- with this leadership team doesn't look bright at all.
Their only collective skills seems to be cost management, and even for that they only have a single approach lacking in creativity that's endemic under CR. He's instituted mediocrity as a Cisco core value. Keeping milking the same ole tired revenue sources while reducing your operating costs. Don't make any innovative bets! Don't anticipate industry trends!
Despite investing billions in acquisitions, revenue has been stagnant and then has started to decrease in double digits for core revenue sources even before the pandemic. But other revenues have grown! Yeah, services and some software, but remember those will also dry out if the core solutions move away from the current model Cisco designs software for... and that is inevitably happening.
Investors should demand a dramatic revamping of the leadership. It's ridiculous that despite the 10 year strategy of "workforce restructuring" to supposedly acquire the skill sets required to grow the company, a total old timer with a now well-established record of managing a crumbling business is still at the helm, along with a band of other leaders that ain't exactly spring chicken and clearly haven't been able to drive innovation.
Good luck Cisco! And if you qualify for ER - take the $ and run as fast as you can. Cisco makes people over 45 feels like they are useless ballast. Elsewhere, you'll feel appreciated and what's more, you'll work in an environment where you truly can make an impact for the better again.