The We Are Cisco Singers: The Energy of Authenticity and Connection

Being your self is one thing that, for me, is essential to being profitable. One of many issues that I really like probably the most about working at Cisco is that I might be my true self. In the course of the day, I’m a Enterprise Operation Supervisor and a part of the World Staffing Staff, and at evening, I’m a tough rock/ metallic singer.  

In 2020, throughout the pandemic, connecting with folks was tough as a result of all of the uncertainty and restrictions to maintain us protected, so Gaby Córdova and I got here up with an thought to create a singing membership to have a protected area to attach and do what we love probably the most.

At first, we didn’t know if anybody would reply or if folks can be taken with becoming a member of us. Additionally, giving singing classes remotely was a brand new problem for us, so we needed to adapt our instructing to ensure anybody becoming a member of would get all of the information potential. Actually, we didn’t know if it will work.

To our shock, lots of people joined the membership! Individuals from throughout Mexico: Mexico Metropolis, Monterrey, Guadalajara, and Puebla, to say some. We referred to as ourselves the We Are Cisco Singers and gathered nearly for weekly periods. After a while, we carried out two digital concert events for Cisco staff, household, and buddies. We additionally donated our time for a digital giveback exercise the place we sang for kids at a telethon throughout the holidays. It was so heartwarming to make use of our voices to do one thing good.

Cisco even created Music Mode in Webex, our collaboration platform, and that was actually music to our ears as a result of we may hear the music and our voices with extra readability, which allowed us to create all of the digital occasions we did.

Lastly, in 2022, all of the We Are Cisco Singers had been in a position to meet. We had been connecting and creating wonderful issues collectively for one and a half years, however to have the primary class in particular person was fantastic. We had been already a part of the singing membership, however now we’re additionally nice buddies. We’re a Cisco household.

Once we first began the We Are Cisco Singers, we needed to discover a connection in a time when that was tough, have enjoyable, and share our singing information. To our shock, a number of the college students shared that due to the singing courses, they’ve higher confidence and extra shallowness and that it’s helped them with communication and higher efficiency at work and of their private lives. It’s true that you simply by no means know the way your actions may influence somebody, and seeing now how this can be a wellness area the place folks can develop, chill out, do what they love, and have a very good snort is unbelievable.

We’ve additionally gotten the assist of Inclusion & Collaboration Mexico and Pavelka, Cisco’s international well being and well-being associate, to proceed this wonderful journey. It has given us nice alternatives to do what we love and create new friendships with others we might not work together with throughout our day by day jobs. Final yr, we had been honored to carry out throughout the CX Mexico All Arms assembly, and this yr, we carried out throughout the Mexico All Arms assembly with Cisco’s Chief Individuals, Coverage & Objective Officer Fran Katsoudas, in attendance.

Cisco additionally gave my band and me the chance to carry out nearly on the SleepOut, an annual Cisco fundraising occasion, in 2021, and in 2022, we had been lastly in a position to be there in particular person. We additionally took the stage throughout the Nice Place to Work Mexico celebration (The 6^th yr we received this award in a row!) and at a Girls in Science and Engineering (WISE) occasion for little women to encourage them to be no matter they wish to be and present them that, at Cisco, we now have a spot for them.

The journey will not be over but. We now have extra thrilling actions deliberate for subsequent yr, like performing for the youngsters of a few of Cisco’s registered charitable organizations throughout Youngsters’s Day and on the subsequent SleepOut occasion.

Trying again, it’s loopy how one thought, one dream, can change your life. My key message is rarely to surrender in your goals and all the time be your self. If you find yourself your complete self, you open your self as much as connection, and the We Are Cisco Singers gave me connection after I wanted it probably the most. We’ve grown, had enjoyable, turn into nice buddies, and at the moment are Cisco household. Cisco is the place the place I’ve felt embraced to be myself greater than ever in my complete life, and I’d not change it for something. Day by day, I really feel empowered to indicate I’m proud to be a Cisconian.

See how our objective cultivates an atmosphere the place all of us thrive.

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