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<!doctype html> <html lang="en-US" class="no-touch js "> <head> <meta charset="UTF-8"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">  <meta name="blogsPostDate" content="2023-09-05 05:00:26"/><meta name="blogsPostTags" content="wearecisco,wearecisco-emea,wearecisco-parents,cisco-meraki,emea,engineering"/><meta name="blogsPostCat" content="We Are Cisco"/><meta name="article:category" content="We Are Cisco"/><meta name=priorityNarrativeList" content="None"/> <meta name="wordCount" content="726" /> <meta name="readTime" content="174" />  <script type='text/javascript' src="//www.cisco.com/etc/designs/cdc/clientlibs/responsive/js/web-component-foundation.min.js"></script> <script> /** * Invokes appropriate private methods based on input parameters based on needs of web component architecture * @param {Array} wcAssets array of strings that correlate to the names of web components or array of objects containing asset name and corresponding locale/path * @param {String} localePath specifies where web component should be retrieved from (expected format: en/us or en_au for all other locales); false if wcAssets, is array of objects * @param {Boolean} isWem [Optional] specifies if assets are being loaded on a WEM environment * @param {Boolean} needTargetter [Optional] specifies need for targetter bundle to be loaded (generally needed on external sites) * @param {Boolean} isRelative [Optional] specifies if asset path(s) should be relative * @param {String} env [Optional] specifies enviornment to append to relative path (should not be used with isRelative) * @param {Boolean} hasEnvOverride [Optional] specifies if environment needs to be overridden (should be used with env) */ cdc.wcAncillaryAssetAllocator.init(['cdc-template-blogs'], 'en/us', false, true, false, 'prod'); if (window.cdc === undefined) { window.cdc = {}; } if (cdc.cdcMasthead === undefined) { cdc.cdcMasthead = {}; } if (cdc.cdcMasthead.additional === undefined) { cdc.cdcMasthead.additional = {}; } cdc.cdcMasthead.additional.env = 'prod'; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> if ( typeof cdc === "undefined")cdc = {}; if ( typeof cdc.util === "undefined")cdc.util = {}; cdc.util.ensureNamespace = function (namespaceStr) { if (!namespaceStr) { return; var parts = namespaceStr.split("."); var o = window; var i; var aPart; for (i = 0; i < parts.length; i++) aPart = parts[i]; if (typeof (o[aPart]) != "object"){ o[aPart] = {}; } o = o[aPart]; } }; cdc.dm = {}; cdc.dm.util = {}; cdc.dm.util.ensureNamespace = cdc.util.ensureNamespace; </script> <meta name="author" content="Raad Al-Jawahiry" /><meta name="blogsPostAuthor" content="Raad Al-Jawahiry" /><meta name='robots' content='index, follow, max-image-preview:large, max-snippet:-1, max-video-preview:-1' /> <script type="text/javascript" src="//www.cisco.com/c/dam/cdc/t/ctm-core.js"></script>  <title>My Journey to Cisco: Fulfilling a Dream and Finding Family - Cisco Blogs</title> <meta name="description" content="Raad's dream came true joining Cisco as a Cloud Contact Centre Engineer. 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I'm Raad, a passionate Cloud Contact Centre Engineer at Cisco, dedicated to shaping seamless customer experiences through cutting-edge technology. With a focus on delivering top-tier contact center solutions for Cisco Meraki, I thrive on optimizing communication channels for businesses. Beyond the realm of technology, my heart is captivated by my wonderful family – a loving wife and an adorable baby daughter. When I'm not immersed in the world of cloud solutions, you'll often find me cheering fervently for Arsenal, my beloved football team.","sameAs":["https://www.linkedin.com/in/raad-al-jawahiry"],"url":"https://blogs.cisco.com/author/raljawah"}]}</script>  <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//www.cisco.com' /> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//s.w.org' /> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Cisco Blogs » Feed" href="https://blogs.cisco.com/feed" /> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Cisco Blogs » Comments Feed" href="https://blogs.cisco.com/comments/feed" /> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Cisco Blogs » My Journey to Cisco: Fulfilling a Dream and Finding Family Comments Feed" href="https://blogs.cisco.com/wearecisco/my-journey-to-cisco-fulfilling-a-dream-and-finding-family/feed" /> <script type="text/javascript"> window._wpemojiSettings = {"baseUrl":"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/13.1.0\/72x72\/","ext":".png","svgUrl":"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/13.1.0\/svg\/","svgExt":".svg","source":{"concatemoji":"https:\/\/blogs.cisco.com\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-emoji-release.min.js?ver=5.9.2"}}; /*! 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and Finding Family</span></span></span></span></p> <div class="blog-post-header"> </div> <article id="post-441228" class="post-441228 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-wearecisco tag-wearecisco tag-wearecisco-emea tag-wearecisco-parents tag-cisco-meraki tag-emea tag-engineering"> <div class="main-content"> <header class="entry-header"> <div class="entry-meta"> September 5, 2023 <a id="post-comments" href="https://blogs.cisco.com/wearecisco/my-journey-to-cisco-fulfilling-a-dream-and-finding-family#comments">2 Comments</a> <hr> </div> </header> <div class="blog-post-header"> <div class="thumbnail-avatar"> <div class="post-thumbnail" style="background-image:url(https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2023/08/IL20230829235918-Featured-Image-Raad-Al-Jawahiry-in-Cisco-Chicago-office-scaled-600x200.jpg);"> <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2023/08/raad-bio-150x150.jpg" width="102" height="102" alt="Avatar" class="avatar avatar-102 wp-user-avatar wp-user-avatar-102 photo avatar-default"> </div> </div> <div class="blog-cat-post-author-container"> <a href=https://blogs.cisco.com/wearecisco><h5>We Are Cisco</h5></a> <h1 class="entry-title">My Journey to Cisco: Fulfilling a Dream and Finding Family</h1><p class="wordcount"><span class="black">3 min read</span></p> <p> <a href="https://blogs.cisco.com/author/raljawah" title="Posts by Raad Al-Jawahiry" rel="author">Raad Al-Jawahiry</a> </p> </div> </div>  <div class="entry-content"> <p><img class="alignright wp-image-441227" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2023/08/Raad-Al-Jawahiry-with-wife-Lina-Al-Karaghouli-and-daughter-Naya-Al-Jawahiry.jpg" alt="Raad Al-Jawahiry with wife Lina Al-Karaghouli and daughter Naya Al-Jawahiry" width="476" height="634" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2023/08/Raad-Al-Jawahiry-with-wife-Lina-Al-Karaghouli-and-daughter-Naya-Al-Jawahiry.jpg 1536w, https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2023/08/Raad-Al-Jawahiry-with-wife-Lina-Al-Karaghouli-and-daughter-Naya-Al-Jawahiry-225x300.jpg 225w, https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2023/08/Raad-Al-Jawahiry-with-wife-Lina-Al-Karaghouli-and-daughter-Naya-Al-Jawahiry-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2023/08/Raad-Al-Jawahiry-with-wife-Lina-Al-Karaghouli-and-daughter-Naya-Al-Jawahiry-1152x1536.jpg 1152w" sizes="(max-width: 476px) 100vw, 476px" />As a young college student, I was introduced to the world of networking, and from that moment, I knew Cisco was where I belonged. The way its technology connected the world and empowered businesses left an indelible mark on my heart and set the course for my life’s journey.</p> <p>After college, I embarked on a path to turn my dream of working at Cisco into reality, immersing myself in learning and building up my skills. I pursued my CCNP Collaboration certification and gained invaluable experience working for Cisco partners. It was a journey filled with challenges and triumphs, but my determination to join Cisco never wavered.</p> <p>I sharpened my skills while applying for a few Cisco roles over the next several years. Finally, the day arrived after interviewing for a Cloud Contact Centre Engineer position — a role perfectly aligned with my evolving experience and aspirations — and I received the news I had eagerly awaited. I was going to be a Cisconian! I was brimming with anticipation and excitement for the adventures that lay ahead.</p> <p>However, life has its own way of testing our strength and resolve. Just two months into my journey at Cisco, when the excitement of a new beginning was still fresh, my world was shaken. My daughter, who was on the brink of turning one, received a diagnosis that necessitated immediate hip surgery. My wife had just begun her pre-registration training year as she embarked on her path to becoming a pharmacist. Together, we faced the challenging intricacies of settling into new roles and caring for our daughter.</p> <p>Though, having read past stories on the We Are Cisco blog before joining the company, I approached my situation without a shred of doubt. Recalling the genuine support extended to my colleagues, as recounted in those heartfelt narratives, reinforced my belief that Cisco was the right place for me. It was as though those blogs had preluded my journey, assuring me that putting people first was a cornerstone of Cisco’s culture, existing long before I walked through its doors.</p> <p>Amidst the whirlwind of change and responsibility, Cisco’s support emerged as a beacon of hope, reminding us that we were not alone on this journey. Thanks to the comprehensive benefits Cisco offers, we could ensure my daughter received the best medical care promptly. It was a sigh of relief amidst the storm, knowing that my employer genuinely cared about the wellbeing of my family.</p> <p><img loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-441224 alignleft" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2023/08/Raad-Al-Jawahiry-with-Cisco-mentor-Jason-Gooley-in-Cisco-Chicago-office-scaled.jpg" alt="Raad Al-Jawahiry with Cisco mentor Jason Gooley in Cisco Chicago office." width="590" height="442" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2023/08/Raad-Al-Jawahiry-with-Cisco-mentor-Jason-Gooley-in-Cisco-Chicago-office-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2023/08/Raad-Al-Jawahiry-with-Cisco-mentor-Jason-Gooley-in-Cisco-Chicago-office-300x225.jpg 300w, https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2023/08/Raad-Al-Jawahiry-with-Cisco-mentor-Jason-Gooley-in-Cisco-Chicago-office-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2023/08/Raad-Al-Jawahiry-with-Cisco-mentor-Jason-Gooley-in-Cisco-Chicago-office-768x576.jpg 768w, https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2023/08/Raad-Al-Jawahiry-with-Cisco-mentor-Jason-Gooley-in-Cisco-Chicago-office-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2023/08/Raad-Al-Jawahiry-with-Cisco-mentor-Jason-Gooley-in-Cisco-Chicago-office-2048x1536.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" /></p> <p>But the true magic of Cisco unfolded during those challenging months. My manager and team showed an empathy that transcended any ordinary work relationship. They granted me emergency leave without a second thought, encouraging me to prioritize my family above all else. As I returned to work, the ability to have a flexible schedule was crucial when managing a child in a cast for three months with follow-up medical appointments. My daughter’s appearances on Webex meetings when juggling schedules with my wife were met with smiles and waves. And as I learned and got comfortable in my still-new role, I could lean on teammates for their knowledge and support.</p> <p>I had always believed that Cisco would be a place of growth and camaraderie, but experiencing it firsthand was beyond anything I could have imagined. During those months, I realized I had not just landed a job, but I had found a family that uplifted and supported one another through thick and thin. I wasn’t just another employee; I was an integral part of a global community where individuals come together, united by a shared vision of making a positive impact on the world.</p> <p>Today, as I look back on my journey, I can say with utmost certainty that my dream to work for Cisco was worth every ounce of effort. Cisco has not only provided me with a fulfilling career but has touched my life in ways that matter the most.</p> <p>So, those considering joining Cisco, take that leap of faith and apply! Embrace the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology alongside some of the brightest minds in the industry. But most importantly, know that you will join a family that stands by you in every twist and turn of life’s journey. Together, let’s build a future where innovation knows no bounds.</p> <p>Are you ready to experience a company that cares? <a href="http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/about/careers.html?CAMPAIGN=talent&COUNTRY_SITE=us&POSITION=social%2bmedia%2borganic&REFERRING_SITE=blog&CREATIVE=careershome&tags=blg">Find your opportunity now.</a></p> <p><a href="https://app.feedpress.com/e/mailverify?feed_id=WeAreCisco">Subscribe to the We Are Cisco Blog.</a></p> <div id="share_bar_desktop"> <span class = "share_title">Share</span> <div class="twitter"> <div class = "box"> <a class = "share" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://blogs.cisco.com/wearecisco/my-journey-to-cisco-fulfilling-a-dream-and-finding-family&text=My Journey to Cisco: Fulfilling a Dream and Finding Family&via=WeAreCisco" target='_blank' data-config-metrics-group='social_shares' data-config-metrics-title='twitter_shares' data-config-metrics-item='twitter_share'> <img class="share_image" src="https://blogs.cisco.com/wp-content/themes/ciscowordpress-child/svg/share_X_white.svg" alt="share on twitter"></a> </div> </div> <div class="facebook"> <div class = "box"> <a class = "share" href = "http://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://blogs.cisco.com/wearecisco/my-journey-to-cisco-fulfilling-a-dream-and-finding-family&title=My Journey to Cisco: Fulfilling a Dream and Finding Family" data-config-metrics-group='social_shares' data-config-metrics-title='facebook_shares' data-config-metrics-item='facebook_share' onclick="javascript:window.open(this.href, '', 'menubar=no,toolbar=no,resizable=yes,scrollbars=yes,height=600,width=600');return false;"><img class="share_image" src="https://blogs.cisco.com/wp-content/themes/ciscowordpress-child/svg/share_fb_white.svg" alt="share on facebook"></a> </div> </div> <div class="linkedin"> <div class = "box"> <a class = "share" href = "https://www.linkedin.com/cws/share?url=https://blogs.cisco.com/wearecisco/my-journey-to-cisco-fulfilling-a-dream-and-finding-family" data-title=" " data-config-metrics-group='social_shares' data-config-metrics-title='linkedin_shares' data-config-metrics-item='linkedin_share' onclick="javascript:window.open(this.href, '', 'menubar=no,toolbar=no,resizable=yes,scrollbars=yes,height=600,width=600');return false;"><img class="share_image" src="https://blogs.cisco.com/wp-content/themes/ciscowordpress-child/svg/share_li_white.svg" alt="share on linkedin"></a> </div> </div> <div class = "mail"> <div class = "box"> <a class="share" href="mailto:?subject=Cisco Blog: My Journey to Cisco: Fulfilling a Dream and Finding Family&body=I saw this post on Cisco Blogs and thought you might like to read it.%0A%0AMy Journey to Cisco: Fulfilling a Dream and Finding Family%0A%0Ahttps://blogs.cisco.com/wearecisco/my-journey-to-cisco-fulfilling-a-dream-and-finding-family%0A%0A****Disclaimer****%0A%0ACisco is not responsible for the content of this email, and its contents do not necessarily reflect Cisco’s views or opinions. 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Cisco has not verified the email address or name of the sender." data-config-metrics-group='social_shares' data-config-metrics-title='email_shares' data-config-metrics-item='email_share'> <img class="share_image" src="https://blogs.cisco.com/wp-content/themes/ciscowordpress-child/svg/share_email_white.svg"> </a> </div> </div> <div class = "clear"></div> </div> <br> </div> <div class="author-section"> <div><h2>Authors</h2></div> <div class="auth-row"> <div class="blog-row author-bio"> <div class="item-thirds-1 author-bio-box" > <div class="author-image" > <a href="https://blogs.cisco.com/author/raljawah"><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2023/08/raad-bio-150x150.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Avatar" class="avatar avatar-150wp-user-avatar wp-user-avatar-150 alignnone photo avatar-default"> </a> </div> <div class="author-info"> <h3><a href="https://blogs.cisco.com/author/raljawah"> Raad Al-Jawahiry</a> </h3> <h4 class="title">Cloud Contact Center Engineer </h4> <h4>Cisco Meraki</h4> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/raad-al-jawahiry" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img class="share_image" src="https://blogs.cisco.com/wp-content/themes/ciscowordpress-child/svg/share_li_navy.svg" alt="share on facebook"></a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <footer class="entry-footer"> </footer> </article> <div id="tags-container">Tags: <a href="https://blogs.cisco.com/tag/wearecisco" rel="tag">#WeAreCisco</a> <a href="https://blogs.cisco.com/tag/wearecisco-emea" rel="tag">#WeAreCisco EMEA</a> <a href="https://blogs.cisco.com/tag/wearecisco-parents" rel="tag">#WeAreCisco Parents</a> <a href="https://blogs.cisco.com/tag/cisco-meraki" rel="tag">Cisco Meraki</a> <a href="https://blogs.cisco.com/tag/emea" rel="tag">EMEA</a> <a href="https://blogs.cisco.com/tag/engineering" rel="tag">engineering</a> <hr id="comment-break-line"> </div> <div id="comments" class="comments-area"> <h2 class="comments-title"> 2 Comments </h2> <ul class="comment-list"> <li id="comment-2563875" class="comment even thread-even depth-1 parent"> <article id="div-comment-2563875" class="comment-body"> <footer class="comment-meta"> <div class="comment-author vcard"> <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2020/08/cisco_logo.png" width="32" height="23" alt="Avatar" class="avatar avatar-32wp-user-avatar wp-user-avatar-32 alignnone photo avatar-default" /> <b class="fn">Chanelle</b> <span class="says">says:</span> </div> <div class="comment-metadata"> <a href="https://blogs.cisco.com/wearecisco/my-journey-to-cisco-fulfilling-a-dream-and-finding-family#comment-2563875"><time datetime="2023-09-20T05:32:06-07:00">September 20, 2023 at 5:32 am</time></a> </div> </footer> <div class="comment-content"> <p>I really enjoyed learning about you, your Cisco journey and your family, Raad! I cannot imagine the emotions you and your wife must’ve felt learning that you daughter needed surgery. So glad to hear that Cisco encouraged you to prioritize the needs of your family over work! Just another reason I LOVE Cisco!!</p> </div> </article> <ul class="children"> <li id="comment-2563876" class="comment odd alt depth-2"> <article id="div-comment-2563876" class="comment-body"> <footer class="comment-meta"> <div class="comment-author vcard"> <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images-new/ciscoblogs/1/2020/08/cisco_logo.png" width="32" height="23" alt="Avatar" class="avatar avatar-32wp-user-avatar wp-user-avatar-32 alignnone photo avatar-default" /> <b class="fn">Raad</b> <span class="says">says:</span> </div> <div class="comment-metadata"> <a href="https://blogs.cisco.com/wearecisco/my-journey-to-cisco-fulfilling-a-dream-and-finding-family#comment-2563876"><time datetime="2023-09-20T05:47:22-07:00">September 20, 2023 at 5:47 am</time></a> </div> </footer> <div class="comment-content"> <p>Thank you so much for taking the time to comment on the blog and I’m happy that you enjoyed the story #WeAreCisco #LoveWhereYouWork</p> </div> </article> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> <p class="no-comments">Comments are closed.</p> </div> </main> </div> <div class="blog-row cui cta"> <div class="item-halves-1"> <div class="cta-container"> <div class="cta-image"> <img src="https://alln-extcloud-storage.cisco.com/Cisco_Blogs:blogs/1/2020/01/IL20200117134331-Life-at-Cisco-CTA-Why-Cisco-150x150.jpg"> </div>  <div class="cta-description"> <h2>Why Cisco?</h2> <p>What makes us unique?</p> <div class="btn--parent"> <button class="btn--primary1" onclick="window.location.href = 'https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/about/careers/working-at-cisco.html';">  Discover </button> </div>  </div>    </div>  </div>  <div class="item-halves-2"> <div class="cta-container"> <div class="cta-image"> <img src="https://alln-extcloud-storage.cisco.com/Cisco_Blogs:blogs/1/2020/01/IL20200117134449-Life-at-Cisco-CTA-Cisco-Careers-150x150.jpg"> </div>  <div class="cta-description"> <h2>Cisco Careers</h2> <p>Be you. 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