When you have been to return in time and ask 20-year-old Robert Yee the place he can be working in 2023, Cisco would have been an unlikely reply. Working in any technical area would have been an unlikely reply. Why? As a result of I made a decision to alter majors from Chemical Engineering to Asian/Asian American Research. I wished to know the wants of my neighborhood and assist these like my dad and mom. And talking of my dad and mom, this resolution was simply the most recent in a string of minor disappointments. Regardless of this alteration in majors, my dad and mom nonetheless supported me.
Upon commencement, with my newly minted Bachelor of Arts in Asian Research diploma, I discovered a full-time job at a regulation agency … in accounting. My aim on the time was to review for the LSAT and go to regulation faculty. However life had different plans for me.
The regulation agency was going via a know-how migration however didn’t have a methods administrator. With some luck, I used to be supplied the chance to separate my time between accounting and IT work. It was a full-time function, and I formally had my first IT job. I picked up the brand new expertise rapidly however knew if I wished to proceed on this profession, I would wish to review. This was the beginning of the certification growth.
Whereas finding out for my first certification, I got here throughout an article on-line from somebody in Hong Kong that talked about this tremendous exhausting certification known as the Cisco Licensed Internetwork Professional (CCIE) and the flowery testing course of. This “Cisco” factor actually intrigued me. I filed that thought away however by no means forgot it.
In 1999 (pre-Y2K), I had my first alternative to deploy an end-to-end Cisco community. Up till this level, I had by no means touched a router, a change, or a firewall. It was all on-the-job coaching, I needed to study quick, and I had numerous assist from associate engineers that put up with my many questions. When the undertaking was achieved, I spotted I LOVED networking. I doubled down on my finding out. I earned many Cisco Certifications, however that CCIE nonetheless appeared simply too daunting.
That very same 12 months, I attended my first native Cisco Customers Group assembly. It was wonderful to be with a bunch of like-minded people who additionally wished to study Cisco know-how. Members of this group began to earn their CCIEs, and their tales impressed me to offer it a shot. I met my good pals Jason Bomar and Joe Younger right here, and we fashioned a examine group. We met many weekends to review. Jason was the primary to move his CCIE. Then, Joe and I handed our exams inside one week of one another in Could 2003.
In 2008, after years of hesitation and interviewing with three completely different groups, I lastly made it to Cisco as a pre-sales Techniques Engineer on the Business crew protecting Los Angeles. My very first day at Cisco was my birthday. It was a profession change, and I struggled to know the gross sales cycles, discover inside sources, construct trusted relationships with prospects, and perceive and undertaking “my model.” These have been all essential to achieve success, they usually have been all new to me. With numerous assist and assist from teammates, mentors, managers, and particularly my spouse, Sara, I used to be capable of finding myself on the opposite facet of this wall.
Being a Cisco SE was the toughest job I’ve ever had. Studying new options and applied sciences challenged me continually. I needed to be proficient with the portfolio, perceive how my prospects’ companies labored and clarify in easy phrases how an answer may benefit them. Nonetheless, it was additionally probably the most rewarding and satisfying job I’ve ever had. The outcomes of my work have been tangible. I may see the belief I constructed with my purchasers and the outcomes of months or years-long tasks.
It’s exhausting to think about that I’ve been at Cisco for 15-plus years in 4 completely different roles. I began as a Techniques Engineer, have been a Technical Options Architect, and my final two positions have been in management. I’m at present the Techniques Engineering Supervisor for a crew of Knowledge Heart Networking Technical Options Architects, and I’m really grateful for the dedication, information, and ability this crew brings to the desk. Amongst them are one CCDE, two Cisco Press books, one upcoming Ph.D., and ten CCIE certifications.
Though my profession path took me in a unique route, I’ve by no means absolutely forgotten my unique intent after I modified my faculty main to Asian and Asian American Research. Cisco supplied me the chance to make a distinction in my neighborhood. In 2020, I began the Southern California chapter of Linked Asian Affinity Community (CAAN), an ERO/ERG/Inclusive Group for AAPI and AAPI allies at Cisco. We’ve grown the chapter from about 30 to start with to over 90 members at present. It’s been an excellent alternative to showcase and share AAPI cultures and provides again to my neighborhood. As nice as my time at Cisco has been, I’ve seen all through my profession there haven’t been lots of people who appeared like me, particularly in gross sales management. I believe there’s actual alternative to alter that. This has been an incredible alternative to attach with and spotlight AAPI expertise, encourage them to contemplate management at Cisco and assist open these doorways for them.
Some individuals might imagine that 15 years at a single firm is a lifetime. For me, it’s occurred in a blink. Day by day brings completely different challenges and new alternatives to study or train. I’m grateful that Cisco has supplied me the chance to develop my profession and pursue my ardour all inside one firm.
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