From the first day at our Cisco Academy, Ashley was focused on her goal and determined to see where the journey would take her.
Ashley was steadfast in doing what was required and also inquisitive about all options and opportunities that were laid before her. It was these very same qualities that landed her a three-month paid internship at Standard Chartered Bank. Standard Chartered Bank offered Ashley an opportunity to join their internship program as a Cyber Financial/Threat Intelligence Analyst.
ICD’s Academy, the first Cisco networking academy in the world designed to be fully accessible for individuals with disabilities, prepared Ashley to think outside the box and to take calculated risks. Given her training, education, experience and hard-earned Cisco CCENT certification, Ashley entered this new territory with cautious ambition. Her managers were impressed by her analytical thinking and her ability to challenge the status quo. The team at Standard Chartered Bank provided Ashley with a supportive environment and projects that were stimulating and thought-provoking.
The internship experience proved to be a confidence booster for Ashley. Ashley gained a sense of belonging and the freedom to break out of her shell. Although the internship steered Ashley into unfamiliar territory, she bravely rose to the occasion. Ashley’s story is a good example of what happens when preparation and courage take flight. At the end of the internship, Ashley accepted a position at Standard Chartered Bank, where she is currently employed.