Par Merat

Par is Vice President of Cisco Learning & Certifications, focused on helping IT professionals and software developers learn, innovate, and grow. She is a lifelong learning and technology advocate, and a Cisco veteran with a breadth of experience. She led the Collaboration independent software vendor program, established the Cisco’s successful SolutionsPlus program, was co-founder of Cisco DevNet, and led the DevNet Partner Transformation initiative. Par has been with Cisco for over 15 years, serving a variety of leadership roles including Senior Director of DevNet CX Community & Ecosystems, with a focus on business development and leading partner-centric programs. She was a Sr. Director of Business Development and Sr. Director of Strategic Planning and Operations for Cisco DevNet, and Sr. Manager of Business Development for the Cisco Collaboration Technology Group. Prior to joining Cisco, Par directed business development strategy at Vovida Networks and was a regional sales leader for Digital Publishing Systems at Xerox. She is a native Californian, based in the San Francisco bay area. She has long been an active mentor within Cisco and a volunteer with St. Vincent de Paul, which provides assistance to those in need. When Par is not working, you can find her sailing on the San Francisco bay or hiking with her Airedale Terrier.