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Francine Katsoudas

Executive Vice President

Chief People, Policy & Purpose Officer

Francine Katsoudas is Executive Vice President and Chief People, Policy & Purpose Officer of Cisco. In this role, Fran oversees critical functions that instill Cisco’s conscious culture, contribute to the company’s overall performance, and advance Cisco’s purpose to Power an Inclusive Future For All. As head of the People, Policy & Purpose Organization, Fran leads an ecosystem comprised of People & Communities, Corporate Affairs, Workplace Resources, and Government Affairs & Country Digital Acceleration. This strategic alignment of functions and expertise ensures holistic care for the well-being of Cisco’s people, establishes Cisco as a trusted and valued partner to governments and global leaders, and extends Cisco’s reach to positively impact communities everywhere in alignment with the company purpose. A 25-year veteran of Cisco, Fran has extensive experience leading organizational transformations, driving large scale growth, cultivating successful leaders and teams, and constructing an employee-first culture. Prior to her current role, she served as HR business partner to the Engineering leadership team, and held positions in the Service Provider, HR Operations, Customer Service, Acquisition Integration and Services groups. Prior to Cisco, Fran worked in both the financial and professional services industries with a focus on customer service and operations. Fran currently serves on the Board of Directors for Americares, Global Citizen, and ADP. Passionate about social justice, Fran is an activist and advocate for a variety of causes close to her heart, particularly women’s leadership, homeless youth, and the Latino community. A graduate of the University of California Berkeley, Fran lives in the Bay Area with her husband and two children. Executive Biography

Articles

Leading through learning with Cisco 360 Partner Program

4 min read

Digital skill-building is how we will advance and architect the rapid evolution of our information and communications technology (ICT) industry, where 92% of roles are expected to transform due to AI. Digital skills are also our best line of defense to address the global gap in cyber readiness and the shortage of 4.6 million cyber professionals which puts our world's digital ecosystem at risk.

July 31, 2024

EXECUTIVE PLATFORM

The Transformational Opportunity of AI on ICT Jobs

4 min read

Making AI a force for good for our people, and not a threat — A new report provides practical suggestions for targeted training programs and skills for 47 different information and communication technology roles.

July 22, 2024

EXECUTIVE PLATFORM

Our Shared Responsibility: Africa’s Cybersecurity Imperative

4 min read

We have a shared responsibility to embed cybersecurity at the core of our digital strategies, and we look forward to the opportunity to enhance cyber resilience in Africa—a continent on the brink of a remarkable digital transformation.

June 20, 2024

EXECUTIVE PLATFORM

The LA28 Games – Together

3 min read

Cisco’s LA28 partnership will push the boundaries of possibility through the lens of sport while embodying our company purpose to power a more inclusive future.

June 17, 2024

EXECUTIVE PLATFORM

Co-innovating with Historically Black Colleges and Universities

4 min read

For three years now, we have been sowing seeds of innovation, inclusion, and inspiration to help Black leaders prepare to thrive in the AI era. We are committed to co-innovating with HBCUs to create lasting change, and building an inclusive future for all.

June 7, 2024

EXECUTIVE PLATFORM

AI-Enabled ICT Workforce Consortium Expands to G7 Countries

3 min read

The AI-Enabled ICT Workforce Consortium seeks to ensure that workers around the globe are equipped with the necessary skills to thrive in an AI-driven future. We are collaborating with G7 governments on an Inclusive Global Action Plan for AI to to benefit women, underrepresented communities, and developing countries. 

May 29, 2024

EXECUTIVE PLATFORM

A Year of Opportunity: Our Role in Empowering Global Progress

3 min read

Cisco’s Chief People, Policy & Purpose Officer outlines Cisco’s work to champion inclusive futures, promote positive engagement in democratic processes, and advocate for tech policies that will power global progress.

December 6, 2023

EXECUTIVE PLATFORM

The Power of Purpose

3 min read

When we combine our business, technology, and a network of partners together with our purpose, we create a powerful force for lasting change. We have some incredible examples from this year in our Power of Purpose report, including the announcement that we achieved our goal of positively impacting 1 billion lives, and did so over a year early.

October 19, 2023

EXECUTIVE PLATFORM

Closing the Cybersecurity Skills Gap and Opening Opportunities

3 min read

Every day, we see powerful examples of how cybersecurity needs to be at the forefront of national security and business operations. Our goal is to strengthen our businesses, governments, and organizations by bridging the cyber skills gap — thereby creating opportunities that lead to a more diverse and inclusive global economy, for all.