2021-October-06
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Wave Riding and Dirt Bike Daredevilling
BY KRYSTAL CHENG · GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS · UNITED STATES
Meet Pono [poh-noh] Wong, a Cisco Global Account Manager of many hats… or surfboards and dirt bikes, actually.
In fact, Pono boasts 12 boards and three bikes because surfing and dirt bike racing are his not-so-secret passions. Though they are often regarded as some of the world’s most dangerous sports, Pono doesn’t seem to mind.
He’s awarrior, after all.
A surfing warrior
Pono was born and raised in Southern California but has always considered Hawaii his home.
Every summer when he was a child, his mom and dad would send him off to the islands to spend time with his extended family and learn about his Native Hawaiian ancestry.
“I was taught that in ancient Hawaii, people proved themselves as koa (warriors) by going into battle. But today, they do it through hula dancing and surfing,” he shares.
“When I was a kid, I happened to pick surfing!”
Pono loved surfing so much that be surfed everyday, eventually becoming semi-professional.
Even as an adult, he would wake up before sunrise, put on his wetsuit, and get into the water to catch some waves before work. He would even keep a set of work clothes in his car so that he could quickly change before heading to the office.
“No two waves are ever the same, so it’s impossible to practice on the same thing over and over. That’s why surfing has always been my favorite. When I’m out there in the water, I’m always getting a new physical and mental challenge every time. It’s exhilarating!”
A dirt biking warrior
But eventually, Pono moved away from the ocean — first to Texas, then to Washington, and most recently to Idaho, where surfing was no longer an option.
That’s why Pono decided to become a new warrior by dirt biking.
It all started when he first moved to Boise, and his Cisco friends invited him to go riding with them. Pono was initially hesitant because he hadn’t ridden a dirt bike for many years, but he gave it a shot.
Thankfully he went for it, because he became hooked. Now, he practices four times a week and competes in races.
“What I love about dirt biking is the sense of community it gives you. When someone falls down, you circle back to make sure they’re OK. When someone can’t make it up a slope, you ride their bike up for them or help carry their load,” he explains.
“The people you ride with are always there for you, just as you are always there for them.”
A Cisco warrior
Pono has worked at Cisco for the past five-and-a-half years. As a Global Account Manager, he enjoys developing close relationships with his customers and his team. While it does get challenging at times, he finds himself enjoying it all because it reminds him of his passions.
“Just like the waves I encounter while surfing, no two customer challenges are exactly alike. And while they may seem daunting at first, I’ve learned to embrace them head-on as unique ways to learn and become better at what I do,” Pono reflects.
“And like dirt biking, there’s never a time at Cisco when I’m racing alone. When we’re facing customer challenges, we find the solutions together. When someone needs some extra help, we lessen their load. And when someone ‘crashes,’ we’re always there to pick each other up.”
Pono looks forward to competing in his next race at the Great Pumpkin Classic in Idaho in October. Feel free to message him on Webex to wish him luck!
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