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Mala Anand

No Longer with Cisco

Mala Anand is senior vice president for the Cisco Software Platforms Group. Anand is committed to innovative software development and go-to-market strategy. Her responsibilities include Cisco software-enabled smart services, big data and analytics, application integration and automation enablement platforms. She has over 20 years of experience leading product development for enterprise-focused software companies. Her expertise includes technology innovation, go-to-market planning, product line development and cloud-based strategies.

In her previous role as vice president of the Cisco Services Product Group, Anand was responsible for the vision, strategy, and development of the Cisco smart services portfolio. Her innovative approach helped Cisco exceed one billion dollars in bookings and contributed to Cisco’s services market differentiation. Under her leadership, the Group launched over 15 market-leading software offerings.

Prior to Cisco, Anand held senior executive positions in product, services, and technology business units, and she holds multiple technology patents. She also served as COO and senior vice president for Informative, a private software company focusing on business analytics. In addition, she was also entrepreneur in residence (EIR) for the venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers. Prior to that she helped lead development for software products from Corosoft (BMC), Rapt (Microsoft) and Beyond, Inc. Anand has also led software teams at Oracle and Digital Equipment Corporation.

Anand holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from University of Massachusetts and a master’s degree in computer science from Brown University.

Articles

July 29, 2015

NETWORKING

How to Make the Invisible Visible: An Automated Answer for Network Transparency

Let’s face it. Danger lurks inside every enterprise network, and when it hits, addressing the crisis with manual processes that are inefficient and error-prone can take days – or even weeks – to resolve. If you’ve ever been in a situation like this, minutes can seem like hours. You’re aw…

Internet of Everything’s Sea-Worthy Innovations Show Potential for All

Though the high seas action of a competitive regatta and the halls of your office may not seem similar, those two worlds suddenly become alike when leaders in both environments use real-time data to steer critical decisions when seconds count for optimum outcomes. As businesses race to innovate thei…

U.S. Army Builds Internet of Everything Infrastructure for the Fighting Force of Tomorrow

Every July, we celebrate on the 4th to commemorate the Continental Congress’ approval of the Declaration of Independence.  This year, the patriotic occasion reminded me of an event held last month when, together with United States Congresswoman Jackie Speier and the president of Sonim Technologies,…

June 25, 2015

EXECUTIVE PLATFORM

Digital Transformation in the Oil & Gas Industry: “Drill, Data, Drill!”

“Drill, baby, drill” makes for an easy mantra when it comes to energy exploration, but the oil and gas (O&G) industry moved past simply drilling long ago with the introduction of digital information processing. For example, integrated production modeling was introduced in the 1970s. With the rec…

June 11, 2015

NETWORKING

10 Smart New Ways to Keep Your Network Up and Running: Final Thoughts from Cisco Live

After several days of attending Cisco Live, I’m excited about what I’ve seen and heard. Not just from my Cisco colleagues but from customers who are transforming their businesses by using their networks in new and previously unimaginable ways. Today’s business call to action, “Disrupt or be disrupte…

June 4, 2015

NETWORKING

10 Smart New Ways to Keep Your Network Up and Running: A Preview of What to See at Cisco Live

CiscoLive! is next week. With more than 23,000 people expected to attend, there’s no event more popular with IT professionals who pride themselves on their networking expertise. As I prepare to travel to San Diego for the occasion, I wanted to share my perspective on how IT organizations can better…

Analytics Opens a Window into Each Shopper’s Journey

The key to retail today is customer understanding —where each customer stands on his or her personal shopping journey, whether in-store or out. Retailers must “know” each shopper as never before. And they must offer the kinds of contextual, personally relevant experiences that will optimize their me…

May 11, 2015

EXECUTIVE PLATFORM

Analytics Opens a Window into Each Shopper’s Journey

The key to retail today is customer understanding —where each customer stands on his or her personal shopping journey, whether in-store or out. Retailers must “know” each shopper as never before. And they must offer the kinds of contextual, personally relevant experiences that will optimize their m…

March 25, 2015

EXECUTIVE PLATFORM

Entrepreneurs: Your Invitation to Innovate with Cisco in Europe – Second Season Application Now Open

It was only last November that I wrote about our first Cisco Entrepreneurs in Residence (Cisco EIR) cohort in Europe. I knew then we had started something special – an incubation model that allows Cisco to tap into the immense talent of the European startup community and helps address many of the un…