CHILL

I began this comic book series with the idea that creating a science fiction prototype would be a useful tool in imagining—and planning for—the Future of Work. I have found it helpful to envision future scenarios where a mobile, flexible work force collaborates seamlessly with each other and with in…

I couldn’t be a successful Cisco leader if I didn’t focus on delivering the best possible business outcomes to our customers. At Cisco, we are committed to delivering customer and shareholder value through world-class products, services and support. But the other side of this commitment is that the…

Office workers of the mid-20th century would not recognize how we work today. They banged out documents in triplicate using manual typewriters and carbon paper. They had to wait for a live operator to connect their phone calls manually. Their hours were fixed and non-negotiable. How could they have…

For decades, we have imagined the future through the eyes of comic book heroes — from boy-next-door Peter Parker’s Spiderman to Amazon princess Wonder Woman. So, as we approach our next Cisco Hyperinnovation Living Lab, focused on the future of work, I thought we might explore that part of our futur…

What will work look like in 10 years? We’ve heard a lot about the ways new technologies—artificial intelligence, virtual reality, robotics and the like—will disrupt work as we know it. Will we have a shiny new future, where machines take over menial or repetitive tasks so people can be free to pursu…

What a great year to be at Cisco Live! There was so much going on—from visionary keynotes to the World of Solutions exhibits, to the many sessions that let attendees go deep into the areas that interested them. What I heard and saw challenged my thinking in some areas, and confirmed what I’ve been l…

As leader of Cisco’s Hyper Innovation Living Labs (CHILL) I see first-hand the race for breakthrough ideas. Markets are moving fast, and everyone is trying to leapfrog the leaders. Yet, even as big companies become leaner and more agile, too many innovation efforts lead nowhere. Even if the will and…

How does innovation happen? People joke about an idea hitting them in the shower. Or it might be while on vacation, or walking the dog—any time your mind is free to wander into creativity. But developing that lone spark of an idea into an innovative solution is no vacation. It requires focus, radica…

Cooperation, co-development, co-opetition. What does it take to succeed in the “co-economy”? Just as the “sharing economy” has changed the basic assumptions upon which the hotel and taxi industries are built, the “co-economy” is changing some of the fundamental ways we think about developing and bri…