On a crisp January morning in Lisbon, Cisco Portugal’s office buzzed with energy as the WISE (Women in Science and Engineering) Inclusive Community hosted its Tech Women Meetup. The event brought together several team members to share experiences, insights, and inspire the next generation of women in technology.
What is WISE?
WISE is more than just a networking group, it’s a welcoming inclusive community dedicated to empowering and fostering the growth, development, and inquisitiveness of women and young girls in technology-oriented domains. With a mission to make a positive difference in their lives, WISE operates on three global pillars:
- Technological Innovation & Leadership
- Girls in STEM & Community Giving
- Advocacy & Awareness
Spotlighting Diverse Career Paths at Cisco
The January meetup featured three inspiring speakers who shared their unique journeys and roles at Cisco, demonstrating the breadth of opportunities available in the technology sector.
Elena Bocharova: Navigating Finance in Tech
Elena, a Sales & Services Finance Manager, shared her unexpected career journey with refreshing honesty. Despite initially thinking accounting wasn’t for her, she spent 10 years mastering the field before joining Cisco in Moscow in 2020. Her relocation to Portugal in 2022 marked a new chapter, where she now manages sales-related finance across the entire region.
Elena’s work is the financial backbone of Cisco’s sales operations. She partners with sales teams across EMEA, creating forecasts, managing budgets, analyzing business profitability, and ensuring compliance. But her role goes beyond numbers, she’s a trusted business consultant who helps sales teams understand deal profitability, navigate approvals, and make strategic decisions that drive better business outcomes.
Beyond her demanding finance role, Elena serves as EVP of Cisco’s Toastmasters Club, where she helps colleagues develop their public speaking and leadership skills.
Anastasia Chaloulakou: From Physics to Networking
Anastasia’s story exemplifies the power of transferable skills. With a background in Physics and Electronics but no prior networking knowledge, she joined Cisco’s Graduate Program in 2022 as a Customer Success Specialist for SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Network).
“We’re responsible for enabling customers to gain value from their Cisco solutions, we teach them how to fish for ROI”, Anastasia explained. Her work involves delivering technical sessions, proactively resolving issues, conducting health checks, and helping customers maximize their technology investments.
Still in her twenties, Anastasia is already making waves in the industry. She’s set to speak at Cisco Live Amsterdam next week, Cisco EMEA’s biggest event of the year, demonstrating how talent and dedication can accelerate career growth regardless of age or initial expertise.
Beyond her technical role, Anastasia also serves as president of Cisco’s Toastmasters club, showcasing her commitment to leadership development and helping others build their communication skills.
Teresa Mansos: Driving Strategic Change
Teresa, a Program Manager in CX SPO PaCE (Program & Change Execution), embodies the philosophy that diverse experiences create exceptional leaders. Her journey from working at her parents’ restaurant in Germany to becoming a key driver of Cisco’s strategic initiatives demonstrates that unconventional paths often lead to the most innovative thinking.
In her role, Teresa orchestrates initiatives aligned with Cisco’s Recurring Revenue strategy, this organization accounts for an impressive 51% of Cisco’s revenue – a testament to the critical nature of her work. She manages complex, cross-functional projects from inception to optimization, ensuring alignment between stakeholders, priorities, and people.
Teresa’s approach to change management goes beyond processes and systems; it’s about understanding human impact at every level.
“You are never too old to set another goal or dream a new dream,” Teresa shared, quoting C.S. Lewis, a philosophy that guides not only her approach to change management but also her commitment to mentoring and inspiring others.
What’s Next for WISE Portugal?
The momentum continues throughout 2026 with an exciting lineup of events and initiatives:
Internal Events:
- WISE Meet-up (formerly Tech Women Meet-up): Quarterly sessions mixing personal development topics with networking opportunities
- Speed Mentoring: One of WISE’s most popular events, featuring senior leaders and directors providing guidance during intensive one-and-a-half-hour sessions
External Initiatives:
WISE Portugal reaches different age groups, from 5th graders to university students and professionals, with tailored programs:
- Tech Pioneers: The flagship event celebrating Girls in ICT Day, welcoming local school students to Cisco’s office for a full day of hands-on activities including security lab exercises, Arduino projects, networking fundamentals, and tours of professional-grade equipment
- Cisco Open Days at Schools: Bringing Cisco technology and activities directly to students who cannot visit the office
- WISE External Mentoring Program – From Campus to Corporate: Now in its 3rd edition, supporting women during their transition from academia to the STEM field through personalized guidance, skill development, and networking opportunities
- WISE Giving Back Activities: Community engagement initiatives making a difference beyond Cisco’s walls
- Industry Events: Participation in forums like Forbes Women Summit and STEM Women World Congress to raise awareness of WISE’s mission and support the broader Women in Tech community
Join the Movement
Whether you’re a student exploring STEM careers, a professional seeking mentorship, or an ally committed to diversity and inclusion, WISE offers a platform for connection and growth.
Want to get involved? WISE Portugal is always eager to grow their community, forge new partnerships, and amplify their impact. Even if you just want to share or exchange ideas, reach out at: wise_portugal_core_team@cisco.com
For organizations looking to create similar initiatives, WISE Portugal’s advice is clear: prioritize cross-office collaboration, share best practices, and partner with other inclusive communities, companies, or organizations that share the same values and mission. “By brainstorming together and building synergies, you can avoid reinventing the wheel and create a much more impactful experience,” the WISE team shares.
Events like the Tech Women Meetup demonstrate Cisco’s commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace where diverse perspectives drive innovation. As we continue to advance technology that connects the world, initiatives like WISE ensure that the people behind those innovations reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.
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Wise does an amazing work, keep it up!!