And there I was. A fly on the wall, captured by this world wide web of wisdom—captivated by their tales of CCIE certification good results. It had been a few extensive many years considering the fact that Cisco Live’s last event in Europe, and I was fortuitous sufficient to be in Amsterdam to expertise it in particular person. It was a lot to acquire in.

I scanned the Discovering and Certifications space, from the Certification Lounge to the monitors animated by demos of Cisco Modeling Labs, to the Cisco U. Theater—when I spotted them. My gaze had turned to the corner of the theater, in which I recognized a few girls talking with Par Merat, the vice president of Cisco Studying & Certifications.

Even with the excitement of energetic chatter and shuffling footsteps that surrounded them, Par was dialed into their conversation. I watched as she leaned in, listening intently as a single of the girls spoke. I couldn’t get there fast adequate. As I approached, last but not least inside earshot, I could hear Par’s phrases as she addressed the women of all ages.

“It is challenging. I have these kinds of admiration for you.” 

Beside Par was Snezana Mitrovic, Marisol Palmero, and Elena Pudge, sharing their personalized Cisco certification encounters. And of all Cisco certifications—all three have been CCIE certification holders. Earning a CCIE certification is this sort of a worthwhile asset for IT networking specialists. It is also a reminder of the difficult operate and devotion that goes into getting it. While listening to these a few women convey to their stories, I was awed by them and the work they set into their CCIE certification journeys.

Inside the circle of CCIE certification achievements

Par turned to the group and questioned how the CCIE certification has impacted their IT occupations. A arms-on leader, Par is frequently determined by the urge for food for learning in the tech sector. Par upholds the significance of local community and is inspired by the amazing results stories she has witnessed firsthand.

“They truly don’t be expecting a woman to have this certification,” Snezana reported, referring to the normal reaction she’d skilled above her 13 many years as a CCIE Organization Infrastructure certification holder. “Having a CCIE certification provides respect from folks,” she ongoing, introducing that it’s specifically gratifying as a girl in IT. “Not to provide gender into the photograph!” she laughed as she turned to Marisol, her colleague, mentor, and 23-year energetic CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure (previously CCIE Routing and Switching) certification holder.

Marisol took her cue. “But, we are bringing gender into the image,” Marisol mentioned, noting the many periods she had listened to the response, ‘Oh, she definitely does know what she is chatting about,’ from other individuals on discovering of her Specialist-degree Cisco certification.

‘Oh, she really does know what she’s talking about.’

If you are thinking why this individual situation captured my interest in the 1st spot, it’s unfortunate but easy. Tech is regarded for its immediate innovation and slicing-edge alternatives. It is not acknowledged for its overpowering population of females, nonetheless. On the contrary, females make up significantly less than a third of the world-wide tech workforce.* (That variety of representation carries around to Cisco Stay, that’s why, my curiosity.)

Ladies at this time make up about 28% of the tech workforce. That is a sizeable enhancement from the early 2000s when only nine per cent comprised women of all ages. There is nonetheless function to be done, even though a different approximated 133 decades to near the economic gender hole, to be distinct.**

Elena agreed with Marisol with regards to the regard the CCIE certification instructions in the industry. “As a girl in the IT world, owning this qualification provides a kind of gravitas to the expertise and years you place in the market.”

Par requested ­Elena if she felt her CCIE certification experienced been useful for her job. “Definitely—which is nice to see,” Elena replied. “It’s regarded it’s highly regarded.”

Elena believes in the power of IT certifications. She had began operating toward CCNA and CCNP certifications right before her IT networking vocation truly began. Shortly adequate, she gained the CCIE Collaboration certification.

Getting a CCIE results story

In my expertise, number of CCIE certification holders move the lab examination on their to start with attempt. In a excellent world, it is a humbling practical experience that motivates CCIE candidates to perform even more difficult on their second endeavor. When we deal with challenges, how we react to them determines what we are designed of. CCIE certifications really do not just ‘happen.’ Acquiring Cisco Qualified at the Expert degree signifies you should go an 8-hour lab examination, a working day many mirror on as the most demanding in their vocation.

If at initial, you never succeed… 

“I did not go my CCIE lab on the 1st go,” Elena said. “It took me two makes an attempt. In my circumstance, I went again as quickly as I could.” Elena said she didn’t consider this go as failing as an alternative, she was finding up and obtaining on with it. She additional that having working experience employing the engineering she was fascinated in helped her move the test. “I couldn’t have realized it all off paper,” she mentioned.

“I also didn’t go the lab my initial time it took me three makes an attempt,” Snezana mentioned. “Every single time I failed, it was like, ‘I’m almost there.’” I could come to feel the rigidity in her voice involving almost and there. But she fixed that pressure with, “Just get time. Take it, breathe, and then practice. Giving up is not an choice.”

Providing up is not an option 

Snezana’s very last remark resonated. Offering up is not an option. It does not subject who you are or in which you want to go. You have the electricity to dictate your future—with hard get the job done and devotion. Cisco certification examinations do not care what you glance like, where by you are from, or which gender you establish with. Your capacity to prove your techniques and awareness on an test is all that matters in the entire world of Cisco certifications. So, if you are functioning towards a CCIE certification (or any certification for that subject), hardly ever give up. Not until finally you get there. And when you do, never enable it go. 

Thank you for permitting me share this amazing memory with you. I’d adore to listen to your views and ordeals as nicely. Be sure to sign up for me in the Women of all ages in Networking Community on the Cisco Studying Community, or post your remark down below.

 

Watch the inspiring discussion down below:

They did it, now it is your convert.

 

Methods

· Be a part of me at Cisco Dwell Las Vegas, June 4–8, 2023. Sign up by Might 9, 2023, to help you save on your attendee package. Study extra

· Discover how to sustain lively Cisco certification status by performing what you by now do by using the Continuing Schooling Method.

· Examine how you can distinguish yourself as the finest of the very best with Cisco Pro-degree certifications.

· Prepare for your lab test with CCIE Follow Labs, offered in 4-hour blocks for US$50 per session.

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*The Earth Bank, 2023

**Ladies Tech Network, 2023

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