Cisco sponsors many diversity programs and provides numerous educational resources to a variety of communities worldwide. In addition to the resources detailed below, Employee Networks host educational events and expert guest speakers, such as renowned diversity coach Jane Hyun and Dartmouth professor and consultant Ella Bell. Employees can also access e-learning and video programs addressing diversity and inclusion on the Cisco intranet.
Among the educational offerings sponsored by Cisco are:
- Inclusion Leadership Session: Held May 2007 in San Francisco, this session was attended by employees from around the globe, with more than 1600 attending in person and many others participating via Cisco IPTV. The session was aimed at educating employees on the importance of diversity and inclusion to Cisco’s business and the progress Cisco has made in the area.
- MicroInequities: The Power of Small: Developed by Insight Education Systems, this instructor-led workshop focuses on the power of nonverbal behavior to drive inclusion. More than 7500 employees and managers have attended the workshop to date.
- Leadership and development for women: Cisco offers employees numerous training and development opportunities, many of them directed at women. “The Compass Series” and “The Perspective Series” are two examples. The Compass Series offers 300 senior female managers the opportunity to network with their peers and with company executives in sessions such as “Career Strategies to Get Ahead” and “Creating a Culture of Courage.” The Perspective Series gathers a community of women managers at the director level and above to focus on building executive-level leadership skills. Cisco also supports female and minority employees who wish to attend external development programs.
