Feature Story

January 21, 2004

By Jenny Carless, News@Cisco

To offer insight on how to harness the productivity benefits of technology for greater education, health and growth opportunities for people worldwide, Cisco Systems president and CEO John Chambers will co-chair the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland this month. Chambers will participate in several plenary and interactive sessions in which he will discuss development initiatives with other world business leaders.

From its origins in 1971 as an informal gathering of European chief executives, the WEF has grown to be a global, independent organization comprised of 1,000 leading corporations that is committed to improving the state of the world. This year's event, which takes place January 21-25, is entitled "Partnering for Prosperity and Security."

"I am deeply committed to the mission and values of the WEF," says Chambers. "This annual meeting is a chance to share ideas and gain insight about global opportunities and issues facing us today, particularly in the areas of productivity and standard of living."

The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and Bureau of Labor Statistics report that when a country's productivity increases by 1 percent per year, the standard of living doubles every 70 years. Increase productivity by 3 percent, and the standard of living doubles every generation. "If productivity is driven at 5 percent, which I believe is attainable for many countries, the standard of living doubles every 14 years," Chambers points out.

Cisco as a Global Citizen

"Cisco culture is driven by high standards of corporate integrity and by giving back using our resources for a positive global impact," Chambers explains.

The company strives for a "triple bottom line" of profits (a traditional measure of financial performance), people (strong, mutually beneficial relationships with those who work for, with and near Cisco), and presence (a measure of the company's standing in, respect for and contribution to global and local communities). "Through corporate philanthropy and public/private cooperation we are building strong and productive global communities in which every individual has the means to live, the opportunity to learn and the chance to give back," says Chambers.

However, success depends on unprecedented teamwork and determination at every level on a global basis. "It also requires that those who benefited most from the industrial economy of the twentieth century help ensure that the rest of world participates fully in the twenty-first century's information economy," Chambers points out. Cisco is actively involved in projects around the world to help in these efforts.

Using Technology for Equality and Education

In June 2003, Cisco and His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan participated in the launch of the Jordan Education Initiative (JEI), in cooperation with two dozen other WEF members. The project aims to create an effective Internet-enabled learning model that can be replicated on a global basis. Leaders in neighboring countries have already requested similar initiatives in their countries.

Cisco's participation in the JEI is a natural progression of the company's Networking Academy Program, a comprehensive blended learning initiative that takes advantage of technology to help people around the world learn the skills they need to succeed in today's global information economy. Recognizing that strong global communities are good for everyone, including businesses, Networking Academy courses are taught around the world - in nine languages.

Knowing also that a country's economy thrives best when all its citizens can participate equally in its rewards, many Cisco Networking Academies stress opportunities for women. In Jordan, for example, Cisco is working with UNIFEM, under the patronage of Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah, to increase the number of working women in Jordan. Of the 600 students who have enrolled in one of Jordan's 10 Networking Academies to date, nearly two-thirds are women.

Technology as a Tool for Human Health

While daunting logistical challenges - such as making life-saving products like clean water, vaccines, drugs and medical equipment accessible around the globe - exist, making life-saving information available in real time, worldwide, is attainable, Chambers believes. Again, collaboration and cooperation are critical.

"We can make measurable strides in global health toward ending extreme poverty and hunger while at the same time reducing child mortality rates, improving maternal health and reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS, malaria and other infectious diseases," Chambers says.

In 2003 the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the online World Health Academy to develop ways to use information technology to prevent disease and make health information accessible and affordable to as many people as possible. An initial pilot program includes 20 schools in Egypt and 20 in Jordan. WHO developed the curriculum and Cisco is providing the equipment, along with its e-learning expertise and technology. It is hoped that this successful initial deployment will lead to further implementations of the project in other developing regions.

The WEF annual meeting provides an opportunity for world business leaders to share, learn from and help implement these and other critical initiatives for global prosperity and security.

John Chambers will participate in the following WEF sessions:

• Opening Press Conference with the Co-Chairs of the Annual Meeting 2004

• Plenary Session: Leveraging Technology for the Bottom Line
  How corporate IT spending will change in the coming years and how businesses can maximize returns on existing investments.

• Interactive Session: Corporate Giving's New Bottom Line
  Incorporating strategic philanthropy into overall corporate responsibility activities.

• Plenary Session: How to Create a Framework for Sustained Global Growth
  What will be the next engine for growth? How sustainable is today's situation?

• Closing Plenary: Partnering for Prosperity and Security
  A conversation between business and political leaders.

Jenny Carless is a freelance writer based in Santa Cruz, CA.