Sarada Hettiarachchi

I got the privilege to train more than 1,000 students in the past 9 years. Most of them are now working in enterprise level organizations.

It was 2007 and I was 22 years old with nothing in hand to start a career. At that time, there was only one Cisco Networking Academy in Sri Lanka, therefore, I chose to self-study to prepare for the CCNA 640-802 exam (old version) in 2008.

In December 2008, I became a Cisco Networking Academy Instructor for IT Essentials. I was the youngest ITE instructor in Sri Lanka at that time and in 2011 I got the opportunity to become the youngest CCAI for CCNA in Sri Lanka. Currently with many recognition awards, I am the first CCNP Instructor trainer in the SAARC region and the only one who can conduct instructor training for all Networking Academy courses in Sri Lanka.

I got the privilege to train more than thousand students under the Cisco Networking Academy in the past 9 years. Most of them are now working in enterprise level organizations and service provider networks. NetAcad programs are designed with lots of hands-on activities and that is one thing which attracts students to the program.

Cisco Networking Academy is a global platform which can be used to inspire students and instructors to make their future brighter.

Paola di Nino

In University, you study theory, but you never get to actually put your hands on what you’re learning about. With Networking Academy, I got to put theory and study into practice.

You’ve heard of leading a double life. Paola Di Nino, a Senior Network Engineer with Verizon, leads a triple life. By day, she designs and manages processes, commands, and architecture for server rooms. By night, she pens internationally acclaimed novels. By weekends, she rides horses. Her latest book, Condemned to Death, has won four literary awards in her native Italy.

“In University, you study theory, but you never get to actually put your hands on what you’re learning about. With Networking Academy, I got to put theory and study into practice.”

Once upon a time, Paola was working in Milan as a JavaScript programmer, when inspiration struck in the form of an advertisement for Cisco Networking Academy. She decided to enroll and found the practicality and hands-on learning tools offered in her courses ignited an enthusiasm for network design. Her success with Networking Academy led her to Switzerland, where she continues to pursue all her many passions.

John Grindley

Working with Cisco helps us connect to students and people who will graduate and have careers in our field. It’s added a whole new layer to our business model.

Working with the NBA during the 2016 Rio Olympics, John Grindley was first introduced to Cisco Networking Academy via three Brazilian students assigned to help him with a specialized network deployment. Despite the language barrier, John was immediately struck by how well-trained and versatile his assistants were.

Returning home, John contacted the Networking Academy program to find out how his company, Straight Up Technologies, which specializes in creating networks for film companies and sports franchises, could become more involved. That connection has completely changed his business. Rather than fly employees all over the world, he contacts local institutions offering Networking Academy courses to recruit students who are already trained and eager for real-world experience to work closely with his engineers. Now John can’t imagine life without Networking Academy.