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Monday, February 24, 2025

From Lifeguard to Chief: How One Dialog at a Pool Modified My Life Endlessly


Think about this: You’re contemporary out of college, full of large goals and a little bit of uncertainty. Throughout your current internships, you usually felt misplaced, struggling to navigate with out correct steerage from busy supervisors. You needed to determine issues out by yourself.  That is how my profession journey begins.

Framed group photo where they are posing in front of an office building. It's in a black wood frame with cream mat and there are signatures on the mat and under the photo text reads "Cisco Sales Academy EMEA 2005."
CSAP 2004/2005 Class in entrance of the Cisco Amsterdam workplace.

Again in 1999, I went to San Jose State College as a part of the trade program to review enterprise for a 12 months.  It was the peak of the dot-com bubble and Cisco was the highest firm everybody aspired to hitch.

Whereas at San Jose State College, I labored as a lifeguard on the campus swimming pool. That’s the place I met Andrew, a Cisco worker who got here to the pool every single day along with his son. We talked so much and actually linked. After I was getting ready to return to France for an internship, Andrew had a unique thought. An concept that modified my life ceaselessly. “Why don’t you do an internship at Cisco?” And the remaining is historical past!

Two years later, after ending my research in Paris, my internship supervisor inspired me to use for the Cisco Gross sales Associates Program (CSAP). CSAP is particularly designed to develop contemporary graduates into future leaders by offering complete coaching and invaluable on-the-job expertise.

So, I took that recommendation — I utilized, was accepted, went to Amsterdam, and joined the primary EMEA cohort of the award-winning Cisco Gross sales Associates Program!

CSAP IMPACT

After I first arrived in wet Amsterdam to begin CSAP, I used to be so excited to go to the workplace, attend courses, and meet new buddies. This chance was my sense of accomplishment, and I needed to grab it to the fullest.

First, I discovered enterprise is much past what’s taught in books and discovered within the classroom. CSAP permits you to study by real-life examples. You might be linked with profitable leaders and devoted mentors who genuinely decide to your progress, guiding you step-by-step in constructing confidence and abilities.

Second, I discovered to respect and rejoice variations.  Touring to totally different international locations around the globe, I embraced numerous cultures and folks. These life classes have stayed with me, creating recollections that can final a lifetime.

Group influence has all the time been a core a part of Cisco’s DNA, ingrained in us from the beginning, and the values I gained throughout my 12 months in Amsterdam are actually unimaginable. We frequently used our free days to return collectively and assist clear the Amsterdam canals, amongst different neighborhood actions.

Two men dressed in brightly-colored ocean coastguard uniforms and helmets, in a boat on the water.At this time, I’m lucky to proceed pursuing my ardour by volunteering as an ocean coastguard and paramedic, because of Cisco’s paid Time2Give days — break day, along with our trip break day only for volunteering.

The chance to have this time to assist the neighborhood is what actually makes a distinction. Every of us at Cisco has the flexibility to energy to a extra inclusive future for all.

CSAP LESSONS

Wanting again, we had been certainly contemporary graduates with large goals and a little bit of uncertainty. By way of CSAP, we discovered our paths and have now change into profitable leaders, guiding the subsequent technology immediately. The classes I discovered in CSAP are:

  1. Thrive for excellence in every thing you do.
  2. Be buyer and accomplice obsessed. At all times put them first.
  3. Be a individuals particular person. Deal with your colleagues, prospects, and companions with respect and empathy.

The way in which CSAP taught us how you can present up and interact with our prospects, companions, and colleagues is the largest game-changer. I attempt to use that lesson to empower and coach the individuals in my groups. Treating individuals proper is important to doing enterprise the fitting means.

I usually obtain suggestions from our prospects and companions in regards to the account managers on my group, their values, how they construct belief, and characterize Cisco’s values. I’m extremely proud that almost all of them come from CSAP. Throughout my journey. I additionally had the honour to be a CSAP Chief and immediately form the evolution of this system and onboard high expertise for Cisco. I managed to go on my classes and empower individuals to excel and be nice at what they do, growing and nurturing the sample of excellence instilled in me throughout my CSAP days.

REUNION

After ending this system and returning to Paris, I acquired a job provide in Lyon. As a real third-generation Parisian (which is fairly uncommon!), I wanted a while to get used to the thought of transferring. I assumed I might solely be in Lyon for a few years. However right here I’m, 20 years later, nonetheless in Lyon and now a Director of International Digital Gross sales and Engineering, nonetheless rising and thriving with Cisco.

My journey with Cisco started once I was a lifeguard. Little did I do know, CSAP would change into the most effective springboard for my profession, offering unimaginable experiences and most significantly, lifelong buddies. Lately, we celebrated a giant milestone: the twentieth anniversary of the primary CSAP EMEA cohort.

Group of people standing outside in a garden with a red wheelbarrow at a cleanup event.
CSAP 2004/2005 Class doing a giveback occasion — serving to clear up, restore, and paint Kinderboerderij Het Diereneiland in Amsterdam.

20 years in the past, 44 of us CSAPers, began this journey collectively. We’ve shared so many life moments — weddings, turning into dad and mom, profession modifications, and different milestones collectively. It’s been an unimaginable trip!

All the next cohorts of this system will testify to the particular bond {that a} CSAP 12 months creates of their lives and their quite a few careers in Cisco and the business outcome from the strong basis constructed by the event path it establishes.

I hope my classes and story will encourage you to be open to new alternatives and all the time be form to individuals round you. You by no means know when you’ll meet somebody or get right into a state of affairs that may change the course of your whole profession and life.

Stephan and the EMEA CSAPers have achieved wonderful issues over the previous 20 years. Interested in what Cisco has completed in its 40 years? Try the 2024 Goal Report to see our influence!

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