Jorge

Jorge of Mexico City thanks Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey for help with CCNA: Switching, Routing, and Wireless Essentials which led to a job as a Technical Consulting Engineer in a Routing & Switching Data Center. 

“NetAcad allowed me to learn the fundamentals to fulfill my dream of working in Data Center Routing & Switching.”

Noppanut

Noppanut of Thailand thanks King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang for help with CCNA R&S: Introduction to Networks, CCNA R&S: Routing and Switching Essentials, CCNA R&S: Scaling Networks, CCNA R&S: Connecting Networks, CCNA Security, IoT Fundamentals: Connecting Things which led to a job as a Consulting Engineer in Computer Networking with Automation in the technology industry.

“Cisco Networking Academy was the very first place that gave me countless chances to learn and experience how wonderful and exciting the world of computer networking is through various practical knowledge from veterans and a lot of fun with real networking devices! During the journey, it inspired me to wish to be a part of the Cisco team, and now I am here, at Cisco!”

Annie

Annie of U.S. thanks St. John’s University for help with CCNA: Introduction to Networks CCNA: Switching, Routing, and Wireless Essentials CCNP Enterprise: Advanced Routing CCNP Enterprise: Advanced Switching CCNP Enterprise: Advanced Troubleshooting which led to a job as a Systems Engineer in Sales Engineering.

“Networking Academy has been a contributing factor to my success and career in networking. During my undergraduate studies, NetAcad opened my eyes to the world of routing and switching. The more I learned, the easier it was for me to translate this knowledge into my cybersecurity, digital forensics, and programmability courses. It was evident that Networking is fundamental in technology and where I wanted to pursue my career. In 2017, I interned as a Junior Network Engineer, supporting various customer networks and resolving client-related issues. The summer internship granted me perspective in connecting the classroom to real-world environments and seeing how technology impacts people. In parallel, I must attribute my drive and accomplishments to invaluable mentorships I still hold with my NetAcad instructors and relationships with fellow peers. Networking Academy was where I first formed a network of like-minded individuals and leaned on for support, as I studied to attain my CCNA in 2018. In 2019, I joined Cisco’s Sales Associate Program (CSAP) as an Associate Systems Engineer. The CSAP program rigorously challenged my technical depths and pushed what I thought I knew about networking while studying to pass my CCNP that same year. Today, working as a Systems Engineer I am confident in being a trusted advisor to my customers. Having deep technical knowledge allows me to speak to the value of Cisco technologies to architect a network that solves today’s challenges. Most importantly, I’ve learned how to be a better engineer and person through the connections I’ve built since Networking Academy and CSAP.”

Marco

Marco of Mexico thanks Instituto Politecnico Nacional for help with CSM, CCNA which led to a job as a Sales Support Analyst in the technology industry.

“I always use the knowledge I gained from Networking Academy to provide better solutions to my customers and provide technical consultancy when required by my sales account team.”

Ashley

Ashley of U.S. thanks North Carolina A&T State University for help with Cisco Networking Essentials & CCNA which led to a job as a Networking Consulting Engineer within Enterprise Route/Switch in a technology company.

“NetAcad helped give me the confidence and skills needed to perform my job as an engineer, complete certifications, and be invaluable to the customers and accounts that I help support.”

Marleese

Marleese of Australia thanks Networking Academy self-paced courses for help with Introduction to Cybersecurity, Cybersecurity Essentials and Packet Tracer that led to a job as ANZ Country Leader at Cisco Meraki.

“What started out as cybersecurity curiosity led me to complete training with Networking Academy. This was the start of a skills uplift to match my passion with an industry credential I could complete at my own pace. Since completing, I have continued to educate and reinvent my career, recently receiving a promotion in a new field.”

Anum

Anum of Pakistan thanks PTCL Academy for help with CCNA, Networking Essentials, Cybersecurity (CyberOps Associate), Cybersecurity Essentials, Introduction to Cyber Security, Network Security which led to a job as a Cyber Security Engineer in the IT Sector.

“In the society where I live in Pakistan, representation of women in the tech industry is insignificant. My story is similar yet very different from many girls here who strive to make a difference in their lives but do not succeed. I am among the privileged who strived and got direction, mentorship, and encouragement from Cisco Networking Academy.

After achieving my first certification from Networking Academy, I felt more confident and comfortable in interviews and started getting good job opportunities. I have secured my first job on the basis of my CCNA certification.

My certification gave me immense confidence with hands-on technical knowledge. I have surpassed many challenges and broken many stereotypes being a tech savvy female in a country where women are still struggling for opportunities. Now after a decade of working in the technical industry and being a part of the Networking Academy family, I always feel proud to see how Cisco has shaped the lives of many students and how they are encouraging many female students to come forward and to play their part in the development of their country.”

Timothy

Timothy of Canada thanks CEM-Centre FTI for help with CyberOps Associate (instructor) which led to a job as ICTC Education Coordinator in the Education sector.

“We connected to Networking Academy through the CyberPatriot competition in 2017 and the resources provided quickly became shared to students beyond our cybersecurity team. In 2018 we became an Academy and by 2020 we were producing the top Cisco defensive networking scores in CyberTitan (the Canadian arm of CyberPatriot). In 2019 Philippe at Cisco Canada reached out and asked if I’d like to be the first K-12 educator in Canada to become CyberOps Instructor qualified. I completed the course over the summer and passed my exam in September, opening up more advanced defensive IT learning opportunities for my students. Over the next 3 years our small rural high school consistently achieved top 5 finishes (including the first finalist all-female team in 2019 and Top Defenders in 2021) against top STEM schools from across the country. This past Fall I was seconded to ICTC and I’m now doing outreach to educators across Canada and hoping to create a national framework for cyber-education. Graduates of my program have leveraged their Networking Academy qualifications and experiences to work all over the world. Cisco’s NetAcad doesn’t just offer students exciting possibilities, it provides them for its instructors too!”

Daniela

Daniela of Mexico City thanks ITESM CCM for helping with CCNA which led to a job as Technical Consulting Engineer in Network Security at a major technology firm.

“I learned networking from scratch, and this gave me the opportunity to develop my career within Cisco and get a full-time job as Consulting Engineer.”

Claudia

Claudia of U.S thanks Wake Technical Community College for helping with Networking & Routing Basics, CyberOps Associate which led to a position as a Test Engineer in the IT industry. 

“Cisco Networking Academy gave me the fundamentals I needed to enter the workforce and land my first job in IT at Cisco!”

Albert

Albert of Catalunya, Spain thanks La Salle University for help with CCNA, CCNP routing and CCNP switching which led to a job as a Systems Engineer with a Service Provider.

“NetAcad, with the CCNA course, was my introduction of what has become my passion: Networks. It not only gave me my fundamentals but also more advanced knowledge with CCNP courses. Thanks to Cisco Networking Academy I landed my first job as an assistant networking teacher at my university and also my current job as a Systems Engineer at Cisco.”

Faraaz

Faraaz of Pakistan thanks EZXPRT Cisco Academy for help with CCNA which led to a job Founder in the IT sector.

“I had no background in IT back in 2016 when I studied Business Administration. I started my Cisco Networking Academy journey in 2016. Cisco introduced me to a completely new skillset in a different industry. Networking knowledge and skills have been a huge boost to my career. As a networking professional, as a Cisco instructor, a new career path opened to me. Coupled with my business administration background and skillset from Cisco, the possibilities for my future prospects are endless.”

Jordan

Jordan of U.S thanks SUNY Adirondack Community College for help with CCNA Cyber Ops and CCNA Networking which led to a job as a security analyst for a managed security company.

“Cisco Networking Academy courses gave me an advantage early in my cybersecurity career as they offer an in-depth curriculum that give students real life experience.”

Ronnie

Ronnie of the U.S thanks WSWHE BOCES for help with ITE, CCNA which lead to a job in the Telecommunications industry as a Penetration Tester and Security Analyst.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without my background in networking. A lot of people go straight to cybersecurity, but it’s a hinderance. “Not knowing the basics of firewalls, ports, and other elements puts people at a disadvantage.”

Divya

Divya of India thanks Medicaps University for help with DevNet & CCNA that led to a job as a Consulting Engineer in the IT Industry.

“It is really helpful in my current job role. I got the basic idea of networking and Cisco products and how they all work.”

Rashmi

Rashmi of India thanks Ryan Ganga Institution for help with Devnet which led to a job as Consulting Engineer in the ICT sector.

“I was able to get a successful job placement in Cisco due to the Networking Academy course. It made it quite easy for me to complete my Professional Devnet Certification and also a CCNA then CCNP as I was already aware of most of the content. I owe my learnings and placement to NetAcad for the wonderful content which made me a part of my dream company – Cisco. I am making sure I help other students across the country to complete these courses and achieve their dreams. I am currently working on Devnet Certification course for student community.”

Waqed

Waqed of Iraq thanks Northern Technical University, Iraq for help with CCNA which led to a job as Telecom Engineer in the Telecom sector.

“I learnt a lot about networks from Cisco Networking Academy which has made me very interested in my work.”

Catherine

Catherine of Australia thanks Cisco for hosting the #BeCyberSmart event which encouraged her to complete the Introduction to Cybersecurity course. Catherine is a Communication Specialist in the technology industry.

“When it comes to trying new foods, or sports, I tell my kids to just try it, you might like it. But in the marketing field, we’re quick to tell others to do things without necessarily trying them ourselves. So while we were promoting a #BeCyberSmart virtual event recently, I decided to take a free course on Skills for All with Networking Academy. As a full-time working parent with two children in my constant care – and two dogs – my manager was surprised that I had found time to get my digital badge, after I proudly posted it on LinkedIn. But the course was only 6 hours; I jumped on my mobile phone at any moment I had – in between waiting for the school bus or waiting at the dentist, or an hour spare on a weekend, and it was done! I did feel good about myself for getting started on some new skills. And the NetAcad community response on LinkedIn was remarkable. I really felt part of a new community!”

Amanda

Amanda thanks Alexandria Technical College for helping her with the Cybersecurity course which led to a job with the largest independent telecommunications and broadband providers in the US as a Cybersecurity Analyst.

“Cisco’s curriculum helped me succeed in the cybersecurity field, providing different approaches to each area of networking. As a non-traditional student without a background in technology, I was impressed with the hands-on labs and Packet Tracer. These tools and methods allowed me to see and understand networks at every layer. Coupled with the security classes My interest in cybersecurity grew and I understood how it impacts every part of a functional network. I gained confidence and knowledge from these classes  which enabled me to get a cybersecurity analyst position with Arvig. Being able to graduate with a job in networking and cybersecurity is the testament to how well this program works.”

Themistoklis

Themistoklis of Greece thanks HAEC for help with CCNA, which led to a job as Technical Engineer in the ICT sector.

“The Cisco brand name always bring status along with hard training and recognized certifications for the knowledge you obtain. In my field, which involves network infrastructure, configuration, and troubleshooting routers, switches, dynamic and stating routing etc… it helps to make a difference from other candidates. Always a very respectful working experience.”

Rashit

Rashit of Uzbekistan thanks Sedicomm University for help with CCNA R&S v7, which led to a job as Regional Head of IT Support Group in the engineering and construction sector.

“The skills I’ve learnt at Cisco Networking Academy helped me to become the Regional Head of IT Support Group.”

Jezeiyn

Jezeiyn of South Africa thanks Digital Skills Africa – Marburg Secondary for help with CCNA, which led to a job as Project Manager in the No-profit sector.

“My name is Jezeiyn and I come from a disadvantaged community on the South Coast of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. I always wanted to study tech and I have developed a passion for tech from the time I stepped into the NetAcad program. To provide you with a background, the community I come from, not everyone knows how to use a PC or even basic knowledge, like what an email address is. When I found out about NetAcad I enrolled, studied and developed my skills which led me to become an instructor in most courses. Due to the high unemployment rate, it’s very difficult to land an entry-level role and I found myself being a gem once I completed my CCNA. I guess I had more interviews than I have ever experienced. From gaining this experience and knowledge, I spearheaded a project called Digital Skills Africa, a non-profit with the mission of reigniting hope in disadvantaged communities. We would go to disadvantaged schools and raise funds for infrastructure then connect that academy to NetAcad, and give access to the communities at no cost. Through empowering me, I have managed to assist others in becoming community leaders and evangelists of NetAcad, creating more leaders to impact more lives and reducing the unemployment rate in South Africa. This is my story. I would love to go further in-depth as the journey is quite interesting and eventful including some of the experiences I had from educating others. More can be found at digitalskillsafrica.org“

Mohammad

Mohammad of Lebanon thanks Beirut Arab University for help with CCNA and IT Essentials which led to a job as Intern in the IT sector.

“I really learned a lot from Cisco Networking Academy, especially the CCNA course, like how to configure a router or switch, how to encrypt it through a password; also how to troubleshoot, to change my IP address for more security, how to connect tcp/udp to a switch…. And I AM REALLY excited to take more courses. I want to thank you so much!”

Mustafa

Mustafa of Egypt thanks Ministry of Communications and Information Technology for help with IT Essentials and Networking Essentials which led to a job as IT Service Desk in the IT sector.

“I learned a lot at Cisco Networking Academy, starting my IT skill level from scratch to an advanced level. I’ve acquired the skills needed for the tech industry and managed to get my first job on an IT Help Desk. Thank you all for this opportunity, for everyone to learn and start their career.”

Taofiq

Taofiq of Nigeria self-enrolled and successfully completed the cybersecurity path which led to a job as Engineer in the Construction sector.

“I really appreciate what Cisco has done in my life because having learnt Cybersecurity has given me the upper edge among my colleagues and it has given me a better understanding on how to handle managerial level, as far as cybersecurity is concerned.”

Brendon

Brendon of USA thanks Barberton High School for help with Networking Essentials which led to a job as Technology Assistant in the IT sector. 

“The skills I have learned at Cisco Networking Academy have impacted my life in ways I could not have anticipated. It gave me the baseplate of knowledge in the field and sparked an inspiration inside of me to keep learning more and more. It helps with work as it involves lots of teamwork. It changed the path of my life and knowing what I want to do out of high school helps me progress even faster.”

Abhishek

Abhishek of India thanksVishwakarma Institute of Information Technology, Pune for help with CCNA.

“Taking CCNA modules was actually a great decision, as it was a mediating step that helped me to build fundamentals of networking. After gaining good knowledge about networking, I am now planning to take more courses offered by Cisco Networking Academy; it’s just a great platform.

By completing the course (CCNA, Networking Essentials)
– I think I will have more of an edge than other people in the IT industry.
– It can help me to enhance my resume.
– These certifications can serve as a gateway to complex certifications ahead.
 – I can learn to identify latest technology trends.”

Charlotte

Charlotte from France thanks AFPA de Champs sur Marne et Lycee Maximilein Sorre for help with Networking (CCNA, Networking Essentials), Cybersecurity (CyberOps Associate) which led to a job as Production Manager in the ICT sector.

“I am currently working on a project deploying PEAG network equipment in the FTTH domain. Some of these PEAGs are ASBRs. I connect them to the Cisco PEBIBs, which are core network equipment. In the same project, I configure VRRP routers (CISCO) for fault tolerance. I configure protocols such as OSPF, BGP or HSRP. Cisco is an integral part of my current work.”

Abdullahi

Abdullahi of Nigeria thanks Vocational Training Council for help with Cybersecurity Essentials which led to a job as Field Officer in the IT sector.

“I can boldly say that my personal, organizations and people around me are having 80% rise from initial stage against cybercriminal attacks. It is beyond measure to rate the amount of impact this knowledge is allowing me to impact on people in such a short time.”