Veronika Klauzova, Instructor, Technical University of Košice, Slovakia
Inspired to understand the technology behind multiplayer games, Veronika Klauzova turned a passion for technology into a career. Teaching Cisco CCNA courses at the Technical University of Košice in the Slovak Republic led to a job as a Customer Support Engineer at Cisco.
Gaming Leads to Advanced Studies
Klauzova’s passion for technology came from her experience playing computer games as a young girl. She wanted to understand the technology behind multiplayer games, and an introductory course in high school confirmed her interest in technology.
“When I was finishing my high school studies, I searched online for the best university and decided to attend the Technical University of Košice”, says Klauzova. “They are part of the Cisco Networking Academy program and I thought it would be the best choice for me because it was the first academy in our country.”
A Network Topology Designer
Klauzova earned her bachelor’s degree, culminating in a project to automatically connect topographies, a networking challenge that helps reduce cabling requirements. She plans to pursue her master’s degree as she completes certifications. “My big dream is becoming CCIE certified”, she says. “It is a challenge for me to find time for the exams, but finishing will help me find a better job.”
Klauzova hopes to gain additional instructor certifications as she pursues a more technical career. To develop her career experience, she interned at a Cisco distributor in the Czech Republic, completing technical installations and designing networks.
Encouraging Women and Girls in IT
Klauzova became interested in teaching when she partnered with like-minded students to pursue a self-taught Cisco CCNP course. Each student taught a section of the curriculum to the rest of the group.
Klauzova was invited to the Cisco office in Bratislava, Slovakia’s capital, to present her story to young girls interested in technology. “I told them the Cisco Networking Academy is really cool,” she explains. “They should try it and don’t be shy because girls are good in technologies too, like the boys–maybe even better sometimes.”