Behind every great team are individuals whose unique talents and passions shine brightly, making a lasting impact both inside and outside the workplace. Cisco Poland Superheroes is a celebration of these incredible people—spotlighting the “superpowers” they bring to life beyond their everyday roles at Cisco. Whether through extraordinary achievements or inspiring initiatives, these stories reflect our Purpose to “Power an Inclusive Future for All.” Today, we introduce our next Superhero: Andre Malho, a People Leader in ThousandEyes.
1. What is your superpower?
Andre: I believe I am good at making things happen (not to be confused with making things magically appear!) by identifying needs and gaps, spotting opportunities for new or renewed initiatives, organizing events focused on education and mindset growth, and pioneering new internal and external partnerships.
For example, a couple of years ago, I revitalized the Men for Inclusion network at Cisco Poland, an Inclusive Network that aims to foster an inclusive environment by engaging men in diversity conversations. I organized webinars such as “Inclusive Communication,” “101 to Allyship and Gender Inclusion: Men as Active Agents of Change,” and thought-provoking sessions like “Inclusive Parenting: How to Talk About Diversity with Kids” and “What is Mansplaining?”.
When something doesn’t exist, we can build it ourselves. In world of Employee Resource Groups, I initiated the local chapter of the Cancer Support Network, as there was no similar organization on our site. Our initial focus was on educating about cancer prevention and raising awareness of the existing Employee Assistance Programs that support individuals at any stage.
Recently, I became the co-lead of the Cisco Pride Poland chapter, continuing efforts to create a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and free to be their authentic selves. We also began collaborating with Beyond Labels, an organization that designs educational activities and helps companies develop inclusive practices. As a first result of this partnership, we were proudly invited to participate in an Inclusive Job Fair in the past November.
Still regarding external collaborations, I attended a D&I Changemakers conference and noticed Cisco was not among the partners, with our logo absent from those of other major corporations. I proactively initiated discussions between Cisco Poland and DiversityHub, a D&I powerhouse and conference organizer, leading to an official partnership and the organization of additional community-benefiting events.
Most recently, with the rise of AI-related discussions within the organization, I took the initiative to organize, alongside motivated colleagues, the first CXC EMEA Gen AI Summit at our Kraków office, ensuring that Responsible AI was a key topic.
2. How did it start?
Andre: I am grateful to my parents for teaching me values such as integrity, empathy, a sense of community, sharing, and civility. These are values that I believe have been solidified throughout my life, and they are the same values that Cisco encourages and supports me in fully exploring.
In my hometown, a small village in Portugal, I volunteered as a paramedic and firefighter for over 10 years, which fostered a deep sense of fulfillment and a desire to help others. This inner drive accompanied me into the professional world, and Cisco has provided the opportunities, tools, and resources for it to flourish. It also provides the perfect balance to maintain good mental health. After all, how can you help others if you aren’t okay with yourself first?
I am inspired by colleagues who consistently give extra effort to our employee community and by role models who lead initiatives in Connected Poland (a volunteer-based employee organization including Diversity & Inclusion, Sports & Wellbeing, Social Events, the Green Team, Giving Back, and Career Development). These experiences have made me believe and understand that any idea can become a reality.
3. How are you using your superpowers in daily life?
Andre: Being aware of my privileges creates a need to actively listen and understand where I can be most helpful. Coupled with my irritable need for discovering new things, the ambition to impact as many people as possible is directly linked to the idea of scaling events and initiatives to their fullest potential.
The fact that I’m a people leader in my organization and co-leading Diversity and Inclusion pillar of Connected Poland comes with both the responsibility and the opportunity to have direct (positive) influence on others.
During a training session for the Cisco Poland Academy of Mentors, I heard that you shouldn’t “treat the others the way you would like to be treated but instead “treat the others the way THEY want to be treated”. This quote resonated deeply with me, and I consider it my motto now. Inclusion means everyone, and is never too late to understand it.
4. How can you be a Superhero today? What’s your unique way to make a difference?
Andre: Never underestimate the power of allyship. By recognizing that you are not alone and that many people are eager and ready to help and support in various ways, and by understanding that the worst-case scenario is that things remain the way they are, anything can happen.
Fortunately, you don’t always have to be the one pushing for new ideas. Our company’s Time2Give benefit, which provides 10 paid days off to give back to the community, along with the numerous initiatives led by Connected Poland volunteers, offers the perfect opportunity to step out of your comfort zone, engage in activities beyond your core daily job, and seek that sense of fulfillment.
The benefits of participating in such events, alongside other like-minded volunteers, are endless: you can contribute to the community, broaden your mind with diverse experiences, cultures, and perspectives, expand your network, and, just as importantly, have fun!
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