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Just over a year ago I worked my final day at Cisco. Straight out of university I ended up at that IT giant, and it was all by chance. Little did I know I would work there for nearly two decades. I learnt so much and it shaped me in many ways, both professionally and personally. And then I decided to let go.
I let go of familiarity and comfort, working with amazing people, generous salaries and bonuses and a highly diverse and international environment. And sometimes I miss certain aspects of all that.
But I don’t miss the days with back to back meetings for up to 9 or 10 hours, working through hierarchy and bureaucracy, manoeuvring around complacency, late nights and early mornings and endless re-organisations. And with an increasing sense of no longer belonging.
Today as I look back, I know I left at the right time as it led to events and experiences I could never have imagined. People, conversations, opportunities and keeping an open mind led me to starting my own business. And with that came a whole new context in which I feel 100% at home and at ease. Not that it’s always easy but the discovery that I and only I, have the full power to decide what opportunities to pursue and what boundaries I am confined by, is thrilling. The other day I discussed a business idea with a friend and we decided we’ll give it a go to see if we can turn it into something viable. Yesterday morning I talked to people I’m quite likely to start working with in a new partnership. And for the last two days I’ve talked to dozens of people of how we can use innovative models to increase the pace of inclusion and diversity efforts. And that’s just this past week! It’s basically a-dream-I-didn’t-know-I-had-come-true!
One year ago, I had no idea where I would be today and if I look ahead, I feel like the future might hold just about anything in store. And I love that.