Cisco Systems: Two Ambitious Initiatives to Effectively Compete in the Market for Talent (Career Management Case Study)

The Cisco talent management team recognized that for Cisco to remain competitive for talent in its industry, as well as in the market, they needed to anticipate the skills required for the future. And in the face of skill and talent shortages, they needed to retain their existing talent. These realizations led to two ambitious, intertwined initiatives that together are redefining how Cisco helps its employees manage their careers. They know that “prescribed, leader-directed career paths” are not what we see in today’s workplace. Instead, they are paving the way for employees and managers to share ownership for dynamic, fluid career paths that evolve, step by step, over time.