2019-August-28

Did you know? You can share this story using the social media icons on the upper left. Use the hashtag #WeAreCisco. You can also rate or comment on the story below.

A League of Their Own: Women in Tech Turns 6

BY SERPIL BAYRAKTAR · DISTINGUISHED ENGINEER · UNITED STATES

Women who work in technical areas often feel isolated because they are a minority. In this digital age, I think the feelings of being disconnected from our fellow human beings are common to all of us.

Belonging to a community helps us to reconnect, grow stronger, and feel less lonely. Imparting our experiences with those who share similar interests, passions, wishes, and frustrations shifts our perspective to something bigger than us.

It’s been fulfilling over the years to watch Cisco’s Women in Tech (WIT) program grow into a thriving community of women — and men.

WIT, which turns 6 this year, has always been more than a “program” though. It is the platform to build a "community" of like-minded women and men who deeply care about and are curious about technology.

Mission Accomplished

Each month, WIT members meet in-person in San Jose and virtually on Webex. We typically spend 30 minutes eating lunch and saying hello to old friends and making new ones. Then we shift to an hour of keynotes, fireside chats, panels, or workshops.

Over six years, I’ve noticed that a lot of members arrive early to hang out, take calls, read emails, or socialize with each other as we set up. You feel the buzz amid the chatter of community members and volunteers. It’s like a fun family gathering instead of a formal corporate event.

You can feel a similar sense of closeness after the event as people take selfies with the speaker or with each other, exchange email addresses, and discuss the day’s topics.

In one post-event survey, a member said, “WIT helps me feel not so alone and motivates me with feelings of ‘I can.’” When I saw the comment, I thought, “Mission accomplished.”

I can't think of a better description or higher praise for the WIT community — it now embodies the hopes I had when we launched the program six years ago.

Everyone Is Welcome

WIT was designed from the start to be an all-inclusive community. People are welcome regardless of their job role, gender, or race.

We never close registration or turn away people who show up without registering. We make room or set up an overflow area, like when Chuck Robbins opened a session in 2017.

It’s true that the events are designed with the interests and needs of technical women in mind. But anyone who has attended a WIT session knows that we have an extremely diverse group from all parts of Cisco. Everyone is welcome.

It seems wild to organize an event every month for six years, especially for a program that is run by volunteers like WIT. As one event ends, plans for the next one begin, without a break. Yet the monthly cadence is why the program is so successful. Without regular bonding, it’s almost impossible to maintain that sense of belonging.

I’m so proud that we’ve been able to provide these montly sessions. As one community member said, “I always keep an eye out for the invite and block my calendar as soon as I register.”

That kind of feedback validates the program’s true value.

Everyone Helps Out

To run an event like WIT, we rely on many dedicated and caring people who offer their time to help. Yes, it takes a village.

The program could not have started without the sponsorship — and insistence — of David Ward, SVP and Chief Architect, Chief Technology and Architecture Office (CTAO). David not only provides the necessary budget and his wise advice on content, he also brings all the top-notch speakers to the program.

I also want to thank Liz Centoni, SVP/GM of the IoT BU, for her commitment to supporting WIT as executive sponsor of the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) Employee Resource Organization (ERO). And we’re all grateful for Ausharre Harvey, our wonderful WIT program manager.

Finally, thank you to the entire WIT community for your passion, engagement, kindness, and investment. That includes our chapter leads in San Jose, RTP, and LATAM who volunteer at every event. As a result of everyone’s hard work, our last WIT event was attended by 469 people in 19 countries.

Here’s to another amazing six years!

---

Connect everything. Innovate everywhere. Benefit everyone.