Cisco’s people chief: ‘We can’t transform our workforce without fundamentally rethinking how we lead’

Cisco ranked No. 2 on the 2026 Fortune World’s Best Workplaces list, with its people chief attributing the placement to a leadership overhaul tied to the company’s workforce transformation. The executive said Cisco cannot reshape its workforce without fundamentally rethinking how it leads, framing management culture as central to the effort. The recognition covers Cisco’s global operations and reflects its investment in employee experience as a competitive tool. The result matters as large technology firms compete for talent amid ongoing restructuring, and it signals that leadership development is being treated as a strategic priority rather than a support function. What to watch next is whether Cisco’s leadership rethink translates into measurable retention and hiring gains as it continues to reshape its workforce.