Partnering for Purpose: Join the Movement to Amplify Positive Impact

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Partnering for Purpose

Partnering for Purpose, launched in November of 2022, is a global Cisco initiative that enables our partners, customers, and suppliers to collaborate more effectively with us to drive positive change. This industry-first program builds on decades of partnership and shared learning, formalizing the efforts Cisco and our partners have already been making to positively impact people, the planet, and communities globally. By providing an orchestrated platform, Partnering for Purpose simplifies the engagement, and amplifies our collective impact, aligning with Cisco’s commitment to an inclusive future for all.

Making a Collective Difference

Since its launch, the Partnering for Purpose initiative has continued to grow and gain momentum, bringing Cisco and our channel partners together – sharing best practices and collaborating in new ways to drive positive impact.

By joining forces, we are enhancing employee engagement and amplifying our impact in so many different ways, such as improving literacy and cyber resilience amongst school children, developing innovative solutions for environmental sustainability, and participating in team volunteer efforts to give back to our communities.

Giving Back Together

Giving back together can be a powerful connector. Cisco and our partner community across the United States, Canada and Latin America regularly engage in weeklong giveback activities that range from supporting food banks to assisting local hospitals. These efforts have involved over 200 partner employees and over 450 Cisco employees, collectively contributing more than 2,130 volunteer hours.

At a Cisco ThousandEyes global Partner Connection event, a dedicated Partnering for Purpose session featured a meal-packing activity. Cisco, ThousandEyes, and partner attendees rolled up their sleeves to assemble 400 snack packs for children facing food insecurity in the local community. These hands-on initiatives not only provide immediate support but also foster a deeper connection between our teams and the communities we serve.

Addressing Climate Change

We have developed innovative approaches to tackle environmental sustainability challenges. One such initiative brought teams together from Cisco, ThousandEyes, and Orange Business to host a day of learning and knowledge exchange focused on climate change and environmental stewardship. This event explored how technology and combined expertise could help customers achieve their social and environmental sustainability goals.

Participants also visited a local farm, where they juiced apples, planted trees, and gained firsthand insight into the impact of climate change on farming practices.

The Cisco APJC Distribution team created a unique approach to drive environmental sustainability awareness by aligning business goals with positive impact. One notable example involved a crowdfunding model to help support a remote Aur Lang Village in Vietnam. In another example,Cisco and Ingram Micro launched a campaign where, for every partner who completed an environmental and sustainability bootcamp and earned a Black Belt certification, both Cisco and Ingram Micro made a donation to Planet Ark, an Australian environmental nonprofit. As a result, over 200 Black Belt Sustainability Certificates were awarded, and $40,000 AUSD was donated to Planet Ark.

Doing Good is Good for Business

To acknowledge the investments our partners are already making and address what matters to them and our shared customers, we introduced a Partnering for Purpose category in the 2023 Partner Innovation Challenge. This category was created to reward submissions with a purpose-driven objective, resulting in an impressive 68% increase in submissions.

It is rewarding to witness how purpose is significantly influencing our partners’ approach to innovation, and the numerous ways we are driving positive impact together. While Partnering for Purpose might seem like a feel-good initiative; the reality is that doing good is good for business. By collaborating on purposeful initiatives, we not only enhance our working relationships but also drive substantial business value.