A Spark of Curiosity: From PC Kid to CCIE Expert
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Embarking on a journey into the tech world often begins with a spark of curiosity and a desire to understand the complexities of how something works.
For me, this journey was profoundly shaped by Cisco Networking Academy. The comprehensive training provided by NetAcad not only fueled my passion for computer networks but also laid a solid foundation for my professional career.
From a curious child exploring the early internet to a professional managing CCIE Data Center certification, the skills and knowledge I gained through NetAcad were instrumental at every step.
Here’s my story of how my aspirations were transformed into reality.
It all started with Windows 3.11
Since childhood, I aspired to work in the field of computer science. As a small child, my interaction with a PC was limited to the summer holidays when my father borrowed a computer from his school where he was a teacher. I remember that my adventure back then began with Windows 3.11.
When I grew a bit older, my parents bought a computer for our home. Gradually, I started exploring the internet using a dial-up connection. For a long time, I was allowed to use the internet for an hour and half on Saturdays. It was only several years later that a broadband internet connection became available in my place.
Over the years, I pursued my education in this direction, enrolling first in high school on a mathematics and IT profile, and later in computer science at the Wroclaw University of Science and Technology. One of the subjects in my university’s second year was computer networks.
I immediately knew this was the field I wanted to specialize in.
From Networking Academy to a Cisco dream job
At my university, Networking Academy offered a semester of the CCNA course as part of the regular curriculum. Back in 2009-2010, the CCNA consisted of four semesters.
After completing the semester, I wanted to keep the momentum going. During summer break, I enrolled in another Networking Academy near my hometown over 100 kilometers (62 miles) away to complete the next semester.
Upon returning from break, I continued the remaining CCNA semesters in the city where I studied and then obtained my first certification: CCNA. The hands-on approach of the Cisco NetAcad curriculum significantly deepened my understanding of networking and gave me practical skills.
Captivated by computer networks, I attended a Cisco Student Day at my university and became certain I wanted to work at Cisco.
While still a student, my dream began to materialize when Cisco Poland announced a one-year internship for the Lab Administrator position. The skills and knowledge from NetAcad were crucial in securing this position.
After an incredible year at Cisco, where I also completed my CCNP (you can imagine that working in Cisco's lab meant no shortage of any equipment), I finished my studies and aimed to return to Cisco, specifically to the Advanced Services organization, now named CX Professional Services.
I applied for the Associate Networking Consulting Engineer Program (aNCE) that started around that time but didn’t get the position.
This setback intensified my studies. Relying heavily on the strong foundation laid by NetAcad, I started working in the field, gaining my first practical experiences. About a year later, Cisco Krakow announced recruitment for the aNCE program again.
Of course, I applied, and this time I got into Cisco and the organization I had dreamed of! I participated in the aNCE program with several others, many of whom still work at Cisco.
A 10-year career at Cisco: Back to where it all began
For five years, I was a member of the Data Center team in Advanced Services, responsible for delivering multiple projects in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region. This job and the direct customer interaction made me realize that teaching others was something I really enjoy because it combined what I loved with my personal predispositions.
Later, I moved to the CX Customer Success team, where as a Data Center team leader, I participated in building the Data Center teams in the Krakow and Lisbon branches. After two years, I transitioned to the Data Center Business Unit as a Technical Marketing Engineer, where I educated partners and customers about Cisco Data Center products and solutions.
Today, I continue my path related to broad-based training and Data Centers. Currently, I’m an Exam Program Manager for the CCIE Data Center exam where I can contribute back to the learning and certification field where my journey began.
Our team is focused on keeping the certification up to date, matching industry changes and evolving technologies and hearing back from the field. It is fulfilling to empower aspiring professionals with the relevant skills needed for successful careers in the data center field.
While I continue to deliver technical sessions and webinars, I always strive to do it the way I would have wanted during my own journey towards certification.
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