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Guy Diedrich, Ph.D

Senior Vice President

Global Innovation Officer

Dr. Guy Diedrich is a Senior Vice President and the Global Innovation Officer at Cisco, where he is responsible for its Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) and Networking Academy programs. In this role, Dr. Diedrich collaborates closely with government and industry leadership around the world to drive mass-scale digitization initiatives that help increase GDP, create millions of next-generation jobs, and develop sustainable innovation ecosystems. CDA operates in 50 countries and has more than 1500 active or completed digitization projects since its inception in 2015. Cisco’s Networking Academy operates in 190 countries and has trained more than 20.5 million students in networking and cybersecurity skills over the past 26 years. Dr. Diedrich continues to grow and evolve the programs into new markets, and build trust with government, industry and academic stakeholders. Prior to his current role at Cisco Systems, Dr. Diedrich was a Vice Chancellor at the Texas A&M University System where he was responsible for research, commercialization, federal government relations, state government relations and strategic initiatives. Before joining Texas A&M, Dr. Diedrich served as President and CEO of GRA Inc., a software development and consulting company that he co-founded and grew from a start-up to a firm employing more than 130 professionals. The company was sold to a publicly-traded technology company. Dr. Diedrich holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University, a Master’s degree from the University of Cambridge (Kings College) and a Ph.D. from Swansea University where he studied the economics of trust in organizations. Dr. Diedrich is a published author in cost accounting and medical psychology, and has worked extensively throughout Europe, the Americas, Asia, and the Middle East for more than two decades.

Articles

August 1, 2024

INNOVATION

How Smart Tech is Teaching Us About Our Oceans, One Catch at a Time

2 min read

Discover how smart technology is revolutionizing our understanding of the oceans and aiding fishermen, with innovative gear that collects vital data to help navigate changing seas and support sustainable fishing practices.

January 15, 2024

EXECUTIVE PLATFORM

How does technology impact well-being? Cisco and OECD will launch a global study to find out.

3 min read

Cisco announces a partnership with the OECD to study well-being in the digital age. Our joint initiative will examine the complex nature of digital transformation, its role as both a catalyst for progress and a source of potential risk to well-being.

December 12, 2023

EXECUTIVE PLATFORM

The Next One Billion Lives

3 min read

Our ability to impact billions of lives lies in our ability to scale. We’re now expanding our areas of focus to impact entire communities through our Social Impact, Networking Academy, and Country Digital Acceleration programs — to address systemic causes of inequity through innovation and create lasting, generational change.

August 3, 2023

EXECUTIVE PLATFORM

Building a Stronger, More Secure, More Connected Ukraine Together

3 min read

Cisco is launching the next wave of Country Digital Acceleration program initiatives in Ukraine to help secure the country’s critical infrastructure, promote connectivity, and provide critical workforce development training.

December 16, 2022

EDUCATION

Harnessing the power of technology on the Pacific Islands

1 min read

Cisco is determined to play a part in helping the Pacific Islands combat challenges related to digital skills development and sustainability

March 31, 2022

EXECUTIVE PLATFORM

Closing the Digital Divide to Power Health Equity

4 min read

Technology can enable an inclusive and connected future for all by bridging the digital divide and addressing the lack of health equity around the world.

September 15, 2021

GOVERNMENT

Transforming Digital Policing in New Zealand with Webex

2 min read

With investment from Cisco’s Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) program, the New Zealand Police were able to leverage Webex to create operational resiliency and respond to incidents in real-time. #CiscoCDA

January 27, 2020

HIGH TECH POLICY

Cisco’s new Cybersecurity Co-Innovation Center inside one of Europe’s most famous museums

2 min read

Italy’s largest science and technology museum has a new addition to its elaborate exhibitions of artefacts and art. Thanks to our collaboration with the Italian Government and an investment through our Cisco Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) Program, Milan’s Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Science & Technology is now home to our newest Co-Innovation Center – […]

Cisco and TomTom Teaming up to Build Safer, Less Congested Roads

3 min read

Cisco teams up with Europe’s leading in-vehicle navigation system, TomTom, to digitize the world’s highways, creating safer and less congested roads