If you had told me as a kid running around Cisco's San Jose headquarters that I'd one day build my career here, I probably would've believed you, but only because Cisco has always been a part of my life. My dad has worked at Cisco for as long as I can remember, and some of my earliest memories include sitting on the couch with my sister, "helping" him study for his CCIE - at age three. So technically, my Cisco journey started before I could even spell Cisco.
But officially, my journey began in 2018 when I walked into Cisco's New York City Penn1 office as a high school student for the Cisco High STEM Externship Program, a two-week crash course in the world of Cisco, technology, and what it looks like to build a meaningful career here. I applied because I was curious. I wanted to understand what made my dad stay for so many years, and why my sister chose to start her career here too.
The externship wasn't just exposure to STEM. It was my first glimpse into Cisco's culture, which I found to be a community of people who genuinely want you to grow, explore, and ask every question imaginable. During the program, we presented, practiced soft skills, learned to code, met leaders, spoke with engineers in the field, and got a real feel for what "Cisco life" looked like. By the end, I knew I wanted to be back someday as a full-time employee.
For the next four years of college, I interned every summer while studying at Rutgers Business School. Each internship gave me the chance to try on different "future versions" of myself: solutions engineer, account manager, IoT specialist, you name it. I shadowed teams across the company, everyone equally as passionate, testing out what I loved and was good at, like presenting and staying curious to keep up with the ever-changing technology landscape, and just as importantly, what I didn't love. Networking in meaningful ways allowed me to hear incredible stories, successes, and failures, making me feel less afraid to take risks myself and focus on why I love what I do. Not many college students get that kind of hands-on career exploration at a single company, but Cisco creates space for it. They encourage it.
After graduating, I packed up and moved to North Carolina for the Cisco Sales Associate Program (CSAP). It was a memorable nine months, as anyone who's gone through the program will tell you, where I networked with employees and leaders across sales to figure out which area was the best fit. The intense, deep trainings gave me a perfect overview of what I needed to know before going into the field, and the confidence to have real customer conversations. I also met some of the kindest and smartest people, making memories inside and outside of the office, becoming lifelong friends. After completing the program, I joined Cisco's Service Provider segment as an Account Executive focused on Services & Buying Programs, where I've spent the last three years.
But throughout all those job rotations, trainings, and career changes, one thread never disappeared: the Cisco High Externship Program.
Leaning on the memories of everyone who helped me during my time in the program, even in the busiest part of the year, I started volunteering as soon as I joined Cisco full time. Remembering how much the program had set me up for my career at Cisco, and knowing firsthand its success, I eventually joined the main leadership team to help run it - and it's been one of the most meaningful parts of my Cisco experience.
The externship was paused nationwide after COVID due to funding, but many of us on the NYC team had experienced its impact ourselves. So, with the support of leaders, volunteers, and a community that truly cares about the next generation of STEM talent, we kept the program alive locally, giving participants the chance to meet awesome Cisco folks, smart peers like them, and of course, learn if and how STEM interests them. Now, after years of work, the program is expanding again, this time to RTP and Austin, starting in summer 2026, reflecting how leadership supports our success and what we truly believe in.
Getting to help build the program that launched my own career has felt like everything coming full circle. Every summer we meet a new group of high school students who remind me so much of myself at that age - excited, curious, unsure of what the future looks like, but eager to soak in every moment. Watching them discover their interests, grow their confidence, and picture themselves in STEM is one of the most rewarding experiences I've had at Cisco.
If there's one thing I want people to know about working here, it's this: Cisco invests in people. Not just employees, but families, students, communities, and the pipeline of talent coming after us. They make room for you to explore, to pivot, to dream bigger, and to bring others along with you.
Seven years ago, I walked into Cisco as a high school student just trying to figure out what a career in tech meant. Today, I get to build that same foundation for the next generation, while growing my own career in ways I never could've imagined.
And to me, that's what makes Cisco special. It's not just where I work. It's where I grew up, and where I get to help others begin their own stories, too.
Ready to start your story at a company that invests in your growth from day one? Discover your path and find your fit on the Cisco Careers site today!
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