2021-March-02

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From Intern to Manager: Lessons from a 23-Year Cisco Journey

BY KRYSTAL CHENG

Most people have a penchant for travel. It’s the thrill of getting out their comfort zone to explore new places, open their eyes to new perspectives, and generally feel invigorated by the diverse experiences the world has to offer.

It’s no surprise that people also gravitate toward career interests outside the limits of their current job description. And with Cisco’s vast universe of internal opportunities, you won’t need a passport to find a fresh outlook.

That’s why we had to reach out to Michelle Kandah, a Cisconian of 23 years.

In the spirit of keeping things fresh, she’s been an intern, a business analyst, a project manager, and a program manager.

Michelle shared her story about where she started, where she is now, how she did it, and how you can explore new careers at Cisco too.

CEC: What was your Cisco internship like?

Michelle: I started at Cisco in 1998 as a summer intern for the Cisco Networking Academy (NetAcad). I was a communications major and I didn’t know what I wanted my career to look like yet, but I wanted to give this internship a try.

As an intern, I spent the summer cold calling every Networking Academy to verify things like their phone numbers and addresses. It might sound tedious, but I absolutely enjoyed talking to people from all over the country and working with an amazing team.

Because I assumed that my internship would end after summer, I was ecstatic when my manager asked if I wanted to extend it throughout the school year. I thought, “You mean I get to stay at this amazing company? Yes, please.” I kept working part-time as a Cisco intern while I was a student at San Diego State University.

CEC: After your internship, what did your Cisco career path look like?

Michelle: After I graduated, I stayed with NetAcad and became a Business Systems Analyst, where I documented functional systems requirements and implemented technology solutions. I ended up doing that for 13 years until I went on maternity leave.

When I came back, I was ready for the next chapter in my career. So, when my sponsor encouraged me to move to the Employee Learning and Development team, I thought it was meant to be.

When I initially moved, I was a Business Analyst and did similar work as I had previously. However, that was when Team Space started to surface and it got me thinking about what I love doing, what my strengths were, and the things I always said yes to.

I realized that I loved planning, facilitating, and helping people. I transferred into a Project Manager role, and even took on stretch assignments to lead New Employee Orientation (NEO).

Though I really liked being a Project Manager, I wanted to follow my passion for coaching and training more. That led me to move into a Program Manager role for the Cisco IT University Program. For the past three years, I have absolutely loved it. I get to onboard IT university hires, create development programs for emerging talent, and host multiple trainings. And I also get to coach and mentor new hires and managers.

As you can see, I’ve worn many hats. It’s been amazing to have had the opportunity to evolve so much within my career. I’ve loved every part of it!

CEC: Was there anything in particular that inspired you to explore new career paths?

Michelle: Looking back, I’d say that it was all the “extra” things that I chose to take on. Things that I was passionate about outside of my day-to-day job, like organizing giving back events or supervising an intern. All those extra things have really defined my time at Cisco and served as the compass for my career.

But my story isn’t unique. There are so many opportunities at Cisco that are always available. You just have to be the one to raise your hand and say yes.

CEC: Where do you see yourself in five years?

Michelle: In five years, I want to continue to make an impact through employee engagement and development, specifically with inclusion and collaboration initiatives. Whether that calls for a move to People and Communities or another team, I’m looking forward to seeing where my next chapter at Cisco takes me.

CEC: What advice would you give to people who are early in career?

Michelle: When I was a 19-year-old intern, I felt like I didn’t belong here. I was a non-techie at a very tech company, and 99 percent of what was said during meetings went over my head.

But when I became a Business Analyst, I started to realize that Cisco didn’t need me to be technical. Cisco needed me to be me. No one’s expecting me to reengineer solutions — we have the best engineers for that. I do know the business, and that’s what my job is — to earn trust with our stakeholders and advocate for them.

In every job, I’ve had imposter syndrome. But I think it’s pretty amazing that at Cisco, being myself was enough to add value to the team I was on. So, the advice I’d give to new grads and interns is you are enough. Find out what makes you unique and own it.

Pursuing your interests is a great way to gain new strengths and broaden your knowledge. All the passion, skill, and dedication you bring fosters a more agile and innovative Cisco.

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