Building Bonds Beyond Business: How Human Connection Defines Cisco Culture

[ad_1] Visiting India has been on my bucket listing for some time. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-480472 alignright" src="https://blogs.cisco.com/gcs/ciscoblogs/1/2025/10/IMG_6575-scaled.jpeg" alt="Three men standing next to each other, one wearing a traditional Indian garb." width="422" height="562" srcset="https://blogs.cisco.com/gcs/ciscoblogs/1/2025/10/IMG_6575-225x300.jpeg 225w, https://blogs.cisco.com/gcs/ciscoblogs/1/2025/10/xoAlA230-IMG_6575-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https://blogs.cisco.com/gcs/ciscoblogs/1/2025/10/IMG_6575-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https://blogs.cisco.com/gcs/ciscoblogs/1/2025/10/IMG_6575-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, https://blogs.cisco.com/gcs/ciscoblogs/1/2025/10/IMG_6575-scaled.jpeg 1920w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 422px) 100vw, 422px"/>Relatively than merely visiting as a vacationer, I skilled the nation by way of one of probably the most intimate and heartfelt methods: the marriage of one in every of my direct studies.

What started as easy curiosity — desirous to be taught extra about completely different cultures and views on work grew into one thing deeply significant. My people-first philosophy, mirrored all through Cisco’s tradition, emphasizes that success isn’t nearly duties or enterprise progress — it’s concerning the human connections that make these achievements potential. Behind each venture and milestone, there are actual folks whose ardour and dedication drive progress. For those who’ve ever heard me discuss folks, you already know my philosophy: duties are secondary; folks come first. Over time, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside unbelievable people from all walks of life.

Certainly one of my direct studies, Koushik, and I had been catching up at some point about life, tradition, and future plans. He lives within the U.S., however talked about his upcoming marriage ceremony going down in India, and would love if my spouse and I may attend. It was actually an honor simply to be invited, however my spouse and I mentioned this once-in-a-lifetime alternative and determined to make the journey.

The ceremony was unbelievable — a vibrant celebration full of heat, custom, and pleasure. Experiencing a brand new tradition by way of such a special day, alongside my stunning spouse, made it unforgettable. After I accepted the invitation, I may see how a lot it meant to Koushik and his household. He was thrilled and whereas we had been there, his household saved saying how honored they had been to have his supervisor have a good time with them. His pleasure and the real bond we share made the gap really feel insignificant and the entire expertise much more particular. We met wonderful folks, had been embraced by the welcoming surroundings, and, in fact, loved some unbelievable meals. In my little woman’s phrases — it was slay!

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-480476 alignleft" src="https://blogs.cisco.com/gcs/ciscoblogs/1/2025/10/Pics1-scaled.jpeg" alt="Groom and Bride standing next to a man and woman. " width="405" height="540" srcset="https://blogs.cisco.com/gcs/ciscoblogs/1/2025/10/Pics1-225x300.jpeg 225w, https://blogs.cisco.com/gcs/ciscoblogs/1/2025/10/2113gwPf-Pics1-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https://blogs.cisco.com/gcs/ciscoblogs/1/2025/10/Pics1-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https://blogs.cisco.com/gcs/ciscoblogs/1/2025/10/Pics1-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, https://blogs.cisco.com/gcs/ciscoblogs/1/2025/10/Pics1-scaled.jpeg 1920w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 405px) 100vw, 405px"/>Past the marriage celebrations, we additionally had the possibility to discover a few of India’s highlights. We visited the historic India Gate, admired a number of stunning temples, and loved a little bit of procuring. My spouse was particularly fascinated about jewellery, so we picked out some pure silver bangles for her and our ladies, which made the expertise much more memorable. These moments of discovery and connection outdoors the marriage celebration enriched our journey, deepening our appreciation for the unbelievable world we reside in and the bonds we share.

I additionally had the pleasure of assembly Ravikiran, one other group member primarily based in India, which made the journey much more particular. The colourful traditions, heat hospitality, and shared moments with colleagues all through our time there, remodeled the journey from a bucket-list merchandise right into a deeply private and memorable expertise.

At Cisco, we discuss lots about innovation and buyer influence, however moments like this remind me that what actually units us aside is the best way we worth folks. With the ability to journey midway the world over to have a good time an vital private milestone wasn’t only a journey — it was proof of the human connections on the coronary heart of our tradition. Once we really feel seen and supported, our work takes on deeper which means, getting accomplished not simply effectively, however with ardour and function, and that’s what makes Cisco particular.

It’s experiences like these that remind me why Cisco’s people-first philosophy is so highly effective. Touring such an ideal distance to help and have a good time a teammate’s private milestone demonstrated that {our relationships} transcend work and deliverables. Human connection is on the core, contributing to the deep degree of respect, dedication, and appreciation for who we're as people that we at Cisco embrace and share. I'm impressed to proceed fostering these real connections, realizing they're the muse for a collaborative, inclusive, and thriving office the place everybody can succeed collectively.