Tales From The CSAP Floor

Tune in to this season's last episode of 'Tales from the CSAP Floor' as we explore the dynamic career of Nish Parkar at Cisco. Starting with her early days in the Cisco Sales Associates Program (CSAP) and moving into her latest role in marketing, Nish offers a wealth of insights on leveraging sales experience in marketing and communications, mastering the art of storytelling, and the power of embracing new challenges. Discover how Nish has used her role as a host at Cisco Live to not only share the Cisco story but also grow personally and professionally by stepping out of her comfort zone and tackling public speaking head-on. This episode is a treasure trove for anyone looking to inspire their own career growth through vulnerability and seizing opportunities.

In this episode, we are joined by the amazing Alexis Bertholf, who shares her journey of merging engineering with content creation, the impact of simple explainer videos, and the power of an online presence for networking and brand building. She also reveals how embracing imperfection has helped her balance her dual roles and explains why starting small in content creation can lead to big opportunities for engineers. Get ready for a session full of practical tips and empowering stories. Let's demystify content creation and tech together with Alexis Bertholf on "Tales From the CSAP Floor."

Welcome to another exciting episode of Tales from the CSAP Floor! This time, host Mackenzie is joined by Evan Welsh, the global head of talent excellence at GVSE (Global Virtual Sales & Engineering). Evan takes us on a compelling journey through his career, sharing insights from his nearly two decades at SAP and his transition to Cisco. In this episode, Evan opens up about the pivotal moments that shaped his path, including a transformative invitation to join Cisco. His story is a powerful example of the "one company, many careers" philosophy and emphasizes the importance of seizing unexpected opportunities. Join us for an engaging and insightful conversation packed with practical advice on career development, risk-taking, and building a diverse professional network. Whether you're just starting out or considering a career change, Evan's experiences offer invaluable inspiration and guidance to help you navigate your professional journey. Don't miss this episode! Learn how to leverage support systems, embrace new challenges, and take control of your career path. Tune in now!

Join Suruchi Wadhawan, a top system engineering leader from Singapore, as she explores the latest in technology and leadership. Hosted by Josh Recker, this podcast brings you conversations about leadership, innovation, and empowerment in tech. Suruchi, a Cisco Sales Champion with extensive certifications, leads insightful and inspiring discussions. Dive into topics like overcoming imposter syndrome, empowering women in tech, and mastering the art of mentorship. We also spice things up with discussions on extreme activities like skydiving and bungee jumping, exploring what these experiences can teach you about yourself and how they translate into professional growth.Tune in to elevate your knowledge and energize your career.

Dive into "Tales from the CSAP Floor" where host Mackenzie Brennan talks to Amy Bahlo, a Club Cisco winner —a feat reserved for the top 1% in sales excellence. Starting as an Associate Sales Representative, Amy's 19-year Cisco career has led her to a strategic Global Partner Executive role, steering the Microsoft Partnership. This episode unpacks her climb from sales to leadership, highlighting the determination needed to excel and the power of perseverance. Amy's story isn't just inspiring—it's a roadmap for steady growth in one's career. Tune in for an episode that distills career wisdom into actionable insights.

Introducing Guido Sironi, a key account manager for Cisco Switzerland and a sales superstar from CSAP class of FY19. He has thrived in the tech industry for over five years, with a passion that shines through. In this podcast, he reveals his professional journey, trade secrets, and must-reads on excelling in sales and communication. Discover how he mastered the art of customer connection and why he believes “Your customers don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.” Catch it all on this episode of “Tales from the CSAP floor”!

Continuing our "Tales from the CSAP Floor" series, our host Mackenzie Brennan engages with Matt Yager, a top performer within the SLED Accounts team. Matt kicked off his Cisco journey through the Sales Associate Program (CSAP) in FY21, on the same track as our host. Before setting his sights on a customer-centric sales role, Matt dives into his rich background and the significant responsibilities he shouldered during his internships in Customer Experience (CX). In this episode, he opens up about his genuine experiences with CSAP, life at Cisco, finding the right work-life balance, and his candid take on handling rejection, all while staying focused on his own personal goals. Matt's journey from CX intern to CSAP graduate, and now a Virtual Account Manager, emphasizes the power of staying true to yourself while leveraging your team, mentors and sponsors throughout your professional path. Join us for this transparent conversation with Matt Yager on "Tales from the CSAP Floor"!

In this season opener of "Tales from the CSAP Floor," host Joshua Recker welcomes Chris Toh, a remarkable individual whose unique professional journey defies convention. From a pivotal eureka moment during his military service to becoming a celebrated Club Cisco member and enjoying a well-deserved Hawaiian vacation, Chris's story is a testament to the power of divergent thinking. Live from Singapore, Chris delves into the fascinating world of augmented reality with the HRT-I device, sharing how these technologies enhance connectivity and collaboration in challenging work environments. His insights extend beyond technology, touching on effective communication with executives, the importance of being approachable, and the value of mentorship. Chris's journey from a technical background to a sales specialist highlights the significance of soft skills and technical understanding in professional growth. As AI reshapes the workplace, Chris envisions a future where technology complements human expertise. Join us for an enlightening conversation with Chris Toh on "Tales from the CSAP Floor"!

Join us for an enlightening podcast journey with the famous Ron Fox the 3rd! Discover the Power of Connection: growing with people around you and the finding the value in mentorship. In our pursuit of success, we often focus on climbing the ladder vertically, and connections above us. But what about the incredible value that lies in networking horizontally?

Don't miss Episode 7 of Season 5! We're chatting with Hemang Shah, a global systems engineer at Cisco, who smoothly transitioned from CSAP to working as a trusted advisor on some of our top global accounts. He shares his unique journey, including the time when he almost swapped tech for a paper route in Denmark! Hemang digs deep into how to excel at your job, and even spills the beans about his dream of owning a food truck. Tune in, for an inspiring blend of personal anecdotes and professional wisdom. This is one episode you won't want to miss!

In this episode, Nick chats with Ryan Houska, Director of Web Operations at Cisco and a CSAP Alum. Hear firsthand about his transformative journey, the power of curiosity, open-mindedness, and networking, and the crucial difference between management and leadership. Get an insider's view of his transition into leadership, the significance of resilience, shared team accountability, and the customer-first approach at Cisco. As always, the episode is packed with wisdom, cleverly wrapped in sports analogies, crafted with our new comers in mind.

Don't miss this candid episode where Laura delves into Eduardo Sebastian Galardi's unexpected yet interesting transition from aerospace engineering to Cisco's CSAP program. Fresh out of CSAP himself and early in his career, Eduardo's timeless advice holds relevance for newcomers as they embark on their journeys. Embrace the rollercoaster of learning and discover the power of empathy and humility in the workplace. Eduardo's experiences at Cisco Live, one of Cisco's premier networking events, his passion for personal connection through solo travels, and his very own podcast will inspire and empower you. Tune in now!

Join us on a captivating journey in our fourth podcast episode as we explore the inspiring story of Vinaya Springer, a former CSAPer and current Senior System Engineer Manager. Vinaya has transformed her adversities into her superpower, paving the way for others by sharing her experiences. She faced numerous challenges, including imposter syndrome, but has learned how to overcome it. Vinaya shares valuable insights on how to stop listening to the inner voice that withholds or limits you and start listening to the voice that empowers and supports you. Learn how to turn self-doubt into power by tuning in now.

In this third episode, Laura welcomes Yvette Filippo, Field Account Manager in the Netherlands. Since she graduated from CSAP in 2018, she has been recognized as Sales Champion and Sales Achiever. Yvette explains that she approaches success in a holistic way, by adding value to her personal, team, and company projects. She shares with us practical tips on how she does this, by prioritizing, turning failures into opportunities, and by exploring her passions inside and outside of work (including psychology and Girls in IT). Join the conversation to learn how she found the key to getting a better GRIP on her work, projects, and life, and how she inspires others to do the same.

In this episode our host Nick sits down with Zaid Al-Taher, a Systems Engineer who graduated from CSAP in 2021. Join us as Zaid shares his journey at Cisco, from the application process to his remarkable volunteering work in Indonesia building a school playground. Learn how Zaid combines his passions: continuous learning, teaching and giving back, and how working at Cisco makes it all possible. Get inspired by Zaid's tips for success! What did you take away from this episode? Let us know in the comments!

Join Laura and Stien as they start off the new season of "Tales From The CSAP Floor: Epic Wins and Fails"! From the importance of mentorship and putting things into perspective to frozen lasagnas, discover how Stien navigates her journey and the lessons she's learned along the way. Be sure to tune in for this empowering conversation about flexibility and perseverance.

JP kickstarted his career at CSAP some moons ago as an Associate Sales Representative. He shares many valuable lessons on career progression at Cisco, leveraging your connections, the importance of diversity, the value of people and culture and so much more!

Annika Gruvstad kickstarted her career at CSAP some moons ago as an Associate Sales Representative. She shares many valuable lessons on career progression at Cisco, leveraging your connections, the importance of diversity, the value of people and culture and so much more.

Let Ella take you on a journey from pre-covid CSAP times to a fully virtual experience. Going from playing table tennis with CSAP peers to following classes remotely, Niek van Geffen and Momoki Yokoi, ASR Alum, talk about the same program but in a different world. While the times have changed, the strong CSAP thread of learning, networking and friendship remains unbreakable! Oh and Niek, one of the youngest Cisco Chairman Club Winners, talks about what it takes the win this sales award, one of the most prestigious ones at Cisco!

In this episode, Mark chats to two former Associate Systems Engineers (ASE): Timi Omoyajowo & Yashar Asgari. Our host asks them about their CSAP experience, our culture of learning and feedback. They address what it was like leaving CSAP to go into a permanent role within Cisco and making the most of their support system. They give some great tips about how to avoid getting whiplash from working fully in person, then fully remote, and now in a hybrid model.

Follow our host Mark Falkenstrom as he talks to Louise Man, a current Associate Systems Engineer (ASE) in the CSAP program, about having the right mindset heading into the assessment centre. Louise and Mark talk about their (very different!) backgrounds prior to Cisco, being your authentic self, and having fun while going through the interview process.

Welcome back for season 4 of Tales from the CSAP floor! In this first episode, our host Ella Cheng-Bradshaw speaks to Australian Associate Sales Representative (ASR) Hugh Steinmetz about how he landed the job in a virtual setting. While the assessment centre varies region to region, Hugh and Ella's insights paint a clear picture of the general process from the perspective of two ASRs.

We are thrilled to wrap up season 3 with Esther Ayorinde, Senior Director in Cisco's Customer Experience Organization, a CSAP Alum and just a phenomenal woman and power house! There is so much goodness packed into this episode…Esther talks about her unusual journey and unlocking the 'serial intra-preneur' within. She shares what being on the NFL & NBA dance teams has taught her in her corporate life. She touches on diversity in the workplace and investing in the development of under-represented minority students in STEM...And so much more! Enjoy this last gem of season 3 and stay tuned for Season 4 of Tales From the CSAP Floor!

Follow our host Sabrina as she talks to Gertrude Wong, Cisco's Director of Business Operations for CX (Customer Experience) in EMEAR about Mentoring. Gertrude's passion on the topic comes from her own experience as a mentor for Early In Career but also as a mentee herself. Gertrude clarifies the differences between coaching, mentoring and sponsoring. She gives advice on how to recognize a potential mentor, how to be specific in what you want out of the relationship and even how to end a mentoring relationship that has run its course. Sabrina does a fabulous job in asking the right questions through the lens of an Early-In-Career, keen on adding value to any organization while honing her own strengths and skills with the support of a mentor!

As we look forward to the future, how can we navigate the permanent changes the pandemic has caused, and build a successful career? For this episode, we invited guest speaker Elin Berglie, a Global Collaboration Communications Manager at Cisco. Elin enjoys building relationships and has lived in multiple countries throughout her career. With our host Enrico, they discuss adapting to a changing environment, building one's personal brand and creating a vision for your career. Tune in to find out how you can build your network and career in a virtual world!

Tune in to another episode of our podcast "Tales from the CSAP Floor", and listen to some great life advice from our guest Katherine McNamara in conversation with Emerald! Learn more about the importance of studying and self-discipline, to stay up to date in an industry that's always changing. Her riveting story of persistence and sheer will from when she hit rock bottom will have you wondering about how you can challenge yourself and take risks. This episode has some great takeaways which everyone can definitely use to get ahead in their careers, and like Katherine says "You only get as much as you put into it"!

Listen as host Sabrina Laut and guest Tammy Getschel discuss how to set boundaries when working from your bedroom. Tammy is an Enablement Solutions Architect at Cisco, a CSAP Alum herself who came back to train our CSAPers. She's well known for her LinkedIn posts on tips for Working From Home based on her own experiences that pre-date the Pandemic. They talk about  what defines work life balance, the pressures to prove yourself as Early in Career while avoiding burning yourself out, how to combat Impostor Syndrome and why it's important for your mental health to invest in yourself during your downtime.

With a hybrid working model as the new normal, this episode focuses on creating a permanent home office that allows one to be productive, in terms of creating a physical space dedicated to work, as well as creating a mental headspace. Our guest Jeff Bull has his own “At Home” series on Youtube, where he interviews people in their home office. Together, our host Enrico Giulini and Jeff will discuss how to set up a productive WFH office for the long term. Tune in to get tips for designing your perfect home office! Check out Jeff's Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCT7stGMTgUq2QAHjN0XbSDA/videos

Join us for our podcast "Tales from the CSAP Floor" with our inspiring guests Max Magney and Thomson Ngo  and our ever-cheerful host, Emerald Williamson, from the Land Down Under, Australia! Listen to them share their pearls of wisdom about sustainability, the circular economy, and how bringing your passion to work makes you more fulfilled and happier. Their stories centre around their involvement with the environment, and will really have you thinking about how YOU can make an impact. Tune in to this engaging podcast to know more about how you can follow your passions outside of work, and how Cisco is the perfect company to do it.

In this episode our host Sabrina Laut and guest Chandni Panchal discuss how to approach our own mental health and how working together can help remove the stigma of opening up about it. Chandni, a CSAP alum, is part of the UK&I Developer Advocacy team at Cisco focusing on all cool things programmability! Listen as Sabrina and Chandni talk more about achieving balance between work and personal life, the importance of checking in with yourself regularly, and why as an Early-in-Career, it's more than ok to set boundaries for yourself and know when to say no!

Ever wonder why you feel burnt out after a day of video meetings? In this episode, we focus on how early-in-career and facilitators can prevent virtual training burnout while ensuring the effectiveness of virtual training. Our guest Michael Harabedian has been at Cisco for 21 years and is a respected veteran trainer at CSAP (Cisco Sales Associates Program). Our host Enrico Giulini and Michael discuss how to deal with virtual training fatigue during, between, and after video meetings. Listen to the podcast to find out why and get tips on how to deal with it!

This episode touches on several topics: the power of failure, cultural adaptability and international travel. Steve Cramer, one of our legendary CSAP facilitators and CSAP alumnus, is no stranger to failure. It's about what you do when, not if you fail. In his great story telling fashion, Steve shares too many anecdotes to list but we'll entice you with a famous movie quote that's mentioned in the conversation: ‘If we can keep the earth in the window then we'll be fine!

Story telling is an art. No wait. It's a science. Throw in some psychology, mix in some Harry Potter and find that common red thread behind every good story. Sen Chandaka, SE Senior Manager and CSAP Alum, is a natural storyteller, a skill he has honed through years of reading, listening and just practicing telling stories. He shows us how to successfully use storytelling in our technology world, planting that seed of truth with his listeners, understanding what makes them tick and compelling them to take action! As usual, Domi asks incisive questions, leaving no stone unturned in uncovering what makes a good story and a great storyteller.

From being named Person of Impact by Cisco's ECN (Early in Career Network) to winning an award for writing a mythical fiction book to hosting major events such as Woman of Cisco and the GVSE (Global Virtual Sales & Engineering) all hands in APJC, Jennifer Seo truly is a Cisco Rockstar. She's fearless and seizes opportunities as they come her way. She recently graduated from the Cisco Sales Associates Program in FY20 as an ASR and shares how she takes advantage of moments that matter, connects with peers, engages with leaders all the while just doing what she loves to do! Marcus, our host, as always, brings it on with his dry humor and fun.

Listen to this insightful conversation between our host Cyrille and Sherman Wilkins, a 2008 CSAP alum. Sherman draws parallels between coming into CSAP during the global financial crisis and our FY20 and FY21 cohort coming in during the COVID-19 pandemic. He delves into many aspects of CSAP, his career journey, his personal life and just gives some great career advice. As usual, Cyrille brings his own wisdom and reflection as an Early in Career navigating through these times.

Tune into this episode with Domi talking to Kathleen Schauer, an Account Manager for Microsoft. Kathleen started her career as an ASE (Associate System Engineer). After a couple of years working on the Verizon Channel team, she went on to become an IT director for a small nonprofit. Finding herself in her customers' shoes was eye opening and made abundantly clear what matters most to customers. Coming back to Cisco as an AM, Kathleen strives to be responsive, be persistent, be curious, listen and understand that a customer 'not now' sometimes just means 'not yet'!

In this episode, Fabio talks to our host Cyrille about his journey starting off as an associate and the path that led him back to CSAP as a manager. There are too many pearls of wisdom to mention so we'll leave you with this one quote: "If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough".

In this first episode of our second season, our host Marcus Isaksen talks to Neil Truncik, a CSAP alum who is passionate about mindfulness and teaches it. Neil gives sound advice on being more mindful, keeping your mind healthy and the services Cisco offers to support. Although the conversation was recorded before the outbreak, it's still very relevant, perhaps more so now with social distancing becoming the norm and many of us struggling to take care of our mental health.

The best analogy Elisabetta Seggioli (Italian ASE) and Jay Ham (Korean ASE) can give is that taking driving lessons and actually driving are two very different things! That's how they describe transitioning from learning during the training bootcamp to doing during their on the job experience as Associate Systems Engineers. Elisabetta stresses the importance of not only creating several support networks but also knowing who to ask for help and when. Jay remembers how loud and warm it was in the first data center he ever visited. Nobody prepared him for that in class! Both give advice on how to establish a strong customer relationship virtually and how to prepare for your field trips. They talk about their shadowing experience and how they finally understood the power of a unified account team in front of the customer.

On the 2nd of October 2019, Cisco was named the #1 World's Best Workplace! Listen to Henrik Parnemann (top picture, back row, 5th from your right) and Andres Jimenez Nanhekhan (bottom picture, second from your left), CSAP alumni, talk about how they were able to make a difference and create the amazing Cisco culture we are all so proud of. From Time to Give that took them on amazing meaningful projects in Naples and Nepal to Fun Funds that had them plastic fishing in the Amsterdam canals. One recurring theme, the tremendous support you get from Cisco and your peers to work on projects you truly believe in and make a difference.

In this episode, Khal invites two of his friends and fellow CSAP'ers, Sara Ortega Jimenez (Spanish ASR) and Galal Amr (Egyptian ASR) to talk about personal brand for people that are early in career. They share their first impressions of participating in Cisco's yearly sales meeting, called Impact, that happens in Las Vegas and give advice on how best to show up and stand out at this unique event. As a social media expert, Galal also gives pointers on how to create a strong presence while Sara shares how she connects her own personal brand to what she is most passionate about: Women in IT.

In this last episode of the first season, Khal talks to Thando (ASR from South Africa) and Leonardo (ASE from Italy moving to Dubai) about lots of different things. The importance of becoming friends before colleagues comes up as well as getting to know each other even before their first day at CSAP. They reminisce about their first impressions on how well organized the first day was and how incredibly diverse the group was. They wish they had more time to talk about inclusion and diversity! Of course the CSAP culture is discussed. It is understood that it's all about growth and that the relationship with their manager is a two-way value interchange underscored by a strong culture of continuous feedback. Some fun personal stories are shared about dissecting mosquito guts (yes, you heard it) and how being loud in Amsterdam is not always welcome.

In this episode, our host, Khal, talks with Cristina (Moldovan ASR) and Titus (South African ASE) on their big move to Amsterdam. They talk about their excitement of joining CSAP, accepting and embracing this life changing decision and preparing to move to a new city. They talk about the typical challenges of moving, how Cisco and the CSAP community help and the critical success factors of thriving in a new environment. They also give great general advice on dealing with a competitive housing market and Amsterdam's particularities. The episode would of course not be complete without bicycle anecdotes!

Petr talks to Nicolas Cervigni, an ASE (Associate Systems Engineer) manager and Phuong Nguyen, an ASE to get the Engineering perspective. They talk about the ASE profile and how it isn't limited to graduates with a strictly engineering background. It is open for anyone with a technical background who is curious and passionate about technology. They then cover some very useful tips to be successful at the Assessment Center and finish with a day in the life of an ASE/SE as well as general advice. Enjoy!

In this episode, Petr Gusakov, our host, uncovers what the secret sauce is to succeeding in the Assessment Center and how to be successful as an ASR. He invites Orsi Szucs, our EMEAR Talent Lead for Global Virtual Sales and Wessel Van Roij, an ASR entering the Dutch market to have a candid conversation about it!

Host, Khal Khalaf and guests, Andrea Unanue and Sandro Fasser, take you through what it was like preparing for their Assessment Centers on their path to Cisco's Sales Associate Program. If you're interested in applying for CSAP, this is an episode you definitely don't want to miss!

Get to know our hosts for Season 1 of Tales From The CSAP Floor, Petr Gusakov and Khalid Khalaf. Entitled "Ready. Set. CSAP." Through a series of in-depth interviews with some of our Associates, Petr and Khalid shine a spotlight on what it takes to join Cisco's Sales Associate Program.

Host, Petr Gusakov sits down with Morongwa Waifo and Alexander Depypere to discuss their journey through the application process of Cisco's Sales Associate Program. Learn about how Morongwa and Alex found Cisco, and why their unique backgrounds made them ideal candidates for CSAP.