Have you ever had that feeling, deep down inside, that something was off at work? It starts gradually with inconspicuous things like demotivation here and there, becoming easily frustrated over the simplest things, and feelings of misalignment with your colleagues. Then, you wake up one day and realize you’ve lost your work mojo!
Well, this is exactly where I was a year ago.
Before reaching this tipping point, I considered myself to be in a “winning season!” I mean, things were going great, and I was blessed with the opportunity to accomplish things I only dreamed of doing as a small brown girl from modest beginnings. I had a powerhouse for a sponsor; Shaina Tamburr. My leader, Jed Shasteen, was amazing and laser-focused on elevating my work experience. One might wonder, with the visibility and the support I was receiving from leadership, how in the world could I have ended up in such a predicament? The truth is, I wondered this myself, too. I was incredibly embarrassed by these feelings and struggled to express them. I couldn’t find the words to describe what I was experiencing without appearing ungrateful.
I found myself at a crossroads: Would I stay or go?
Terrified of the outcome, I had no idea what the best move would be for me. I just knew something had to change soon.
There was this huge pit in my stomach as I weighed a decision. It wasn’t an easy one to make. Ultimately, I concluded that my best strategy was to accept an external opportunity and try other experiences.
I dreaded sharing my decision with Shaina and Jed, fearing what would happen next. I cherished our bonds. However, this decision was more about me and less about partnerships with this leader and sponsor. But they both had invested so much in me. How would they respond to this news?
I should have known to expect nothing less than leadership excellence from this pair. The best leaders grow their people, even if it means the next steps are not with them. Although surprised by my choice to leave, neither tried to derail my career decision, ambition, goals, or values. They embraced me, wished me well on the next phase of my journey, and promised to never leave my side! They ensured a smooth transition on my way out and even sent me flowers as a gesture of gratitude for all my contributions. Then, they remained true to their words by staying in touch during my time away.
This new leg of my career journey was a blessing in disguise. It afforded me a new experience but ultimately adjusted clarity on what I needed from my career. After experiencing multiple organizational changes, my previous Cisco role and responsibilities had radically changed, and gradually over time I lost sight of my career and personal goals. Things were fuzzy and unclear. My forward momentum stalled out, and this lack of clarity left me confused about what was next. So, I took this leap of faith, tried something, and realized it wasn’t for me. Although I learned many new things, the main takeaway from this new adventure was that it didn’t feel like home. Stepping back from Cisco helped me to see that it was exactly where I needed to be.
Now, how would I get back?
Once again, Shaina and Jed were right there to help me pick up the pieces as promised. I reached out, expressed my interest in returning, and they began speaking for me in rooms I could not be present. How did Cisco as an organization respond? It wasn’t considered taboo. I received no backlash, nor was I viewed as a disloyal flight risk. When the opportunity to interview came, the experience was top-tier, and I was well-received! Cisco saw it as a chance to partner with someone with prior business knowledge, re-entering with a fresh perspective and new outlook. It was also very heart-warming to see the response from previous colleagues who were happy about my return as a boomerang alumnus!
If like me, you are a recently-returning boomerang, consider these three tips for getting reacquainted:
- Do the inner work of analyzing why you left in the first place. Knowing that information highlights the gaps leading up to your departure and empowers you to solve for it. The rejoining opportunity should address those insufficiencies and make you feel whole.
- Reintroduce yourself by making a conscious effort to network and reconnect. Remember to pace yourself; it’s a marathon, not a sprint!
- Be prepared with a constructed narrative that explains to others why you originally resigned and what was the driver behind your return.
In closing, it feels good to be back in my element, surrounded by such an intoxicating culture that clearly values individual progress as much as shared success. The life lesson here is that it’s okay to give yourself permission to explore. Theodor Seuss Geisel said, “Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” I found this to be so true! Working a new job provided me with a renewed understanding of my goals. After realigning my career priorities, I quickly realized that they were present at Cisco. Looking to the future, it’s exciting to think of all the ways I can use my credentials and skills in partnership with my new Cisco team and leader, Naser Samaenah, to further support Cisco’s mission of powering an inclusive, digital future for all!
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Thank you for sharing your journey Tiara. We are fortunate to have you back at Cisco and on our team!
Thank you; I really appreciate you taking the time out to read! It’s very exciting to be back and I certainly look forward to seeing what my continued CX journey with Cisco will entail.
Great read Tiara, Cisco is fortunate to have you back!
What an incredible thing to say! Thank you so much. I really appreciate you taking the time to read about my experience.
You are a genuine source of motivation, and I’m delighted to see your return. Your ability to inspire me in various aspects, whether it’s presenting, speaking, or mentoring, is truly admirable. I am eagerly waiting for an opportunity to collaborate with you.
This is what I love so much about Cisco! You get to collaborate with so many amazing people that leave lasting impressions on your heart, mind and soul! It has been such an equal pleasure meeting you and I’ve enjoyed every part of my Cisco journey that included time with you. We will definitely have the opportunity to work together soon; whether it be directly or indirectly. Keep shining; you’ve done some “glowing” up yourself this past year! Thanks for saying such amazing, kind words!
Such an inspiring journey Tiara. Thank you for sharing. I am so proud of you!
Thank you for all of the encouragement and words of endearment. You have definitely served as a major supporter and motivator throughout my career journey and I appreciate you cheering me on!
Thank you for sharing your experience. I think many of us can relate to the career stagnation that you experienced at Cisco given the environment of continuous transformation. I’ve heard managing your career described as rock climbing where sometimes you need to make parallel moves or even step backwards in order to find your path forward. That’s certainly been my experience at Cisco and it emphasizes the importance of maintaining a broad network of relationships. Glad to hear that yours have served you well
Bobby thanks for reading the blog article; I appreciate you taking the time to do so! I love this comparison; career management to rock climbing! That is a perfect way to describe it. Rock climbing is not only physically challenging but it is a mental hurdle as well. It requires precise technique and great strength. As with careers, it can also be mentally draining! Career path planning is certainly not today what it was 10 years ago… not even 5 years ago for that matter. The progression from one position to the next is not so predictable as it once was. A mindset shift is required for sure in how we think about our career strategy. Although coming back feels a little like starting over, I am glad I took the risk, and having players like Shaina and Jed on my personal Board of Directors Team has truly been a blessing.
Great read, Tiara. Thank you for sharing. Glad to have you back at Cisco!
Thank you Justin! These past 60 days have been a blast! Each time I take a new assignment with Cisco my employee experience gets better and better! Working with amazing people like you is “the icing on the cake”!
speechless, insightful!
Thanks! 🙂
Pedro, thank you for taking the time to read about my experience. It takes courage to share a vulnerable story and everyone has made me feel at ease in openly admitting that they too have once felt this very same way. It validated my feelings and reminded me that, even when it feels like I stand alone, I’m not. We are all in this life journey together. When we choose to bravely share our stories and learned experience it can serve as a boost of encouragement, motivation, and a beacon of light for others. I am so glad to hear that you could take something away from my journey!
Wonderfully written Tiara. Thank you so much for sharing. My wife is smack dab in the middle of a similar journey for herself and I am sharing this inspirational blog with her as motivation. Welcome back!
Thank you for Victor for leaning in! My hope is that many relate to the mental tax and confusion I experienced from hyper change and extensive business transformations. Change is extremely important and I am certainly not averse to it. However, I definitely lost my self a bit trying to understand where I fit into it all. Tell your wife to give herself grace and remind her that it is okay to have “all the feels”. She is entitled to “feel” her way through the rough patch. The important thing is not isolating herself and allowing her supporters to be there for her as she figures things out and readjusts! I appreciate you reading and sharing the article!
What a thoughtful and inspiring story, thank you for sharing!
Karen, thank you! I only wish that my courage to speak out about how constant change impacted me will convince others with my shared experience that it is okay to not have it all figured out. Take your time, take risks, and be okay with stopping to take a beat until you find clarity. Appreciate you taking the time to read!