Lessons in leadership and innovation at Cisco Live
by Sean Michael Kerner
Inspirational tales of leadership, setting direction in uncertain times and continued innovation were key themes at Cisco Live 2020.
The world today is beset by multiple issues that challenge the leadership and resilience of businesses, governments and individuals. Yet, it’s also a world in which innovation exists and leadership continues to emerge to help deal with challenges old and new.
At Cisco Live 2020, inspirational thought leaders across multiple areas of endeavors including technical, business, academic and even the four-time champion of the Iditarod, shared views on leadership and innovation.
Ethernet moving forward with innovation
Among the key enablers of innovation and resilience is Ethernet which is at the foundation of the internet and modern connectivity. Leading the Ethernet Alliance is its Chairman, Peter Jones, who is also a Distinguished Engineer at Cisco.
While Ethernet was first developed back in 1973, it has steadily evolved over the decades and continues to innovate today. Among the recent key Ethernet innovations is the ability to provide up to five times the bandwidth on existing CAT5 and CAT6 cabling, that is strung throughout offices and facilities around the world. Until recently, the maximum bandwidth that was possible on CAT5 and CAT6 was 1 Gigabit per second, but there is increasing need for more bandwidth as demands on networking continue to grow.
See also: At Cisco Live, a spotlight on healthcare
Another key innovation in Ethernet is the expansion of Power over Ethernet (PoE) to support more than 30 Watts per port. PoE is increasingly essential to help enable industrial and Internet of Things operations and the ability to deliver more power over the same wire that brings connectivity is useful for many organizations.
“Ethernet is the foundation, it’s at the foundation of Cisco and it’s at the foundation of the internet,” said Jones.
