Chief Technical Officer with a Strong Vision
Company Name: Cisco Systems
Job title: Chief Technical Officer
In this interview provided by CISCO Networking Academy Padmasree Warrior tells about her job as Chief Technical Officer at Cisco Systems.
Q: What exactly is your role at Cisco?
A: My aspiration as Cisco's CTO is to play a collaborative, leadership role in three ways:
Q: What exactly is your role at Cisco?
A: My aspiration as Cisco's CTO is to play a collaborative, leadership role in three ways:
- Bringing technical clarity to our vision
- Prioritizing our strategies and initiatives
- Evaluating innovative, disruptive, and other opportunities for profitable growth
I also serve as one of Cisco's executive voices externally, working to strengthen our relationships with key constituents, including customers, analysts, partners, suppliers, investors, media, industry organizations, and governments around the world.
Q: So, what does it take to become a chief executive in a global company?
A: I think you need a strong vision of where you want to take the organisation, and that means having your finger on the pulse of what's happening in the industry.
You also need to build a great team. Realising that you don't have all the answers yourself is crucial. I believe you should surround yourself with 'giants' - and have the confidence in your own good judgment to select the right people, and then listen to them.
A: I think you need a strong vision of where you want to take the organisation, and that means having your finger on the pulse of what's happening in the industry.
You also need to build a great team. Realising that you don't have all the answers yourself is crucial. I believe you should surround yourself with 'giants' - and have the confidence in your own good judgment to select the right people, and then listen to them.
Finally, you should be clear about your customers; you need to engage with them, know who they are and keep them top of mind in everything you do.
Q: At what point does a good technologist become a visionary?
A: A technologist has a deep understanding of a specific topic. They are the expert who tells us what is possible and how it can be done. A visionary transforms fragmented ideas into a compelling future. They influence others to follow; they inspire us to move in a new direction.
Q: How important is it to come from a certain background to be successful in IT and in business? Does it make a difference which university you attend? Which class you take?
A: I think it can make a difference in the early stages of your careers. Having the right academic credentials can open doors. But after that, what really matters is having a strong foundation in your own domain - being an expert in your own field. As you move up the career ladder, things like performance, measurable results, collaborating and listening count for even more.
Q: What education, preparation, and training brought you to this place in your career?
A: I've been working in this industry forever, or so it seems. Actually, I have 23 years of experience. I earned a B.Tech from the Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi, India, and an M.S. in chemical engineering from Cornell University, New York. Prior to joining Cisco, I served as the CTO of Motorola.
Q: Have you ever received a really good piece of advice that helped you become successful?
A: Yes, I have received lots of sound advice during my career. Some of the best advice that has influenced me as an individual and shaped my style as a leader, are in these areas:
A: I've been working in this industry forever, or so it seems. Actually, I have 23 years of experience. I earned a B.Tech from the Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi, India, and an M.S. in chemical engineering from Cornell University, New York. Prior to joining Cisco, I served as the CTO of Motorola.
Q: Have you ever received a really good piece of advice that helped you become successful?
A: Yes, I have received lots of sound advice during my career. Some of the best advice that has influenced me as an individual and shaped my style as a leader, are in these areas:
- Never assume that you know all the answers, because there are always new questions
- Lead with humility; people will share more things openly when you are a humble yet confident leader
- Have your eyes toward the sky and feet on the ground; set high goals and make realistic plans to achieve those goals.
I hesitate to offer advice on careers because it is such an individual choice, but I would say the following things helped me in my journey: developing domain expertise, stepping outside my comfort zone, not being afraid to ask questions, and embracing humility.
I try to take my work seriously without taking myself so seriously. It's important to learn to laugh at yourself.
Q: You are a woman and you've reached the top in what many perceive to be very much a man's world. What would you say to other women trying to break through the glass ceiling?
A: Women bring a lot to the table in terms of skill sets and different styles. And it's this sort of diversity of skills and approaches that leads to better collaboration and solutions.
My advice to women is: have self-confidence, develop domain expertise, and build the courage to step outside your comfort zone.
Also, be true to your self and have fun!
Q: If you were a student starting out on a career in IT today, what top 3 areas would you focus on?
Q: You are a woman and you've reached the top in what many perceive to be very much a man's world. What would you say to other women trying to break through the glass ceiling?
A: Women bring a lot to the table in terms of skill sets and different styles. And it's this sort of diversity of skills and approaches that leads to better collaboration and solutions.
My advice to women is: have self-confidence, develop domain expertise, and build the courage to step outside your comfort zone.
Also, be true to your self and have fun!
Q: If you were a student starting out on a career in IT today, what top 3 areas would you focus on?
A:
- Video and multimedia are important. Increasingly we are seeing content and communications combined. Development and deployment of these technologies would be a focus area for me.
- Also green IT is really vital. We need to be creating solutions for sustainability. Technology and urbanisation will not stop. More and more users and consumers will create greater need for sustainable, friendly technology.
- Develop a global outlook, and where possible, acquire some global experience. We've all heard the expression 'the world is flat.' I would encourage young people to become global citizens, aware of the global issues that affect us all.
Q: Should students be worried about the perceived down turn in the global economy?
A: Well, I would suggest that instead of worrying, they see it as an opportunity and think about how to innovate and turn the economy around. Necessity is the mother of invention, as they say.
My advice to students would be to think about creative solutions - get out there and participate in rescuing economies.
Q: What else would you would have done, had you not pursued a career in IT?
A: There are so many things I enjoy doing WHILE pursuing my career. I enjoy being a mother, a wife and a friend. I like to mentor and coach other women by sharing my experiences. I enjoy dance, theatre and art. I love music and working out.
A successful career does not necessarily require us to give up all the other things that define us a well-rounded human being. So I always encourage people to develop their full self.
I don't measure my self-worth by career success alone. It is just one factor.
Q: Is there anything you'd like to say to students and graduates?
A: Participate in society. Get involved. As you enter society as working individuals, you make the transition from student to leader. Don't underestimate your responsibility - leaders exist everywhere. So be active in your community, and be aware of what is going on in the rest of the world.
Source: http://www.netacadadvantage.com/whats_my_job_padmasree.htm
Q: What else would you would have done, had you not pursued a career in IT?
A: There are so many things I enjoy doing WHILE pursuing my career. I enjoy being a mother, a wife and a friend. I like to mentor and coach other women by sharing my experiences. I enjoy dance, theatre and art. I love music and working out.
A successful career does not necessarily require us to give up all the other things that define us a well-rounded human being. So I always encourage people to develop their full self.
I don't measure my self-worth by career success alone. It is just one factor.
Q: Is there anything you'd like to say to students and graduates?
A: Participate in society. Get involved. As you enter society as working individuals, you make the transition from student to leader. Don't underestimate your responsibility - leaders exist everywhere. So be active in your community, and be aware of what is going on in the rest of the world.
Source: http://www.netacadadvantage.com/whats_my_job_padmasree.htm