Decoding the Tech Trade – Cisco Blogs

This weblog was written by Adele Each, a Cisco Managing Director within the UK & Eire (UKI) Companion Organisation.

Think about strolling right into a room with a transparent picture in your thoughts of what a tech skilled seems to be like. Now, image your shock if you uncover that the actual faces of tech are much more various and relatable than you ever imagined.

Just lately, within the northwest of the UK close to Liverpool, Cisco and Cisco associate Virgin Media O2, a telecommunications firm, joined forces to shatter these stereotypes and encourage the subsequent technology. Hosted by Merseyside Group Coaching (now Spark), a registered UK NGO, the occasion aimed to decode the tech trade for younger people, ages 18 to 22, who lack tech function fashions. This transformative expertise was designed to open their eyes to the huge alternatives within the tech sector and encourage them to look past stereotypes.

Ice Breaker Exercise

The day kicked off with a enjoyable and fascinating problem. Individuals have been divided into small teams and tasked with drawing a picture of an individual working in tech. Apparently, the frequent consequence was a stereotypical picture of a middle-aged white man with glasses, formally dressed and carrying a briefcase. The teams have been requested to think about extra particulars concerning the tech individual–what automobile they drove, their residence, hobbies, vacation locations, and many others.

The Massive Reveal

To problem these stereotypes, volunteers, most of us ladies, have been then requested to disclose our identities. As we stood up, we have been met with stunned faces because the younger adults regarded across the room, realizing that the individuals standing earlier than them didn’t match the image that they had simply drawn.

This led to an enticing dialogue the place Cisco and Virgin Media O2 volunteers shared our roles and profession histories, providing a various and life like view of the tech trade.

Abilities Improvement and Networking 

The rest of the day was spent helping individuals with job functions, reviewing their LinkedIn profiles, and offering recommendations on how one can community. An interactive panel allowed the younger adults to reverse roles and interview the volunteers, gaining beneficial perception into answering powerful interview questions.

We then launched them to the Cisco Networking Academy (NetAcad), a platform providing programs and certifications to assist construct tech expertise, and explored what programs they might enroll in.

“We have been delighted to have two massive tech organizations come collectively to de-code the world of expertise and shine gentle on careers that may by no means have felt reachable for our members. The vitality within the room was palpable, and in consequence, a variety of our members have regarded to pursue careers in expertise.” Kevin Rodgers, CEO of Merseyside Group Coaching (now Spark)

Altering Lives

Probably the most inspiring moments was studying about people who had beforehand participated in related periods with Merseyside Group Coaching (now Spark) and made important profession adjustments.

• One younger man registered for Cisco NetAcad and transitioned from the development area to the tech trade. Immediately, he’s a community engineer and was a part of the crew that arrange the community for the Open Championship golf occasion in Liverpool.
• One other outstanding story was that of a younger mom who had arrange a automobile wrapping enterprise, creating creative designs for automobiles and bikes. Impressed by the session, she enrolled within the Cisco NetAcad programs to amass the mandatory expertise to discover ways to digitize the entrance finish of her enterprise.
• On the day I volunteered, one of many Virgin Media O2 volunteers was so impressed by the work of Merseyside Group Coaching (now Spark) that she now sits on their non-executive board to assist assist the impactful work they do.

Their journeys exemplify the countless prospects that may come up from decoding the tech world.

The collaborative efforts of Cisco, Virgin Media O2, and Merseyside Group Coaching (now Spark) made a profound influence, broadening the horizon for the subsequent technology and provoking them to ascertain a future with limitless alternative.

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