I've never been very good at fittingin. 

From being the only AsianAmerican in my entire elementary school to being the only female in my 8thgrade computer science class, I've definitely endured my fair share of experiences where I've felt like the odd one out. Growing up, it felt as though my innate ability to stick out like a sore thumbwas my fatal flaw.  

Through the years though, my perspective of moments where I feltdifferentslowly shifted from disappointment to appreciation. I owe a lot of this transformative thinking to some key professors, mentors, and, of course, my chosen family at Arizona State University who helped me recognize the importance, necessity, and beauty in diversity. 

So, okay Kathryn, this is great andall, butwhat doesCisco have to do with any of this?  

Let me set the scene - it'sFallsemester of senior year and I'm standing in an overcrowded and very loud career fair intended forSupply Chainmajors, which by the way I was not. Feeling like a complete outsider because of the handful of puzzled looks I received from the last few recruiters I shared my resume with, I scannedthe room for the next company on my list to talk to. I see that Apple has a lengthy line of students in front of theirbooth, but to the left is Cisco with a sign thatsays,"Be you, with us!"  

Something about those foursimple words drew me in and inspired me to continue staying true to my interests, despite my qualifications. I ended up havinga memorable conversation with the Ciscorecruiters about howtheir technologyenableddrones to help mitigate poaching ofan endangeredrhinospecies. 

Fast forward to today - it has been a little over a year since I started my first full-time position in tech with Cisco as aCloud Commodity Specialiston our Global Supplier Management (GSM) Software & Cloud Supply Chain team, and in that time I've accepted a new role on the team as ourCloud Sourcing Project Manager. I live to tell the story that Cisco's culture has proven through and through to fully embody those four simplewords that left quite the first impression on me. I felt the sentiment of those words during my hiring process and I feel those words day in and day out while collaborating with my teammates.  

When I first walked into orientation week, I quickly gathered that I was the youngest full-time employee on my team. This was both terrifying and thrilling because on one hand I was already feeling the symptoms of imposter syndrome creep in, but on the other I was realizing that I had this fantastic opportunity to learn from seasoned professionals who were subject matter experts in their fields.  

It didn't take long, though, for me to realize that Cisco was the kind of workplace where it was okay to freely think outside the box, make bold leaps without remorse, engage in courageous conversations, and celebrate our differences. In fact,this was allencouraged.  

Cisco has really reinforced that those moments where I may not fit in are opportunities for me to identify whatmakes me unique and share with others a new perspective that they otherwise would not have been exposed to. They are moments that allow me to blaze my own path withouthesitation or regretbecause I'm already entering uncharted territory. They are moments that allow me to open my mind to all the possibilities of what could be. 

So, I'll leave you with one of my favorite quotes from one of my favorite authors, Dr. Seuss:, "Why try fitting in when you were born to stand out?"  

Ready to 'be you, with us'?Apply now. 

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