In 2015, Ihad justmovedtotheRaleigh, NCarea-andIknew no one.Iwaslucky enough, however, to quicklysecureacontractpositionatCisco. Nervousand frightened, I took a deep breath and then entered building 4 of theResearch Triangle Park (RTP)campus.  

AsI stepped into the elevator and hit the button for the floor just above me,it felt like the longest elevator ride ever!I knew I could do this job; I wasqualified and equally excited -but I was a country girl, coming from a smalltown, with no technical background. In fact,I had neverworkedfor atechnologycompany before.So,while Iknew my skills were transferable, just the thought of being outside of my comfort zone made me feel uneasy.  

In that moment,a quote from the late Maya Angeloucame to mind, "Hope and fear cannot occupy the same space at the same time. Invite one to stay." I chose to proceed with hope, said a little prayer to myself,andconfidently jumpedoff the elevator to hunt for my new team.  

Little did I knowat that timejust how muchmy life was about to change. A meager opportunity as an entry level case agent for a software help desk marked the beginning of a new and exciting career journey! 

In the beginning weeks Iworkedthree times as hard to keep up with someof my co-workers -learning Ciscojargonand acronyms are a feat all their own. And in addition to speaking the language, I had to learn route-to-market,the basics of variousarchitectures and Cisco technology that wesupported. My husband laughed at my homemade flashcards, butI studieddiligently each night until I had it in the bag!  

In record time I was making a name formyself, building my personal brand as a fast learner, hardworker,and dependableCisco "leader-in-the-making". Learning new things is a huge motivator for someone like me. I was taking it all inand evenworking alongside senior leaders. 

Naturally,this desire to grow and learn led to ideas of promotion. 

Initially, I thought that hard work would equal increased responsibility-but quicklylearned thisis not always the case. Letting go of ego, and the chase of titles is so difficult -our society places such high value on climbing a ladder -but it was here that I learnednot every pivotal move involves a big career change or a new fancy title.  

Eventually, Isaw the beauty in lateralmoves.Lateral movescan indeed be power moves if used in the right way, and when I caught on to this, the game changed! 

Feeling stuck, with no sign of a promotion in sight -I wasn't quite sure what my next step should be. So,I volunteered to serveas amentor on the floor, guiding my peers. 

Did it come with a fancy new title? No. But serving as a mentorin this capacityshined alight on my leadership qualities. My teammates trusted me, andCisco leaders saw this and took note. When my team leader was promoted, it was without question who earned the right to be his successor. That lateral move(mentoring)positioned me for my next forward step, and it wouldbe the first ofmany lateral moves that would continueto positionme for a multitude ofopportunitiesthroughoutmy Cisco career.

When you come to a crossroads and are feeling stuck yourself, consider a lateral move using these three suggestions.  

1. Increased exposure: If you've mastered your current role, and upward movement doesn't seem to be on the horizon -have you entertained the possibility of exploring otherbusiness functions? Making lateral moves afforded mesomemuch-neededexperience and exposure to the work environments of cross-functional teams. Who knows, you might find that you love working in that new space! This, in due time, could also aid in providing more clarity on what your next "move up" could be.

2. Increased Connections:You may know exactly where you want to be in the next 3-5 years, but in your current position you have no access to the network of people that can help get you there. I found thatlateral movesinto rolesthat workedcloser withmy desired networkquickly increased my social currency!Sometimes it is "who you know" not "what you know".

3. Increased Marketability: Lateral moves gave memore marketability in the long run. By understanding more aspects of the company as a whole and how different departments fit together,I was better suited forleadership roles, and-who knows -maybe evenexecutive positions down the road!

Don't let the pressure of 'climbing a ladder' distract you from the many opportunities -lateral moves included -in front of you.Through strategic stretch assignments, volunteering to help with projects led by variousCisco EmployeeResourceOrganizations, andother lateral opportunities I 'skilled up'.Although still not a technical resource(per se), I cannow confidently lead a discussion among my very technical peers and OWN the room.  

I went fromcontractor to full-time employee, from mentorto team lead, then senior team lead, and nowleada new function for one of our Customer Experience ProfessionalServiceDelivery teams on a global scale.Experience and skills gained from lateral moves certainly contributed to my success in a major way. 

If you've spotted a Cisco opportunity, but you are hesitant to take that leap, push that fear aside. Apply!Connect with one of our amazing recruiters. The sky is your limit, and do not allow yourself to get hung up on titles.  

In today's work environment career paths are no longer linearor traditional. Embrace the new modern career trajectory and grow your potential with Cisco. Be your "best self" and explore the amazing opportunities we have to offer!  

Ready to join our global teams?Apply now. 

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