Cisco’s internal hiring process is broken. Leaders have realized that by restricting hiring to lateral internal moves, they can bypass HR entirely—giving them full control to handpick whoever they want without ever posting opportunities then putting Diversity at the top of their QBR. This has created a closed system where promotions and career moves are based entirely on who you know—not merit.
A leader directly under Phil recently stated that they only wanted to see resumes from women for a leadership role. Regardless of intent, this is not how hiring should work. By keeping everything internal and off the books, Cisco has eliminated transparency, accountability, and fair competition.
I’d go to HR, but let’s be honest—HR at Cisco doesn’t have a great track record of handling these things, and speaking up would immediately expose me. So instead, I’m putting this out here: How can Cisco claim to support diversity, fairness, and career growth when leaders are openly gatekeeping opportunities based on personal preferences?