Cisco Couples

We met when I was a senior in college at a New Year’s Eve party at the Outrigger Canoe Club in Honolulu. We were introduced through mutual friends, and three years later Terry and I had our wedding reception at that same club in Hawaii.

It may not be uncommon to look back on the major events in your life and confidently say, “We have been through it all together” with your husband (or wife) in mind. From getting married, moving across the country, and having kids – you know, just some of those little moments that really shape your life – we’ve seen a lot in our days together, and most expect that when marriage comes in to play. You’re truly partners in life!

What you may consider uncommon, however, is that Cisco has been an integral part of all those incredible moments as well. Terry and I will celebrate 11 years of marriage this year, and for nearly that entire time, we’ve worked out of the same office at Cisco.

That’s right! We’re a Cisco couple!

The thought of working with your spouse might “scare” you, but for us it is one of the things that make us love where we work even more! Cisco has such a fantastic culture that is made even more rewarding because we get to share it together – from finding a work/life balance that truly works for us to the annual holiday shut down (which is a company-wide shut down in the US the last week of December) – there are so many benefits we can enjoy together because of Cisco.

Being a Cisco couple has its advantages and disadvantages, but I’m only grateful for what we’ve gone through together over the last 11 years.  I like to think that we’ve found a good balance in keeping our personal and work life pretty separate. The biggest advantage to working together is that we never feel alone in any challenge we’re facing at work. I know I can bounce anything off him if I need an “outside” perspective, without having to explain every little detail – he just gets it.

We also understand the pressures we face during the more stressful times of the year. That greater sense of understanding and acceptance helps us support each other in a really meaningful way. At the same time, there are times when we have to mindfully keep work out of our conversations – which is pretty easy to do considering we are raising two active kiddos and two crazy rescue dogs.

But we aren’t the only couple at Cisco – there are many others out there! Here’s a couple more Cisco Couples:

Matt and Rachel – Matt is PAM, and Rachel is an Enterprise Account Manager. Both live and work in Florida.

How did you meet?

We met at a beach bar in Ocean City, MD called Macky’s. We’ve since named our dog Macky.

What do you like most about working at Cisco?

We love that Cisco is so family orientated!

What do you like most about working with your spouse?

We are both very competitive. We love sharing ideas and helping to make on another better with each day at Cisco.

Why does this help you to #LoveWhereYouWork?

We understand how each other’s days are spent, and we can share and learn from each other throughout the day as well – it’s one of the best ways to #LoveWhereYouWork!

Ryan and Sarah – Ryan is a Virtual Sales Account Manager on Cisco’s Service Provider Team and Sarah is a Virtual Sales Account Manager on the Services Team.

How did you meet?

Through mutual friends in Raleigh, NC.

What do you like most about working with your spouse?

It’s great to bounce ideas off of each other and learn about different parts of the company from what we each do. It’s also nice to be able to travel together to GSX in Las Vegas.

Why does this help you to #LoveWhereYouWork?

Cisco is a great company to work for, so it’s really nice to be able to share some of the same work experiences with your spouse.

No matter what your job is, no matter where you work, I’m a strong believer in the importance of having a trusted confidante at work. As a people leader at Cisco, I put a lot of pressure on myself to create a fun, collaborative environment focused on individual and team success. I lead a team of Partner Account Managers in Southern California and the Southwest. Since 88% of Cisco is sold through our Partners, we have tremendous responsibility to continuously grow and develop our Partners as Cisco accelerates innovation. I’m very fortunate that my trusted confidante is also my best friend and husband. He helps me be a better manager, wife, and mom – and I’m so happy to be sharing these experiences with him.

Are you a Cisco couple? What’s your favorite benefit of working together? Share with us in the comments below!

Want to join a company that encourages work/life balance? We’re hiring!