What do a centuries-old pilgrimage path in Spain, a worldwide chief in networking know-how, and $54,986 have in widespread?
Nicely, earlier than I reply that query, let me again up a bit … The Camino de Santiago, established within the ninth century, is a community of pilgrimage routes resulting in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain.
Did you catch that key phrase? A community of paths — a approach to join folks.
You most likely already know that Cisco is a worldwide chief in community know-how. There’s that phrase once more — community.
At first look, Cisco and the Camino de Santiago seem to have little in widespread. But, each signify complicated, interconnected techniques that thrive on a community of connections.
I just lately accomplished my second pilgrimage alongside a piece of the Camino de Santiago. Like final 12 months’s journey, I devoted my stroll to Medical doctors With out Borders, elevating funds to make sure they’ve the instruments, sources, and assist wanted to supply lifesaving medical care, and walked using Cisco’s Time2Give profit. Time2Give is a worldwide providing at Cisco offering workers with 10 days of paid break day, along with our common trip break day, to volunteer at non-profit, non-governmental, and faith-based organizations and faculties of our selection.
Final 12 months was my first fundraising try, so I began with a conservative aim of elevating $2,000. I used to be blown away once we surpassed that aim, elevating a complete of $16,501 for DWB. This 12 months, I set a extra formidable aim of $20,000. As of November 27, the Medical doctors With out Borders web site reveals we have now raised $38,485.
My giving alternative closes December thirty first, however in complete, over two years, we’ve raised $54,986 and counting with the assist of many Cisco workers and the generosity of so many others. Cisco additionally matches each worker donation greenback for greenback, as much as $25,000, amplifying our impression.
As I walked 10-15 miles a day on the Camino, I mirrored on my life experiences, my household, mates, religion, and sure, work. Surprisingly, I discovered myself musing on the similarities between the Camino de Santiago and Cisco.
On the Camino, folks from everywhere in the globe come collectively, ranging from varied factors throughout Europe, touring a community of roads and thru cities and communities that welcome them, providing shelter, meals, and encouragement. You’ll hear languages and see folks from everywhere in the world strolling and speaking in concord. Sharing a easy greeting of “Buen Camino” is a standard thread, connecting pilgrims and the community.
Equally, Cisco builds and maintains digital networks which can be excess of a group of routers and switches. It’s a dwelling system by means of which companies, governments, and people can talk and collaborate. Cisco fosters neighborhood by means of its applied sciences, connecting folks throughout the globe and enabling groups to work collectively seamlessly. Cisco makes human expression attainable no matter distance or circumstance.
But it surely’s not simply the technological side of Cisco that creates connections; it’s the neighborhood inside Cisco itself. The supportive setting, collaboration, and shared objectives all contribute to a tradition that evokes workers to construct and strengthen our personal networks.
For example, I used to be impressed by a bunch of greater than 400 Cisconians, members of the family, and mates who walked the Camino, elevating cash for most cancers consciousness in 2022. Despite the fact that I couldn’t be part of them then, they set an instance for my pilgrimage and inspired me alongside the best way.
Though I’ve traveled this path twice and exceeded my fundraising objectives, I did nothing extraordinary. All I did was comply with my coronary heart, and put one foot in entrance of one other, for an excellent trigger. I’ve come to understand that point is a valuable commodity, and what we select to do with time, can decide the trajectory of our lives and others, and that we must always use it properly. Worker advantages comparable to Time2Give and fund matching assist us, as Cisconians, accomplish that. They permit us to search out one thing we’re keen about, use our and Cisco’s networks to step out onto our paths, and proceed to assist make the world a more in-depth place and energy a extra inclusive future for all.
My very own Camino journey was over 10 years within the making. Perhaps I used to be such as you, working at a desk, sitting behind a pc, content material studying about different folks’s adventures. There comes a time to cease studying and begin doing.
I’m grateful to Cisco for the chance to step away from the enterprise for 2 weeks on this unbelievable journey and for matching the donations. I’m extremely grateful for the generosity of people that supported me in my journey financially and spiritually. I admire the number of methods I obtained assist from Cisco. This sense of neighborhood is what makes Cisco greater than only a office — it’s a community of people that assist one another in making a optimistic impression on the world.
On the coronary heart of each Cisco and the Camino de Santiago is the notion of neighborhood. It’s right here the place we discover a widespread thread: the ability of connection. These are the connections that assist deliver our world’s international residents nearer. Certainly, these are the connections that make $54,986 attainable.
I’m in awe of the connectivity that binds us collectively, and within the networks of each the Camino de Santiago and Cisco that flip an concept or a chance right into a actuality.
Buen Camino.
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