If technique units route, studying is what makes it final. Studying is likely one of the clearest locations the place Cisco’s Goal and enterprise intersect. Making certain that persons are ready to participate in a digital and AI-enabled economic system is important to sustainable progress, long-term belief, and shared success. When folks have the abilities to adapt, organizations transfer quicker — with higher resilience and stronger outcomes.
Inside Cisco, we’ve been intentional about investing in our personal capabilities. In fiscal 2025, greater than 37,000 workers accomplished AI-focused studying — a 76% year-over-year enhance — strengthening our potential to innovate, redesign work, and ship worth to our clients. As work continues to evolve, studying has turn into one of many strongest methods leaders allow the long run and drive momentum. For instance, at Cisco, workers are twice as seemingly to make use of AI when their supervisor does, and constant customers are extra productive and extra engaged.
On the similar time, our dedication to studying has by no means stopped at our personal partitions. By Cisco Networking Academy, we’ve helped greater than 28 million learners construct the abilities wanted to take part within the digital economic system. And, by Be taught with Cisco, we’re supporting the White Home’s Pledge to America’s Youth: Investing in AI Schooling with a dedication to coach a million folks throughout america.
In December, IDC MarketScape acknowledged Cisco as a Chief in IT Coaching Companies in each Europe1 and North America2. We see that recognition not as a end line, however as encouragement to maneuver quicker — extending the boldness and functionality we’re constructing inside Cisco to our companions, clients, and communities around the globe.
Be taught extra about our progress and objectives in our FY25 Goal Report.
Thousands and thousands of Stories: The Impression of Studying
A current dialog powerfully highlighted the significance and affect of schooling. Throughout a dialogue with Fairness Financial institution in Kenya about their studying packages for underserved youth, we realized that one among our Cisco colleagues within the assembly was a graduate of this program. She shared how this bank-sponsored schooling profoundly modified her life. This private testimony underscored the real-world affect of Fairness Financial institution’s efforts. As I shared how Cisco Networking Academy builds digital abilities at scale, a senior chief from the financial institution spoke up. He shared that he earned his Cisco Licensed Community Affiliate (CCNA) by Cisco Networking Academy — an expertise that launched his profession and led him to the government position he holds right now.
In an organization as far-reaching as Cisco, we don’t at all times get to listen to the person tales behind our work — however after we do, they convey our affect to life. Within the final fiscal 12 months alone, greater than 5 million learners engaged with Cisco Networking Academy, which suggests thousands and thousands of tales like these are unfolding around the globe. Every one is a reminder that what we do issues — creating pathways for folks to take part extra totally sooner or later.
Studying in Partnership
One vital manner that we proceed to be taught as a company and keep related to our trade is thru our management of the AI Workforce Consortium. This collaboration brings collectively Cisco, Accenture, Cornerstone, Eightfold AI, Google, IBM, Certainly, Intel, Microsoft, and SAP. Collectively, we’re mapping how AI is reshaping greater than 50 vital expertise and supporting roles throughout G7 international locations — and, simply as importantly, constructing sensible pathways so folks can put together for what’s subsequent.
The Consortium’s 2025 analysis exhibits that 78% of jobs already require AI abilities. Nevertheless it additionally makes clear that human abilities — management, problem-solving, innovation, collaboration, and communication — will decide how impactful AI finally turns into.
That very same analysis reinforces the necessity for steady studying to unlock the complete potential of the workforce. It’s telling that Studying & Growth Specialist is now essentially the most in-demand expertise help position within the U.S. and Canada, underscoring how strongly organizations are prioritizing studying agility in an AI-driven economic system. That sign is difficult to disregard. At Cisco, we’re performing on it by investing in new studying roles and enterprise-wide efforts that assist our folks construct the abilities to leap forward in an AI-driven future.
Permission to Rethink All the pieces
Moments just like the one I skilled in Kenya stick with me as a result of they make clear what’s actually at stake. They remind me that we live in a uncommon time — one that provides us permission to rethink every little thing. How will we spend our assets? What breakthroughs will we pursue? And what sort of human expertise will we need to allow?
At Cisco, we’re lucky to be navigating this second from a place of power, grounded in main expertise, hard-earned belief, our folks, and our Goal.
However with that power comes the duty to pause and ask the precise questions on how we transfer ahead collectively.
- As trade leaders, how will we assist form markets that broaden alternative and set the usual for safe, trusted, and inclusive innovation?
- As folks leaders, how will we mannequin studying in actual time, utilizing AI ourselves and constructing cultures the place curiosity, braveness, and compassion drive progress?
- And as people, how will we adapt, unlearn, and retool, figuring out that our collective success finally relies upon on our private willingness to develop?
These questions aren’t simply theoretical for us. In fiscal 2025, we answered every with a actual and measurable dedication:
- 573,000 worker volunteer hours and the sixth consecutive 12 months exceeding our 80% neighborhood affect goal
- 31 disaster response efforts and over 900 worker volunteers supporting communities in disaster
- 100% renewable vitality to match international annual electrical energy wants at Cisco owned and leased services3
- 154 million lives positively impacted by the Cisco Basis and Social Impression Investments
Behind every of those metrics are human tales of resilience and expanded chance. Our duty is to make sure this progress continues — human, inclusive, and grounded in belief. That’s how we are going to meet this second: by studying, by main, and by serving to others do the identical.
Be taught extra:
Goal at Cisco
FY25 Goal Report
Goal Reporting Hub
