How We’re Navigating Parenthood, Careers, and Connection at Cisco


As soon as upon a time, there have been two Stanford College workers — a husband and spouse — who weren’t in a position to e mail each other as a result of their computer systems have been on totally different networks. Ultimately, they found out a strategy to join their computer systems, growing the multiprotocol router.

A man and a woman holding up mugs.

The yr was 1984, and this new connection … properly, it’s how Cisco was born!

And because of the improvements of Leonard Bosack and Sandy Lerner, my husband and I are right here immediately. You see, I’m a Collaboration Gross sales Specialist at Cisco, and my husband, Scott, is a Gross sales Admin at Meraki. You would name us Mrs. Webex and Mr. Meraki — however for the file, I used to be right here first!

I began my Cisco journey in March 2021, which I owe to a fellow Cisconian who pushed me to use for my function. I clearly talked sufficient about how a lot I liked working right here that in January 2022, when Scott noticed a possibility that suited his background and skillset come up in Meraki, he jumped on the probability to use. I’m so glad he did!

As a lot as I used to be initially cautious of working on the similar place as my husband, significantly as a fiercely impartial particular person (as he’ll attest to!), it has turned out to be the perfect transfer for us as a pair and as a household. It’s simply as properly that Cisco is such a BIG organisation, a lot in order that regardless that my husband and I are each Cisconians working from the identical place (more often than not), we very hardly ever “run into each other” at work.

As dad and mom, Scott and I each really feel so grateful to work for an organisation like Cisco — a office that really values working households and places the fitting instruments and advantages in place to help us as we juggle working and household life. Our oldest son, Charlie, was simply 18 months previous once I joined Cisco. Now, he’s practically 5 and is large brother to child Brodie, who just lately turned one. From maternity depart to the return to work help I obtained after having Brodie, coupled with the healthcare and monetary advantages we obtain right here, as a girl trying to progress in her profession and lift a household, Cisco makes it really feel attainable.

Woman, man, and two kids.Our tradition that places folks earlier than all else makes having a profession right here a pleasure. Within the metropolis we’re each from, Glasgow, there’s a saying, “Folks make Glasgow.” I really feel the identical approach about Cisco. The folks right here actually make Cisco what it’s. From supportive managers to caring, hardworking, and enjoyable teammates, we’re surrounded by good folks day by day.

As for a way we juggle all of it? The pliability of hybrid work is essential for us as a household. Scott works predominantly from residence, whereas I take a blended strategy. I’m a Collaboration Specialist in spite of everything! Some days, I make money working from home; some days, I’m going into the workplace, and different days I’m on the go. Fortunately, with Webex we’ve acquired all of the expertise at our fingertips to make “working from wherever” attainable.

My function — overlaying Scotland and Eire — features a little bit of travelling, which, as a mum with two younger youngsters, requires planning and the proper of help. Fortunately, with Scott having the pliability to make money working from home and be round for the children’ nursery drop-offs and pick-ups once I’m away, I don’t have any of the added fear or mum guilt that normally comes with work journey.

One other added bonus we’ve discovered as a pair and as dad and mom working on the similar place is our holidays align! We are able to additionally use the perks and advantages right here at Cisco, like Time2Give — 80 hours of paid day without work along with our common paid day without work — to help initiatives at our youngsters’ nurseries or initiatives in our local people collectively. There’s one draw back, nevertheless: a Day for Me — a quarterly break day for the entire firm to prioritise well-being — isn’t ever actually a day for ME. It’s a day for us!

Scott and I’ve been collectively for 17 years. We’ve studied in numerous cities, travelled world wide with and with out one another, and seen one another via our fair proportion of excellent and not-so-good jobs. Now, it’s simply nice to each be settled someplace like Cisco whereas navigating these whirlwind early years as dad and mom collectively.

Child looking at a computer screen. It has additionally at all times been Scott’s dream for us to lift our youngsters within the small village the place he grew up. For thus a few years, I used to be reluctant to attempt the concept as a result of there was no practice station and no straightforward commute to work. Now, with the pliability of Cisco’s hybrid work tradition that we each take pleasure in and the connection that’s attainable due to the pioneering expertise that Cisco was based on, we’re dwelling in that little “dream” village in spite of everything — and the commute a few times per week actually isn’t so dangerous. The truth is, as a busy mum, the 40-minute solo automobile journey is definitely a deal with!

Are you prepared to begin your Cisco journey? Discover the chances.

Subscribe to the WeAreCisco weblog.

Share:

Recent Articles

Related Stories

Leave A Reply

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Stay on op - Ge the daily news in your inbox