I was about to join a high-stakes Webex meeting. The kind where you want everything to go smoothly. As I logged in, I noticed my usual Cisco Pride virtual background was still up. I paused.
The meeting was with an internal Cisco stakeholder, a senior leader from a country with a more traditional culture. I thought about it for a moment … and then quietly changed my background to a neutral one.
It might’ve seemed like a small decision, but I remember how I felt right after: unsettled. It felt as if I’d quietly turned down the volume on my truth. Not ashamed exactly, but not fully myself either.
That moment lingered because I’ve spent years encouraging others to embrace authenticity, and yet here I was, hesitating. That background wasn’t just for show. It stood for my values, my identity, and the community I care deeply about.
And I’d removed it.
Last year, I co-hosted a Pride event in Singapore. The energy was powerful. Our Cisco executive leaders didn’t just show up; they truly showed up. They listened, shared, and stood with us. One colleague spoke about their gender journey with such honesty. I still remember how quiet the room became, not because people didn’t know what to say, but because we were all just … deeply moved.
After the event, a few people came up to thank me for helping make that space possible. And I remember thinking: This is what leadership with heart looks like. But that night, I kept coming back to that moment before the meeting when I took my background down. And I asked myself: Why did I feel like I had to hide?
Since then, I’ve stopped waiting for the “right” time to be myself at work.
I started speaking up more. Not to be bold, just to be real. I began sharing more of my personal journey, especially the messy bits I once left out. I talked about the life coaching I do outside of work, about what inclusion really means, about moments I didn’t feel safe, and how I’m still learning to show up anyway.
And something shifted.
Instead of distancing me, those conversations created connection. Colleagues from different teams and regions started reaching out. Some said, “I’ve never heard someone talk about this at work — thank you.” Others said, “I’ve felt the same way but didn’t know how to express it.”
That’s when I realised: Visibility isn’t about being loud. It’s simply about being fully yourself in the moment. 
At Cisco, inclusion isn’t just a phrase on a wall. It shows up all around us — a supportive message in the chat, a Pride pin on screen, our leaders showing up for us and taking a moment to acknowledge someone’s courage, the 30+ Inclusive Communities we’ve created to foster connection and belonging.
Working here has reminded me that corporate life doesn’t have to feel performative or buttoned-up. It can be genuinely human. When we’re invited to bring our whole selves, not just our job titles, we show up more fully. And the work becomes more meaningful.
If you’re someone considering whether Cisco is a place where you can truly be yourself, here’s what I’ll say: Don’t just look at the statements. Look at the people. Notice how they show up for one another.
And wherever you choose to go, try not to shrink just to fit in. You deserve to take up space as you are.
So yes, I still remember that Webex call when I took my Pride background down. But these days, I use that memory as a quiet reminder. Every time I choose to show up fully, I’m not just doing it for me. I’m helping create a little more space for someone else to feel seen, too. That’s what belonging feels like. And that’s what we’re building here at Cisco.
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