When you had been to return in time and ask 20-year-old Robert Yee the place he can be running in 2023, Cisco would were an not likely resolution. Running in any technical box would were an not likely resolution. Why? As a result of I determined to switch majors from Chemical Engineering to Asian/Asian American Research. I sought after to know the desires of my neighborhood and lend a hand the ones like my oldsters. And talking of my oldsters, this choice used to be simply the most recent in a string of youth disappointments. In spite of this variation in majors, my oldsters nonetheless supported me.

Upon commencement, with my newly minted Bachelor of Arts in Asian Research degree, I discovered a full-time process at a regulation company … in accounting. My function on the time used to be to check for the LSAT and move to regulation faculty. However existence had different plans for me.

The regulation company used to be going via a generation migration however didn’t have a methods administrator. With some good fortune, I used to be presented the chance to separate my time between accounting and IT paintings. It was a full-time position, and I formally had my first IT process. I picked up the brand new abilities temporarily however knew if I sought after to proceed on this profession, I’d wish to learn about. This used to be the beginning of the certification growth.

Whilst learning for my first certification, I got here throughout a piece of writing on-line from somebody in Hong Kong that mentioned this tremendous exhausting certification referred to as the Cisco Qualified Internetwork Professional (CCIE) and the flowery checking out procedure. This “Cisco” factor truly intrigued me. I filed that concept away however by no means forgot it.

In 1999 (pre-Y2K), I had my first alternative to deploy an end-to-end Cisco community. Up till this level, I had by no means touched a router, a transfer, or a firewall. It used to be all on-the-job coaching, I had to be informed rapid, and I had a large number of lend a hand from spouse engineers that submit with my many questions. When the mission used to be finished, I spotted I LOVED networking. I doubled down on my learning. I earned many Cisco Certifications, however that CCIE nonetheless appeared simply too daunting.

That very same yr, I attended my first native Cisco Customers Team assembly. It used to be superb to be with a host of like-minded people who additionally sought after to be informed Cisco generation. Contributors of this staff began to earn their CCIEs, and their tales impressed me to present it a shot. I met my just right pals Jason Bomar and Joe Younger right here, and we shaped a learn about staff. We met many weekends to check. Jason used to be the primary to move his CCIE. Then, Joe and I handed our tests inside of one week of one another in Might 2003.

In 2008, after years of hesitation and interviewing with 3 other groups, I in the end made it to Cisco as a pre-sales Programs Engineer at the Industrial group overlaying Los Angeles. My first actual day at Cisco used to be my birthday. It used to be a profession exchange, and I struggled to know the gross sales cycles, in finding inner sources, construct depended on relationships with consumers, and perceive and mission “my logo.” Those had been all important to achieve success, and so they had been all new to me. With a large number of lend a hand and beef up from teammates, mentors, managers, and particularly my spouse, Sara, I used to be in a position to seek out myself at the different facet of this wall.

Being a Cisco SE used to be the toughest process I’ve ever had. Finding out new answers and applied sciences challenged me continuously. I needed to be gifted with the portfolio, know the way my consumers’ companies labored and give an explanation for in easy phrases how an answer may just receive advantages them. Then again, it used to be additionally essentially the most rewarding and fulfilling process I’ve ever had. The result of my paintings had been tangible. I may just see the agree with I constructed with my shoppers and the result of months or years-long initiatives.

It’s exhausting to consider that I’ve been at Cisco for 15-plus years in 4 other roles. I began as a Programs Engineer, were a Technical Answers Architect, and my remaining two positions were in management. I’m these days the Programs Engineering Supervisor for a group of Information Middle Networking Technical Answers Architects, and I’m in point of fact thankful for the determination, wisdom, and talent this group brings to the desk. Amongst them are one CCDE, two Cisco Press books, one upcoming Ph.D., and ten CCIE certifications.

Even supposing my profession trail took me in a distinct course, I’ve by no means absolutely forgotten my unique intent once I modified my school primary to Asian and Asian American Research. Cisco presented me the chance to make a distinction in my neighborhood. In 2020, I began the Southern California bankruptcy of Hooked up Asian Affinity Community (CAAN), an ERO/ERG/Inclusive Group for AAPI and AAPI allies at Cisco. We’ve grown the bankruptcy from about 30 to start with to over 90 individuals these days. It’s been an excellent chance to show off and proportion AAPI cultures and provides again to my neighborhood. As nice as my time at Cisco has been, I’ve spotted all the way through my profession there haven’t been a large number of individuals who gave the look of me, particularly in gross sales management. I feel there may be actual alternative to switch that. This has been an ideal alternative to connect to and spotlight AAPI skill, inspire them to believe management at Cisco and lend a hand open the ones doorways for them.

Some folks would possibly suppose that 15 years at a unmarried corporate is a life-time. For me, it’s came about in a blink. Each day brings other demanding situations and new alternatives to be informed or educate. I’m thankful that Cisco has presented me the chance to develop my profession and pursue my interest all inside of one corporate.

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