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What an incredible week at Cisco Live! This is my favorite event to connect with partners, customers, and colleagues against a vibrant backdrop, packed with energy, inspiring sessions, networking opportunities, and groundbreaking innovations.

This was my second time attending in person, and it did not disappoint. From the attendees’ excitement to engaging keynotes, product announcements, and special guests, this year was one for the books, and I was honored to be a part of it. If you missed it, you can watch on-demand sessions.

During the keynotes, our leaders and industry experts shared their visions for the future, highlighting how Cisco’s innovations shape the digital experience. Learning about new products and solutions that will empower businesses worldwide using AI and networking, security, and observability was exciting. Learn more about our innovations and investments from this year’s event.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) were key themes throughout Cisco Live, and I was honored to participate in a discussion about how DEI can be a business differentiator, not only in our internal culture but in the way we interact with our customers, and the impact it has on our bottom line. It is inspiring to see so many passionate individuals committed to fostering an inclusive culture within the tech industry.

A highlight of the week was our annual Customer Hero Awards ceremony, where we celebrated our outstanding customers who have leveraged Cisco technologies to drive transformation within their organizations and for their industries. Congratulations to all the winners for their dedication and innovative spirit!

AI integration and automation were highly anticipated topics this year, and I had the opportunity to take center stage in the World of Solutions to speak about AI-readiness and implementing AI strategies into your business. I spoke with Nallan Sriraman, CTO at Mass General Brigham, about their infrastructure transformation journey, and how AI is helping them achieve their business goals. Sri’s insight was invaluable, as he shared “while AI is an inflection point in how we do everything, we have to realize that it will not always be appropriate for every problem at hand. First, understand why you want to apply AI, then carry out a small-scale pilot to understand how close we can get to human parity vs. human augmentation.”

Other highlights this year for me included the Tech Talks Daily podcast with Neil C. Hughes. Neil and I discussed the latest trends and how Cisco is innovating to meet the evolving needs of customers.

The CX booth was full of innovation, including AI-driven photos, and some pretty nifty holograms. You have not experienced the future until you’re standing next to a virtual version of yourself.

We wrapped the week with an unforgettable experience in the CX Rock Legend Lounge, relaxing, networking, and celebrating the week – and of course the amazing Elton John.

Cisco Live this year truly demonstrated the power of technology and our company’s innovation. A big thank you to everyone who attended. I can’t wait to see you all again next year!



Authors

Harry Caldwell

Senior Vice President

Customer Experience (CX), Americas