Connected Black Professionals

How does one go from university to shadowing a Cisco SVP in Brazil?  I think “Veritas et Utilitas,” (meaning truth and service) and my time at Howard University, a Historically Black College and University in Washington, DC, had a lot to do with it.  “Veritas et Utilitas” is Howard University’s fou…

This post was written by Cisco Intern Charlie Helms Jr. What I love most about working at Cisco is the feeling that I truly matter. Being an African-American student in computer science has many challenges, and one of them is seeing longevity in your field when you do not see many people that look…

As an intern, I’ve thought a lot about how I can leave my mark at such a big tech company and stand out amongst the crowd. When I asked for advice on this, I received much of the same commentary: “Network, network, network!” and while I connected with many people through one-on-ones – I still felt l…

I love reinventing myself. I thrive on finding different ways to bring a sense of “newness” to my day, every day. As you can imagine, doing this can take a lot of energy and requires a lot of dedication, but it’s also been the most fulfilling journey of my life. In just one week, I created the best…

Have you ever had an “ah-ha!” moment? It’s that moment in your life, or in your career, that initiates a change in how you think, work, live, etc. I recently had a few “ah-ha!” moments myself around the work I do at Cisco. (It’s truly one of the best places to grow both professionally and personally…

Recently, I posted a Tweet with a photo of my colleague Melissa Holder and I enjoying a screening together of the blockbuster movie, Hidden Figures. After discussing this film more with other colleagues, I decided to write this blog post – not just because this was an excellent movie (nominated for…

Are you a lifelong learner? Perhaps you’re hungry for more knowledge or just need an avenue in which to share your experiences and expertise or a place where you’ll find others to help keep you motivated and on the course to achieving your dreams. Maybe a Cisco Employee Resource Organization (ERO) i…

If you think running a 5K race is challenge enough, try throwing a few daunting obstacles on the course. Cisco Network Consulting Engineer Deidra Brown has faced that challenge, and has overcome it. A few years ago, Deidra wouldn’t have even considered a physical challenge. She had struggled with we…