Cisco's FY25 Purpose Report: A Letter from Fran Katsoudas

[ad_1] If technique units course, studying is what makes it final. Studying is likely one of the clearest locations the place Cisco’s Objective and enterprise intersect. Making certain that individuals are ready to participate in a digital and AI-enabled economic system is important to sustainable progress, long-term belief, and shared success. When folks have the abilities to adapt, organizations transfer quick er — with larger resilience and stronger outcomes.

Inside Cisco, we’ve been intentional about investing in our personal capabilities . In fiscal 2025, greater than 37,000 workers accomplished AI-focused studying — a 76% year-over-year enhance — strengthening our means to innovate, redesign work, and ship worth to our clients. As work continues to evolve, studying has turn into one of many strongest methods leaders allow the long run and drive momentum. For instance, at Cisco, workers are twice as probably to make use of AI when their supervisor does, and constant customers are extra productive and extra engaged.

On the identical time, our dedication to studying has by no means stopped at our personal partitions. By means of Cisco Networking Academy, we’ve helped greater than 28 million learners construct the abilities wanted to take part within the digital economic system. And, by way of Be taught with Cisco, we’re supporting the White Home’s Pledge to America’s Youth: Investing in AI Schooling with a dedication to coach a million folks throughout america.

In December, IDC MarketScape acknowledged Cisco as a Chief in IT Coaching Companies in each Europe 1 and North America 2 . We see that recognition not as a end line, however as encouragement to maneuver quicker — extending the boldness and functionality we’re constructing inside Cisco to our companions, clients, and communities all over the world.

Be taught extra about our progress and targets in our FY25 Objective Report.

Thousands and thousands of S tories: The Influence of Studying

A latest dialog powerfully highlighted the significance and impression of training. Throughout a dialogue with Fairness Financial institution in Kenya about their studying packages for underserved youth, we realized that certainly one of our Cisco colleagues within the assembly was a graduate of this program. She shared how this bank-sponsored training profoundly modified her life. This private testimony underscored the real-world impression of Fairness Financial institution’s efforts. As I shared how Cisco Networking Academy builds digital expertise at scale, a senior chief from the financial institution spoke up. He shared that he earned his Cisco Licensed Community Affiliate (CCNA) by way of Cisco Networking Academy — an expertise that launched his profession and led him to the govt function he holds immediately.

In an organization as far-reaching as Cisco, we don’t at all times get to listen to the person tales behind our work — however once we do, they bring about our impression to life. Within the final fiscal 12 months alone, greater than 5 million learners engaged with Cisco Networking Academy, which suggests tens of millions of tales like these are unfolding all over the world. Every one is a reminder that what we do issues — creating pathways for folks to take part extra absolutely sooner or later.

Studying in Partnership

One vital manner that we proceed to study as a corporation and keep related to our trade is thru our management of the AI Workforce Consortium. This collaboration brings collectively Cisco, Accenture, Cornerstone, Eightfold AI, Google, IBM, Certainly, Intel, Microsoft, and SAP. Collectively, we’re mapping how AI is reshaping greater than 50 essential expertise and supporting roles throughout G7 international locations — and, simply as importantly, constructing sensible pathways so folks can put together for what’s subsequent.

The Consortium’s 2025 analysis reveals that 78% of jobs already require AI expertise. Nevertheless it additionally makes clear that human expertise — management, problem-solving, innovation, collaboration, and communication — will decide how impactful AI in the end turns into.

That very same analysis reinforces the necessity for steady studying to unlock the total potential of the workforce. It’s telling that Studying & Improvement Specialist is now essentially the most in-demand expertise help function within the U.S. and Canada, underscoring how strongly organizations are prioritizing studying agility in an AI-driven economic system. That sign is difficult to disregard. At Cisco, we’re appearing on it by investing in new studying roles and enterprise-wide efforts that assist our folks construct the abilities to leap forward in an AI-driven future.

Permission to Rethink Every thing

Moments just like the one I skilled in Kenya stick with me as a result of they make clear what’s actually at stake. They remind me that we live in a uncommon time — one that provides us permission to rethink all the things. How will we spend our sources? What breakthroughs will we pursue? And what sort of human expertise will we wish to allow?

At Cisco, we’re lucky to be navigating this second from a place of energy, grounded in main expertise, hard-earned belief, our folks, and our Objective.

However with that energy comes the accountability to pause and ask the correct questions on how we transfer ahead collectively.

As trade leaders, how will we assist form markets that develop alternative and set the usual for safe, trusted, and inclusive innovation? As folks leaders, how will we mannequin studying in actual time, utilizing AI ourselves and constructing cultures the place curiosity, braveness, and compassion drive progress? And as people, how will we adapt, unlearn, and retool, figuring out that our collective success in the end relies upon on our private willingness to develop?

These questions aren’t simply theoretical for us. In fiscal 2025, we answered every with a actual and measurable dedication:

573,000 worker volunteer hours and the sixth consecutive 12 months exceeding our 80% neighborhood impression goal 31 disaster response efforts and over 900 worker volunteers supporting communities in disaster 100% renewable vitality to match international annual electrical energy wants at Cisco owned and leased amenities 3 154 million lives positively impacted by way of the Cisco Basis and Social Influence Investments

Behind every of those metrics are human tales of resilience and expanded risk. Our accountability is to make sure this progress continues — human, inclusive, and grounded in belief. That's how we'll meet this second: by studying, by main, and by serving to others do the identical.