As part of Cisco for 10 years, I’ve had the privilege of working with some truly inspiring individuals and leading initiatives that have a tangible impact on people’s lives.

One of my most fulfilling experiences has been contributing as a Co-Chair of the B20 Education and Employment Task Force, which culminated in the summit hosted by Brazil in November.

The B20 is the official dialogue forum for the global business community within the G20, the world’s premier economic cooperation platform. It’s where business leaders, policymakers, and experts come together to address key challenges facing the global economy.

Representing Cisco Networking Academy at the B20’s Education and Employment Task Force was both an honor and a responsibility. My invitation came from the National Confederation of Industry in Brazil, recognizing the deep impact Networking Academy has had on education and workforce development in the country for over 25 years.

I’ve been Brazil’s Cisco Networking Academy Lead for five years, so this was a moment where the work we do every day came to life on a global stage. I felt both excited and humbled by the opportunity to influence discussions around the future of work, education, and skills development.

Throughout the year, my role as Co-Chair of the Education and Employment Task Force involved participating in monthly meetings, collaborating with a wide range of stakeholders, and helping shape the policy recommendations that were presented at the B20.

These meetings were not just about talking points or theories. We had deep conversations with global leaders, business executives, policymakers, and experts in education, technology, and workforce development.

Partners are essential

One of the most eye-opening aspects of this experience was seeing firsthand how interconnected the challenges we face are.

Whether it was addressing the growing skills gap, improving education access, or promoting digital inclusion, I saw the importance of a collaborative approach. It reinforced what we already know at Cisco: Partnerships are essential.

We cannot address complex global issues like education and workforce development in isolation. We need to come together — governments, businesses, and civil society — to create meaningful change.

Aligning skills education and workforce needs

Conversations with other business leaders reinforced just how critical it is for companies like Cisco to work with educational institutions to align curricula with the skills needed for the future workforce.

Cisco has been doing this for over 27 years through Networking Academy. Whether it's through offering courses in networking, cybersecurity, digital literacy, data science, or even AI, we’re helping bridge the gap between education and employment — not just in Brazil, but globally.

As Lead for Networking Academy in Brazil, I’ve seen how the private sector can collaborate with educational institutions to design programs to directly respond to market needs. And through my involvement with the B20, I realized how much more we can do when we extend that collaboration globally.

Cisco is positioned to make a meaningful impact on global workforce development, and we’re doing it by bringing together the best of industry, education, and government.

Our work is meaningful

As I reflect on Cisco Networking Academy’s work, I realize how closely aligned our mission is with the larger goals I was involved in at the B20 and other global forums. Our commitment to digital inclusion — fostering lifelong learning, supporting upskilling and reskilling initiatives, preparing students worldwide for industry-recognized certifications, and bridging the skills gap — aligned seamlessly with the recommendations we developed for the G20.

On a personal level, my time working on the B20 Task Force has been incredibly rewarding. I’ve sharpened my leadership skills, learned how to navigate complex policy discussions, and gained a deeper understanding of the global forces shaping the workforce. I’ve also connected with incredible individuals who share a common vision for creating a better, more inclusive future.

Most importantly, my experience reinforced my belief in the work we do at Cisco.

I’ve seen how the work of a single company, when aligned with a broader global mission, can have a profound impact. Cisco Networking Academy is not just a program; it’s a community with a clear and shared purpose. It’s about helping people gain the skills they need to succeed in a rapidly changing world. It’s about closing the digital divide and opening up opportunities for individuals across the globe.

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• B20 Policy Recommendations
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