Author: sHq_LoGiNz

May 14, 2026 /3BL/ – We’re excited to be a partner at Trellis Impact 26, taking place June 23–25 in San Francisco. Trellis Impact brings together 3,500+ leaders powering the future of sustainable business, from AI-enabled solutions to emerging technologies reshaping decarbonization, energy, circularity, and beyond. 
 

With 500+ speakers across 100+ sessions, hear directly from the operators, technologists, corporate leaders, researchers, and investors pushing the frontier of climate innovation — so you can accelerate implementation, unlock new opportunities, and drive measurable impact. 

Now is a great time to register before rates increase after May 15. Attendees can currently save $400 with the advance rate, plus an additional 20% off with our partner discount code.

Register now and save an extra 20% off with our partner code TI263BLP: https://bit.ly/49COKTL 

Register Now

Working to keep bills as low as possible

At Entergy, our 12,000 employees work hard every day to keep customers’ bills as low as possible. In 2025 some of their successes included:

Grid work before storms: When we reinforce our grid before severe weather strikes, customers save money because it’s much less costly to make improvements ahead of a storm than make repairs afterward. This work will save customers millions in avoided storm fees and means fewer and shorter outages when interruptions do occur.

Modernizing our generation fleet: Modern technologies equal better efficiency, and our new, modern power generation sources help us and our customers meet cleaner energy goals. Newer plants are more fuel efficient, which lowers fuel charges on customer bills for the long term.

Recruiting large customers who help pay grid costs: Having large, industrial or technology/data center customers to help pay for the upkeep and expansion of the power grid eases the costs residential customers bear for their power needs.

Offering bill support: Our Bill Toolkit provides customers with resources and available assistance options to help them more easily manage their energy bill. Whether you have questions about your bill, need more time to pay or are looking for assistance, our one-stop shop connects you to available programs and services.

Providing tax and federal program assistance: Every tax season, we have helped low-income customers across our service area receive millions in federal tax refunds. We help customers save additional dollars by connecting them to federal funding resources including LIHEAP and Single Stop, and we offer The Power to Care — our longheld bill assistance program for qualifying customers.

Read the full report here.

ALSIP, Ill., May 14, 2026 /3BL/ – Griffith Foods is proud to announce it has been selected as a 2026 US Best Managed Company. Sponsored by Deloitte Private* and The Wall Street Journal, the program recognizes outstanding U.S. private companies.

The 2026 designees are U.S. private companies that have demonstrated excellence in strategic planning and execution, a commitment to their people, as well as maintaining financial performance and governance. This year’s class is making bold investments in digital transformation, including AI capabilities, and demonstrates the ability to drive sustainable growth and maintain resilience during times of volatility. These organizations are built on a foundation of trust and reflect a sense of purpose that fosters connections with their employees, customers, and communities.

Griffith Foods also earned the distinction of Gold Honoree — companies that have been recognized as a Best Managed Company for four to six years — reflecting consistent achievement and a commitment to ongoing development and growth.

“At Griffith Foods, we are committed to helping our customers create food that is nutritious, sustainable, and preferred by consumers”, said Griffith Foods CEO T.C. Chatterjee. “Guided by our Purpose — ‘we blend care and creativity to nourish the world’ — we are striving to continue to deliver results for and with our customers, while ensuring that we are creating meaningful impact to people and the planet. We are grateful for this recognition as we continue to advance our work and create value for our stakeholders.”

Applicants are evaluated and selected by a panel of external judges focused on assessing hallmarks of excellence in four key areas: strategy, ability to execute, corporate culture, and governance/financial performance. They join a global ecosystem of honorees from more than 44 countries recognized by the Best Managed Companies program.

About the Best Managed Companies Program

The Best Managed Companies program is a mark of excellence for private companies. U.S. designees have revenues of at least $250 million. Hundreds of private companies around the world have competed for this designation in their respective countries through a rigorous and independent process that evaluates four key criteria in their management skills and practices — strategy, execution, culture, and governance/financials. U.S. program sponsors are Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal. For more information, visit www.usbestmanagedcompanies.com.

About Griffith Foods

Griffith Foods is a global product development partner helping food companies meet the evolving needs of consumers with high-quality, culinary driven, customized products. Founded in 1919 and headquartered in Alsip, Illinois, USA, Griffith Foods is a family-owned business known for collaborative innovation guided by its purpose to “Blend Care and Creativity to Nourish the World.”  Operating in over 40 countries across six continents, Griffith Foods employs more than 5,000 people, including over 40 chefs and 340 food scientists, who work together to create solutions that nourish people, planet, and communities.  The company’s product capabilities include seasonings, sauces, dressings, coating systems, and alternative protein solutions. Griffith Foods’ primary areas of focus include Foodservice, Food Manufacturers, Protein Processors, and Retail.

View original content here.

ALSIP, Ill., May 14, 2026 /3BL/ – Griffith Foods is proud to announce it has been selected as a 2026 US Best Managed Company. Sponsored by Deloitte Private* and The Wall Street Journal, the program recognizes outstanding U.S. private companies.

The 2026 designees are U.S. private companies that have demonstrated excellence in strategic planning and execution, a commitment to their people, as well as maintaining financial performance and governance. This year’s class is making bold investments in digital transformation, including AI capabilities, and demonstrates the ability to drive sustainable growth and maintain resilience during times of volatility. These organizations are built on a foundation of trust and reflect a sense of purpose that fosters connections with their employees, customers, and communities.

Griffith Foods also earned the distinction of Gold Honoree — companies that have been recognized as a Best Managed Company for four to six years — reflecting consistent achievement and a commitment to ongoing development and growth.

“At Griffith Foods, we are committed to helping our customers create food that is nutritious, sustainable, and preferred by consumers”, said Griffith Foods CEO T.C. Chatterjee. “Guided by our Purpose — ‘we blend care and creativity to nourish the world’ — we are striving to continue to deliver results for and with our customers, while ensuring that we are creating meaningful impact to people and the planet. We are grateful for this recognition as we continue to advance our work and create value for our stakeholders.”

Applicants are evaluated and selected by a panel of external judges focused on assessing hallmarks of excellence in four key areas: strategy, ability to execute, corporate culture, and governance/financial performance. They join a global ecosystem of honorees from more than 44 countries recognized by the Best Managed Companies program.

About the Best Managed Companies Program

The Best Managed Companies program is a mark of excellence for private companies. U.S. designees have revenues of at least $250 million. Hundreds of private companies around the world have competed for this designation in their respective countries through a rigorous and independent process that evaluates four key criteria in their management skills and practices — strategy, execution, culture, and governance/financials. U.S. program sponsors are Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal. For more information, visit www.usbestmanagedcompanies.com.

About Griffith Foods

Griffith Foods is a global product development partner helping food companies meet the evolving needs of consumers with high-quality, culinary driven, customized products. Founded in 1919 and headquartered in Alsip, Illinois, USA, Griffith Foods is a family-owned business known for collaborative innovation guided by its purpose to “Blend Care and Creativity to Nourish the World.”  Operating in over 40 countries across six continents, Griffith Foods employs more than 5,000 people, including over 40 chefs and 340 food scientists, who work together to create solutions that nourish people, planet, and communities.  The company’s product capabilities include seasonings, sauces, dressings, coating systems, and alternative protein solutions. Griffith Foods’ primary areas of focus include Foodservice, Food Manufacturers, Protein Processors, and Retail.

View original content here.

ALSIP, Ill., May 14, 2026 /3BL/ – Griffith Foods is proud to announce it has been selected as a 2026 US Best Managed Company. Sponsored by Deloitte Private* and The Wall Street Journal, the program recognizes outstanding U.S. private companies.

The 2026 designees are U.S. private companies that have demonstrated excellence in strategic planning and execution, a commitment to their people, as well as maintaining financial performance and governance. This year’s class is making bold investments in digital transformation, including AI capabilities, and demonstrates the ability to drive sustainable growth and maintain resilience during times of volatility. These organizations are built on a foundation of trust and reflect a sense of purpose that fosters connections with their employees, customers, and communities.

Griffith Foods also earned the distinction of Gold Honoree — companies that have been recognized as a Best Managed Company for four to six years — reflecting consistent achievement and a commitment to ongoing development and growth.

“At Griffith Foods, we are committed to helping our customers create food that is nutritious, sustainable, and preferred by consumers”, said Griffith Foods CEO T.C. Chatterjee. “Guided by our Purpose — ‘we blend care and creativity to nourish the world’ — we are striving to continue to deliver results for and with our customers, while ensuring that we are creating meaningful impact to people and the planet. We are grateful for this recognition as we continue to advance our work and create value for our stakeholders.”

Applicants are evaluated and selected by a panel of external judges focused on assessing hallmarks of excellence in four key areas: strategy, ability to execute, corporate culture, and governance/financial performance. They join a global ecosystem of honorees from more than 44 countries recognized by the Best Managed Companies program.

About the Best Managed Companies Program

The Best Managed Companies program is a mark of excellence for private companies. U.S. designees have revenues of at least $250 million. Hundreds of private companies around the world have competed for this designation in their respective countries through a rigorous and independent process that evaluates four key criteria in their management skills and practices — strategy, execution, culture, and governance/financials. U.S. program sponsors are Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal. For more information, visit www.usbestmanagedcompanies.com.

About Griffith Foods

Griffith Foods is a global product development partner helping food companies meet the evolving needs of consumers with high-quality, culinary driven, customized products. Founded in 1919 and headquartered in Alsip, Illinois, USA, Griffith Foods is a family-owned business known for collaborative innovation guided by its purpose to “Blend Care and Creativity to Nourish the World.”  Operating in over 40 countries across six continents, Griffith Foods employs more than 5,000 people, including over 40 chefs and 340 food scientists, who work together to create solutions that nourish people, planet, and communities.  The company’s product capabilities include seasonings, sauces, dressings, coating systems, and alternative protein solutions. Griffith Foods’ primary areas of focus include Foodservice, Food Manufacturers, Protein Processors, and Retail.

View original content here.

Originally published on Cisco’s Blog

by DC Nguyen

The following is an excerpt from Cisco’s FY25 Purpose Report. Explore the full report to learn more about how we Power an Inclusive Future for All.

At Cisco, we see resilience as the ability to turn disruption into growth and innovation. Whether it’s responding to a crisis, building AI skills, or investing in nonprofit partners, our goal is to make people and places stronger for the future. Here’s how.

Country Digital Acceleration

This year, we celebrated 10 years of innovation, partnership, and impact.

From powering AI in Saudi Arabia to driving autonomous vehicle innovation in Italy, Cisco’s Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) program demonstrates Cisco’s strategic commitment to advancing digital transformation worldwide. By collaborating with governments, industry, and academia, CDA creates real-world, scalable solutions that address national and local priorities, drive innovation, and expand access to the digital economy.

A Decade of Global Impact

Cisco’s CDA program delivers not just technology, but a pathway to national digital advancement. Here are a few examples of our accomplishments in fiscal 2025:

Canada

Now in its 10th year, Cisco’s Toronto Innovation Centre is powered by strategic investment and partnerships from the CDA program. Featuring a hybrid work studio with Cisco Spaces technology, a newly launched healthcare showcase, and more, the Centre helps customers and partners safely experiment, collaborate, and deliver real-world impact. It’s part of Cisco’s more than CA$200 million annual investment in innovation across Canada.

Italy

Since 2023, Cisco and Politecnico di Milano have partnered to drive innovation in autonomous vehicles, starting with Maserati’s participation in the Mille Miglia, a classic car rally. This collaboration extended autonomous technology to fully electric vehicles and addressed new challenges in long-distance and high-speed contexts. Leveraging these learnings, in fiscal 2025 we became the technology partner for Sharing for Caring, a program that autonomously provides safe, accessible transportation for people in small communities and those with limited mobility.

India

To support India’s digitization efforts, CDA rolled out Cisco on Wheels, a traveling mobile experience center that brings Cisco technology solutions directly to businesses. To date, Cisco on Wheels has traveled to 18 cities across India — from Pune to Vadodara — offering hands-on demonstrations and training across Cisco Meraki secure networking solutions, Webex collaboration tools, and more. Through this program, Cisco is helping organizations advance their digital transformation and expand market reach.

Saudi Arabia

CDA has supported the Kingdom since 2016, driving digitalization and innovation through high-impact projects across healthcare, education, and government. In fiscal 2025, Cisco announced a partnership with Saudi Arabia’s HUMAIN AI enterprise to help build the Kingdom’s AI infrastructure, aiming to create the world’s most open, scalable, resilient, and cost-efficient AI ecosystem.

Learning and Digital Skills

At Cisco, we believe education is the ultimate equalizer, enabling learners to build their career in the digital era.

According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report, 50% of today’s global workforce needs to upskill or reskill to stay relevant. Failure to do so could result in a global GDP loss of up to US$15 trillion by 2030. To meet this challenge, Cisco’s global learning and digital skills portfolio is working across the talent pipeline, unlocking individual opportunity while strengthening global communities.

As one of the world’s longest-standing corporate education ecosystems, we help the workforce of today build the digital skills they need for tomorrow.

In fiscal 2025, we unveiled Learn with Cisco, which brings together our learning programs and helps people upskill at every stage of their careers:

• Cisco Networking Academy: Our IT skills-to-jobs program focusing on early‑career talent and workforce development • Cisco Certifications: Certification programs designed to help shape the modern workforce
• Cisco U.: Personalized technology learning with flexible, digital experiences for professionals
• Cisco Learning Network: A global community of learners designed for networking, collaboration, mentorship, and certification preparation

All In on AI

In our fiscal 2025 survey of Cisco Networking Academy instructors, 87% recognized the importance of teaching AI and ML, but only 10% felt equipped to do so. 

To help address this, Learn with Cisco expanded access to free, high-demand AI trainings, including Cisco Networking Academy’s Introduction to Modern AI and Understanding AI and LLMs as a Network Engineer on Cisco U.

In addition to existing AI features like My Knowledge Check, we are innovating to make courses more interactive and personalized — like our new Data Science Essentials with Python course featuring an embedded, context-aware AI assistant that acts as a personal tutor.

Cisco Networking Academy Around the World

Cisco Networking Academy empowers learners, educators, and communities worldwide through in-person and online technology courses — all for free.

In partnership with governments, schools, and nonprofits, we align digital skills training with workforce and transformation needs.

This year, we focused on reaching more learners in more places. Our learning platform is now available across 195 countries in eight languages, including Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese. We also focused on digital accessibility, partnering with Teach Access on a new teaching accessibility resource for educators.

Australia

To address digital skills shortages in the health sector, the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, in partnership with Cisco Networking Academy and Grampians Health, launched five learning modules focused on digital health foundations and emerging AI technologies. Following the pilot’s strong uptake, the Victorian Government committed an additional AU$5 million to expand the initiative across Victoria in key skills shortage areas.

Brazil

In fiscal 2025, Cisco Networking Academy reached a major milestone in Brazil: empowering over one million learners with digital skills. This impact was made possible through partnerships with more than 600 institutions and over 1,400 active instructors across the country, from urban centers like São Paulo to remote villages in the Amazon.

Germany

In Germany, there are an estimated 140,000 IT jobs unfilled due to lack of candidates. Through our partnership with the ReDI School of Digital Integration, Cisco Networking Academy is working to build a qualified talent pipeline, reaching over 900 student learners in fiscal 2025. Further, through our broader Cisco Networking Academy outreach in Germany, we supported more than 77,000 students and 400 Cisco Networking Academies.

Read the full FY25 Purpose Report

At Cisco, our Purpose is core to who we are and what we do. Learn more about our goals and progress to date in our Purpose Reporting Hub.
 

Originally published on Cisco’s Blog

by DC Nguyen

The following is an excerpt from Cisco’s FY25 Purpose Report. Explore the full report to learn more about how we Power an Inclusive Future for All.

At Cisco, we see resilience as the ability to turn disruption into growth and innovation. Whether it’s responding to a crisis, building AI skills, or investing in nonprofit partners, our goal is to make people and places stronger for the future. Here’s how.

Country Digital Acceleration

This year, we celebrated 10 years of innovation, partnership, and impact.

From powering AI in Saudi Arabia to driving autonomous vehicle innovation in Italy, Cisco’s Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) program demonstrates Cisco’s strategic commitment to advancing digital transformation worldwide. By collaborating with governments, industry, and academia, CDA creates real-world, scalable solutions that address national and local priorities, drive innovation, and expand access to the digital economy.

A Decade of Global Impact

Cisco’s CDA program delivers not just technology, but a pathway to national digital advancement. Here are a few examples of our accomplishments in fiscal 2025:

Canada

Now in its 10th year, Cisco’s Toronto Innovation Centre is powered by strategic investment and partnerships from the CDA program. Featuring a hybrid work studio with Cisco Spaces technology, a newly launched healthcare showcase, and more, the Centre helps customers and partners safely experiment, collaborate, and deliver real-world impact. It’s part of Cisco’s more than CA$200 million annual investment in innovation across Canada.

Italy

Since 2023, Cisco and Politecnico di Milano have partnered to drive innovation in autonomous vehicles, starting with Maserati’s participation in the Mille Miglia, a classic car rally. This collaboration extended autonomous technology to fully electric vehicles and addressed new challenges in long-distance and high-speed contexts. Leveraging these learnings, in fiscal 2025 we became the technology partner for Sharing for Caring, a program that autonomously provides safe, accessible transportation for people in small communities and those with limited mobility.

India

To support India’s digitization efforts, CDA rolled out Cisco on Wheels, a traveling mobile experience center that brings Cisco technology solutions directly to businesses. To date, Cisco on Wheels has traveled to 18 cities across India — from Pune to Vadodara — offering hands-on demonstrations and training across Cisco Meraki secure networking solutions, Webex collaboration tools, and more. Through this program, Cisco is helping organizations advance their digital transformation and expand market reach.

Saudi Arabia

CDA has supported the Kingdom since 2016, driving digitalization and innovation through high-impact projects across healthcare, education, and government. In fiscal 2025, Cisco announced a partnership with Saudi Arabia’s HUMAIN AI enterprise to help build the Kingdom’s AI infrastructure, aiming to create the world’s most open, scalable, resilient, and cost-efficient AI ecosystem.

Learning and Digital Skills

At Cisco, we believe education is the ultimate equalizer, enabling learners to build their career in the digital era.

According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report, 50% of today’s global workforce needs to upskill or reskill to stay relevant. Failure to do so could result in a global GDP loss of up to US$15 trillion by 2030. To meet this challenge, Cisco’s global learning and digital skills portfolio is working across the talent pipeline, unlocking individual opportunity while strengthening global communities.

As one of the world’s longest-standing corporate education ecosystems, we help the workforce of today build the digital skills they need for tomorrow.

In fiscal 2025, we unveiled Learn with Cisco, which brings together our learning programs and helps people upskill at every stage of their careers:

• Cisco Networking Academy: Our IT skills-to-jobs program focusing on early‑career talent and workforce development • Cisco Certifications: Certification programs designed to help shape the modern workforce
• Cisco U.: Personalized technology learning with flexible, digital experiences for professionals
• Cisco Learning Network: A global community of learners designed for networking, collaboration, mentorship, and certification preparation

All In on AI

In our fiscal 2025 survey of Cisco Networking Academy instructors, 87% recognized the importance of teaching AI and ML, but only 10% felt equipped to do so. 

To help address this, Learn with Cisco expanded access to free, high-demand AI trainings, including Cisco Networking Academy’s Introduction to Modern AI and Understanding AI and LLMs as a Network Engineer on Cisco U.

In addition to existing AI features like My Knowledge Check, we are innovating to make courses more interactive and personalized — like our new Data Science Essentials with Python course featuring an embedded, context-aware AI assistant that acts as a personal tutor.

Cisco Networking Academy Around the World

Cisco Networking Academy empowers learners, educators, and communities worldwide through in-person and online technology courses — all for free.

In partnership with governments, schools, and nonprofits, we align digital skills training with workforce and transformation needs.

This year, we focused on reaching more learners in more places. Our learning platform is now available across 195 countries in eight languages, including Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese. We also focused on digital accessibility, partnering with Teach Access on a new teaching accessibility resource for educators.

Australia

To address digital skills shortages in the health sector, the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, in partnership with Cisco Networking Academy and Grampians Health, launched five learning modules focused on digital health foundations and emerging AI technologies. Following the pilot’s strong uptake, the Victorian Government committed an additional AU$5 million to expand the initiative across Victoria in key skills shortage areas.

Brazil

In fiscal 2025, Cisco Networking Academy reached a major milestone in Brazil: empowering over one million learners with digital skills. This impact was made possible through partnerships with more than 600 institutions and over 1,400 active instructors across the country, from urban centers like São Paulo to remote villages in the Amazon.

Germany

In Germany, there are an estimated 140,000 IT jobs unfilled due to lack of candidates. Through our partnership with the ReDI School of Digital Integration, Cisco Networking Academy is working to build a qualified talent pipeline, reaching over 900 student learners in fiscal 2025. Further, through our broader Cisco Networking Academy outreach in Germany, we supported more than 77,000 students and 400 Cisco Networking Academies.

Read the full FY25 Purpose Report

At Cisco, our Purpose is core to who we are and what we do. Learn more about our goals and progress to date in our Purpose Reporting Hub.
 

Originally published on Cisco’s Blog

by DC Nguyen

The following is an excerpt from Cisco’s FY25 Purpose Report. Explore the full report to learn more about how we Power an Inclusive Future for All.

At Cisco, we see resilience as the ability to turn disruption into growth and innovation. Whether it’s responding to a crisis, building AI skills, or investing in nonprofit partners, our goal is to make people and places stronger for the future. Here’s how.

Country Digital Acceleration

This year, we celebrated 10 years of innovation, partnership, and impact.

From powering AI in Saudi Arabia to driving autonomous vehicle innovation in Italy, Cisco’s Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) program demonstrates Cisco’s strategic commitment to advancing digital transformation worldwide. By collaborating with governments, industry, and academia, CDA creates real-world, scalable solutions that address national and local priorities, drive innovation, and expand access to the digital economy.

A Decade of Global Impact

Cisco’s CDA program delivers not just technology, but a pathway to national digital advancement. Here are a few examples of our accomplishments in fiscal 2025:

Canada

Now in its 10th year, Cisco’s Toronto Innovation Centre is powered by strategic investment and partnerships from the CDA program. Featuring a hybrid work studio with Cisco Spaces technology, a newly launched healthcare showcase, and more, the Centre helps customers and partners safely experiment, collaborate, and deliver real-world impact. It’s part of Cisco’s more than CA$200 million annual investment in innovation across Canada.

Italy

Since 2023, Cisco and Politecnico di Milano have partnered to drive innovation in autonomous vehicles, starting with Maserati’s participation in the Mille Miglia, a classic car rally. This collaboration extended autonomous technology to fully electric vehicles and addressed new challenges in long-distance and high-speed contexts. Leveraging these learnings, in fiscal 2025 we became the technology partner for Sharing for Caring, a program that autonomously provides safe, accessible transportation for people in small communities and those with limited mobility.

India

To support India’s digitization efforts, CDA rolled out Cisco on Wheels, a traveling mobile experience center that brings Cisco technology solutions directly to businesses. To date, Cisco on Wheels has traveled to 18 cities across India — from Pune to Vadodara — offering hands-on demonstrations and training across Cisco Meraki secure networking solutions, Webex collaboration tools, and more. Through this program, Cisco is helping organizations advance their digital transformation and expand market reach.

Saudi Arabia

CDA has supported the Kingdom since 2016, driving digitalization and innovation through high-impact projects across healthcare, education, and government. In fiscal 2025, Cisco announced a partnership with Saudi Arabia’s HUMAIN AI enterprise to help build the Kingdom’s AI infrastructure, aiming to create the world’s most open, scalable, resilient, and cost-efficient AI ecosystem.

Learning and Digital Skills

At Cisco, we believe education is the ultimate equalizer, enabling learners to build their career in the digital era.

According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report, 50% of today’s global workforce needs to upskill or reskill to stay relevant. Failure to do so could result in a global GDP loss of up to US$15 trillion by 2030. To meet this challenge, Cisco’s global learning and digital skills portfolio is working across the talent pipeline, unlocking individual opportunity while strengthening global communities.

As one of the world’s longest-standing corporate education ecosystems, we help the workforce of today build the digital skills they need for tomorrow.

In fiscal 2025, we unveiled Learn with Cisco, which brings together our learning programs and helps people upskill at every stage of their careers:

• Cisco Networking Academy: Our IT skills-to-jobs program focusing on early‑career talent and workforce development • Cisco Certifications: Certification programs designed to help shape the modern workforce
• Cisco U.: Personalized technology learning with flexible, digital experiences for professionals
• Cisco Learning Network: A global community of learners designed for networking, collaboration, mentorship, and certification preparation

All In on AI

In our fiscal 2025 survey of Cisco Networking Academy instructors, 87% recognized the importance of teaching AI and ML, but only 10% felt equipped to do so. 

To help address this, Learn with Cisco expanded access to free, high-demand AI trainings, including Cisco Networking Academy’s Introduction to Modern AI and Understanding AI and LLMs as a Network Engineer on Cisco U.

In addition to existing AI features like My Knowledge Check, we are innovating to make courses more interactive and personalized — like our new Data Science Essentials with Python course featuring an embedded, context-aware AI assistant that acts as a personal tutor.

Cisco Networking Academy Around the World

Cisco Networking Academy empowers learners, educators, and communities worldwide through in-person and online technology courses — all for free.

In partnership with governments, schools, and nonprofits, we align digital skills training with workforce and transformation needs.

This year, we focused on reaching more learners in more places. Our learning platform is now available across 195 countries in eight languages, including Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese. We also focused on digital accessibility, partnering with Teach Access on a new teaching accessibility resource for educators.

Australia

To address digital skills shortages in the health sector, the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, in partnership with Cisco Networking Academy and Grampians Health, launched five learning modules focused on digital health foundations and emerging AI technologies. Following the pilot’s strong uptake, the Victorian Government committed an additional AU$5 million to expand the initiative across Victoria in key skills shortage areas.

Brazil

In fiscal 2025, Cisco Networking Academy reached a major milestone in Brazil: empowering over one million learners with digital skills. This impact was made possible through partnerships with more than 600 institutions and over 1,400 active instructors across the country, from urban centers like São Paulo to remote villages in the Amazon.

Germany

In Germany, there are an estimated 140,000 IT jobs unfilled due to lack of candidates. Through our partnership with the ReDI School of Digital Integration, Cisco Networking Academy is working to build a qualified talent pipeline, reaching over 900 student learners in fiscal 2025. Further, through our broader Cisco Networking Academy outreach in Germany, we supported more than 77,000 students and 400 Cisco Networking Academies.

Read the full FY25 Purpose Report

At Cisco, our Purpose is core to who we are and what we do. Learn more about our goals and progress to date in our Purpose Reporting Hub.
 

Originally published on newsroom.marykay.com

DALLAS, TX, May 14, 2026 /3BL/ – Mary Kay Inc., a global leader in beauty and entrepreneurship, announces the launch of its Global Social Squad (GSS) Pilot Program – a groundbreaking initiative designed to empower Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultants (IBCs) as dynamic digital brand advocates and next-generation social media storytellers.

Launching in select markets worldwide in 2026, the Global Social Squad Pilot Program represents a strategic evolution in how Mary Kay connects with consumers and amplifies brand and product awareness, while positioning the Mary Kay business opportunity in a social-first business environment, across digital platforms, timelines, and geographies.

Empowering Independent Beauty Consultants to Shape a New Era of Digital Leadership

The Global Social Squad ignites a diverse and talented group of Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultants who exemplify authenticity, creativity, and social media expertise. These digital leaders create engaging, high-quality content, participate in global campaign activations, and share practical social media strategies with their communities and other Independent Beauty Consultants, fuelling both brand relevance and business growth.

“At Mary Kay, our influencers are our Independent Beauty Consultants,” said Tara Eustace, Chief Opportunity & Sales Officer at Mary Kay. “In a social-first business environment, the potential to connect has never been greater. The Mary Kay Global Social Squad Program is empowering our Independent Beauty Consultants to lead in the digital space by unlocking the power of authentic storytelling and building meaningful connections with beauty lovers and budding entrepreneurs around the world.”

Why This Matters

The Global Social Squad Pilot Program is designed to energize and expand the Mary Kay community through the influence of a pipeline of social-first leaders. Mary Kay’s Global Social Squad aims to:

• Elevate brand awareness and perception through fresh, on-trend content.
• Drive product discovery with authentic user-generated content.
• Power social storytelling and engagement with consumers across global markets.
• Strengthen peer-to-peer education through real-world social media insights.
• Inspire others by showcasing the Mary Kay business opportunity.

How the Pilot Program Works

• The 73 Global Social Squad members were revealed on Friday, March 13, with representation across 15 markets in four regions: North America, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Europe.
• Members receive exclusive merchandise, participate in content challenges, and access ongoing education and development opportunities throughout the year.

This focused pilot approach enables Mary Kay to test, learn, and scale effectively, with expansion opportunities for full-scale rollout in 2027 and beyond.

By investing in digital leadership and empowering its global community of Independent Beauty Consultants to embrace a new era where opportunities expand with social reach, Mary Kay is building a scalable, future-ready model that blends entrepreneurship, creativity, and personal connection.

Discover the Mary Kay Global Social Squad here.

***

About Mary Kay

One of the original glass ceiling breakers, Mary Kay Ash founded her dream beauty brand in Texas in 1963 with one goal: to enrich women’s lives. That dream has blossomed into a global company with millions of independent sales force members in 40 markets. For over 60 years, the Mary Kay opportunity has empowered women to define their own futures through education, mentorship, advocacy, and innovation. Mary Kay is dedicated to investing in the science behind beauty and manufacturing cutting-edge skincare, color cosmetics, nutritional supplements, and fragrances. Mary Kay believes in preserving our planet for future generations, protecting women impacted by cancer and domestic abuse, and encouraging youth to follow their dreams. Learn more at marykayglobal.com. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, or follow us on X.

###

Originally published on newsroom.marykay.com

DALLAS, TX, May 14, 2026 /3BL/ – Mary Kay Inc., a global leader in beauty and entrepreneurship, announces the launch of its Global Social Squad (GSS) Pilot Program – a groundbreaking initiative designed to empower Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultants (IBCs) as dynamic digital brand advocates and next-generation social media storytellers.

Launching in select markets worldwide in 2026, the Global Social Squad Pilot Program represents a strategic evolution in how Mary Kay connects with consumers and amplifies brand and product awareness, while positioning the Mary Kay business opportunity in a social-first business environment, across digital platforms, timelines, and geographies.

Empowering Independent Beauty Consultants to Shape a New Era of Digital Leadership

The Global Social Squad ignites a diverse and talented group of Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultants who exemplify authenticity, creativity, and social media expertise. These digital leaders create engaging, high-quality content, participate in global campaign activations, and share practical social media strategies with their communities and other Independent Beauty Consultants, fuelling both brand relevance and business growth.

“At Mary Kay, our influencers are our Independent Beauty Consultants,” said Tara Eustace, Chief Opportunity & Sales Officer at Mary Kay. “In a social-first business environment, the potential to connect has never been greater. The Mary Kay Global Social Squad Program is empowering our Independent Beauty Consultants to lead in the digital space by unlocking the power of authentic storytelling and building meaningful connections with beauty lovers and budding entrepreneurs around the world.”

Why This Matters

The Global Social Squad Pilot Program is designed to energize and expand the Mary Kay community through the influence of a pipeline of social-first leaders. Mary Kay’s Global Social Squad aims to:

• Elevate brand awareness and perception through fresh, on-trend content.
• Drive product discovery with authentic user-generated content.
• Power social storytelling and engagement with consumers across global markets.
• Strengthen peer-to-peer education through real-world social media insights.
• Inspire others by showcasing the Mary Kay business opportunity.

How the Pilot Program Works

• The 73 Global Social Squad members were revealed on Friday, March 13, with representation across 15 markets in four regions: North America, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Europe.
• Members receive exclusive merchandise, participate in content challenges, and access ongoing education and development opportunities throughout the year.

This focused pilot approach enables Mary Kay to test, learn, and scale effectively, with expansion opportunities for full-scale rollout in 2027 and beyond.

By investing in digital leadership and empowering its global community of Independent Beauty Consultants to embrace a new era where opportunities expand with social reach, Mary Kay is building a scalable, future-ready model that blends entrepreneurship, creativity, and personal connection.

Discover the Mary Kay Global Social Squad here.

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About Mary Kay

One of the original glass ceiling breakers, Mary Kay Ash founded her dream beauty brand in Texas in 1963 with one goal: to enrich women’s lives. That dream has blossomed into a global company with millions of independent sales force members in 40 markets. For over 60 years, the Mary Kay opportunity has empowered women to define their own futures through education, mentorship, advocacy, and innovation. Mary Kay is dedicated to investing in the science behind beauty and manufacturing cutting-edge skincare, color cosmetics, nutritional supplements, and fragrances. Mary Kay believes in preserving our planet for future generations, protecting women impacted by cancer and domestic abuse, and encouraging youth to follow their dreams. Learn more at marykayglobal.com. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, or follow us on X.

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