This blog was written by Adele Every, a Cisco Managing Director in the UK & Ireland (UKI) Partner Organisation.

Imagine walking into a room with a clear image in your mind of what a tech professional looks like. Now, picture your surprise when you discover that the real faces of tech are far more diverse and relatable than you ever imagined.

Recently, in the northwest of the UK near Liverpool, Cisco and Cisco partner Virgin Media O2, a telecommunications company, joined forces to shatter these stereotypes and inspire the next generation. Hosted by Merseyside Community Training (now Spark), a registered UK NGO, the event aimed to decode the tech industry for young individuals, ages 18 to 22, who lack tech role models. This transformative experience was designed to open their eyes to the vast opportunities in the tech sector and inspire them to look beyond stereotypes.

Ice Breaker Activity

The day kicked off with a fun and engaging challenge. Participants were divided into small groups and tasked with drawing an image of a person working in tech. Interestingly, the common outcome was a stereotypical image of a middle-aged white man with glasses, formally dressed and carrying a briefcase. The groups were asked to imagine additional details about the tech person-what car they drove, their home, hobbies, holiday destinations, etc.

The Big Reveal

To challenge these stereotypes, volunteers, most of us women, were then asked to reveal our identities. As we stood up, we were met with surprised faces as the young adults looked around the room, realizing that the people standing before them did not match the picture they had just drawn.

This led to an engaging dialogue where Cisco and Virgin Media O2 volunteers shared our roles and career histories, offering a diverse and realistic view of the tech industry.

Skills Development and Networking 

The remainder of the day was spent assisting participants with job applications, reviewing their LinkedIn profiles, and providing tips on how to network. An interactive panel allowed the young adults to reverse roles and interview the volunteers, gaining valuable insight into answering tough interview questions.

We then introduced them to the Cisco Networking Academy (NetAcad), a platform offering courses and certifications to help build tech skills, and explored what courses they could enroll in.

"We were delighted to have two large tech organizations come together to de-code the world of technology and shine light on careers that might never have felt reachable for our members. The energy in the room was palpable, and as a result, a number of our members have looked to pursue careers in technology."Kevin Rodgers, CEO of Merseyside Community Training (now Spark)

Changing Lives

One of the most inspiring moments was learning about individuals who had previously participated in similar sessions with Merseyside Community Training (now Spark) and made significant career changes.

• One young man registered for Cisco NetAcad and transitioned from the construction field to the tech industry. Today, he is a network engineer and was part of the team that set up the network for the Open Championship golf event in Liverpool.
• Another remarkable story was that of a young mother who had set up a car wrapping business, creating artistic designs for cars and motorcycles. Inspired by the session, she enrolled in the Cisco NetAcad courses to acquire the necessary skills to learn how to digitize the front end of her business.
• On the day I volunteered, one of the Virgin Media O2 volunteers was so inspired by the work of Merseyside Community Training (now Spark) that she now sits on their non-executive board to help support the impactful work they do.

Their journeys exemplify the endless possibilities that can arise from decoding the tech world.

The collaborative efforts of Cisco, Virgin Media O2, and Merseyside Community Training (now Spark) made a profound impact, broadening the horizon for the next generation and inspiring them to envision a future with limitless opportunity.

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