Cisco is now 40, and it doesn’t appear that a mid-life crisis is imminent. The company plans to expand its efforts in areas like sustainability, accessibility, and more.
Cisco turns 40 this month and is celebrating by doing what Cisco has always done: renewing its commitment to innovation, inclusion, and sustainability. I’ve been a Cisco watcher for a long time, and over the past four decades, Cisco has transformed how people connect, collaborate, and work. In its newly released FY24 Purpose Report, Cisco reflects on the company’s technological advancements and sets new goals to address the challenges and opportunities of the next era.
Cisco has always focused on using its technology and resources to make the world a better place. Even when the company was much smaller, CEO John Chambers would continually talk about how the Internet would change how we “work, live, learn and play.” Chuck Robbins took the CEO helm in 2015 and has taken the purpose-driven aspect of Cisco to another level. In 2016, the company set a goal of positively impacting 1 billion people by 2025, and it hit that goal early. During the pandemic, Cisco shifted its mission from work, live, learn, and play to “powering an inclusive future for all.” Cisco has always viewed the Internet and networks as equalizers, but it is now taking a more active approach.
Cisco to Engage 40 Global Communities
As part of its 40th anniversary activities, Cisco launched a new ambition: over the next decade, Cisco intends to engage, support, and invest in 40 global communities. Cisco has historically been active in many communities around the globe. In a briefing with analysts, Brian Tippens, SVP and Chief Social Impact and Inclusion Officer told us, “We could continue to scale our impact through individuals but chose to focus on communities. We’ve been thinking more about building resilience in communities and the impact we could have if we showed up in force to drive meaningful change.”
One example he cited was the city of San Jose, where Cisco is headquartered. He stated, “We are a big employer but also a big giver to the community through several different causes around skills and education and bridging poverty gaps. But we also do a lot of work in low-income housing with organizations like Destination: Home, so we have been working to scale this model globally.”
Central to Cisco’s mission is creating meaningful connections. Since 2005, when it provided communications equipment to first responders during Hurricane Katrina, Cisco has become a disaster response and recovery leader. Cisco’s efforts have grown to encompass global crises, helping communities in need rebuild with reliable connectivity. This extends to bridging the digital divide and fostering fair access to technology for underserved populations worldwide.
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