- Name: Allisen Russi
- Role and Program: CSSO Intern for US/Canada Theatre Ops
- Degree:
BS in Business Administration
Double Concentration in Finance and Marketing
- University Attended: California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
- Location: San Jose, California
- Date Joined Cisco: June 2008
What is it like to work here?
Working at Cisco is busy, challenging, exciting and rewarding. The company is constantly changing and improving itself so there is never a dull moment. The people and culture make Cisco stand apart from its competitors and make working here a very enjoyable experience. While Cisco employs over 64,000 people, there are still many ways for an individual to get involved and recognized. Whether it is through employee resource groups, the new hire network, the sustainability board, community service, or department activities, there is a place for you.
What is a typical "day in the life" like? What do you spend your time doing?
The best part of being a Cisco intern is that there is no such thing as a typical day. I am given the freedom of rotating my time between job shadowings, training, meetings, data mining, using Cisco’s online tools, various projects, and even presentations to management. Each intern is assigned a mentor who is there to guide you through your projects and work. I had the opportunity to work on a large reverse logistics project that involved two small business trips to visit our return’s warehouses in Lincoln and Santa Ana, CA. The CSSO department has created an outstanding internship program that encourages the interns to go out and make the most of what Cisco has to offer.
How do you work together with your team?
My team includes the distribution segment of Theatre Operations within CSSO. The key to our success is collaboration. One will hear and see it on a daily basis in the office. To better understand how important this concept is, our department no longer has cubicles, but instead uses an open environment furnished with couches, sliding chairs and many docking stations. Questions are encouraged and quickly answered as no one is off limits, regardless of his/her title. Thus, through scheduled phone, WebEx, and TelePresence meetings, along with in-office questioning, I was able to connect with my team across the U.S. and Canada.
Why did you choose to work at Cisco?
There are a few reasons why I chose to work at Cisco. The first involved conversations with previous interns who had such positive experiences that they both decided to come back and work full time. They stressed the “learn by doing” atmosphere this program offered, which enabled them to go back to college and apply much of what they learned. Second, was the fact that Cisco is one of the top companies to work for in the entire world! Year after year this company is recognized and praised in Fortune magazine for the pride it takes in its employees’ well-being and success. The final reason I chose Cisco was my fascination with new and emerging technologies. Cisco is at the forefront of this innovation and working here allows a person to learn about and use this technology on a daily basis.
What is your favorite thing about working here?
My favorite thing about working at Cisco is the people. Every single person I have met has been more than friendly and willing to help. The people at Cisco take the time to personally get to know you and support you throughout the internship.
