New York was rocking Saturday night with powerful music, positive impact, and focused purpose, as the 2025 Global Citizen Festival touched tens of thousands on Central Park’s Great Lawn — and a billion more on worldwide broadcasts.
With top artists like Cardi B, Shakira, Tyla, Ayra Starr, Camilo, Rosé, and Maria the Scientist on hand, there was no shortage of onstage fun. But with calls to action throughout, the event showcased Global Citizen’s true purpose: ending extreme poverty and addressing major global challenges in Africa, the Amazon, and beyond.
Since 2018, Cisco has been a key partner in that mission. And as Cisco chief people, policy and purpose officer Fran Katsoudas stressed, “it’s a partnership built on shared values.”
Those values have powered the two organizations to help solve challenges around everything from hunger and education to connectivity and clean energy (to name but a few efforts).
“Global Citizen is so proud to have Cisco with us every step of the way for the past seven years,” said Lucas Turner, Global Citizen’s vice president of global corporate partnerships. “Cisco and Global Citizen have made so much impact globally, and we're looking forward to even more in the future.”
On stage Saturday night, Katsoudas highlighted a new initiative in Cisco’s 40 Communities ambition. Last year, the effort donated $6 million as well as expertise and equipment to restore connectivity and homes in storm-ravaged North Carolina. And Cisco’s investments in Northern California have funded 4,000 new housing units and prevented 33,000 families from becoming homeless. The next effort will be centered on the Cisco Networking Academy, one of the largest digital-skills training platforms of its kind.
“Next, we have our sights set on Mumbai, India,” Katsoudas said, “where the goal is to train 2.5 million learners in AI and cybersecurity. Each new community adds to a growing movement where local action rooted in real solutions makes a real difference for the people who need it the most. When we lift communities, we lift the world.”
The Cisco Youth Leadership Award is another key part of the Cisco-Global Citizen partnership. And this year’s winner, Esther Kimani, took the stage to share insights on her winning innovation, a low-cost, highly accessible solution to protect small farms.
“I grew up in a small farm in Kenya,” she explained. And like many rural communities we did not have reliable energy. And that's why having studied a degree in computer science, I developed the first ever solar-powered crop pest and disease detection device. And this device helped farmers detect pests in time to protect their crops, to protect small farms in Kenya and beyond from the ravages of crop diseases and pests.”
With a financial grant and other support, the Cisco Youth Award is enabling Farmer Lifeline Technologies, Kimani’s startup, to scale her solution across Kenya and to small farms around the world.
Despite the odds, a climate of hope
Each year, the Global Citizen Festival coincides with Climate Week and the U.N. General Assembly. So, New York was buzzing with focused problem solving among government, industry, and public sector activists.
Brian Tippens, Cisco’s SVP and chief social impact and inclusion officer, picked up on the optimism that spread through the week — despite the obstacles.
“Collectively, we're living through some challenging times from a socioeconomic and geopolitical standpoint,” he said. “And with all that's going on in the world, it was great to see that there's so much optimism, so much hope, and so much commitment to collaboration.”
It was a sentiment shared by Zeus Kerravala, founder and principal analyst at ZK Research, who commented on the critical importance of partnerships like those between Cisco and Global Citizen.
“It’s important that companies like Cisco partner with organizations like Global Citizen,” Kerravala stressed. “Because no single company, no single nonprofit, and no single government can solve these global problems. We all have to work together. At the same time, by spreading connectivity in the developing world, Cisco can contribute to creating new opportunities and future markets that will help raise billions out of poverty.”
For Katsoudas, it was in keeping with the message of Global Citizen: to encourage action and activism around the world — on a massive scale. For example, every free ticket at Saturday’s event was tied to individual positive efforts on behalf of the recipients.
“To get into a Global Citizen festival,” she said, “you have to do a good deed. And what we see is so many people around the world taking actions, which is really amazing. And then what we see is on stage governments coming in and making huge commitments to end poverty, protect the planet, expand energy access, and provide access to education.”
Behind fun, music, and purpose: a showcase for technology
Of course, when Cisco’s contributes to a major event, great technology is all around. And Cisco Wi-Fi 7, networking, and security were an essential element to the highly successful event.
“This year we're providing high-density Wi-Fi 7 wireless throughout the entire VIP section,” said Rob Neumann, . This will allow the VIP fans to stay securely connected during the entire festival. They'll be able to upload high-definition content and access their mobile apps without any buffering or latency associated with network congestion.”
Security — both physical and cyber — is of paramount importance at such a high-profile event. And a Cisco end to end networking solution ensured a secure event for all.
“Security is a huge concern,” Neumann continued, “and we’re using our new high-density Wi-Fi 7 access points with enhanced security, as well as Cisco Firepower appliances to help protect the festival fans.”
Helping set up all that equipment was a Cisco Networking Academy “Dream Team,” top students selected to gain real-world field experience.
“We spend so much time reading and watching videos,” said Christian Jarihar, a local NetAcad student. “So, it’s great to be here in person actually getting hands on with this. It fills in the gaps.”
Jeremy Thompson, his Dream Team colleague, added: “I'm eternally grateful to Networking Academy for selecting me. The knowledge I am gaining is just superb.”
Committed to a better future
Whether in New York, Mumbai, Kenya, or anywhere else the Cisco-Global Citizen partnership touches, the focus is always on the future — creating opportunities for the next generation to help solve pressing global problems with collaboration and action.
“I know for a fact,” said Hugh Jackman, the actor, activist, and Global Citizen ambassador, “that when we unite, we make noise that leads to real change. When you take action, governments and corporations listen, policies change, financial investments are made, and progress happens.”
And as Lucas Turner of Global Citizen concluded, the Cisco partnership will continue to play major role in empowering that change.
“Cisco is quite literally powering the Global Citizen festival with its technology,” Turner concluded, “but it doesn't stop there. Cisco will continue to be with us every step of the way, from our Move Afrika concert tour to the Cisco Youth Leadership Award and so much more. We are so grateful for the partnership, and we can't wait to see the impact that we create together.”
