Meet Silesio Carvalho our Newest Community VIP Class of 2025
Commitment and dedication allowed Silesio to become a VIP member this year, but his story and deliveries go far beyond just technical content. Learn more about his professional history and tips in the interview below:
(watch our video interview in Portuguese)
Gabriela: Hello, everyone! For those who don’t know me, I’m Gabriela Godoi, Community Manager at Cisco Community. I have the pleasure of managing our Portuguese-speaking community, creating content, organizing events, and engaging with our members. Today, I’m thrilled to interview Silesio Carvalho, our newest Cisco Community VIP.
The VIP program is global, selecting only 60 members annually from over 2 million participants. Silesio, it’s great to have you here!
Tell us a bit about yourself.
Silesio: Hi, Gabriela! Thanks for the invitation. Well, I’m passionate about technology and constantly learning. I also love sports, especially athletics and martial arts, and I enjoy reading about finance, personal development, and neuroscience.
Gabriela: That’s great! Where do you live?
Silesio: I live in Lisbon, Portugal.
Gabriela: Now, tell us about your professional journey.
Silesio: I’ve been working in networking and cybersecurity for over a decade. I currently work for an MSP (Managed Service Provider), and recently, I started my own company, Binary Avenue, where I provide independent technology services. Managing everything alone is challenging, but it’s an important step in my career.
Gabriela: That’s interesting! What is your vision for your company?
Silesio: I want to create a space for highly skilled professionals who may be introverted and prefer focusing on the technical side rather than customer interactions. The goal is to allow them to do what they love while others handle client communication.
Gabriela: Speaking of development, do you have certifications? How was your journey?
Silesio: I realized early on that academic education alone doesn’t prepare you for the job market. So, I invested in professional certifications, starting with Cisco’s CCNA. It wasn’t easy—I even failed my first attempt—but I kept going and achieved CCNP and eventually CCIE. With each certification, I saw professional and financial growth.
Gabriela: How did you discover the Cisco Community?
Silesio: I’ve always consumed Cisco content, but I was initially hesitant to participate actively due to my reserved nature. However, my desire to teach and help people overcame that. I started posting on LinkedIn and YouTube, first in English. Later, I found the Portuguese community and began contributing regularly.
Gabriela: Your dedication to the community has been impressive! Since early 2024, you’ve posted weekly without fail. What motivates you?
Silesio: Knowing that I can make a difference in someone’s life. I see knowledge as an island, and I want to send messages in bottles, hoping someone finds them and benefits. When I receive feedback that my content helped someone, it fuels me to keep going.
Gabriela: Many say they don’t have time for content creation. How do you manage it?
Silesio: Everyone has 24 hours a day; the key is how we use them. I plan ahead—scheduling time to brainstorm, write, and publish. Discipline is key. As Mike Tyson said, discipline isn’t about doing what we love, but doing what needs to be done as if we love it.
Gabriela: Your commitment made you a VIP. How has this experience been for you?
Silesio: I’m still processing it! Being a VIP comes with more visibility and responsibility. I want to use this opportunity to make a greater impact.
Gabriela: Even before being a VIP, you helped expand the community, like with the Women of Angola project. Thank you for that!
To wrap up, congratulations! I know this will be a great year for you, both professionally and in the community.
Silesio: Thank you!
Gabriela: To our audience, leave a comment with content suggestions. Thanks, Silesio, for your time and dedication!
Discover the content created by Silesio (Portuguese only):
13 Comandos CLI que todo engenheiro de redes deve conhecer!
Qual é o problema em usar o mesmo ASN?
Automação de redes usando NAPALM
Como Analisar Máscaras de Rede
Troubleshooting - Desenvolva esta habilidade
Não instales o Cisco ISE sem ler isto primeiro!!!
Want to join Silesio? Learn more about VIP Program and other member recognition programs.
◆◆ VIP Spotlight Series ◆◆
#1 Scott Fella (English community)
#2 Tomy Tim (Portuguese community)
#3 Redouane Meddane (French community)
#4 Changjiang Li (Chinese community)
#5 Chunlin Geng (Chinese community)
#6 Fumihiro Takai (Japanese community)
#7 Javier Acuña (Spanish community)
#8 Jonas Resende (Portuguese community)
#9 Balaji Bandi (English community)
#10 Daniel Ordonez (Spanish community)
#11 Benoit Ode (French community)
#12 Edson Hernandez (Spanish Community)
Did you know that we now have a group dedicated to exchanges between women in technology? Be part of this exclusive Cisco Community group, share your experience, leave your questions and let's go together! Access: Women in Tech Hub
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