A Father’s Legacy: Inspiring a Mission of Hope and Connection with Cisco
Eunjung Son, a Cisco partner account manager, shares her inspiring journey with the company and her nonprofit, Gift Factory Project. Son's story begins with her father's terminal cancer diagnosis in 2001, which coincided with her first job at Cisco. Inspired by her father's passing, she founded Gift Factory Project in 2012 to provide memorable experiences for terminal cancer patients and their families.
After rejoining Cisco in 2024, Son organized a virtual world tour using Webex for young adults with muscular dystrophy. The event, supported by Cisco employees across Asia Pacific, allowed participants to explore four countries virtually. This initiative showcased how Cisco's technology connects people and creates positive impact, aligning with the company's core philosophy of people-centered leadership and technological innovation.
Eunjung Son, manager dei partner di Cisco, condivide il suo percorso ispiratore all'interno dell'azienda e della sua organizzazione no-profit, Gift Factory Project. La storia di Son inizia con la diagnosi di cancro terminale di suo padre nel 2001, che coincide con il suo primo lavoro in Cisco. Ispirata dalla scomparsa del padre, ha fondato Gift Factory Project nel 2012 per offrire esperienze memorabili ai pazienti di cancro terminale e alle loro famiglie.
Dopo essere tornata in Cisco nel 2024, Son ha organizzato un tour mondiale virtuale utilizzando Webex per giovani adulti con distrofia muscolare. L'evento, supportato da dipendenti Cisco in tutta la regione Asia Pacifico, ha permesso ai partecipanti di esplorare virtualmente quattro paesi. Questa iniziativa ha dimostrato come la tecnologia di Cisco collega le persone e crea un impatto positivo, allineandosi con la filosofia centrale dell'azienda incentrata sulla leadership orientata alle persone e sull'innovazione tecnologica.
Eunjung Son, gerente de cuentas de socios de Cisco, comparte su inspiradora trayectoria en la empresa y su organización sin fines de lucro, Gift Factory Project. La historia de Son comienza con el diagnóstico de cáncer terminal de su padre en 2001, que coincidió con su primer trabajo en Cisco. Inspirada por el fallecimiento de su padre, fundó Gift Factory Project en 2012 para proporcionar experiencias memorables a pacientes de cáncer terminal y sus familias.
Después de reincorporarse a Cisco en 2024, Son organizó un tour mundial virtual usando Webex para jóvenes adultos con distrofia muscular. El evento, apoyado por empleados de Cisco en toda la región de Asia-Pacífico, permitió a los participantes explorar virtualmente cuatro países. Esta iniciativa mostró cómo la tecnología de Cisco conecta a las personas y crea un impacto positivo, alineándose con la filosofía central de la empresa de liderazgo centrado en las personas e innovación tecnológica.
은정 손, 시스코의 파트너 계정 관리자, 는 회사와 그녀의 비영리 단체 기프트 팩토리 프로젝트에 대한 영감을 주는 여정을 공유합니다. 손의 이야기는 2001년 아버지의 말기 암 진단과 시스코에서의 첫 번째 직장이 시작된 시점에서 시작됩니다. 아버지의 죽음에 영감을 받아, 그녀는 2012년에 기프트 팩토리 프로젝트를 설립하여 말기 암 환자와 그 가족들에게 기억에 남는 경험을 제공하고자 했습니다.
2024년 다시 시스코에 합류한 후, 손은 근위축성 측삭경화증을 앓고 있는 젊은 성인을 위한 웹엑스를 이용한 가상 세계 여행을 조직했습니다. 아시아 태평양 전역의 시스코 직원들로부터 지원받은 이 행사는 참가자들이 네 개의 나라를 가상으로 탐험할 수 있는 기회를 제공했습니다. 이 이니셔티브는 시스코의 기술이 사람들을 연결한다는 것과 긍정적인 영향을 창출하는 방법을 보여주었으며, 이는 기업의 사람 중심 리더십 및 기술 혁신이라는 핵심 철학과 일치합니다.
Eunjung Son, gestionnaire de comptes partenaires chez Cisco, partage son parcours inspirant au sein de l'entreprise et de son organisation à but non lucratif, Gift Factory Project. L'histoire de Son commence avec le diagnostic de cancer terminal de son père en 2001, coïncidant avec son premier emploi chez Cisco. Inspirée par le décès de son père, elle a fondé le Gift Factory Project en 2012 pour offrir des expériences mémorables aux patients atteints de cancer terminal et à leurs familles.
Après avoir rejoint à nouveau Cisco en 2024, Son a organisé un tour du monde virtuel utilisant Webex pour les jeunes adultes atteints de dystrophie musculaire. L'événement, soutenu par des employés de Cisco dans toute la région Asie-Pacifique, a permis aux participants d'explorer virtuellement quatre pays. Cette initiative a montré comment la technologie de Cisco connecte les gens et crée un impact positif, en cohérence avec la philosophie fondamentale de l'entreprise centrée sur le leadership orienté vers les personnes et l'innovation technologique.
Eunjung Son, Partner Account Manager bei Cisco, teilt ihren inspirierenden Werdegang im Unternehmen und ihrer gemeinnützigen Organisation, Gift Factory Project. Sons Geschichte beginnt mit der Diagnose von terminalem Krebs bei ihrem Vater im Jahr 2001, die mit ihrem ersten Job bei Cisco zusammenfiel. Inspiriert durch den Tod ihres Vaters gründete sie 2012 das Gift Factory Project, um unvergessliche Erlebnisse für terminal erkrankte Krebspatienten und deren Familien zu bieten.
Nachdem Son 2024 zu Cisco zurückgekehrt ist, organisierte sie eine virtuelle Weltreise mit Webex für junge Erwachsene mit Muskeldystrophie. Die Veranstaltung, unterstützt von Cisco-Mitarbeitern aus der gesamten Region Asien-Pazifik, ermöglichte es den Teilnehmern, vier Länder virtuell zu erkunden. Diese Initiative zeigte, wie Ciscos Technologie Menschen verbindet und positive Auswirkungen erzeugt, was mit der zentralen Philosophie des Unternehmens übereinstimmt, die sich auf menschenorientierte Führung und technologische Innovation konzentriert.
- Cisco's technology (Webex) was successfully used for a charitable virtual world tour, demonstrating practical applications of their products
- The initiative showcases Cisco's commitment to corporate social responsibility and employee engagement
- The event highlights Cisco's global presence and collaborative culture across Asia Pacific offices
- None.
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / September 23, 2024 / Cisco Systems Inc.
Eunjung Son shares how Cisco and her nonprofit brought dreams to life by connecting people and technology.
By Eunjung Son · Partner Account Manager · Korea
In 2001, I started my Cisco journey as an associate systems engineer, training with top engineers from around the world.
I had to move from South Korea to San Jose for this job. As I was about to leave home, I received devastating news that my father had terminal cancer. Though it was difficult, I still went to San Jose. It was my father's wish.
I had to face the reality of losing my father while starting my very first job. That time at Cisco held a special place in my heart because my father was proud of the company, even in his final days. He knew I would grow and make my dream come true here.
I gained diverse experiences in engineering, sales, and business development across San Jose, Singapore, and Seoul. After nine years, I left Cisco and eventually earned my Ph.D.
From grief to giving
Inspired by my father's passing, I founded a small nonprofit organization called Gift Factory Project in 2012. It's run entirely by volunteers. We aim to provide family trips and photo albums as gifts to economically disadvantaged terminal cancer patients and their families, helping them create lasting memories in their final moments.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, travel became difficult. Gift Factory Project expanded its mission to include workshops and support for patients with muscular diseases. We provided flower arrangement workshops and helped someone with muscular dystrophy continue his work as a poet and illustrator.
A heartfelt return to Cisco
Fifteen years went by, and I still wanted to work for Cisco. I kept thinking about Cisco's fundamentals: People and technology.
Connecting people through technology is Cisco's essence. And Cisco's logo always reminds me of the company's spirit as a bridge, symbolizing this connection.
Thankfully, I rejoined the company in January 2024 as a partner account manager based in Seoul.
A journey of hope
I wanted to bring the Gift Factory Project to life with Cisco's technology and employee involvement.
Recently, we organized a virtual world tour powered by Webex for young adults with muscular dystrophy along with their caregivers and a few parents. They virtually explored four Asia Pacific countries, guided by Cisco employees.
The travelers were warmly welcomed by Regional Sales Director Geofran Thadikaran, Korea Theatre VP Cathy Choi, and Sales VP Kartika Prihadi. The Cisco Korea partner team acted as the airline crew.
The Cisco APJC Partner team from Japan, India, Singapore, and Australia served as local tour guides, introducing geographical features, cultures, and cuisines.
Volunteers served mochi and green tea for Japan, kaya toast and coffee for Singapore, Tim Tams and vegemite spread biscuits for Australia, and a traditional dessert called gulab jamun and chai for India.
A rewarding experience for all
During the two-hour session, the virtual travelers were full of joy. They felt as though they had truly visited new places and learned more about different cultures, and they remained cheerful and hopeful about one day visiting the countries they learned about. They were happy to have made friends with Cisco employees who personally shared their country's stories.
The event was equally rewarding for the Cisco team members. Witnessing the delight of the participants highlighted the positive impact of their daily work on the world.
The Cisco crew and the Gift Factory Project team gifted souvenirs from the virtual destinations, such as Taj Mahal refrigerator magnets, koala plushies, Singapore keychains, and Japanese lucky cat figurines.
Connecting hearts and minds through tech
This project was a testament to how Cisco's technology shapes a better world. It also highlighted the camaraderie among colleagues, the impact-driven leadership supporting CSR initiatives, and the dedication of talented, intelligent coworkers who volunteered their time to share stories from their respective countries.
It was a moment that reaffirmed the philosophies at the core of Cisco's technology: Connecting people and people-centered leadership.
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