At Cisco, we are celebrating Hispanic-Latinx Heritage Month and during our podcast we invited Gena Pirtle, Senior Manager, People Policy & Purpose, and Claudia Gilles, Vice President of Human Resources at Intel, to talk about the meaning of being a Latina in our community. Join us as we celebrate our heritage, embrace diversity, and give tips on how to be an ally. 

Never in my wildest dreams did I think as a first-generation Latina I would be where I am now. It goes to show the importance of community and conversations. As I reflect on Hispanic-Latinx Heritage Month (HLHM), who comes to mind are my parents. Two immigrants who came to this country to find the "American dream." All their hard work has gotten me where I am today, and for that I could not be more grateful.

A Spanglish Girl

Growing up in Miami, I was surrounded by my Latinx community. We celebrated with delicious food, my favorite still is Ajiaco, a soup with tons of flavor, that I used to have when I would spend my summers in Barranquilla, Colombia. As I started high school and took my first history class, I remember learning about the intertwined history between Latin America and the United States, and at that moment was the beginning of my love for "la historia de mi gente (the history of my people)."

Celebrating HLHM is acknowledging those that came before us. Sharing stories of community, resistance, passion, and struggle but mainly stories of achievement. Stories that make us stronger and bring us together as a community.

The power of togetherness

My journey at Cisco started four years ago as an intern. I was curious to find out what programs were available for Latinx employees and that is when the opportunities became endless. I discovered Conexi