[CXOTALK #881] Cisco's President: How to Build an AI-First Enterprise, From Culture to Code

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How do you turn a large, complex organization into an AI-first enterprise? In CXOTalk episode 881, host Michael Krigsman speaks with Jeetu Patel, President and Chief Product Officer at Cisco, about the real-world playbook for building AI-native platforms that deliver measurable business value.

Patel shares candid lessons from Cisco’s transformation, in areas such as culture and talent, cloud-to-edge infrastructure, multimodal architecture, responsible AI governance, and machine-scale security, while explaining broader principles applicable to every executive team.

In this episode, learn about:

• Creating an AI-first mindset and re-skilling the workforce

• Deciding where AI workloads live: public cloud, private cloud, or edge

• Choosing and integrating foundation and domain-specific models

• Embedding guardrails that balance innovation speed with compliance

• Protecting data and models against emerging AI threats

• Moving from pilot projects to enterprise-wide deployment and ROI

• Preparing for autonomous, agent-driven workflows

Packed with practical insights, trade-offs, and KPI-driven examples, this episode offers senior technology and business leaders a clear roadmap for turning AI promise into operational reality.

This is a must-watch episode for leaders looking to leverage AI for growth and really understand the AI industry.

During the live show, share your views and ask questions on Twitter and in the LinkedIn event chat.

Episode Participants

Jeetu Patel is Cisco’s President and Chief Product Officer. He combines a bold vision, steeped in product design and development expertise, operational rigor, and innate market understanding to create high-growth businesses. He is relentlessly focused on building world-class products that solve Cisco customers’ biggest problems – bringing the power of the Cisco portfolio together to connect and protect every aspect of their organization in the era of AI.

Michael Krigsman is a globally recognized analyst, strategic advisor, and industry commentator known for his deep expertise in business transformation, innovation, and leadership. He has presented at industry events worldwide and written extensively on the reasons for IT failures. His work has been referenced in the media over 1,000 times and in more than 50 books and journal articles; his commentary on technology trends and business strategy reaches a global audience.

May 23: Jeetu Patel, EVP and Chief Product Officer, Cisco

May 30: Kevin De Liban, Founder, TechTonic Justice

June 13: Nate B. Jones, AI Analyst and Advisor

June 20: Mark Papermaster, Chief Technology Officer and EVP, AMD

June 27: Chris Isaacson, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Cboe Global Markets

July 11: Tom Eggemeier, CEO, Zendesk

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