2015-Dec-10

Faster, Higher, Stronger: Meet Giuseppe Marrara

Giuseppe Marrara · Government Affairs Director · Brazil

Giuseppe chooses to push himself, knowing it’s important to stay strong for both himself and his family.

Giuseppe Marrara always had a love for sport. He participated in Brazilian judo championships during his teenage years, winning several prizes in the process. But after being diagnosed with juvenile arthritis at age 15, Giuseppe was forced to reconsider his future athletic aspirations. How he chose to deal to with his condition truly brings to life Our People Deal.

"At the time, medicine was not so advanced and the doctor told me that the only thing I could really do was exercise," said Giuseppe. "After that, I started to swim and do some running, and I got back to judo training to work the muscles. As a result, my body started to adjust to the pain."

Giuseppe would not allow his diagnosis to shake his spirit and continues to get moderate daily exercise, pushing his body to get stronger and increasing his regimens each year. The married father of two has become even more motivated to compete, knowing that his competitive drive was about more than just himself.

"I learned that in order to be happy we need to feed ourselves with three basic ingredients," said Giuseppe. "We need to study to keep the mind healthy, have love and faith to keep the soul healthy, and sport to keep mind, body and faith healthy. This mindset can change who we are, our communities, our families and our world."

With this framework in mind, Giuseppe challenges himself to embody the Olympic motto of "Faster, Higher, Stronger," in all aspects of life.

"Every human being wants to make a difference, to change the world and see things from a higher perspective," said Giuseppe. "The force to make the change is inside all of us. The determination to make those changes is in our minds, and technology is the tool to spread those ideas everywhere in the world."

Giuseppe has been at Cisco for almost five years and is currently working with federal and state governments.

Giuseppe works with federal and state governments, as well as executive and legislative branches. Giuseppe maintains a strong bond with his colleagues at Cisco, but his condition is not widely known in his work environment. While he has lived with arthritis for most of his life, Giuseppe does not let it define his character.

"My condition is just a part of life, and I’ve never felt like a victim," said Giuseppe. "The disease showed me the importance of sport and triggered me to overcome barriers and obstacles in my life. I’m very proud of what I faced and how I won this battle."

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