From Ukraine to Cisco: A Journey of Resilience and Career Transformation
I grew up in a small town near Kyiv, Ukraine, right across from an airport. From a young age, I was captivated by aviation. Watching planes soar overhead each day instilled in me the belief that the sky's the limit. This mindset encouraged me to think creatively and broaden my perspective.
I had a passion for learning and a strong desire to contribute to my country. I pursued higher education in antitrust policy and spent eight years in civil service and project management roles.
However, my life took an unexpected turn with the onset of the war in Ukraine. I fled my home, finding myself in a new country and yearning for a fresh start. It was then that I discovered The Opportunity Platform (TOP) program at Cisco, which aims to provide displaced individuals like me with a path to a better future.
The TOP program presents a unique chance to acquire new skills, experience the workings of one of the world's largest IT companies, and engage in various units and projects. This two-year apprenticeship includes education, industry certifications, and training tailored to the needs of Cisco employees.
My journey with Cisco began with a simple click on a Facebook post that linked to the TOP program application. The message promised a chance to work with a top employer, which piqued my interest, and I decided to apply.
Despite my concerns about my lack of a technical background, the HR Emerging Talent and Recruitment representative was incredibly supportive and offered valuable advice for improving my CV. To my surprise, I progressed to the final stage of the selection process, which included a mock interview and two main interviews. The encouragement I received from Cisco was truly uplifting.
When I learned that I was one of the ten selected candidates, I was stunned. Cisco felt like a distant dream—something you hear about but never expect to attain.
From the very first month, I fell in love with Cisco. The way our managers cared for us was unlike anything I had experienced before. All ten of us had fled our home country due to the war, and some of us, including myself, didn’t even have a proper workspace at home.
The Customer Experience EMEA team at Cisco ensured we had everything we needed to begin our journey. Their support was heartwarming and made me feel valued as a newcomer.
The past year has been a whirlwind. The war changed my life in an instant, forcing me to start over. There were days when I felt utterly overwhelmed. Being alone in a new country, starting at a new company, and entering an unfamiliar field was challenging. However, my Ukrainian colleagues and my manager, Thais, provided invaluable support.
The onboarding program kept us engaged with learning, preparing for industry certifications, understanding Cisco's operations, and familiarizing ourselves with its products and services. This focus helped me maintain my sanity.
Apprentices also engage in job rotations to gain insights into different parts of the business and work toward securing permanent roles. Beginning my first rotation was a transformative experience.
The team I joined was the best I’d ever encountered. Despite being an apprentice, everyone treated me as a colleague, fostering an environment where I felt comfortable sharing my thoughts and ideas.
In my first rotation, I was involved in a development program called Leading into the Future, which demonstrated Cisco's commitment to its employees. The team dedicated significant effort to create workshops aimed at unlocking employee potential, even involving senior management.
Apprentices were encouraged to apply for full-time positions at Cisco when they felt ready, so I applied for several roles. While I faced rejection for one, I successfully secured an interview for the position of High Touch Operations Analyst, which I now consider the most fascinating job in the world.
To further support our efforts in the TOP program, we partnered with Tent, a global coalition of leading companies dedicated to helping refugees integrate into the workforce and rebuild their lives.
Life has shown that circumstances can change in an instant. Joining Cisco has marked a fresh beginning for me, helping me adapt to a new country, role, and company. Cisco is a place where you can explore various careers, and the support from my teammates, peers in the TOP team, and the EMEA Customer Experience leadership has made everything possible.
I had a passion for learning and a strong desire to contribute to my country. I pursued higher education in antitrust policy and spent eight years in civil service and project management roles.
However, my life took an unexpected turn with the onset of the war in Ukraine. I fled my home, finding myself in a new country and yearning for a fresh start. It was then that I discovered The Opportunity Platform (TOP) program at Cisco, which aims to provide displaced individuals like me with a path to a better future.
The TOP program presents a unique chance to acquire new skills, experience the workings of one of the world's largest IT companies, and engage in various units and projects. This two-year apprenticeship includes education, industry certifications, and training tailored to the needs of Cisco employees.
My journey with Cisco began with a simple click on a Facebook post that linked to the TOP program application. The message promised a chance to work with a top employer, which piqued my interest, and I decided to apply.
Despite my concerns about my lack of a technical background, the HR Emerging Talent and Recruitment representative was incredibly supportive and offered valuable advice for improving my CV. To my surprise, I progressed to the final stage of the selection process, which included a mock interview and two main interviews. The encouragement I received from Cisco was truly uplifting.
When I learned that I was one of the ten selected candidates, I was stunned. Cisco felt like a distant dream—something you hear about but never expect to attain.
From the very first month, I fell in love with Cisco. The way our managers cared for us was unlike anything I had experienced before. All ten of us had fled our home country due to the war, and some of us, including myself, didn’t even have a proper workspace at home.
The Customer Experience EMEA team at Cisco ensured we had everything we needed to begin our journey. Their support was heartwarming and made me feel valued as a newcomer.
The past year has been a whirlwind. The war changed my life in an instant, forcing me to start over. There were days when I felt utterly overwhelmed. Being alone in a new country, starting at a new company, and entering an unfamiliar field was challenging. However, my Ukrainian colleagues and my manager, Thais, provided invaluable support.
The onboarding program kept us engaged with learning, preparing for industry certifications, understanding Cisco's operations, and familiarizing ourselves with its products and services. This focus helped me maintain my sanity.
Apprentices also engage in job rotations to gain insights into different parts of the business and work toward securing permanent roles. Beginning my first rotation was a transformative experience.
The team I joined was the best I’d ever encountered. Despite being an apprentice, everyone treated me as a colleague, fostering an environment where I felt comfortable sharing my thoughts and ideas.
In my first rotation, I was involved in a development program called Leading into the Future, which demonstrated Cisco's commitment to its employees. The team dedicated significant effort to create workshops aimed at unlocking employee potential, even involving senior management.
Apprentices were encouraged to apply for full-time positions at Cisco when they felt ready, so I applied for several roles. While I faced rejection for one, I successfully secured an interview for the position of High Touch Operations Analyst, which I now consider the most fascinating job in the world.
To further support our efforts in the TOP program, we partnered with Tent, a global coalition of leading companies dedicated to helping refugees integrate into the workforce and rebuild their lives.
Life has shown that circumstances can change in an instant. Joining Cisco has marked a fresh beginning for me, helping me adapt to a new country, role, and company. Cisco is a place where you can explore various careers, and the support from my teammates, peers in the TOP team, and the EMEA Customer Experience leadership has made everything possible.
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