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Francine Katsoudas

Executive Vice President

Chief People, Policy & Purpose Officer

As Executive Vice President and Chief People, Policy & Purpose Officer at Cisco, Francine Katsoudas brings together people and technology to drive positive impact for the company and global communities. Her work advances Cisco's Purpose to Power an Inclusive Future for All, and her leadership on critical policy and social issues has forged strategic public-private partnerships addressing some of the world's most pressing concerns. In her role at Cisco, Fran leads a global team spanning People & Communities, Sustainability, Social Impact & Inclusion, Government Affairs & Policy, Workplace Resources, and Cisco's Digital Impact Office - all on a mission to put Cisco's Purpose into practice while driving growth for Cisco's business, people, and communities. During her 30 years at the company, Fran has led large-scale organizational transformations, cultivated new generations of leaders, and stewarded Cisco's renowned employee-first conscious culture. Fran has supported underrepresented groups since her youth, and today focuses her advocacy on women's leadership, homeless youth, and narrowing the digital divide. Fran is also Cisco's executive country sponsor for Mexico, Poland, South Africa, and India. She has been recognized on the CNBC Changemakers, Forbes and Know Your Value 50 Over 50 list, honoring female leaders and entrepreneurs who are breaking new ground. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for ADP and is the Chair for Global Citizen. A graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, Fran lives in the Bay Area with her husband and two children.

Articles

July 26, 2021

HIGH TECH POLICY

Now is the Moment for Broadband for All

3 min read

It’s imperative that America builds back better by providing broadband access to all Americans. Investments in rural broadband are overdue. At Cisco. we will do our part.

March 31, 2021

EXECUTIVE PLATFORM

Our Progress Towards Powering an Inclusive Recovery for All

5 min read

What will drive us all successfully into the future? Cisco EVP Fran Katsoudas shares how innovation and empathy will help ensure our recovery is an inclusive one.

March 18, 2021

HIGH TECH POLICY

Cisco Statement on House Passage of the American Dream and Promise Act of 2021

1 min read

We at Cisco applaud the House of Representatives for passing permanent legislative protection for Dreamers. Today, they are one step closer to a permanent legal solution that would allow them to become citizens in the nation they know as home.

June 16, 2020

EXECUTIVE PLATFORM

Expanding well-being & care beyond our employees in response to COVID-19

5 min read

Cisco announces a new framework for responding to injustice or a global crisis, along with a range of initiatives that extend beyond business and culture, to include well-being, social equality, and activism.

March 12, 2020

EXECUTIVE PLATFORM

Cisco’s Commitment to Our People

2 min read

Each year, for the past five years, we review pay equity in our second fiscal quarter then make the adjustments for employees in our third fiscal quarter. Since 2016, we have provided nearly $11.8M in pay equity adjustments and are committed to investing more.

December 12, 2018

EXECUTIVE PLATFORM

Teaching New Skills & Embracing Talent from Everywhere Fuels Growth in a Rapidly Changing Digital Economy

2 min read

There is growing recognition that today’s uncertainty around the economy and job creation ultimately comes down to people and what we can do for them in these times. People are at the heart of growing the new digital economy and we have to put them first in our practices and policies so that we can unlock their innovation and keep our economies growing.

November 20, 2018

EXECUTIVE PLATFORM

Between none and many, there’s a bridge

1 min read

When we are surrounded by difference, we are better. We know diversity amongst board members, leaders, and teams has impact at scale.

January 6, 2016

EXECUTIVE PLATFORM

A Great Day at Cisco

2 min read

There is a cultural evolution happening at Cisco, driven by our business, our innovation and technology, and most importantly, our people. It is being shaped by feedback from our employees and it is helping us define who we aspire to be as a company. It starts with Our People Deal, which is simply the understanding […]

October 13, 2015

EXECUTIVE PLATFORM

Bringing Our People Deal to Life

2 min read

At Cisco, we want our employees to be at their best, and that means we need to bring the best to them. This is why we launched Our People Deal, which is centered around unleashing every employee’s potential by connecting everything, innovating everywhere and benefiting everyone. Our People Deal is simple: an understanding of what […]