Meet the Trainer: Jeff Kish
Meet Jeff Kish, a CBT Nuggets trainer since 2019 and a certified networking powerhouse. Armed with not one, but two CCIEs—in Routing and Switching and Data Center—Jeff is a force to be reckoned with in the networking world. With over a decade of hands-on experience as a solutions architect and senior network engineer, he’s designed, implemented, and optimized complex network infrastructures for organizations of all sizes.
Among CBT Nuggets learners, Jeff is known for his endless energy, creative mind, and engaging approach to IT training. His courses span Cisco Enterprise Networking, Data Center, and Wireless technologies, and right now, he’s deep into creating content for Cisco ThousandEyes—with some of that training already live and ready to dig into.
We caught up with Jeff for a quick Q&A to learn more about the man behind the modules.
What motivated you to become an IT trainer? Ever since I obtained my first certification (the CCNA), I found myself pushing colleagues toward their own certification goals while teaching younger techs networking basics. As a pre-sales engineer, I was also regularly whiteboarding technology solutions for our customers. Becoming a trainer took the two best parts of my job and combined them!
What are your hobbies and passions when you aren't creating videos? I first and foremost get to enjoy being a husband and dad, and I stay active in my church and community. Beyond that, I find myself spending time on one of my hobbies – writing fantasy novels, coding video games, and occasionally sneaking off to a Super Smash Bros tournament.
If you could only teach one IT concept for the rest of your career, what would it be and why? Cisco UCS. I love that technology and would teach it every day for the rest of my life.
What’s a lesson or skill from outside of IT that you think is essential for tech professionals to learn? Learning how to learn is a crucial skill, especially for those who want to gain skills and advance in their careers. Rewards are heaped upon those who struggle through difficult concepts and persevere.
Are there any tools or features you are particularly excited about teaching next? If you haven’t seen Cisco’s ThousandEyes platform, get ready! Its monitoring and alerting capabilities are next-level.
Do you have a ‘signature’ saying or phrase you often use in your training sessions? I find a lot of things fascinating, so I probably say ‘fascinating’ a lot. Honestly, my learners might know this one better than me!
What’s one piece of ‘unconventional’ advice you give to learners that surprises them? Failing is a good thing. It tests our mettle, and in the context of exams, failing just means that we have more things to learn. I have failed many times and in many ways, and each time I’ve grown as a result. Lick your wounds, get up, and go back at it.
Do you have any memorable ‘learning fails’ that ended up teaching you something important? I once recorded an entire course while teaching that the solution used a particular tunneling protocol. I had a kind learner reach out to me and inform me that it actually used a different tunnel type. When I checked my notes— they were correct! I had ignored my notes and taught from memory, so that was a lesson learned that came with lots of editing to fix the mistake.
How would you describe your teaching style in three words? Lots of whiteboarding.
What’s the most common question learners ask you, and what’s your best advice for it? How I learn a new technology without having access to it is a very common one, especially when it comes to expensive enterprise-level technologies. My best advice is to make the most of your current situation, learn what you’re able to learn via online courseware, and watch for opportunities to interview for the job you want. It may feel like a chicken/egg situation, but you can get there by maximizing every opportunity you have in front of you, even if it doesn’t directly involve that technology.
What’s one tool, gadget, or software you’d take with you on a desert island (assuming it had internet)? That would have to be my laptop so I can write and/or code. Gotta keep those hobbies going!
If you could be any fictional character, who would you be and why? Wedge Antilles, pilot of Red 2 at the Battle of Yavin and the eventual leader of Rogue Squadron. I wouldn't want the fate of the galaxy resting on my shoulders, but being a hotshot starship pilot sounds fun!
Start Training with Jeff Kish
Cisco CCNP Designing and Implementing Enterprise Network Assurance with ThousandEyes (300-445 ENNA)
Cisco CCNP Troubleshooting Data Center Infrastructure (300-615 DCIT)
If you’re ready to strengthen your networking skills, Jeff’s courses are the place to start. With hands-on training, you’ll learn how to design robust enterprise networks and solve complex data center problems. Jump in, get training, and start building skills that stick.
Jeff is always creating new content, so stay tuned—there’s plenty more training coming your way.
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