Barham, thank you for allowing me to carry your story in the pages of the CCIE Flyer, I was very pleased to have recently adding you to my network. There have been so many changes in the IT World over the past 10 years and I think you have seen many as I have myself. The fact that you are a woman as well as a CCIE makes you a rarity in the IT world.
Q: You got your CCIE in San Jose when the lab was a two day lab. How many tries did it take for you to pass?
A: 3 times; 15 months after my employment with Cisco as a technical support engineer.
Q: When you got your CCIE number what did Cisco give you in recognition of that achievement?
A: A CCIE Plaque.
Q: What, no bomber jacket?
A: No they charged $150 for one so I did not get it.
Q: Did anyone really appreciate what you had accomplished in earning your CCIE?
A: Yes; everyone who knew what CCIE is and what it takes to be a CCIE. All my employers and coworkers appreciated it. My husband knew what it took to get the CCIE certification so he really understood the significance of my accomplishment.
Q: There are some cultures that do not place a lot of value on educated women. I know since I have been exposed to many cultures, so I am not talking out of turn. Did your family support your decisions to get into the IT field and then networking?
A: I am Kurdish from Northern Iraq north of Baghdad and we left for England where I was educated. My father supported me to have a good education this was unusual from my culture but my family was supportive of my education even insisting that as a 19 year old girl I was going to be supported in my goals. I went to the United Kingdom to study Electrical and Electronic Engineering right after high school but I changed my mind and studied Computer Systems instead. After coming to the United States, my husband was very supportive to further my education through trainings and encouraged me to go back to school part time to study MBA which I will start this coming April at Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University. It is crucial to have business skills when you are in the IT field.
Q: Why did you enter into the IT field?
A: I loved technologies especially telecommunications when I was a teenager and I was curios to learn how computer systems work. In school I read about and learned about PBX and other technologies around telecommunications.
Q: What made you focus on Networking as a career?
A: Data Communications was my favorite subject when I was studying for my bachelor degree at University of Wales; this encouraged me to pursue a master degree in communication systems. When I came to the United States, a friend advised me to study networking since I had background in both computer software and hardware. I took her advice and went back to school to concentrate in Network Management at UC Santa Cruz Extension then I got my first job with Cisco.
Q: Bay routers? I see that you worked for Bay networks once. Back in the 90s I actually had a few in my network as well. I managed to make things go really badly with mine! What was it like in the transition back to Cisco? Did you see the future and the future was not in Bay technology?
A: It was like going home.
Q: Do you have aspirations for a second CCIE?
A: Yes, I have made 3 attempts for the CCIE Voice lab but I need more voice experience than 10 months at Silicon Valley Bank when I was a consultant. I had actually been exposed to VoIP during proof of concept at Cisco. So before Call Manager and the other VoIP solutions I was interested in UC. I am currently working on the SP track since my job is directly related and I will go back to the voice track later.
Q: So you want to be a triple CCIE?
A: Yes I will return to the Voice track as soon as I finish the SP track.
Q: I am featured at an all girls’ school in March as we roll out the Cisco Network Academy there. Since the IT workforce is populated with less than 35% of women this event is being supported by Cisco and the University of Delaware. I have several guests I have invited including CCIE #2355 Diane a friend and very strong UC talent here in the Northeastern US. What would you say to a teenage girl about considering Networking as a career?
A: Don’t think networking is not for girls. Some people say that Networking is for men but it is not true I know one other CCIE who is a woman and she is very respected. I would be happy to answer any specific questions and concerns the girls have in this regard. It takes commitment and hard work but you have to love it.
Q: Do you read the CCIE Flyer? Do you like it?
A: I do. It is a great networking tool for CCIEs and networking professionals to share their experiences.
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