Never Fight a Megatrend: Cisco’s Jeetu Patel

Cisco is well known for its data, networking, security, and collaboration products. On today’s episode, Cisco’s president and chief product officer, Jeetu Patel, joins Sam for a discussion about artificial intelligence, a “megatrend” Jeetu sees as perhaps more significant than the development of the internet or the automobile because of its ability to build on past technological advances. Jeetu and Sam discuss how to manage AI and how to staff for it — Jeetu argues that replacing less experienced or younger workers with technology deprives organizations of key perspectives and new ideas, and instead advocates for developing reverse-mentoring programs inside organizations. Read the episode transcript here. Guest bio: Jeetu Patel, Cisco’s president and chief product officer, combines product design and development expertise, operational rigor, and market understanding to create high-growth businesses. He is tasked with building world-class products to solve customers’ problems, and connect and protect every aspect of their organization in the AI era. Previously a general manager at Cisco, he led the strategy and development of its Security and Collaboration businesses. Before Cisco, Patel was the chief product officer and chief strategy officer at cloud content management company Box. He’s also held roles at EMC, including chief executive of its Syncplicity business unit, CMO for the Information Intelligence Group, and chief strategy officer. He currently serves on the board of JLL, a commercial real estate services company. Jeetu has a bachelor’s degree in information decision sciences from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. Me, Myself, and AI is a podcast produced by MIT Sloan Management Review and hosted by Sam Ransbotham. It is engineered by David Lishansky and produced by Allison Ryder. We encourage you to rate and review our show. Your comments may be used in Me, Myself, and AI materials.