| Case study | Healthier brains, healthier business Networking company Cisco has always had one eye on the future— both for its clients’ technological needs as well as its employees’ needs. Long before belonging or global disruption were top of mind across C-suites, Cisco built a psychologically safe culture based on trust. When the pandemic arrived, 87% of Cisco’s people already viewed the company as a psychologically and emotionally healthy workplace, so they were better prepared and supported for work under new, stressful conditions. To be sure, the C-suite held regular 75-minute check-ins to listen to employees and address questions, and also launched a 100-day “sprint” to tackle areas of racial inequity within the company. It’s all part of a "conscious culture" that’s woven into everything Cisco does, and it’s also why the company has held the #1 spot on Fortune’s list of “100 Best Companies to Work for,” two years 9 in a row. " Employees don’t want to be employees, they don’t want to work With its commitment to mental health, Cisco remains focused on for managers and they don’t want to work for executives. 吀栀ey creating an environment in which people want to work, not necessarily want to be human beings who work for other human beings. one where they have to work. And I think authentici琀礀 and the importance of being human, understanding the things they’re dealing with as humans, and building that into how you approach them in your day-to-day 10 work with them, is so important." Chuck Robbins, Chair & CEO, Cisco From always connected to omni-connected: Creating omni-connected experiences to strengthen culture, deepen trust and drive results 12