Tae Yoo, Cisco’s Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs on Cisco’s CSR Philosophy

The following is an excerpt from the 2019 CSR report.

Tae Yoo leads Cisco’s social investments and stewards CSR and sustainability across the business. She directs Cisco’s business, technical, and financial assets to accelerate global problem solving to positively impact people, society, and the planet.

Q: How would you describe Cisco’s CSR and social impact philosophy?

A: It all goes back to our purpose: to build bridges between hope and possibility. Creating new possibilities for people, society, and the planet requires Cisco to take a holistic approach where CSR and social impact are integrated across the business. We use the power of our technology and the expertise of our employees to accelerate global problem solving and advance social and environmental benefits. Some CSR priorities are owned by various business functions; others are championed by Corporate Affairs. All are integrated into ongoing business strategy and long-range planning, focused on the programs and partnerships with the greatest potential for impact.

Q: CSR has emerged as a top priority for many organizations and their stakeholders. How has this affected Cisco’s CSR and social impact strategy and programs?

A: The good news is that for Cisco, it doesn’t change much. We’ve always been about doing good and driving impact. It’s part of our culture and woven into all we do. In 1997 we launched Cisco Networking Academy, the world’s largest and longest-running CSR education program, and we set our first GHG emissions reduction goal in 2006. We’ve learned and evolved over the years, including in how we communicate. There’s more interest in our CSR and social impact work now—from investors, customers, current and prospective employees, and beyond. Today, we’re using data and storytelling to connect the dots between actions and impact for our stakeholders, and to inspire them and others to help solve global problems.

Download the full 2019 CSR report: