Intro Power Inclusive Future For All FY23 Purpose Report | 10 Looking Ahead Empowering communities through digital access It wasn’t long ago that an organization’s strategy and its technology were considered separate, their reliance on one another a convenience, but not a necessity. That time has passed. Not only have strategy and technology become deeply intertwined for Through Cisco Networking Academy, we’re working to address this skills gap organizations of all kinds, but technology increasingly drives the ways in and help stave o昀昀 a potential skills crisis. It is one of the longest-standing IT which we pursue our personal, academic, and professional lives. Digital skills-to-jobs programs worldwide, and since its inception we’ve trained over access is no longer a privilege for some, but a necessity for all. 20.5 million learners in 190 countries, 11,700 academies, and 27 languages. But something stands between us and a future in which we can all participate. And we’re looking ahead to the future. In early October 2022, we announced A digital divide exists between those who can connect and obtain the skills a new goal, to o昀昀er digital and cybersecurity skills training to 25 million more to participate, and those who cannot. This gap limits people and communities global learners over the next 10 years. from engaging with our societies and an increasingly digital, global economy. There is incredible opportunity in meeting the challenges of this moment. And with the rise of new technologies, the gap is growing. Closing the skills gap will not only bene昀椀t companies and societies Closing this divide would have a transformative impact on both the lives of around the world, but also open doors of opportunity for many who are individuals and the global economy. According to PwC, global inclusion in disproportionately impacted by economic inequality, such as women, ethnic the Internet could bring 7 percent of the world’s population above absolute minorities, and people with disabilities. The potential economic bene昀椀t of poverty levels and add US$6.7 trillion to global economic output. these e昀昀orts is also staggering—according to WEF research, accelerating progress on education and upskilling could add US$8.3 trillion to global gross As a company founded on connection, we know Cisco has a role to play domestic product by 2030. in connecting the unconnected. Through our Country Digital Acceleration No single entity can close the digital divide. The private sector, governments, (CDA) program, we co-invest and co-innovate to expand access and harness connectivity in communities around the world. In partnership with government educational institutions, nonpro昀椀ts, and communities must work together in new leaders, CDA helps countries and communities reach their digitization goals, ways as we look ahead. The pace of change in technology is only increasing, expand online access, and open opportunities for more people to connect to and we must increase the velocity of our collaboration to meet it. digital resources like education, healthcare, and jobs. It's often said that “knowledge is power.” As we enter the fourth industrial revolution, these words were never truer. As we look ahead, digital access and With the advent of generative arti昀椀cial intelligence (Gen AI) and an evolving skills will be fundamental to participating in our societies and economies. We cybersecurity threat landscape, all workers need opportunities for digital skilling and reskilling. The World Economic Forum (WEF) estimates that half the global can’t a昀昀ord to wait, and we can’t a昀昀ord to leave anyone behind. We can close labor force may need reskilling over the next two years, and 1.1 billion jobs will the divide and open opportunities, for all. be transformed by technology in the coming decade. WEF also estimates that 3 million cybersecurity experts are needed to support the current global economy.