With HR leaders like Marcus Alston (MBA ’19), it’s easy to see why Fortune consistently ranks Cisco as one of the country’s top workplaces.
A classically trained clarinet player, Marcus studied music in his undergraduate program before pausing his studies. Later, while working full time in a banking role at Chase, he began putting in long days to finish his music degree while playing in an orchestra at night. Initially, he couldn’t figure out why his employer was being so supportive—but gradually realized why.
“They understood that when their people thrive, the business thrives,” Marcus says. “That’s when the synapses in my brain fired and I realized HR can be transformative.”
It didn’t take long for Marcus to see that a career in human resources would be the perfect fit for him. With a new goal of becoming a chief HR officer, he began researching MBA programs and was attracted to WSB’s specialization in strategic human resources management.
During his time at WSB, Marcus says his fellow classmates made a huge impression on him, and was particularly moved when some of them attended one of his orchestra concerts. Being able to show his peers his complete self was empowering—and it’s something he’s come to embrace in his HR work.
“Bring your unique gifts to the table and watch your wildest dreams become your truest reality,” he advises. “The world is waiting for what you have to offer.”