My profession journey started earlier than I used to be even sufficiently old to comprehend it. Rising up, my mom, a single dad or mum and immigrant, turned her handcrafted gadgets into our household’s livelihood at native flea markets, the place I might typically accompany her. Her resilience and entrepreneurial expertise have been my earliest classes in enterprise, laying the groundwork for my very own aspirations. These early experiences instilled in me a drive to make a significant affect, a drive that has guided me by means of each chapter of my life.
After finishing highschool, I launched into my undergraduate research in enterprise, desperate to forge my path. Nonetheless, the tragic occasions of September 11, 2001, steered my life in a brand new path. Feeling a profound sense of responsibility to the nation that had welcomed my household and me as immigrants, I enlisted within the navy, setting apart my private targets to serve. The subsequent 22 years I spent within the Air Power have been marked by private progress, challenges, and the pleasure of contributing to a trigger higher than myself.
In 2007, my service took a brand new type once I transitioned from energetic responsibility to a federal place with the Division of Homeland Safety. Over the subsequent 14 years, I dedicated myself to the nation’s safety. Right here, I noticed Cisco’s networking and safety options and their pivotal function in our operations. The cutting-edge expertise was essential in sustaining operational and informational safety, proving important to the success of our missions and contributing to the nation’s security.
Though I used to be amidst my profession in safety, the entrepreneurial drive instilled in me throughout my childhood by no means left. The truth is, it flourished. In 2016, I co-founded a CrossFit enterprise, and in 2020, I launched a franchise that created profession alternatives for ladies, honoring my mom’s legacy of exhausting work and independence. These ventures mirrored my ardour and function for constructing inclusive communities and empowering others.
Parallel to my skilled endeavors, I continued my educational pursuits, attaining an MBA from the College of Southern California (USC) Marshall Faculty of Enterprise and advancing to a doctorate in Organizational Change and Management. USC Marshall was a haven of inclusivity and mentorship, shaping my function and fueling my ardour for addressing Latinx entrepreneurs’ challenges. My time at USC additionally introduced a poignant honor as I used to be acknowledged because the “Veteran of the Sport,” which I devoted to my mom, who was there with me, as a tribute to her enduring affect and sacrifices.
I out of the blue misplaced my mom in 2019 whereas deployed with my reserve unit. It was a defining second that continues to encourage me to guide a life worthy of her reminiscence.
Now, as a associate improvement specialist at Cisco, I’ve discovered a spot the place my previous in service and safety merges with my purpose-driven life. Cisco’s dedication to empowering people and organizations mirrors my very own, and I’m a part of a group that values my various experiences whereas encouraging me to make a major affect.
In my function, I’ve the privilege of collaborating with Cisco companions to empower them by means of go-to-market (GTM) methods, enterprise methods, and gross sales enablement. I additionally interact with prospects to impart greatest practices from my in depth life expertise. I work intently with numerous Gross sales Enterprise Items at Cisco to propel our Safety and Networking enterprise ahead. My entrepreneurial background, schooling, and former roles equip me with the modern mindset to develop our playbook. Leveraging my expertise, I’m dedicated to driving my group’s success and attaining excellent outcomes. I additionally leverage my schooling to teach our companions and prospects alike, fostering a tradition of steady studying and progress with them that’s reflective of the tradition we expertise as Cisconians.
Moreover, I’m a mentor on the College of Southern California Marshall Faculty of Enterprise Profession Development Program, the place I proceed to mentor the subsequent wave of leaders, share my journey, and encourage others. Instructing is a ardour near my coronary heart, and I’m desperate to information others alongside their paths, simply as I’ve navigated mine.
At Cisco, I’m embraced by a neighborhood that acknowledges the significance of safe, sturdy networking—the muse underpinning my work on the Division of Homeland Safety. Cisco is the place my service and safety historical past intersects with my present function, enabling me to contribute to a safer and extra interconnected world.
In case you’re contemplating a profession at Cisco, perceive that this can be a place the place your story is widely known, your skills are utilized, and your potential is acknowledged. Cisco isn’t just an organization; it’s a neighborhood that values your contributions and invests in your progress.
Celebrating range creates an setting during which we will all thrive. It’s a part of our function—test it out!
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