2024-January-08
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Time Well Spent with Time2Give
BY GAVIN AYDELOTTE · SALES OPERATIONS ANALYST · UNITED STATES
WITH HELEN GALL
3 MINUTE READ · 5 MINUTE LISTEN
As we step into 2024, I am filled with anticipation for my upcoming 10 days of Time2Give. The experiences I had in 2023 set an incredibly high bar — they were truly amazing and will be hard to top. I'd like to take a moment to share my Time2Give journey from 2023.
In January 2023, I was accepted into Cisco's Military in Sales and Leadership (MISL) program. This recruiting and mentorship program aims to help transitioning military personnel, like me, find fulfilling careers within Cisco sales, engineering, program management, or logistics.
After 10 years as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Officer in the U.S. Army, I decided to transition out, and the MISL program provided comprehensive training, mentorship, and networking opportunities to prepare me for success in the business world.
I joined the New York Global Enterprise (NYGE) Healthcare region, shadowing an account manager and client executive. The team was amazing, with salespeople and engineers eager to share their Cisco journeys and help me learn the business.
In May 2023, I officially joined Cisco's Federal Sales team.
Cisco's commitment to social responsibility resonated with me, aligning with the missions I conducted in the Army to protect people, remove remnants of war, and return service members' remains to their families.
I was eager to utilize the Time2Give benefit and continue to make a positive impact.
Time2Give is a fantastic program at Cisco that allows employees to take paid time off to volunteer for causes they care about.
One of the organizations I'm involved with is the United Service Organizations (USO), a nonprofit offering essential services to U.S. military service members and their families by keeping them connected to family, home, and country during their service to the nation.
In addition to volunteering with the USO, I also participated alongside Cisco employees in the Dulles Plane Pull, an exciting, unique event that benefits the Special Olympics of Northern Virginia.
Teams of 25 compete to pull an 82-ton airplane a distance of 12 feet in the fastest time, raising funds and awareness for the Special Olympics in the process. Cisco was the lead fundraiser for 2023, helping to raise over $530,000 for the Special Olympics of Northern Virginia.
In September I had the opportunity to take 10 days of paid time off to explore a unique volunteering opportunity — a wildlife program in South Africa. My manager’s endorsement to participate filled me with happiness and anticipation.
Over two inspiring weeks, I worked alongside volunteers from all corners of the globe. Together, we collaborated with local rangers on various conservation initiatives. Our tasks ranged from improving roads and eradicating invasive species to cultivating indigenous plants and providing care to endangered animals.
My experience was both challenging and rewarding, offering daily discoveries about South Africa's unique wildlife and ecosystems. The camaraderie shared with fellow volunteers, the joy in our collective work, and the bond forged with the community we served, all contributed to an experience that was nothing short of enriching.
In November, I joined over 1,000 employees for Cisco’s Covenant House Sleep Out event. I gave up my bed and sleeping outside in solidarity while raising over $1,500,000 for Covenant House.
I'm proud to join an advocacy-minded organization. I'm excited to use my Time2Give benefit to explore advocacy opportunities near and far and make a difference in the world alongside fellow Cisconians.
I cannot emphasize the value of this program enough. I strongly encourage you to embrace this valuable program, take the opportunity, and use your unique skills and experiences to make a positive impact on the world.
I’m excited to see where my volunteering efforts in 2024 will take me.
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