So, we started working to create a program designed to welcome and support displaced individuals into Cisco, providing them with opportunities for a brighter future. Under the leadership of Adele Trombetta, CX SVP EMEA, Pastora Valero SVP Government Affairs, and with the full support of executives across the company and in the People, Policy & Purpose office, we’re amplifying our message. Additionally, we became a member of Tent Partnership for Refugees (Tent), a network of leading businesses committed to helping refugees enter the labor market to play a vital role in helping to rebuild their lives in new communities – while those communities benefit from their talent and experience. One such initiative was Start IT #Cisco4Ukraine, an educational program offered by the University of Information Technology and Management in Rzeszów (Poland) in partnership with the Cisco Networking Academy. With the support and sponsorship of our CX EMEA SVP, Adele Trombetta, Pastora Valero, SVP Government Affairs and thanks to the personal investment of many other Cisconians, we set up The Opportunity Platform (TOP). Even though we recognize the reality of the devastating – and growing – numbers of the displaced, we hoped that for those accepted into the apprenticeship program, it would make a difference in their lives. We based TOP on our successful 14-year-old CX EMEA apprenticeship model with its top-of-class recruitment process by the EMEA Emerging Talent Recruitment team as a blueprint to bring TOP to life. In numbers, the TOP program has achieved: 100% retention among our apprentices; 96% community impact; half of the project managers are now CAPM-certified, and one member is now CE CCNA-certified. A testament to that commitment was the efforts Cisco and the Cisco Foundation made in 2023 to aid Ukrainians by providing digital services and connectivity. When we started the TOP initiative, we wanted to create a nurturing environment where the participants could develop their skills, advance their careers, and begin to rebuild a sense of stability. Cisco has long encouraged a lifelong learning mindset and offers a wealth of growth opportunities; A great portfolio of training is available through the Cisco Net Academy and the CX Academy. We have Talent Incubation programs that foster growth through business exposure and offer job rotation opportunities tailored to the apprentices’ passions and skills. Naturally, as the EMEA Emerging Talent & Apprenticeship Incubator Leader, nurturing talent is always at the top of my mind. In February 2023, TOP was launched with the vision to power an inclusive future for communities & individuals impacted by conflict. When these apprentices joined Cisco, we looked for a way to support humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. Our promise is to continue leveraging our resources to create opportunities for displaced people and drive positive change. At the same time, our 10 TOP apprentices have contributed to billable projects, sales pipelines, and customer success, and made their mark as integral team members. Our next goal is to lead a broader movement within our company to inspire other organizations to invest in and hire displaced people worldwide.
This Cyber News was published on feedpress.me. Publication date: Thu, 03 Oct 2024 12:13:07 +0000