Akhila Pamukuntla and Hank Preston prepare before Akhila\u2019s Cisco U. Theater Session.<\/p>\n

Surreal<\/em>. It\u2019s the only word I can think of to describe the prep for the lab session with Hank. However, as for my solo session in the theater, I was too focused on my presentation to think about almost anything else.<\/p>\n

I was lucky enough to have Engineering Leader Joe Rinehart assigned as my mentor a few weeks before the event. As I practiced my solo session with Joe, some of the tips he gave included: \u201cPractice often, practice in front of a mirror, <\/strong>and space matters.<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n

He said I should find a space like an empty room or theater, which is a lot different than practicing in your bedroom. So, I went to my local library and asked for an empty room. With me, pre-event blueprints of the theater and a map of the booth layout. I even had a photo of Cisco Live Amsterdam\u2019s crowd at the Cisco U. Theater to prepare me for the volume of attendees in Las Vegas, despite hearing Las Vegas would be much greater in scale.<\/p>\n

About two weeks before I left, I was using every tool in my arsenal to visualize the event, mentally preparing myself. And that\u2019s when I realized my session was the opening session\u2014the very first Cisco U. Theater session of the week.<\/em><\/p>\n

Until that moment, I didn\u2019t even know what time or day I was presenting; I just kept practicing. But when I saw the date was Monday at 10 a.m. Pacific Time, I realized no other speaker was scheduled before me. Well, you can imagine my reaction.<\/p>\n

I was terrified.<\/p>\n

Presenting on the big day<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Akhila Pamukuntla presents in front of a full theater.<\/p>\n

Not only was I the first speaker to present in the theater, but the Learning and Certifications Booth was the first sight for attendees upon entering the World of Solutions. The WoS also opened at the exact same time as my session, and attendees were ready and waiting. I became a bundle of nerves when I saw the onslaught of people.<\/p>\n

Before we started, we had to test my microphone. First, they put it on my T-shirt. That didn\u2019t sound right. So, then they gave me a headset. That didn\u2019t work out, either. My head is kind of small, so we had to work a little harder to get it to fit.<\/p>\n

\u201cSpeak louder,\u201d they said. They kept telling me, repeatedly, to speak louder during the mic test. I felt like I was yelling. I soon realized I had to speak louder because more people would be entering the World of Solutions during the presentation. No pressure,<\/em> I thought.<\/p>\n

When I finally started speaking to the crowd, I saw Joe, my pre-Cisco-Live prep mentor. I immediately recalled something important he said during those sessions.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe audience is not against you; they\u2019re rooting for you,\u201d he said. \u201cThey\u2019re there to learn something.\u201d<\/p>\n

My session was streaming live on the Cisco Training and Certification LinkedIn page and on the Cisco U. by Learning and Certifications YouTube Channel. My family was watching. No pressure.<\/em><\/p>\n

When I first started my presentation, I could feel my voice shaking. Maybe three to five minutes into it, though, I realized it wasn\u2019t as bad as I thought it would be. I tried to make eye contact with as many people as I could. I was still a bit scared. What if they didn\u2019t react?<\/em><\/p>\n

But with every head nod, I felt my confidence grow. I was making sense to them.<\/em> And that kept me going.<\/p>\n

During my talk, I asked the audience questions. \u201cHow many of you are familiar with Jupyter and have used it before?\u201d My goal was to get them engaged. That was one of Hank\u2019s tips. You need to know if they\u2019re with you. (And yes, a few people had heard of Jupyter and had even used it before.)<\/p>\n

An engaged crowd at the Cisco U. Theater.<\/p>\n

Next up, a demo. I was actually showing them Jupyter Notebook live, in real time. The lines of code were already written, with me executing and explaining each step as I went through it. I noticed people typing along, taking notes as I continued.<\/p>\n

Finally, I had made it through. And what a relief! After that, my other presentations fell into place; the Cisco U. Theater session with my manager, plus the 4-hour lab session with Hank. Ironically, although I was in a smaller room, I was more nervous there. And the one part I had practiced the most was the part I slightly stumbled over! I got through that as well, though. I must say, looking back at my experience, I learned a lot about presenting from being a speaker at Cisco Live. But the thing that I will always remember is how I got there: my mentors.<\/p>\n

Mentors make all the difference<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When I reflect on the whole Cisco Live experience, I realize I went through quite a transformation. Initially, the fear of presenting in front of a crowd and being surrounded by professionals overwhelmed me. However, looking back now, I realize it was the incredible individuals I encountered and the meaningful conversations we shared that made my experience truly unforgettable.<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t just the colleagues and peers around me. It was also those whom I presented to. It was every unexpected message I received on LinkedIn, asking to learn more about the topic of my session. It was when I was singled out and stopped by attendees on the aisles of Cisco Live to express their appreciation for my theater session.<\/p>\n

The support and encouragement I received after my theater session reassured me. I had<\/em> made a positive impact. But that\u2019s not all. Speaking at Cisco Live sparked newfound confidence within me. It has taught me that it\u2019s the people and the connections we form that ultimately make any experience meaningful and memorable. And I can\u2019t wait to do it again.<\/p>\n

Thanks for reading! I invite you to watch my first session as a Cisco Live Speaker below.<\/p>\n

Watch \u201cJupyter Notebooks,\u201d by Akhila Pumukuntla, presented in the Cisco U. Theater at Cisco Live 2023 Las Vegas.<\/p>\n