At Cisco, we frequently speak in regards to the energy of collaboration and connectivity. We design revolutionary options to bridge distances, bringing folks and concepts nearer collectively. We additionally consider within the energy of giving again. My expertise volunteering at Combine 92.6, a group radio station, has proven me first-hand how the spirit of collaboration brings communities collectively and transforms lives, together with my very own.  

Combine 92.6 is a group radio station nestled within the coronary heart of St. Albans, Hertfordshire, U.Ok. It serves as a beacon of connection and empowerment. Run 100% by volunteers and never for revenue. Once I first stepped into the studios a number of years in the past, on the encouragement of the Cisco Management Pipeline Coaching Program I used to be a part of on the time, I used to be struck by the eagerness and dedication of the volunteers who hold it working. The station’s mission is evident: To reinforce the every day lives of all sections of the group in our space by offering information, data, and leisure, sharing native tales, and fostering a way of belonging amongst residents.

Whether or not coordinating a stay broadcast, masking native elections, managing suppliers, or just sharing tales from our group, I’ve witnessed the unbelievable synergy that arises when people come collectively for a typical goal. Simply as we at Cisco harness know-how to foster collaboration, Combine 92.6 makes use of the airwaves to convey folks collectively, making a shared area for voices to be heard. This was particularly evident throughout COVID after we had been a significant data supply and a pleasant voice for the housebound and lonely.

My position at Combine 92.6 began as an area information reporter and developed into presenter, engineering help, and ultimately, Board Director. It entails collaborating with various people, from presenters to engineers to grant suppliers and OFCOM — the U.Ok.’s communications regulator. We additionally carried out broadcast-from-home capabilities, expanded our protection space, and rebranded throughout my time volunteering with the station. Simply as in my position at Cisco, the place I collaborate with colleagues from completely different departments to ship revolutionary collaboration options for patrons, I discovered myself working in a dynamic group at Combine 92.6, striving to create partaking content material, coordinate interviews, and help the station’s day-to-day operations, connecting with residents locally. My expertise from my Cisco position actually helped throughout COVID after we needed to transition to digital instruments, together with Webex for conferences, interviews, and producing exhibits.

Volunteering at Combine 92.6 has been a transformative expertise in my life, each personally and professionally. The abilities I’ve honed by way of my work on the station have confirmed invaluable in my position as lead of the Collaboration Demo Apply at Cisco. I’ve not solely improved my very own presentation expertise but in addition realized new methods to teach others. Motivating volunteers is completely different from workers, however nonetheless requires understanding particular person wants and passions to get the perfect outcomes. By that, I’ve needed to get higher at managing by way of affect, and it has allowed me to develop a deeper sense of empathy and a heightened consciousness of the facility of communication.

Volunteering has expanded my community, connecting me with folks from various backgrounds and views. This expanded community has not solely enriched my private life however has additionally broadened my horizons at Cisco, serving to me strategy problem-solving with contemporary insights.

Should you really feel motivated to make a distinction, listed below are some easy steps to start your journey.

1. 1. There’s something for everybody: Begin by figuring out a trigger or group that resonates with you. Whether or not it’s training, healthcare, environmental conservation, or one thing else fully, there’s a volunteer alternative that aligns along with your pursuits. Discover your passions.
   2. Leverage Your Abilities: My expertise in Collaboration at Cisco has confirmed useful at Combine 92.6. As well as, my instructional background was in movie & TV manufacturing and the artistic arts. It’s possible you’ll discover your present expertise well-suited for the chance, have acquired expertise you may reawaken, and even have hidden abilities ready to be found.
   3. Make Time for Giving: It’s really easy to get caught up within the hustle and bustle of labor that volunteer time slips away. That’s not the case at Cisco. It’s such part of our tradition that we’re inspired to provide again with initiatives just like the Time2Give program, which gives 80 hours of paid day without work along with our common paid day without work for volunteering.
   4. Embrace the Journey: Volunteering is just not a one-way avenue. You’ll possible discover that the experiences you acquire will even profit your profession and private life. It’s a journey of mutual progress and enrichment.

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