The Forum's members are a group of influential global business leaders who are committed to creating opportunities for women as an integral part of their core business, corporate social responsibility agendas, diversity, and inclusion initiatives. |
Forum Members
Eduardo Belmont Lloyd Blankfein Henryka Bochniarz Frank J. Brown Kevin M. Campbell John T. Chambers Kristin Clemet Rick Goings Kevin L. Kelly Sung-joo Kim Yang Lan Wendy Luhabe Dennis Nally Marilyn Carlson Nelson Hüsnü M. Özyeǧin Rex W. Tillerson Lynn Taliento Elena Viyella de Paliza Nitin Paranjpe Mark Parker Peter Sands James S. Turley Mona Zulficar
Member Background | Company Information | Focus on Women's Empowerment Member BackgroundJohn T. Chambers, Chairman & CEO, joined in 1991 as senior vice president of Worldwide Sales and Operations and became CEO in 1995. He is active in philanthropic initiatives worldwide. In late 2006, in partnership with the U.S. State Department, he co-led a delegation of U.S. business leaders to form the Partnership for Lebanon, helping provide critically needed resources for reconstruction efforts. He has spearheaded several other educational efforts, including the Networking Academies, which have over 385,000 students worlwide. In Jordan, under the patronage of Queen Rania Al-Abdullah, the Academies have enrolled more than 600 students - of whom 63 percent are women. Mr. Chambers is committed to gender equality at Cisco and has been a strong supporter of the company's diversity and philantrophic efforts.
Company InformationSince its inception in 1984, Cisco has been developing Internet Protocol (IP)-based networking technologies. Today, with more than 67,000 employees worldwide, it continues with industry-leading products and solutions in the company's core development areas of routing and switching, as well as in advanced technologies.
Focus on Women's EmpowermentCisco is conscious of the need to increase female participation in the industry and has dedicated programs and initiatives to support women as managers and executives. The company also supports external activities to increase women's participation in the industry. Its Gender Diversity Council, comprised of senior executives, identifies and seeks to diminish the barriers that inhibit a culture of inclusion, such as a shortage of role models and mentors. The Council oversees hiring, development and advancement, retention, and culture initiatives throughout the company. Cisco offers its employees numerous training and development opportunities, many of them directed at women, including the Compass and Perspective Series programs. Currently more than 3000 employees participate in 32 Cisco Women's Action Network chapters in 24 countries, which cultivate mentoring and career development opportunities for women. Cisco's Girls/Women in Technology Initiative aims to introduce more K-12 female students to technology and inspire excitement in associated careers. Cisco has partnered with the National Center for Women in Technology, an organization of public and private sector leaders whose mission is to ensure that women's knowledge and skills are fully represented in the information technology industry. The initiative has developed a website where girls can explore careers in technology. Cisco has also collaborated with USAID and the United Nations Development Fund for Women to implement several gender programs in the Middle East, establishing 25 academies in Jordan, Lebanon, and Morocco. Some 450 of these students have taken at least one networking certification course, while 1,600 have graduated from all four levels of the curriculum. |
