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 capable of e-mail each other as a result of their computer systems had been on totally different networks. Ultimately, they found out a technique to join their computer systems, creating the multiprotocol router.

The 12 months was 1984, and this new connection … effectively, it’s how Cisco was born!

And due to the improvements of Leonard Bosack and Sandy Lerner, my husband and I are right here in the present day. You see, I’m a Collaboration Gross sales Specialist at Cisco, and my husband, Scott, is a Gross sales Admin at Meraki. You may 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 position. I clearly talked sufficient about how a lot I cherished 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 likelihood 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 one of the best transfer for us as a pair and as a household. It’s simply as effectively that Cisco is such a BIG organisation, a lot in order that despite the fact that my husband and I are each Cisconians working from the identical place (more often than not), we very not often “run into each other” at work.

As mother and father, Scott and I each really feel so grateful to work for an organisation like Cisco — a office that actually values working households and places the best 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 massive brother to child Brodie, who 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 lady trying to progress in her profession and lift a household, Cisco makes it really feel potential.

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, “Individuals make Glasgow.” I really feel the identical manner about Cisco. The folks right here really make Cisco what it’s. From supportive managers to caring, hardworking, and enjoyable teammates, we’re surrounded by good folks each day.

As for the way we juggle all of it? The pliability of hybrid work is vital for us as a household. Scott works predominantly from house, whereas I take a blended method. I’m a Collaboration Specialist in spite of everything! Some days, I earn a living from home; some days, I am going into the workplace, and different days I’m on the go. Fortunately, with Webex we’ve bought all of the know-how at our fingertips to make “working from wherever” potential.

My position — protecting Scotland and Eire — features a little bit of travelling, which, as a mum with two younger children, requires planning and the proper of help. Fortunately, with Scott having the flexibleness to earn a living 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 mother and father 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 time without work along with our common paid time without work — to help initiatives at our children’ nurseries or initiatives in our local people collectively. There’s one draw back, nonetheless: a Day for Me — a quarterly break day for the entire firm to prioritise well-being — isn’t ever really 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 fine and not-so-good jobs. Now, it’s simply nice to each be settled someplace like Cisco whereas navigating these whirlwind early years as mother and father collectively.

It has additionally all the time been Scott’s dream for us to lift our children 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 prepare station and no simple commute to work. Now, with the flexibleness of Cisco’s hybrid work tradition that we each take pleasure in and the connection that’s potential due to the pioneering know-how that Cisco was based on, we’re dwelling in that little “dream” village in spite of everything — and the commute a couple of times per week actually isn’t so dangerous. The truth is, as a busy mum, the 40-minute solo automotive journey is definitely a deal with!

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