Cisco Blogs Kelly Jones

Kelly Jones

Chief People Officer

Kelly Jones is Chief People Officer at Cisco. In this role, Kelly steers the people strategies, functions, policies, and operations that empower 85,000+ employees to achieve extraordinary results and thrive. She leads the People & Communities (P&C) organization, directing the design and implementation of data-driven, people-first solutions critical to Cisco’s business transformation, enterprise goals, and company vision, including its Conscious Culture and purpose to Power an Inclusive Future for All. A natural teacher and coach, Kelly grounds her leadership in empowerment. She champions and advances solutions that support people in reaching their greatest potential. During her 15+ years at Cisco, Kelly has built award-winning, high-performing global solutions and teams that have made a measurable impact on individual, organizational, and business performance. Kelly has influenced people practices and delivered results at every level of the enterprise, from intern and new graduate programs to executive and enterprise strategy. Focused on attracting, selecting, engaging, and retaining top global talent, Kelly has advanced solutions that increase efficiency, improve quality, strengthen performance, and foster connection. Kelly joined Cisco in Talent Acquisition roles spanning Engineering and Operations, University Relations, and Sales and Marketing. She then served as Vice President of Talent Acquisition and Mobility, followed by Senior Vice President & Global Head of Talent Solutions. Before joining Cisco, Kelly was Vice President of Sales Operations for Comsys and Principal Owner of her own executive placement and consulting firm. An advocate for social justice and accessibility, Kelly serves on the board of HeadCount, a non-partisan organization that uses the power of music to register voters and promote participation in democracy. She is also an executive sponsor of Cisco’s Connected Disability Action Network (CDAN) and Cisco Green. Kelly attended North Carolina State University, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in pre-law. She lives in Denver, Colorado, with her husband, Dave, and rescue dog, Henri.

Articles

Blog post

Cisco’s Journey in AI Workforce Transformation

Cisco’s latest AI research reveals how AI is reshaping the way Cisco employees work—and what that means for individual and team engagement, performance, career growth, and leadership.

January 15, 2026 • 4 min read

executive Platform

Blog post

Four Transformative Trends Shaping HR in 2025

Over my last two decades as an HR leader, I’ve had a front-row seat to the evolution of work. Since 2020, that evolution has gone into hyper-drive. AI, the rise of hybrid work, and evolving employee expectations have all played a part in what I consider a once-in-a-century paradigm shift in the nature of work. […]

February 4, 2025 • 4 min read

executive Platform

Blog post

Honoring service: Cisco’s commitment to veterans

Cisco is committed to supporting Veterans through various programs, including the new Veteran Leadership Program, which helps Veterans transition into civilian careers and leverages their unique skills. Cisco's dedication to Veterans includes providing mental health support, career development opportunities, and recognizing their contributions, while encouraging ongoing community involvement and advocacy for Veterans' well-being.

November 11, 2024 • 3 min read

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