After getting laid off, Michael Bowden could have looked for a different job doing the same thing. Instead, he chose a career in networking, and never looked back. Listen in as Michael tells Cisco Learning Network Community Manager Matt Saunders about how he launched his career in the IT industry, became a Cisco Networking Academy instructor at the very same community college he studied at, and then started the “Debt Free in IT” video and audio podcast that you can subscribe to here: https://www...
Feb 17, 2025•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast Pursuing a career in tech can be challenging, especially when you’re not prioritizing your mental health. Senior Technical Advocate Jason Belk shares his insights with Cisco Learning Network Community Manager Tanner Swift on building a successful career in network automation while learning to prioritize mental health. Drawing from his own journey, Jason offers practical advice on staying ahead in a rapidly evolving field and cultivating resilience in the face of challenges. Tune in to learn how ...
Dec 19, 2024•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast Whats the deal with Purple Team? Find out how this Cybersecurity ideology helps improve both offensive and defensive effectiveness in this episode by hearing Cisco Technical Advocate Kyle Winters talk with Cisco Learning Network Community Manager Matt Saunders and Lead Tech Advocate Kareem Iskander about “What the Deal is” with Purple Team ideology. Get a foundational understanding of Purple Team, and find out what resources are available to you to learn more. Cisco U. Capture the Flag Challenge...
Nov 26, 2024•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast Get a fundamental understanding of how artificial intelligence has changed the Cybersecurity Threatscape, and how AI can be leveraged to defend against attacks in this episode with AI Solutions Engineer Dan Stacks and Enterprise Solutions Engineer John Cuneo. Dan and John sit down with Cisco Learning Network Community Manager Rigo Villa to discuss network security from an artificial intelligence standpoint including AI empowered attacks, tools like Cisco Hypershield, and what kinds of practices ...
Oct 04, 2024•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast An announcement about updates to the Cisco Certified Design Expert or CCDE certification was made in June of 2024. Find out what’s changed about the CCDE Exam Topics from Exam Program Manager Mark Holm as he sits down with Cisco Learning Network Community Manager Matt Saunders. Together, they discuss concepts like network optimization to meet the demands of a network due to heavy requests from things like artificial intelligence.
Sep 11, 2024•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast Generative AI is everywhere now, but how did it explode into popularity, and how can it be leveraged in network operations? Guarav Khanna – a Solutions Engineer Leader at Cisco – takes us through the basics of Generative AI, and tells the story of how this emerging technology evolved. Understand the fundamentals of generative and predictive AI, and how artificial intelligence can help you manage your network.
Jul 24, 2024•49 min•Transcript available on Metacast Beginning August 20, 2024, the CCNA exam topics will include Generative AI, Cloud Network Management, and Machine Learning. In this episode of “What’s the Deal with?” Cisco Learning Network Community Manager Matt Saunders and Lead Technical Advocate Kareem Iskander discuss what the deal is with Cisco’s decision to include AI in the CCNA, and the specific details of the exam topics that have changed. If you have a tech topic that you’d like Matt and Kareem to cover, please leave us a comment on t...
Jun 11, 2024•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of the "What's the deal with" series, Community Manager Matt Saunders, and Lead Technical Advocate Kareem Iskander answer the question, what’s the deal with Observability? Matt and Kareem dive deep into the finer details of Observability and discuss the resources and certifications Cisco has produced that ensure your learning and validate your skills in this emerging technology.
Apr 23, 2024•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast We’re continuing our series, “Women in Tech” in honor of International Women’s month by speaking with Rita Younger, the Practice Lead of Data Center Networking at a global technology service provider. Rita speaks with Learning and Certifications Marketing Specialist Stef Garraffa about her journey into a career in tech, the role of AI in the evolution of the field of networking and networking security, and the importance of mentoring and empowering women in IT.
Mar 29, 2024•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast In continuing our series “Women in Tech” in honor of International Women’s Month, Learning and Certifications Marketing Specialist Stef Garraffa spoke with Network Engineer Riikka Sihvonen to discuss career development in the networking field. Together, the two discuss Riikka’s career journey, and the role that professional networking plays in career growth. Riikka holds numerous professional and specialist certifications and has well over 12 years of experience in design, implementation, and su...
Mar 22, 2024•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this installment of our series for International Women’s Month, we’re speaking with Denise Donohue – Business Architect, Cisco Press Author, and Cisco Certified CCIE holder since the early 2000s. Denise speaks with Learning and Certifications’ Marketing Manager Stef Garraffa about her experiences facing gender bias throughout the span of her thirty-year career. She also provides her advice for others who may be facing gender bias in their own careers.
Mar 15, 2024•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast Step 'Beyond the Router' with host Par Merat, Vice President of Learning and Certifications, as she engages with three remarkable women who are carving, or have carved, their niches in the field of networking. In this episode, Par shines a light on the diverse experiences and insights of these professionals, each at a distinct point in their career journey. They delve into the challenges they've faced, the milestones they've achieved, and the vital role that continuous learning and Cisco certifi...
Mar 08, 2024•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast “It took me quite a while to understand that it was about the mindset, too. It was about how do you handle, for instance, anxiety?” That’s what Principle Engineer David Peñaloza’s advice is to people who are interested in passing the Cisco Certified Design Expert, or CCDE certification. David recently passed this expert-level exam and shared his story with Cisco Learning Network Community Manager Matt Saunders in this episode. He shares valuable lessons learned throughout his journey, including ...
Feb 06, 2024•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast Learn how to earn the Cisco Cloud Specialist Certifications and validate the skills and expertise of professionals in implementing, connecting and securing network infrastructures that enable your cloud technology solutions. This in-depth episode covers exactly what the exams include, and how to best prepare for these new specialist certification exams.
Dec 20, 2023•46 min•Transcript available on Metacast “Why should I study this, if the Cloud is going to replace us all anyways?” is a question that is frequently asked these days, and has actually become a running joke in the industry. What’s driving this discussion, and what truth is there to that question? In this episode, we’re kicking off a new series with Cisco Learning Network Community Manager Matt Saunders and Lead Tech Advocate Kareem Iskander asking, “What’s the deal with?” about certain topics in tech, starting with impact of the Cloud ...
Dec 01, 2023•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast How can software engineers acquire network engineering skills to stay competitive in today’s job market? That’s exactly what Senior Software Engineer Colin Lacy discusses with Community Manager Matt Saunders and Lead Tech Advocate Kareem Iskander. Listen in to find helpful courses and resource recommendations to further your career in software, and to begin branching out into the networking field. And be sure to check out the Binary Game on the Cisco Learning Network that Colin, Matt, and Kareem...
Oct 26, 2023•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast "And then I was enough to be dangerous.” That’s Colin Lacy, Senior Software Engineer at Cisco. On this episode of the Cisco Learning Podcast, he sat down with Community Manager Matt Saunders and Lead Tech Advocate Kareem Iskander to speak about his career journey, how software engineers should learn the skill sets of a network engineer, and why it's important to do so.
Oct 04, 2023•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast If you don't burn for a topic yourself, you can't ignite the fire in others. That’s what Network Engineer Christian Kellerer has learned throughout his CCIE journey. Hear the rest of Christian’s story told to community manager Matt Saunders and Cisco VIP Micheline Murphy. Christian recounts his experience of taking the CCNP and the CCIE certification exams, discusses how he prepared, and what surprise challenges emerged.
Aug 22, 2023•58 min•Transcript available on Metacast “If you want to get certified, start low.” This was the advice Network Engineer Christian Kellerer received from his mentor when he was getting started in his career. Listen in as Christian tells the story of his CCIE journey to community manager Matt Saunders and Cisco VIP Micheline Murphy – a story that, while remarkable – can be used as a model for others interested in earning their CCIE.
Jun 30, 2023•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast What if a digital personalized learning assistant existed that provided certification training, a community of learners, and a searchable database of solutions? Join Kareem Iskander, Lead Technical Advocate for Cisco, and Community Manager Matt Saunders as they discuss the future of digital learning with Cisco U. - a digital learning platform built around the learner. Find out how and why this platform emerged, and what separates it from other learning platforms. https://mkto.cisco.com/ciscou-ea...
Apr 10, 2023•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast We’re telling the story of Cisco Certifications - how it started, how it has changed throughout its history, and the hopes for this program. Listen in as David Mallory, Director and Chief Technology Officer for Learning at Cisco joins us in covering the expansive history of Cisco Certifications, as well as Denise Donohue, a Business Architect and Technical Author, and Senior Director of Technical Marketing Jeff McLaughlin.
Mar 03, 2023•52 min•Transcript available on Metacast Integrity of the exams. That’s one of the most important factors that makes a Cisco Certification continue to hold value for thousands of individuals and employers. It’s an assurance that a candidate has truly grasped the concepts and skills they need when they show up to work every day. That’s why Cisco Certification Security Investigations and Enforcements Program Manager Brent Morris and Cisco Exam Protections and Security Operations Manager Brent Hill sat down with Cisco Learning Network Com...
Jan 12, 2023•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast Find out how to make the most of your Cisco Certification studies by using the exam topics listed for each certification exam. Join John Capobianco, Software Engineering Technical Leader for Cisco, as he talks about the right resources to help prepare candidates for their certification exams, as well as how Cisco certifications allowed his career to grow, and his advice on what to do after failing a certification exam.
Nov 30, 2022•46 min•Transcript available on Metacast Denial of Service attacks. Spoofing attacks. Reflection Amplification attacks. Malware, Reconnaisance, Conficker, WannaCry… What are all of these terms, and why are they important to know? Because they can mean the difference between a secure and an insecure network environment. Cybersecurity expert James Risler is back on the podcast to walk you through what all of these terms mean, and how to best defend against them and so many more threats that are out there.
Sep 30, 2022•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast Discovering our passions can often times be a big question in our lives, but that’s exactly what Cisco Systems Engineer Olivia Wolf did when she decided to pursue a career in IT. Listen in as Olivia tells the story of how she overcame a lack of gender diversity in her education, and how she was able to bond with a group of individuals as they struggled to earn their certifications for a Cisco sales engineering training program.
Sep 22, 2022•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast You know IT Is right for you. Now, where to get started? In this episode, we get answers to these and other questions from Distinguished Services Engineer Joe Clarke. Listen in to get information on the changing world of information technology, how Cisco certifications play a crucial role in hiring decisions, and how you can get started with your Cisco certification career journey.
Aug 03, 2022•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast Get answers about the DevNet Expert Certification straight from the creators by tuning into this Ask Me Anything Session hosted by the Cisco Learning Network. Join Learning at Cisco's Principal Engineer Hank Preston, Cisco DevNet Senior Developer Advocate Stuart Clark, Distinguished Services Engineer Joe Clarke, Network Automation Architect Dmitry Figol, Principal Engineer Ramses Smeyers, and Exam Program Manager Kurt Claes as they take questions from the audience about what candidates need to k...
Jun 21, 2022•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Cisco DevNet Expert exam topics may seem obvious at a glance, but Distinguished Engineer Joe Clarke looks closer at this list to reveal the truth behind the topics covered in this new exam. Join Joe and Exam Program Manager Kurt Claes as they walk through each area of technology covered on the DevNet Expert Exam, and how to best prepare for each of the topics that you will be tested on.
Jun 01, 2022•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast Find out how Arthur Spähnle earned his CCIE Enterprise Wireless certification despite having to face failure during his certification journey and health challenges that occurred in the middle of his study plan. Arthur shares his story with community manager Tanner Swift in this interview for the Cisco Learning Network CCIE Success Story program.
Mar 10, 2022•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Listen in as CCIE Exam Program Manager Peter Palúch answers questions about the CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure Exam in this Ask Me Anything session hosted by Community Manager Karlo Bobiles. Find out how to best prepare, what to expect, and what's coming in the future from the person who literally created the exam. To visit the link Peter mentioned in this episode, please visit: https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/s/ccie-enterprise
Feb 02, 2022•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
