2022-February-01
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Be Bold, Be Strong, Be You: CBP Celebrates Black History Month
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“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”– U.S. President Barack Obama
From the inception of Negro History Week in 1926, February has been a time for the Black and African American community to embrace the history of our countries, our struggles, our roots, and our identity.
Over the last few years, we have celebrated monumental accomplishments for the Black community, while simultaneously suffering the loss of many lives of color worldwide.
Our tumultuous journey of late serves to prove that there is work yet to be done.
Today, we find ourselves in the making of the history we are celebrating.
As much as we must focus on remembering all that we have accomplished and overcome, we must also focus on fortifying our constitutions and institutions to continue the great work our ancestors began in our favor.
All of which starts with bettering us.
So, this year, the Connected Black Professionals (CBP) Inclusive Community would like to encourage you all to Be Bold, Be Strong, and Be You!
Be bold
“The doors will be opened to those who are bold enough to knock.”– Tony Gaskins, motivational speaker, author, and life coach
Being bold in your career can render unprecedented results in personal development. When you find the door of opportunity ajar, you must be bold enough to swing it wide open.
Be vocal about the value you add to the business, and forge meaningful relationships with mentors and sponsors of
influence. They will speak highly of your work ethic in social circles where you may not have access.
We encourage you to draw inspiration from our panel of black VPs and Directors across the business as we explore the
real-world benefits of taking a step toward bold in your career.
VP of Operations for Procurement Administration Frank Sanders, VP of Information Technology under Cisco's CIO Kanyatta Walker, VP, Chief Business Office Dante Anderson, and Director of Systems Engineering in GES Premier Florent Dalencourt share their experiences of how being bold has proven to be the accelerant on the fire of their burning ambitions for a successful career.
Be strong
“If there is no struggle, there is no progress.”– Frederick Douglass, social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer, and statesman
While the physical component of strength often comes first to mind, mental and emotional health are equally indispensable.
Leading a healthy lifestyle means learning how to manage stress, establish a work-life balance, and authentically and consistently show up as you. These are crucial to enduring the lows and fully enjoying the highs in life.
Today, it is more important than ever to be an efficient steward of your physical, mental, and emotional health. We explore how you can accomplish a feasible work-life blend and achieve wellness, so you have the strength to be bold in your career and other areas of your life.
We welcome you to listen to our discussion with Thrive Global’s Chief Training Officer Joey Hubbard. Joey has over 30 years of coaching and motivational seminar experience to assist individuals and professional organizations in improving their lives, careers, and businesses all over the world.
Be you
“If you’re always trying to be normal, you’ll never know how amazing you can be.”– Maya Angelou, poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist
There has always been a fuzzy line between reaping the benefits of being authentic at work while simultaneously avoiding the pitfalls of being too political in the workplace. Suppressing who you are and feeling forced to wear the mask has its own adverse effects on wellness.
But Cisco is dedicated to creating an inclusive and diverse culture: Colorful hair? Don’t care! Tattoos? Show off your ink. Like polka dots? That’s cool. Pop culture geek? Many of us are. Be you, with us!
“Being you” means knowing what energizes you, knowing what drains you, and maintaining balance so that you can always put your best foot forward.
It means striving to be the best version of yourself by taking objective stock of your strengths and potential and being bold enough to seek the help needed to tackle them head-on. It means building a personal brand that your managers, mentors, and sponsors can invest in.
This year, Connected Black Professionals (CBP) is excited to celebrate Black History Month with the illustrious Hall of Fame Boxing World Champion, Lifestyle Brand CEO, TV Personality, and Author Laila Ali.
In a discussion led by our Co-Leads, Karen McDonald and Jeneen Felder, we explore how to find strength, spirit, and personal power. Join us to gain inspiration from Laila on her healthy nutrition and fitness lifestyle.
Oneness and impact
As we celebrate Black History Month, we encourage you all to Be Bold, Be Strong, and Be You.
Now is not just a time to reflect on our shared history but a time to continue building our collective history.
We must each, individually, strive for personal wellness so that we can come together in the spirit of oneness and drive value and impact to those around us.
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