This blog was written by Adele Every, Cisco Managing Director, United Kingdom and Ireland (UKI) Partner Organization.
Imagine walking into a room with a clear image in your mind of what a tech expert looks like. Now imagine our surprise when we discover that technology in reality is much more diverse and relevant than you ever imagined.
Recently, near Liverpool in northwestern England, Cisco and Cisco partner communications company Virgin Media O2 joined forces to break these stereotypes and inspire the next generation. Hosted by Merseyside Community Training (now Spark), a UK-registered NGO, the event aimed to decode the tech industry for young individuals aged 18-22, who lack tech role models. This innovative experience is designed to open your eyes to the vast opportunities in technology and inspire you to think outside the box.
Icebreaker activities
The day started with a fun and interesting challenge. Participants were divided into small groups and tasked with drawing an image of someone working in technology. Interestingly, the typical result was a stereotypical image of a middle-aged white man wearing glasses, a suit, and carrying a briefcase. The group was asked to imagine additional details about their technical contact, such as the car they drive, their home, hobbies, vacation destinations, etc.
big reveal
To challenge these stereotypes, volunteers, most of whom were women, were asked to reveal our identities. As we stood up, the young men looked around the room and looked surprised as they realized that the people standing in front of them did not match the picture they had just drawn.
This led to a fascinating conversation where Cisco and Virgin Media O2 volunteers shared our roles and careers, providing diverse and realistic perspectives on the technology industry.
technology developmentnetworking
The remaining time was spent assisting participants with their job applications, reviewing LinkedIn profiles, and providing tips on how to build a network. The interactive panel allowed young people to switch roles and interview volunteers, gaining valuable insight into answering difficult interview questions.
We then introduced Cisco Networking Academy (NetAcad), a platform that offers courses and certifications to help build technical skills, and found out which courses you can enroll in.
“We are excited to have two large technology organizations coming together to decode the world of technology and shine a light on careers our members may have felt were never accessible. The energy in the room was palpable and resulted in many of our members pursuing careers in technology.” Kevin Rodgers, CEO of Merseyside Community Training (now Spark)
change lives
One of the most inspiring moments was learning about individuals who had previously attended similar sessions with Merseyside Community Training (now Spark) and had made significant career changes.
- One young man enrolled in Cisco NetAcad and transitioned from construction to the technology industry. He is now a network engineer and was part of the team building the network for the Open Championship golf event in Liverpool.
- Another notable story was that of a young mother who started a car wrapping business, creating artistic designs for cars and motorcycles. Inspired by the session, she enrolled in a Cisco NetAcad course to gain the skills she needed to learn how to digitize the front end of her business.
- On the day I volunteered, one of the Virgin Media O2 volunteers was so inspired by the work of Merseyside Community Training (now Spark) that he now sits on their non-executive board to help support the impactful work they do.
Their journey exemplifies the endless possibilities that can arise from deciphering the world of technology.
The joint efforts of Cisco, Virgin Media O2 and Merseyside Community Training (now Spark) have had a tremendous impact, broadening horizons for the next generation and inspiring them to envision a future of limitless opportunity.
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