By Zara Pandite,
Publication Date: 2026-10-01 12:00:00
When a door to a path you didn’t know existed suddenly swings open, the air shifts, renewed and energized by the realization, “This is possible!” Recently, I saw this door swing open for two young girls from a local middle school, who were visiting Cisco, along with their class, to learn about the tech landscape. Throughout the conversation, these two young girls started to smile brighter and went from quiet observation to asking questions enthusiastically.
And there I was in front of them. No slides, no script. Just me, a room of curious kids, and the truth about how I got here.
The path to where I am today began somewhat untraditionally — in culinary school. Then, in the middle of the pandemic, I, like so many others, pivoted. I changed schools and majors … to marketing. I worried, at first, that I made the wrong decision, but stayed hopeful it would be the launch pad to a fulfilling career.
I struggled initially to find my bearings and understand where my strengths…