Executive Bio
Mr. John T. Chambers serves as the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of JC2 Ventures. In his role, Chambers focuses on helping disruptive startups from around the world build and scale, while also promoting the broader development of startup nations and a startup world. He has been Chairman Emeritus of Cisco Systems, Inc. since December 11, 2017. Mr. Chambers served as Executive Chairman at Cisco Systems, Inc. from July 26, 2015 to December 11, 2017 and as its Executive Director from November 1993 to December 11, 2017. Mr. Chambers is Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of Executive Council at TechNet. He served as the Chief Executive Officer at Cisco Systems, Inc. from January 31, 1995 to July 26, 2015. He served as the President at Cisco Systems, Inc. from January 31, 1995 to November 2006. He joined Cisco Systems Inc. in 1991 and served as its Senior Vice President of Worldwide Sales & Operations since January 1991 and Executive Vice President since June 1994. He served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of TransMedia Communications, Inc. He served as the Chief Executive Officer of Cisco Cable Products and Solutions A/S, a subsidiary of Cisco Systems Inc. He served with Wang Laboratories for eight years and served as its Senior Vice President of U.S. Operations. He served at Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Wang Global, Inc. He served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of American Internet Corporation. He served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of StrataCom, Inc. He served as the Chief Executive Officer and President of HyNEX Ltd., NetSys Technologies, WebLine Communications Corporation, Growth Networks, Inc., and served as the Chief Executive Officer of Combinet, Inc. He was six years with IBM. He has been a Director of OpenGov, Inc. since May 2016. He has been a Director of Pindrop Security, Inc. since February 23, 2017. He serves as a Director of Wal-Mart Stores Inc., The International Engineering Consortium and Cisco Systems Foundation. He serves as a Trustee of Silatech. He served as a Director of American Internet Corporation, Growth Networks, Inc., InfoGear Technology Corporation, PipeLinks, Inc., NetSys Technologies, WebLine Communications Corporation and Combinet, Inc. He has been lauded by government leaders and countless publications worldwide for his visionary strategy, his ability to drive an entrepreneurial culture and his warm-hearted, straight-talking approach. He served to American President. He served as Vice Chairman of the President George Bush National Infrastructure Advisory Council (NIAC). He provides industry experience and leadership to help protect the critical infrastructure of the United States. He served on President Bush's Transition Team, Education Committee and served on President Bill Clinton's Trade Policy Committee. He spearheaded several key global initiatives, including co-sponsorship of the Jordan Education Initiative, in partnership with his Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan and the World Economic Forum. He is a two-time winner of the Best Investor Relations by a CEO award by Barrons and IR Magazines and he received the prestigious Woodrow Wilson Award for Corporate Citizenship from the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars of the Smithsonian Institution. Recently, in January 2006, he was also named The Most Influential CEO in telecommunications and Data Networking category by Institutional Investor magazine and in February he was awarded the prestigious Excellence in Corporate Philanthropy Award from the Committee to Encourage Corporate Philanthropy (CECP), an international forum of more than 120 Chief Executive Officers and board chairpersons focused on corporate philanthropy and The Most Influential Person in Communications by Telecom Magazine. In November 2005, Mr. Chambers accepted the prestigious Award for Corporate Excellence from Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for Cisco's co-sponsorship of the Jordan Education Initiative, on which Cisco has worked in partnership with his Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan and the World Economic Forum. He received 2005 International Partner award, from California Israel Chamber of Commerce. Man of the year for the year 2005 by San Jose Magazine. The Most Powerful Person in Networking, by Network World, Chief Executive Officer of the Year by Chief Executive Magazine, Best Boss in America, by 20/20, Number 2 Chief Executive Officer in America, by Worth Magazine, Internet Industry Leader Award, from U.S. Internet Council, My Boss is a Patriot award, from ESGR, Above and Beyond award, from ESGR, America's Best Chief Executive Officer, by Institutional Investor Magazine, also, one among 100 Most Influential People in Finance, Frederick D. Patterson Award, by United Negro College Fund, 2002 Industry Hall of Fame Award, by Channel Reseller News, Spirit of Achievement Award, by NCLD, Outstanding Achiever's Award, by Lab School of Washington, Champion of Workplace Learning, by ASTD, Top 10 Most Influential Leaders Shaping Technology, Time Digital, Number six, high-tech's top 100 high rollers for 1999, by Upside Magazine, Mr. Internet, Top 25 Executives Worldwide, by Business Week, Founders Leadership Circle, National Conference for Community and Justice Community Leader Award, Award for Excellence in Workplace Volunteer Programs, 2005, Points of Light Foundation, The Virtual Vision Technology Leadership Award, by Sensory Access Foundation and World's Highest Capacity Internet Router, by Guinness Book of World Records, 2004. He has received numerous other awards including the Smithsonian Lifetime Achievement award and the Presidential Award: Ron Brown Award for Corporate Leadershi President from the Business Council. Mr. Chambers holds JD and a Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Arts degree in Business from West Virginia University in 1974 and 1971 respectively. He received a Masters of Business Administration degree in Finance and Management from Indiana University in 1975.