Upon graduating from University of California (UC) Santa Barbara in 2021, Nate Kim, also a jazz musician, made an exciting post graduate transition to working full time at Cisco. In an interview with the UC Tech News team, Kim shares the advantages of a UC education, based on his early career journey, as he transitioned from his academic work at the UC Santa Barbara to Cisco through Cisco’s Leaders in Finance and Technology program (LIFT), and into his current role as a senior financial analyst. From his campus involvement to the mentorship of the LIFT program and life outside work in jazz, Kim’s story reveals an inspiring journey from the University of California to the workforce.

How UC experiences supported Kim’s future career

Nate Kim graduated from UC Santa Barbara in May, 2021 with a double major in economics and accounting and minor in music. During his time at UC Santa Barbara, Kim was actively involved in professional organizations, serving as the co-president for the UC Santa Barbara Finance Connection and as an analyst for the UC Santa Barbara Investment Advisory Committee, a student managed fund that invests a $150,000 portfolio of securities on behalf of the university. Kim emphasized how being surrounded by diverse personalities and backgrounds at UC Santa Barbara mirrors the dynamic environment of Cisco’s 80,000 employees. 

Navigating the transition after graduating 

Kim places significant value on his experience during Cisco’s Leaders in Finance and Technology program (LIFT), a two-year rotational course that consists of four six-month rotations. Kim compares the LIFT program to an extension of his college journey, where he befriended and worked alongside many recent UC graduates. Beyond its social implications, the LIFT program was pivotal for Kim’s success in the professional realm. Kim thoroughly enjoyed the web sales finance rotation. This rotation, similar to his current role as a senior financial analyst, provided high-level exposure to leadership, including the vice president of sales. Kim appreciated the diverse perspectives of members of the sales team, and believes that LIFT eased his post graduate transition and helped him build a supportive employee network.

Significant exposure to the business, despite being early in his career

Kim’s job as a senior financial analyst is an exciting and impactful role for a recent graduate. He shares how Cisco invested in his success and allows for upward mobility, explaining, “I would say the most meaningful thing for me in terms of my work is that I get to have an impact so early on in my career. That’s a huge positive. I get to be a business partner in such a high value business within Cisco and I get to have an impact within the organization. To say that, when I’m only two and a half years out of college, I don’t think that’s a small statement, it demonstrates that employees have that confidence and investment in me. People at Cisco really care about their employees, and as an employee, I get a lot of investment. People are always asking me, ‘How can I help you or what do you need?’”

I get to have an impact so early on in my career.

Nate Kim, UC Alum and Cisco employee

Advice to young graduates and students and the value of the UC alumni network

Nate’s success story is marked by the importance of networking and personal initiative. He stresses the need for students to actively create opportunities, a lesson learned through his own journey. Nate acknowledges the advantages of a UC education, citing the network of UC alumni as a valuable resource in the tech industry.

Jazz as a theme of life outside work

Along with studies in finance and accounting, Kim pursued a music minor. Kim was raised in a musically inclined family with a conductor father and a piano teacher mother. From a young age, Kim has played the guitar and explored different genres of music. During the interview, he revealed that blues and jazz are the genres he plays the most. Kim described how his love for music enriches his personal life and offers him an outlet outside of work. He shared that conversations about music have helped him create meaningful relationships in the workplace. 

About Cisco

Cisco Systems, established in 1984 by Leonard Bosack and Sandy Lerner, is a global technology conglomerate renowned for its networking hardware, software, and services. Specializing in designing, manufacturing, and selling networking equipment, Cisco has played a pivotal role in shaping the internet and enabling connectivity worldwide. The company’s extensive product line includes routers, switches, security devices, and more. Cisco’s prominence in networking technologies extends to its innovations in cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, and collaboration tools, positioning itself as a leader in driving digital transformation across industries and enabling seamless communication and connectivity for businesses worldwide.

About Cisco at the University of California

Cisco provides routers and switches to the University of California. Learn more about this important university vendor and other  IT Infrastructure Agreements. Michael Wegmann, part of the UC Information Technology Strategic Sourcing Team, who leads the Cisco relationship with the University of California, introduced the Cisco recruiting team to the UC Tech News team recently. This provided the UC Tech community the opportunity to learn more about the relationship between UC students and the recruiting pipeline at Cisco. Each year, Cisco recruits numerous highly-trained students from the University of California to join their firm.

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