At Cisco, meeting our business objectives directly correlates to cultivating an inclusive workforce. Employees from different cultures and geographies, with a variety of viewpoints and styles of interaction, combine their unique backgrounds, experiences, and values to understand the needs of our customers.

As a leading global company, Cisco recognizes that diversity of thought is a business imperative. By attracting, hiring, developing, and retaining the best talent, Cisco is able to explore new ideas, promote better decision making, and create a workforce that mirrors our customers and the world at large.

Diversity Initiatives

The initiatives and programs described in this report focus on promoting diversity and inclusion at Cisco and throughout the industry. Additional information is provided about:

• Women's initiatives
• Employee networks
• College recruiting
• Diversity education
• Workplace accessibility

Key Statistics

High-technology company leaders recognized many years ago that young women were not traditionally participating in engineering and science programs that led to careers in the industry. In fact, the gender digital divide is apparent around the world, as shown in the table below.

Female Representation in IT Occupations

Country/Region	Percentage of IT Workers Who Are Female
Australia	16%
India	21%
Japan	28%
Europe	30%
United States	35%

Like many companies in our industry, Cisco creates advancement and development opportunities for women and minorities in the technology industry, and has made progress in recruiting and retaining these individuals at our company.

Proportion of Women and Ethnic Minority Employees at Cisco FY 2006

Category	Percent of Total Employees	Percent in VP Positions and Above
Women	22%	14%
Ethnic Minorities*	43%	17%

* U.S. data only

Recognition for Diversity Efforts

• Equal Opportunities Publications ranked Cisco number 13 of the top 50 employers with the best working environment for women in 2005.
• Black E.O.E. Journal listed Cisco in America's Top Organizations for Multicultural Business Opportunities.
• Fortune magazine named Cisco as one of the 50 Best Companies for Minorities.
• DiversityBusiness.com ranked Cisco number 35 on its list of American's Top 50 Organizations for Multicultural Business Opportunities in 2005.
• Hispanic Network magazine listed Cisco in the 40 Most Admired Companies for Hispanics and the Top 50 Organizations for Multicultural Business Opportunities.
• The American Foundation for the Blind awarded Cisco the Helen Keller Achievement in Accessibility Award.