I’ll never forget the moment my phone rang and I heard those words, “Congratulations, we’d like to offer you the job.” I was sitting beside my mom and I burst into tears. It was more than just a job offer — it was the realization of a dream I’d carried for years finally coming true. My first reaction wasn’t just excitement — it was sheer relief. Getting that call to join Cisco TAC had been incredibly difficult, and in that moment, everything I had pushed through finally felt worth it.
Let me take you back a bit. My dad passed away when I was 11, my mom raised three daughters by herself, and money was tight at home. My work life started early, back in 2009, when I got my first job as a saleswoman selling perfumes. I didn’t have my bachelor’s or technical degree then, but I needed to work and help support my family. After that first job, I worked in a medical factory — only to be fired because I was too slow on the production line. So, I found another factory job.
I remember hearing about Cisco in high school. Getting into technology and one day working at Cisco became a dream of mine. There were technical high schools in my area, but I was never the straight-A student they were looking for. Still, I always loved computers. As kids, my Godfather gave us a computer and I loved tinkering with it — breaking it, fixing it, and even fighting off the occasional virus (Thanks, Limewire!). Those little victories gave me a taste for tech, even if I didn’t realize it at the time.
I knew the factory was just a stepping stone while I figured things out. Then, one day on the bus, I noticed the Cisco TAC building was in the same business park as the factory I worked at. That’s when I started researching: What did it take to work there? I discovered Cisco Networking Academy and realized that getting four modules under my belt could be my ticket in. For the first time, there was a clear, accessible path forward — one that didn’t require a traditional background, just commitment and curiosity.
I found a local university that offered Cisco Networking Academy courses. So, I took out a low-interest loan from the factory where I was working and signed up. From the first module, I was hooked. I loved the hands-on labs and kept practicing and studying.
When I finished my third module, I applied for my first job at Cisco TAC. I was so nervous during the English interview that I didn’t even make it to the technical round. What stayed with me wasn’t the rejection, but the sense that improvement — not perfection — was what mattered. I practiced my English, explained technical concepts to friends, and when I had the 4th module, I applied again. The second time, I passed the technical test, but they were looking for someone who wasn’t already employed. So, I made a big decision: I saved up, left my factory job, and focused on getting my CCNA certification.
Those months were tough. I was unemployed, living off savings, and turning down call center positions. My family helped cover my expenses while I studied. When I finally got to the third interview again, everything clicked. The English interview went smoothly, I passed the technical test, and then came the call — the one that changed everything.
When I heard I got the job, I just hugged my mom and cried. She’s been by my side through every challenge, so this felt like a win for both of us. I remember my first day vividly. I was excited to be here, but I was also scared, knowing a big change was ahead — and it would challenge me in ways I couldn’t yet imagine.
Since joining Cisco in 2016, my career has taken off in ways I never imagined. What made the difference wasn’t just the role itself — it was finding leadership that genuinely supported my growth and gave me the tools to keep reaching higher. Cisco encourages continuous learning for just about anything you want to explore and offers different career paths within the company. But more than that, I’ve always had people around me who believed in me and empowered me to be my best, most authentic self — even when I stumbled.
Over time, I earned advanced security certifications, moved from a contract role in TAC to an escalation group, and eventually landed a direct role with Cisco in 2019.
In 2023, I earned my CCIE Security. It was one of the hardest — and most rewarding — things I’ve ever done. It took three attempts, years of studying, and countless lessons learned, the most important one being how to learn from failure. Each attempt taught me something new — not just technically, but about resilience and trusting the process.
I now work from home, support my family, learn things I love, travel — things I once only dreamed about. If it weren’t for the opportunities, benefits, and culture Cisco offered, I might still be on that factory floor. Instead, I walk past that memory every day, grateful for how far I’ve come and for the reality I have built for myself and my family.
With Cisco’s support — and through Inclusive Communities like WISE (Women in Science and Engineering) and Cisco Networking Academy — I also have opportunities to share my story with students and women considering careers in tech. If my journey helps even one person believe there’s a place for them, it feels like coming full circle.
If there’s one thing I hope you take from my story, it’s that growth doesn’t have to follow a straight line — and you don’t have to walk it alone. I would tell my younger self, and anyone reading this, not to wait for the “perfect” time. Go after what you love, trust the process, and keep moving forward, even when progress feels slow.
I used to walk by the Cisco TAC building and tell myself, “One day, I’ll work there.” Now, I do. And every day, I’m reminded that with the right support, room to learn, and the courage to keep going, the future you imagine can become the life you’re living.
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