do it even if it looks scary. Make a plan and step by step, one by one, you will achieve your goals!
Don’t be afraid to ask for help either. You are not alone here. Even if you are relocating all by yourself, there are colleagues, friends, family and even total strangers who are there to support you. You might be surprised how much you can grow by asking for help.
2. Be active. Even though it’s exciting to start your new journey in the new country, there still will be times when you will feel lonely without your friends and family. Allow yourself to be sad sometimes but also be active: join expats communities, get to know your new colleagues better, explore the city, find places and people to keep up with your favorite hobbies. I met great people in Lisbon thanks to a simple Facebook post I replied to. So, go for it, build your life!
3. Enjoy it! Don’t forget what an incredible experience you are going through – you have the whole new country to explore and get to know! Taste, try, watch, travel – enjoy it to the max!
The wonderful thing about Cisco technology and our culture is that location does not define or limit us. We can (and have been for many years) truly ‘work from anywhere’ – so don’t let fear stand in your way of accomplishing something wonderful. ]
Who knows, maybe this time next year, you too will be loving where you work – by the ocean, enjoying the best pastéis and sunny days.
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Great story. Congratulations on your journey.
Thank you Chris!
Great article Alena. And it just the beginning
Very inspiring and I can feel happiness in you writing this article.
Alena is one the most talented engineers that I have the pleasure to work with and she is a such nice person that does not think twice to provide support to the team. Inspiring !!!
Truly inspiring!
Lovely story!
Excellent story and one that resonates with me having moved from Cisco Americas to Cisco Portugal in December 2019 just before lockdown. Enjoy the journey and I hope to see you in the office again soon!
Hello my friend…proof it works! 🙂
Bravo Alena. As an expat from the U.S. here in the U.K. I could not agree more with your advice to 1. Be BOLD, 2. Make a plan, 3. Ask for help (there are MANY wanting to support in any way they can, they are just waiting to be asked).
Stay amazing!
Thanks for sharing your story, Alena! I was recently telling my family we should move to Europe (from the US) and your story is inspiring.
That is an awesome journey, thank you for sharing. While I don’t face nearly the amount of obstacles you had I feel motivated and inspired by you to defeat my own fears being new to Cisco and the job role of a CSS. I hope to one day be as accomplished as you and get my CCIE as well. Thank you! Cisco is the BEST!!! ?
Great article and story, Alena, thank you for sharing! New experiences make us grow — thank you for inspiring!
Thank you for sharing your story. I sent a copy to my teenage daughter as inspiration.
Dear Alena, You have the creativity and determination to do whatever you can dream. I hope you feel proud today and confident in your ability to rise to your next challenge. I’ve got a strong feeling this is only the beginning of even more great things to come for you!
What a wonderful journey you have there! I like when you said “taste, try, watch, travel.”
Great and inspiring story, Alena! Thank you for sharing.
great story and very inspiring @Alena! Congratulation to your relocation to Portugal with a great team over there!
Congrats, Alena, on all the changes… the success… and the courage to make it all happen. I love ready stories like this!!!
Alenka, this is amazing life story! Being here in Krakow, you were always inspiring by your blasting energy, enormous creativity and never-ending optimism! Enjoy your life in Portugal and keep shining as you do :*
Great choice!
Luis Lima here, tool went mad 😀
Hi Alena. Right now going through the same and doing my best to enjoy the moment. 🙂
Congratulations to you, I know what you feel and what you have went through. Awesome result 🙂
Wishing you lots of success in your new country and at Cisco. Enjoy the pasteis!!!!
Awesome and inspiring story!
Alena, what an awesome story! Such stories inspire many of us. Thank you for sharing your experience. Positive attitude, beliefs in yourself and people around, accepting the things in life really make difference. I wish you good luck and plenty of great people around you. Unfortunately we didn’t meet in Moscow since I joined Cisco in 2018, but I suggest we could be good friends if we met)
Thank you Alena for sharing your story. I really enjoyed reading your article ! You are a talented Engineer and I like having you in meetings with my customers to discuss their DNA journey! Thank you for being part of Cisco and you support!
Wonderful and incredibly inspiring story, beautifully written.. Can’t wait for your next articles Alena!!!!! 🙂
Love it! Great Journey! I am looking forward to be able to travel again, and come to visit. Lisbon is one of my favorite cities!
Hey Alena,
what an amazing and powerful story!
enjoy the journey…
Really inspiring Alena!
What an inspiring and amazing story! Thank you!
What a beautiful story! It must have been a shocking change. Thanks for sharing your journey. Which do you think were the most challenging aspects of embracing the Portuguese culture (if any)?
Great journey, all the best for you and hope to see you soon.
Hi, thanks for this, it’s an inspiring read. Early stages with moving to Warsaw/Krakow with our family from UK. Interested in how you overcame some of the challenges around language/integration as the biggest obstacle is me (all other family members are bilingual) knowing small amounts of Polish and feeling isolated there.
Love this article!!! So happy for you Alena, and thank you for sharing your story with the Cisco Community. Very inspiring!! 😉