Before Avini Knew Cisco, Her Journey Had Already Begun
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If you ask me when my Cisco journey began, I’d say 2008. But the truth? It started before I even knew what Cisco was.
As a college student in Bangalore, I picked up event gigs for pocket money. One gig led me to Cisco’s Globalization Centre East inauguration. My role was simple: Handing out name tags.
I had no clue who John Chambers was or what Cisco did, but I remember the energy in the office. I collected my stipend and moved on. Or so I thought.
In 2008, I graduated and joined Cisco as a red badge contractor in the HR Support team (now People Support), helping employees with compensation and benefits.
I loved the work, but curiosity led me to explore other industries. Ironically, I left just before contractors were about to be considered for full-time roles. I missed that window, but my peers’ and managers’ belief in me stayed long after I left.
Between 2009 and 2012, I worked in media and recruitment but stayed in touch with Cisco friends. In 2013, one of them asked, “Want to come back as a contractor?” I did.
In 2014, our team moved to Accenture. I tried PwC next. But within a week, I got another call. “Would you consider coming back to Cisco?” It felt like home, so I said yes. Again.
This time, I led onboarding for new hires across India and SAARC. Finally, in 2016, I got that blue badge I’d sought after for so long. After years of being in and out, I officially became a Cisconian. And if you’ve ever worn a red badge, you know how deeply that blue one matters.
Cisco didn’t just shape my career. It shaped my life.
Joining the Learning and Development team was a turning point. I led career development and leadership growth programs, like JUMP and DARE. I also worked across APJC and EMEA and visited Cisco offices in Singapore, the U.S., and Europe. The culture of learning and trust gave me room to grow.
One of my favourite tools is Team Space. Not just for check-ins, but as a journal.
It’s where I reflect on goals, dreams, and even the tough stuff. It helped me have some of the most important conversations of my life. After a simple Team Space update, where I casually mentioned a dream to work abroad, my manager responded, “Let’s talk.”
I initially explored moving to the U.S., but COVID-19 had other plans. Cisco supported my relocation to Canada instead. From logistics to settling in, the transition was made easy by Cisco. The day I walked into Cisco’s Toronto office, I felt it again: The same energy I’d seen back in 2007. Different country, same Cisco heart.
I also met my husband here. He was an engineering manager. I was in HR. In most companies, we may never have crossed paths. But Cisco has a way of connecting people.
Even during life’s hardest moments, Cisco showed up. After a miscarriage, I found healing in the Infertility-IVF-Miscarriage Support Webex Group. The empathy and shared stories from others walking a similar path gave me strength.
Today, we’re blessed with our daughter. In a full-circle moment, my husband rejoined Cisco this year (2025). It feels like the universe is saying, “You two belong here.” We often joke that Cisco didn’t just give us careers — it gave us each other, again and again.
Looking ahead, I am excited to keep growing with Cisco.
What I’ve learned:
- Be open to the unexpected.
- Use tools like Team Space not just for status updates, but as a space to reflect, journal, and share your dreams with your team or manager.
- Consider saying yes to new opportunities, even when you’re unsure.
- Relationships at work matter and can shape your path in incredible ways. Some of the most meaningful moments in my career came from casual coffee chats and mentor conversations.
- Most importantly, surround yourself with people who believe in you. Sometimes, they’ll see your potential before you do.
Today, I’m part of the Illuminate Core Content Team, helping bring our stories and culture to life. I work with kind, creative, driven people. And I couldn’t be more grateful.
Cisco allows me to evolve across roles, regions, and life phases. It’s where I’ve always found room to dream and people who cheer me on.
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