In the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, challenges run deep — but the potential is vast.

For Edna Felix, the chance to realize her potential came from Cisco Networking Academy. And from those first free classes in networking and cybersecurity, she has turned her passion for technology into a thriving career as a Cisco technical project manager.

“Brazil has a lot of smart people,” said Felix, “but many don’t have the opportunities they need. By giving these courses for free, Cisco is producing the next generation of IT professionals. And we need these professionals, because there is a big skills gap.”

Felix is among 1 million Brazilians empowered by Networking Academy since 1999. They work in all walks of Brazilian society, from government and education to health care and industry. And their technology skills — whether in networking, cybersecurity, AI, or beyond — are helping to build Brazil’s digital future.  

“Networking Academy is one of the best things that Cisco does for the world,” said Guy Diedrich, Cisco’s SVP and global innovation officer. “It’s that simple.”

Diedrich, who also leads Networking Academy and Cisco’s Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) program, further reflected on Cisco Brazil’s 1-million milestone. As well as its place in a world where, since 1997, Networking Academy has empowered more than 25 million people in 191 countries.

"No subject is more important right now than skilling and reskilling,” Diedrich stressed. “It is the one thing that world leaders realize will unlock GDP growth, that is required to fill next-generation jobs, and that will truly build up a sustainable innovation ecosystem."

Tech skills that transcend economic, gender, and racial barriers

Networking Academy’s emphasis on real-world, job-ready skills is one key to its global success — along with its outreach to people of every race, religion, gender, location age, and more. The program has touched lives in prisons, orphanages, remote indigenous communities, and urban slums worldwide. And in Brazil, it even reaches deep into the Amazon region via a Ferry School in partnership with SENAC.

In short, Networking Academy welcomes anyone, anywhere, rich or poor, who dreams of stepping up to a better career, while contributing to growth and opportunities in their communities and nations.

Dr. William Carlos Galvão is a professor at Centro Paula Souza (CPS), a São Paulo state government agency that runs technical education centers. He shared his thoughts on the impact of NetAcad.

“Networking Academy is a tool we receive for free, and I’m so grateful,” Galvão said. “Through this network, we’ve been able to help so many students — students from all kinds of backgrounds, even those with no financial resources. And they’ve grown. They’ve climbed that ladder.”

Felix described how her fears on her first job interview were allayed by the respect accorded to her Networking Academy certifications.

“When I went to my first job interview,” she recounted, “I did not have proper shoes to wear; all I had was flip-flops. But thanks to the Networking Academy courses, I could speak the technical IT language. And I had the certifications. That can change the interviewer’s mind, no matter where you come from.”

By being open to all — and free — Felix sees Networking Academy continuing to break barriers.

“The Networking Academy is helping to change the future of Brazil,” she believes. “In the future, you will see a lot more men and women from poor backgrounds working in technology.”

A comprehensive program, with unmatched industry prestige

Networking Academy offers a deeply varied scope of courses and subjects. And as Galvão expressed, that goes beyond technology to include equally essential “soft skills.”

“I think the key is the diversity of the Cisco Networking Academy’s offerings,” he said. “It’s not just about IT. It covers entrepreneurship, language skills, personal development, sustainability — so many areas. For us, this is incredible.”

At the same time, the courses evolve constantly in response to a constantly changing tech landscape.

"The Cisco Networking Academy continues to grow and reinvent itself to train the professionals who will lead Brazil's digital transformation,” said Gabriel Bello Barros, who leads the Cisco Networking Academy in Brazil. “And it reaches people from major urban centers to the most remote regions.” 

The courses are also designed to accommodate varying degrees of understanding and different learning styles.

"The Networking Academy allows you to enter into your learning journey at any spot,” added Diedrich.

Whatever those learning styles, a Networking Academy certificate has been called the “gold standard” of the industry.

“The structure of the Networking Academy is designed in such a way that it supports both beginners and more advanced learners,” Galvão added. “The education is coherent, practical, and deeply empowering. And it stands out. When recruiters see those certifications, they say, ‘Wait, this person knows their stuff.’ It opens doors.”

Networking Academy has set an ambitious goal to train 25 million more people by fiscal year 2032. Brazil will no doubt be part of that equation.

“A program like Networking Academy can move our whole society and economy,” Galvão said. “Brazil is still a developing country, and it’s so important that we multiply the number of trained technology professionals.”

He looks forward to contributing to that next 25 million.

“I’m so excited to have been a part of this 1-million milestone in Brazil,” Galvão concluded. “And I hope our partnership with Cisco continues to grow. Because the greatest satisfaction for a teacher is seeing their students succeed — personally and professionally. When a student reflects what you believe in, that’s the dream.”