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Charu Adesnik

Executive Director, Cisco Foundation; Director, Social Innovation Investments

Charu Adesnik is the Executive Director of the Cisco Foundation, and Director of Social Innovation Investments at Cisco. In this capacity, she oversees the mission, vision, strategy, programs, and governance of the Foundation. Charu also leads Cisco's strategic investments of cash, donations of Cisco technology, and employee expertise to support non-profit organizations targeting economically under-served and vulnerable communities in areas of Crisis Response, Education, Economic Empowerment, and Climate Regeneration and Sustainability. Beyond this, Charu oversees execution of Cisco’s goal to positively impact 1 billion people by 2025, aligned with Cisco’s vision of an inclusive future for all. Charu is a seasoned leader with more than 20 years of experience in all aspects of charitable foundations, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategies and related interventions, employee giving and volunteering, impact evaluation, operational management, team development, and leading change. Charu began her career at the World Bank, where she supported the development of the Bank’s country assistance strategies in East Asia and Pacific. She also provided policy advice to national governments and led technical assistance initiatives in areas of poverty alleviation and economic development. Prior to joining Cisco, Charu was part of the management team of the Financial Sector Development practice of Deloitte Consulting (Emerging Markets Group), where she developed sector level strategies and interventions, led client engagements, provided technical assistance, managed diverse project teams, and oversaw relationships with key corporate and public sector clients in more than 25 countries, in every region of the world. She has designed, executed and evaluated the impact of global initiatives across multiple disciplines, including financial services, economic empowerment, critical human needs, disaster response, education, institutional capacity building, gender initiatives, and transparency and governance – with an emphasis on vulnerable and underserved population groups. Charu is a member of the advisory Council at Kiva and the Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF). She has a Bachelor of Arts in Economic and Political Science from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, as well as an MBA. She lives in the Bay Area of California with her husband and son.

Articles

March 7, 2022

5

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

How Opportunity International empowers financial inclusion through digital banking

4 min read

Opportunity International continues to widen their reach and deepen their impact to empower people living in poverty to build resilience and economic security.

September 30, 2021

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CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Talented Latinx youth launch their tech careers through Digital NEST

4 min read

We have a guest blog from Jacob Martinez, Founder and CEO of Digital NEST, which provides technology training to Latinx youth in agricultural communities.

April 28, 2020

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Impact-First Microloans with Kiva support small businesses during economic downturn

3 min read

In the current economic environment, many small business owners are struggling and yet may not be able to access government support programs. Kiva has launched expanded services to provide zero interest loans to small businesses in need.

April 6, 2020

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

How Cisco’s nonprofit partners are pivoting and innovating to address unexpected needs

3 min read

The most vulnerable populations are the ones disproportionately affected by the economic impacts of global crises. Our nonprofit partners in economic empowerment are able to quickly adapt to the way they serve others.

March 5, 2020

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CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Dispatch from the field: how a mobile app in East Africa empowers women while saving lives

4 min read

Community health worker Roseline Moenga explains how she uses technology to diagnose malaria, pneumonia and diarrhea in rural Kenya.

January 30, 2020

1

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Non-profit spotlight: The high-touch, high-tech approach to digital financial services in India

3 min read

Opportunity International designed and implemented a suite of digital financial products and services to bank the unbanked.  Our three-year partnership resulted in 20 million people reached via digital financial services and supported 3 million jobs, enabling individuals to support their families and contribute to the growth and vibrancy of their communities. 

February 19, 2018

1

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Empowering New Orleans’ Youth with Digital Skills

3 min read

I am happy to share the expansion of one such global problem solver — Anudip Foundation — who is changing the lives of youth, families, and communities across India, and now the United States.

March 5, 2014

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CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Recognizing Programs that Empower Girls and Women

6 min read

As we prepare to celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8, I am reflecting on so many factors that led to where I am today. My mother grew up in India when the path for most women was not one of higher education and a professional life. Yet, with the support of her family, she […]

July 30, 2013

1

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Internet-Powered Jobs Transform Impoverished Youth into Lifelong Workers

4 min read

This blog was originally published on the Huffington Post I recently spent two weeks in Uganda and Kenya, meeting with nonprofit organizations that are applying technology-based solutions to help underserved populations access the knowledge, skills, and financial products and services they need to become economically self-sufficient. I lead the economic empowerment portfolio for Cisco and […]

June 21, 2013

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

How Mobile Phones Are Driving Business and Social Impact

5 min read

If you look around and think everyone has a mobile phone, you’re right. There are almost as many mobile subscriptions (6.8 billion) as there are people in the world (7.1 billion), according to the International Telecommunication Union. Even in developing countries, the mobile penetration rate (the number of mobile phone numbers within a specific population) […]

February 19, 2013

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Cisco Partners Recognized as Social Entrepreneurs by Schwab Foundation

3 min read

Each year the Schwab Foundation presents Social Entrepreneur of the Year awards to people who apply innovative, practical approaches to resolving social and environmental challenges. Three of the 24 awardees announced on February 15 lead nonprofit organizations that Cisco partners with to promote education and economic empowerment around the world. These visionary leaders have leveraged […]