We foster diversity, development, and growth opportunities for employees through employee networks. These groups, which bring together minority employees, reinforce the value we place in having people bring their "total self" to work. By valuing the differences that make each person unique, we can increase individual and team performance, productivity, and satisfaction. Cisco believes its employee networks are critical to an inclusive organizational culture.

Employee Networks at Cisco

• Women's Action Networks
• Cisco Black Employee Network
• Conexion, the Cisco Latino Network
• Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender (GLBT) and Advocates
• Cisco Asian Affinity Network
• Indians Connected

Employee Networks Get Involved in Business

Each employee network maintains a business plan, with specific goals in several focus areas that support Cisco's business objectives. These groups contribute to Cisco's recruiting, retention, and business development, and they exemplify Cisco's culture of giving back through community outreach. Some examples of employee network projects that support the business follow.

Focus Area: Recruitment

• Black Employee Network: Participates in National Black MBA Association and National Society of Black Engineers conferences and job fairs; also partners with 100 Black Men of America and the United Negro College Fund
• Women's Action Network: Reached 4700 students through Girls in Technology; also participates in conferences sponsored by the Society of Women Engineers and the Anita Borg Institute
• Conexion: Participates in Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and National Society of Hispanic MBAs conferences and job fairs
• GLBT: Partnered with human resources to organize a health fair and to review domestic partner benefits
• Asian Affinity: Coordinated Cisco Executive Briefing Center sessions for students at three Asian universities

Focus Area: Retention and Professional Development

• All employee networks collaborated to deliver leadership seminars focused on professional development, with each seminar attended or viewed by more than 400 employees across Cisco. Conexion, Black Employee Network, and GLBT partnered to deliver a joint mentoring program that involves 58 mentors and mentees.
• Conexion: Developed and led a Project Management Professional certification study course and 100 percent of participants passed the exam
• Women's Action Network: Delivered more than 270 career development workshops globally in FY2006
• Asian Affinity: Conducted Cisco CCIE certification informational sessions, which were attended by more than 100 employees in San Jose and Research Triangle Park

Focus Area: Corporate Culture

• GLBT: Sponsored the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network, the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for all students.
• Conexion: Created team to mentor middle school students for Tech Challenge.
• Black Employee Network: Mentored urban youth ages 11-18 and discussed technology career options, through Ashay by the Bay, a community-based after-school program. Presented demonstrations about business and technology to single mothers in San Jose, California, through the San Juan Bautista Child Development Center, an aftercare center for children of low-income single parents.
• Women Action Networks: Assisted with the Bring Your Children to Work programs around the globe. Worked with local management teams to identify challenges that women face in their regions.
• Asian Affinity: Raised $23,000 for Hurricane Katrina relief and participated in the Red Cross Katrina Call Center at Cisco.