2023-August-22

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To the Beach We Go

BY JONATHAN SCHWAGER · CX FAST DEAL CONSULTANT· UNITED STATES

3 MINUTE READ · 5 MINUTE LISTEN

As a CX FAST Deal Consultant, I am always looking for new opportunities to connect with colleagues and engage in meaningful community initiatives, even while working remotely.

I was fortunate to participate in a Cisco beach cleanup in North Carolina on May 12, 2023.

This experience strengthened my relationships with colleagues and inspired me to enact positive change.

A small group of people standing on a beach behind “Cisco” spelled out in the sand.

The Carolina and Kure Beach Cleanup crew.

NC Coast Life is a homegrown group within Cisco created by Digital Marketing Leader Mattias MacDowell and Business Analyst Manager Valerie Bennett. They are dedicated to making meaningful connections, whether it be meeting up for coffee, a surf session, or volunteer activities.

I have grown to love this group and am so grateful to have found a network of colleagues who love and share the same passion for the ocean as I do.

When Valerie suggested orchestrating a multi-beach cleanup, I was so excited and volunteered to lead the group for Carolina Beach and Kure Beach. Other volunteers signed up to lead groups for beaches in Topsail, Wrightsville, and Emerald Isle as well. Each group was set to spend Time2Give hours on the same day cleaning up our local beaches.

The NC Coast Life team worked together planning and organizing the cleanup effort, leveraging our Webex space to find a time that would best work with everyone’s busy schedules.

We created a flyer to share on social media and got members of our local communities to come join in as well. We even got the Carolina Beach Town Council to chip in with free parking at the beaches. Overall, 12 volunteers joined the Carolina Beach cleanup.

The atmosphere was brimming with enthusiasm and determination.

Equipped with gloves, trash bags, and a shared goal, we collected litter and debris over half a mile of beach. Many people walking along the beach offered words of encouragement and expressed gratitude for the service we were providing the community.

Conversations flowed effortlessly, and laughter echoed along the shoreline. This physical activity became a platform for meaningful interactions, fostering relationships beyond the confines of virtual communication. I got to learn about my co-workers, and better understand their roles within Cisco and how closely our jobs were connected. I also discovered we shared the same favorite coffee house and made plans to meet up.

Making a difference begins with us, within our own communities.

Marie Mattera and Jonathan Schwager at Carolina Beach’s Famous Britts Donut Shop.

During our beach cleanup, a profound reflection took hold: By combining our efforts and a shared goal, we were able to make a major impact. As a group leader, I recognized the power of leveraging Cisco's most important resource to create change: Its people.

Cisco’s purpose to power an inclusive future for all extends beyond technological innovation. It’s all about empowering people to make a real difference in the world and bring about positive change.

The power of sharing my experiences with remote colleagues is the chance to engage in community service initiatives together.

By fostering a sense of connection and purpose, we can uplift one another and expand our collective impact, while strengthening bonds within the Cisco community.

Participating in and leading a beach cleanup activity was a transformative experience.

Not only did it allow me to connect with colleagues and break free from my work routine, it provided an opportunity to reflect on Cisco's purpose.

Using Time2Give to make a difference, whether in the office, at the beach enjoying nature, or simply being mindful of the area around you can lead to an opportunity to do good.

It’s important to find ways to build meaningful relationships around you. They can lead to rewarding opportunities and even lifetime friendships.