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Alex Goryachev

Senior Director, Innovation Strategy & Programs

Corporate Strategic Innovation Group

Alex Goryachev is an entrepreneurial go-getter. He takes risks, thinks ahead, and loves making way for new innovations. Over the past 20 years, he’s made it his business to turn disruptive concepts into emerging business models.

For him, it’s all about a passion to create a strategy and then drive it home to “get things done.” And as Cisco’s Senior Director of Innovation Strategy and Programs, he has plenty of opportunities to put this passion to the test.

He sparks internal innovation by providing employees at all levels the chance to share their big ideas, many of which make their way into the company’s innovation engine. Alex also carries the torch for co-innovation across Cisco’s ecosystem.

He’s especially excited about Cisco's Innovation Centers, which can be found in major cities around the world. Led by Alex, these hubs bring together customers, partners, startups, accelerators, governments, research communities, and universities in a lab setting. Their goal is to discover, develop, and implement game-changing, outcome-based solutions.

He also heads up the Cisco Innovation Grand Challenges. These polished events help creative thinkers bring their technology ideas to life. And then there’s the Cisco Technology Radar, the company’s engine for identifying emerging technology transitions.

Alex began his Cisco journey in 2004 with a singular focus: Innovation. He defined and operationalized several high-profile Cisco initiatives, including the company’s Country Transformation plan for Cisco in emerging markets. He also held senior roles in Development, Marketing, Finance, and Channels, providing him a 360 view of how a great company ticks.

Prior to Cisco, Alex was a successful consultant with extended assignments at Napster, Liquid Audio, IBM Global Services, and Pfizer Pharmaceuticals.

Articles

June 20, 2019

INNOVATION

Italy: Where An Innovation Renaissance Continues to Flourish

5 min read

Even Leonardo de Vinci would be amazed by innovation in today’s Italy. From Venice to Rome and Milan to Naples, take an experiential tour of some of the world's most impressive digital breakthroughs.

April 9, 2019

INNOVATION

The Do’s and Don’ts of Communicating with Innovation Partners

4 min read

Having clear, consistent and creative communication must be your top priority when deepening relationships to co-innovate with your partners.

March 19, 2019

INNOVATION

Establishing a vibrant environment to grow innovation

4 min read

Smart city technology is expected to reach an all-time high, and at the root of the most successful, sustainable smart cities must be an atmosphere of collaborative innovation – an innovation center. To ensure these centers deliver scalable digital solutions that put your smart city on the map, it’ll require some careful planning.

February 17, 2019

2

INNOVATION

Cisco Launches New Co-Innovation Center in Singapore

4 min read

The Singapore Co-Innovation Center will catalyze IoT innovations around Singapore’s Digital Economy Framework for Action, building smart nation solutions around transportation and cybersecurity.

February 7, 2019

INNOVATION

Unlocking the Innovator Within Your Employees

4 min read

Innovation is about people, their passions and talents, not technology. By focusing on the innovator rather than the innovation, businesses can create a powerful shift in corporate culture.

January 28, 2019

1

INNOVATION

Cisco Opens Latest Co-Innovation Center in Barcelona

2 min read

Cisco’s Barcelona Co-Innovation Center is the latest addition to our global network of 12 Co-Innovation centers, serving local needs for co-developing digital solutions with customers and partners.

January 7, 2019

INNOVATION

Driving a Successful Partnership between Large Corporations and Startups

4 min read

When startups and big companies work together in a mutually beneficial partnership, they can thrive through faster innovation, greater market share, and hopefully, making magic together for years to come.

December 6, 2018

INNOVATION

Communication: The Driving Force Behind Innovation

3 min read

Innovation and communication are two sides of the same coin. Effective communications infuse innovation in your organization by continuously conveying your innovation messages, inspiring employees to channel their inner entrepreneur.

October 8, 2018

INNOVATION

Cultivating Innovation within Your Organization

5 min read

Innovation is an ongoing mindset, not just a project with a beginning and an end. We must foster an environment where our employees feel empowered to explore new ideas and give them the opportunity to collaborate.