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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

July 28, 2016

GOVERNMENT

#TransformationThursday: Innovation at its Finest

3 min read

Co-authored with Dani Schrakamp The Glass Half-Full: We as a human race have so much to be proud of and excited for – look at us, we’ve learned to fly, gone to the moon, overcome horrific tragedy and invented a little something called the Internet, which connects us all regardless of where we physically reside. […]

July 27, 2016

INNOVATION

”Innovation Grand Challenge: Where Are They Now” – Eigen Innovations

3 min read

To be competitive, to thrive—maybe even survive, disruptive change is required. And this need for change is seemingly non-stop across business, industry, and entire countries. But how do we keep up? At Cisco, we believe the answer is digital transformation. It’s the pathway for improving citizen services, increasing efficiencies—you name it.

July 22, 2016

INNOVATION

“Innovation Grand Challenge: Where Are They Now” – CyberFlow Analytics

4 min read

The Cisco Innovation Grand Challenge is an exciting way for us to uncover new opportunities and game-changing trends. It’s also a great way for entrepreneurs and startups to further their ideas. And the good news is we’re still accepting submissions to the challenge until August 31.

July 8, 2016

INNOVATION

Building Blocks for your own Innovation Disruption (Part 1)

6 min read

Cisco’s first company-wide innovation challenge, which disrupted all job functions and geographies, attracted widespread interest outside the company. Inquiries from innovation pros, articles in Network World, podcasts with the Human Capital Institute and Innovation Leader, and invitations to share best practices all ask:

July 6, 2016

INNOVATION

Innovation Grand Challenge: Where Are They Now? – Green City Solutions

6 min read

The next generation of entrepreneurs, startups, leaders and developers are the innovators behind the emerging technologies making history in our digital era. To inspire and engage with them, Cisco launched the Innovation Grand Challenge, focused on finding fresh and exciting market opportunities and game-changing trends.

June 9, 2016

INNOVATION

Igniting a Companywide Startup Culture of Entrepreneurs

6 min read

Learn how Cisco's Innovate Everywhere Challenge engaged employees in all functions to team up and co-innovate around their own most passionate ideas.

Cisco Challenges Digital Entrepreneurs Worldwide

4 min read

The Innovation Grand Challenge is calling on all innovators, entrepreneurs, developers, researchers and students to submit disruptive ideas for digital transformation in industry and government.

May 17, 2016

INNOVATION

Disrupt or Die: Only the Innovative Will Survive

3 min read

Andy Grove, the late co-founder of Intel who pioneered the semiconductor industry, often said, “Only the paranoid will survive.” Looking over your shoulder and worrying about oncoming competitors will always be a healthy practice to stay relevant and ahead of the pack. To remain an industry leader in today’s digital era, however, I would add, […]

May 5, 2016

INNOVATION

There Has Never Been a Better Time for Innovation

3 min read

We are living in a time of technological renaissance, where innovation flourishes like never before. Read about the key drivers accelerating and unleashing 21st century creativity.