BIO

Francine Katsoudas serves as the Executive Vice President and Chief People, Policy & Purpose Officer at Cisco. In this role, Fran oversees key areas that impact Cisco’s conscious culture, contribute to the company’s overall performance, and advance its purpose towards “Powering an Inclusive Future.”

As the leader of the People, Policy & Purpose Organization, Fran directs an ecosystem that encompasses People & Communities, Sustainability, Social Impact, Government Affairs & Policy, Workplace Resources, and Country Digital Acceleration. This strategic focus of functions and expertise ensures comprehensive care for Cisco employees’ well-being, strengthens the company’s position as a trusted and valued partner for governments and global leaders, and expands Cisco’s influence to positively impact communities worldwide, in line with the company’s purpose.

A veteran with 27 years of experience at Cisco, Fran brings extensive experience in leading organizational transformations, driving large-scale growth, developing successful leaders and teams, and building a people-centric culture. Before assuming her current role, she served as a HR business partner in the engineering leadership team and held positions in service provider, HR operations, customer service, integration of acquisitions, and services. Prior to joining Cisco, Fran worked in both the financial and professional services industries, focusing on customer service and operations.

Fran has been honored with a place on the Forbes and Know Your Value 50 Over 50 list, recognizing dynamic female leaders and entrepreneurs. She currently sits on the Boards of Directors of Global Citizen and ADP.

A passionate advocate for social justice, Fran is an activist and champion of various causes close to her heart, particularly women’s leadership, youth homelessness, and the Latino community. A graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, Fran resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and two children.