San Jose you Say?
- Mitchell Drysdale and Madisen Andersen
- Jul 1, 2018
- 3 min read
This past week, the Cisco marketing interns from around the world were invited to visit Cisco’s corporate headquarters in San Jose, California. We were invited to tours, meetings, talks, and events throughout the week, helping us learn while having some fun. Not only was this trip a great way to get out of the RTP area and explore, but an awesome way to learn more about the company we work for. Here’s the knowledge we gained along the way:
1. The company
Cisco is huge. Like way huge. So getting exposed to over 40 more buildings of the company is special (it's seriously huge - look at the map below). Although the RTP office is spectacular, it’s cool to see the larger size of each department in San Jose and how the skill sets differ. It also allowed us to talk to other people and get their take on the company. Each person we talk to affects our opinion of the company and if we see ourselves coming back full-time.
2. The people
In the RTP area, we both felt like the people truly cared about our well-being and the well-being of the company. In San Jose, we realized that people cared wherever in Cisco we went. Every employee we met welcomed us with open arms and wanted to tell us about the best ways to be successful in the company.
While we were there, we were also able to speak to some of the amazing leaders of Cisco: Joseph Puthussery (VP of Marketing), Christine Heckart (SVP of Corporate Marketing), Kevin Dunbar (Sr. Director of Global Corporate Marketing and Branding), and Karen Walker (SVP and Chief Marketing Officer). The best part about it? They are all so open to hearing from interns and sharing their experiences. Who wouldn’t want to work for a company that has executives who enjoy talking to interns?
3. The culture
Something that Cisco is known for is their culture. When we were younger, we considered Cisco to be just another technology company. We have learned just how much effort Cisco has put into creating a happy workplace, along with long-lasting relationships. Employees over the years have been able to express their concerns, allowing for internal growth to occur.
4. The scenery
In the time spent outside of the offices, we were able to experience California for what it is - gorgeous. In our week there, we spent time in San Jose and San Francisco, exploring the cities and going to things like baseball games, the Golden Gate Bridge, Little Italy in San Jose, among others. When you can just walk outside to get some fresh air and feel energized and calm, you know it’s a nice area.
5. The history
The history of the area and the company together made this trip memorable. Seeing where the company started and the area around it is motivational, in a way. The company’s history helped us understand what innovations took place and how Cisco got to its current place in the market. The cities of San Jose and San Francisco have such rich history that it helped us really connect with the area around us. The Palace of Fine Arts was one of our favorite sites.
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We know that this wasn't that much information, but we felt like it was important to reflect on the time we spent visiting an integral part of the company. Here's a few more of the pictures we got along the way:
This trip was an absolute treat and we enjoyed every minute of it. Let us know in the comments where else you think we should've gone or any questions you have about our trip!
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