Now, more than ever, it is time to be socially responsible and get engaged.
Lidia, a Political Scientist and Catarina, a tourism professional, became executives of an international company with more than 71,000 employees worldwide and share a passion for volunteering and helping others. Today, they are one of our Women of Impact and lead Cisco Civic Council Portugal alongside other brilliant Women and Men. And they came to share their story and vision to inspire us to be a leading woman in this important volunteering initiative for Cisco Portugal.
The Civic Council is an internal employee resource organization (ERO) that fosters enthusiasm for giving back and social impact through close relationships with local non-profits, matching their needs with our skills and passions, and making each initiative tailored to the specific needs of the local community. By championing Cisco’s culture and increasing employee engagement, the Civic Council creates meaningful change in our communities.
Lidia Cardoso studied International Relations & Political Science at ISCSP in Lisbon. She took part in a volunteering project in Africa, teaching Portuguese to elementary school children in São Tomé during their summer holidays.
She joined Cisco in 2007, being a founding member of the Civic Council in 2008. Has had different roles in CES and other experiences, including working with partners in Italy and spending 5 months in Bangalore setting up the Customer Services Back Office support team. Currently aligned to Distribution, and continuously involved with the Civic Council, as POC for Câmara Municipal de Oeiras (Cisco is one of the companies in the municipality part of the Programa Oeiras Solidária).
Who is Lidia? Please, describe yourself.
Lidia Cardoso: I consider myself a private and introverted person, and I value having meaningful connections with people. I also trust in the power of having focus and resilience, and I don’t believe that success comes fast. I am not afraid of difficulties and barriers, these just reinforce the commitment to your goals.
What have been your most rewarding achievements in life? How did you accomplish them?
Lidia Cardoso: The most rewarding thing ever in my life was becoming a mother. I can also say that getting my master’s degree while I worked full time – had to have focus and resilience. And within the corporate social responsibility projects that I have taken part in – Back in 2008, I went to Africa as part of a volunteer program abroad and spent nearly a month teaching for the children on their summer vacation. This experience was really gratifying.
Why did you choose to volunteer in the Cisco Civic Council for Portugal, and how does this connect with your passions and beliefs?
Lidia Cardoso: I have a background in Political Science and International Relationships, and I had a chance to study governments and organizations – looking at political leaders, university teachers/authors, and international organizations from an academic perspective, what I saw missing, between laws and policies that these decision-makers make, the contact with the field. When you get the chance to act as an individual and be close to the people who really need your assistance, this is meaningful. And adding to that, I work in a company that also values this and makes resources available to help. So, I felt responsible for doing what was within my reach.
How do you see the relevance of being a woman leading such an important initiative?
Lidia Cardoso: I think women are engaged, it’s natural for women to take the first step when it comes to nurturing and help – with society, there’s also this natural, cultural role. Women are also swift leaders, always giving the example and doing – being a leader is not (just) showing up and motivating a crowd, it’s also showing how to, leading by example. Whatever the job, whatever the position, when there’s a chance to offer a leadership role to a woman, in the end, everyone, women and men, will rip the benefits of that woman’s work dedication, effort, and commitment.
Which woman has inspired you the most in your life or along your career path? Why?
Lidia Cardoso: Not so obvious, but I had a teacher in the university, Monica Ferro, who is now the Director of the United Nations Population Fund in Geneva. This is a huge responsibility, and sometimes people, especially women, might doubt their abilities and capacity, but she was bold enough to believe in herself and go for it. I think this sets a really good example, and it’s inspiring.
Catarina Anahory has a bachelor’s degree in Tour Operator Management at Escola Superior de Hotelaria e Turismo do Estoril, followed by a Graduate Diploma in International Tourism Management and Consultancy at NHTV – Netherlands Institute of Tourism and Transport Studies, Breda, Netherlands, completed in 1999. For the next 10 years, she has had numerous experiences in the field, working for Airline Companies and Private Jet Companies.
In 2010 she moved to Australia, where she lived for 4 years and decided to be a full-time mom. She is very proud of her 3 boys, ages 4, 8 and 12. Returned from the other side of the world, she joined Cisco and started her journey in CES. Definitely not a tech person, she finds in Cisco a place with shared values and principles where she has not only the opportunity to meet wonderful people but also give back to the Community. She joined Civic Council in 2017 and has been the POC for Banco Alimentar and Entrajuda.
Please, tell me the biggest risk you’ve taken in your life, what you learned from it and how this connects with your story in Cisco?
Catarina Anahory: I am 46 years old, and I’ve been in Cisco for about 7 years. Professionally, I never thought of ending up in a place like Cisco, but this was my path in life and how things happened. I have a degree in tourism, so I used to work in Airline companies and travel agencies. And then, in 2000, my husband was invited to a project, and we moved to Australia, ending up there for 4 years. The biggest risk I took was definitely leaving everything behind and going to the other side of the world with a 1-year-old kid. But this experience brought me two things. First, I was a very control freak, and since I’ve taken this journey, I’ve learned that there is no point in making plans and creating expectations. The best is just to embrace the opportunities life is giving you. And then, the second connects with Cisco. When I came back, a friend told me that Cisco was asking for people, and I said, why not? I just wanted to be back to work – I had enough of being a full-time mom. So, I took the risk, and I’ve been learnings a lot since. And even if I don’t connect as much with the type of business, I connect with the company itself, the people, and its values. Cisco allows you to give importance to your personal life, which aligns with what I believe.
Talking about your role on Cisco Civic Council, when was the first time you realized that you had the power to change or do something meaningful and help others in your life?
Catarina Anahory: This is something that it’s been in my life since I was a little kid because my mom is very passionate about giving back. Since I was a little girl, I’ve seen that example within my home. My mom always volunteered in different organizations. So, I grew up with these values and knowing how important it is to make a difference in other people’s lives. I think in Cisco, it was the first time that I saw that opportunity so close to me, and I didn’t think twice, it was so natural for me.
And how do you see your role as a woman and a leader of Cisco Civic Council Portugal?
Catarina Anahory: It’s definitely a challenge but giving back it’s a social responsibility. And Cisco is a great example. You see other big companies going that path as well because we can’t trust only the governments and politicians to do the entire job. We need to help each other, and we all should make something for a better place in the future. Otherwise, everything will remain the same.
Which advice would you do for other women starting or are in the earlier stages of their careers?
Catarina Anahory: I think every woman is different and has different challenges and needs, but it’s extremely important to understand what you really want. What’s your mission in life, or what really makes you happy and fulfilled? And Cisco made me realize what I really wanted and where to invest because we can’t be perfect in all areas and reach the top of everything in our life. You really need to understand what your passion is and what you really want in your life and set up the priorities.
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