“Ms. Cisco” Battles Prejudice to Realize her Dream
November 24, 2011 
6 Comments
In 1984, a 24-year-old Epeti came to France from Cameroon in search of a better life and greater opportunities. She has gained both – but not without some fearsome struggles, plenty of personal sacrifice and dedication.In 2006, Epeti had what was to be a life changing experience. “I was introduced to computer networking while I was employed in the French Department of Agriculture as a computer technician,” she explains. From then on, she realized that her future was in networking. “I was fascinated by the work being done by my networking colleagues. When my contract was up, I decided to take training in that area,” she says.
 “I am a woman, I am black and 49 years old, and it was impossible for me to find work in France. But Cisco brought down all the barriers!”
Unfortunately, a less welcome event also took place at the time, with Epeti going through a difficult divorce, which left her in sole charge of two children. Despite this, she continued with a variety of training courses, where she was exposed to Cisco technology for the first time. So great was her enthusiasm for those switches and routers, that her instructors referred to her as “Ms. Cisco”, a nickname she is still proud of. At this stage, “a brand new world opened up for me,” she enthuses. This included a two-year assignment with BNP-Paribas as a Senior Technician specializing in telecom networks. Afterwards, Epeti resumed her studies with courses in computer networking and system administration. Then her career stalled. Despite her experience and qualifications, she struggled for months to find work. As a woman in her late forties – and also an immigrant – she was experiencing a degree of prejudice that her younger classmates were not. She had to find a clear point of difference in the job market and a former instructor suggested a Cisco CCNA certification. Epeti immediately set about gaining her qualification at her local networking academy. As an experienced networking professional, she had few difficulties and found the practical nature of the course enlightening, and its modular structure very practical for a single mother with many personal commitments. Once qualified, the attitude of the employment market towards her could not have been more different. “As soon as I earned the CCNA I was offered a job with France Telecom,” says Epeti, now a Network and Telecommunications Administrator with the company. “I dreamt of finding work in data networking and Cisco allowed me to realize that dream! And if I was able to make it, than every woman can make it.” Future Plans Epeti’s future ambitions are far-reaching, as she explains. “My desire today would be to promote Cisco networking skills to women around the world – as there are too few of them in the industry. I know that this is wishful thinking, but if I could wave a magic wand, I would be a Cisco ambassador for women.” At a more immediate level, Epeti is keen to take further training in computer networking security or virtual networks. For More Information
To learn more about Cisco Networking Academy, please visit www.cisco.com/go/netacad. |
Congratulation Charlotte.
It was a pleasure to work with a person so competent and warm as you.
You are the proof which by working hard we move forward!
You can be proud of you Charlotte
I’am very happy to have meet you in our trainning center “AFPA”,close Paris.
It’s an example to follow for ours students
See you soon.
Take care
Kudos Charlotte!!
I knew that you can do this from the get go. Your are very determined lady and knows what you want. Way to go Ms Cisco( Smile!)
Kudos Charlotte!!
I knew you that you can to this from the get got. Your are very determined lady and knows what you want. Way to go Ms Cisco( Smile!)
Congratulation she’s an exemple for lot’s of women.
Thumps up Charlotte! The journey is long but its worth it. Working with you was a very rich experience and i hope i could be inspired by your courage and enthusiasm.