My First Year @Cadence Cork

Ring out the old, ring in the new,

Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true…

Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Ring Out, Wild Bells

Life is a journey that gives us a series of beautiful memories. The roads we travel determine our life’s path. A new chapter of my life began when I relocated to Cork with my family, leaving behind many things, including the Cadence Noida office, where I spent a good part of my professional life, but looking forward to embracing a wholly unique experience.

The Cadence Cork team welcomed employees relocating from all over the world with open arms. The enduring support given by the team to get us going in the new environment made the settling down process smooth. I relocated amidst the pandemic in June 2021, and we all worked remotely. As the situation improved, the relocated families reached out to each other to foster camaraderie through the weekend in-person retreats. One of the most memorable events was the Cork Harbor boat cruise, with around ten families on board on a beautiful sunny afternoon. Shall we say a triumph of togetherness!

Cadence Family @ Cork Harbor Cruise

 

Like other Cadence sites, Cadence Cork also created opportunities to connect and work on community upliftment initiatives. While employees were relocating and settling down, the Cork senior leadership team from various business units was formed to kickstart the site engagement activities, including community services. Other groups, like site engagement, communication, and technical excellence, also planned social events and technical knowledge-sharing sessions. The ‘tech talk’ series initiated by the technical excellence group delivered talks periodically by experts from various areas covering a wide range of fascinating topics, such as Single Photon Avalanche Detectors (SPAD), Ultrasound for Mother Earth (Seismic imaging), Machine Learning Inside and Outside of EDA, How do computers survive outside earth, and User Interface Design Principles. I am glad to have had the opportunity to present the User Interface Design Principles session alongside my colleagues.

With each passing day, the eagerness to live life as before the pandemic was rising even though COVID-19 infections were still lingering. Nevertheless, I visited the office premises once under strict protocols, a short visit that allowed us to appreciate the plush office setup fully!

CPG Technical Communication Team’s First Visit @Office

 

Christmas season was fast approaching, and the first virtual site-wide get-together was organized in December 2021. We all had fun getting to know each other. Steven Hollands, Cork Site Director, kicked off the festivities. The online platform did not limit our social interactions, and we hopped from one virtual game room to the other, enjoying the games. Jaswinder Ahuja, Corporate VP and India Managing Director, concluded the event with an inspiring speech.

Year-End Virtual Get-Together @ Home Office

At Cadence, the year-end activities are incomplete without giving back to our society. We enthusiastically joined the outreach program to bring relief to third-level students at Munster Technological University Cork. They were experiencing a food crisis due to the rising cost of living. The community service group organized a photo contest, which included pledging a nominal contribution from our salary and completing eight hours of walking while capturing images highlighting Cork’s natural beauty. Cadence matched the total employee contribution, which was great. The money was later used to get Lidl vouchers for the students. The enthusiasm at display was infectious. I might not be the fastest runner or the best photographer, but I am glad I could also be a part of it. The senior leadership team voted for the winning photos that made it to a collage, which is now proudly displayed at the office reception.

Photo Contest Collage @ Office

 

Finally, the Lidl vouchers were handed over to the student coordinator at MTU, who was delighted to receive them and noted how useful they’ll be for the students.

Contribution @ Munster Technological University Cork

The year 2022 brought cheers and new hopes when the office opened for all employees voluntarily. We all got to interact with each other in person after two years.  The season of giving back to society continued, and the contribution to the community grew stronger, this time by partnering with ‘The Good Shephard’, an initiative that works with the homeless.  As our first onsite charity initiative, we contributed Mother’s Day and Easter Sunday gifts for kids.

Good Shephard Charity @ Cork Office

All this while, Comms meetings were convened regularly. Now, the mode shifted from online to onsite. Indeed, the Cadence Cork cafeteria witnessed a packed house during John Walls’s (Sr. VP and CFO) visit! Multiple events, including the celebration of International Women’s Day, offered interaction opportunities.

Comms Meeting @ Office

We believe in working hard and partying harder. The “payday social” event, which is organized on the first Friday after payday, is a great way to unwind, socialize, and explore the fantastic pubs in the area.

Payday Social Get-Together @ Cork City Centre

 In July 2022, we had our first in-person family day event at the Cork Cricket Club. With 165 members of the extended Cadence family in attendance, the cricket and hurling enthusiasts had ample opportunity to display their skills and help others who wanted to try a hand at these sports. The younger kids had a blast while getting their faces painted and jumping joyfully on the bouncy castles. To top it off, there was delicious barbeque, an assortment of drinks, ice cream, and great music.

Fun & Frolic @ Cadence Cork Family Day 2022

 

All in all, it has been a well-rounded year of delightful experiences for me in a new country, but the appetite for good times and everlasting memories is insatiable. I will continue to discover, experience, learn, and share as Cadence Cork evolves in the coming years.