Cisco Systems, Inc., founded in 1984 by two Stanford University computer scientists and a pioneer of the concept of a local area network (LAN), is a US multinational technology conglomerate headquartered in San Jose, California, in the center of Silicon Valley. The company’s focus today is helping customers connect, secure, and automate in a cloud-first world to accelerate digital agility.

Cisco has been operating in Japan since 1992, with more than 1,100 employees. It was “Cisco Country of the Year” in 2019 and 2020, and was ranked the #1 Great Place to Work in Japan in 2018 and 2021. Cisco Japan’s focus today is helping customers respond and thrive in the new normal, as well as Japan’s country digitization.

Join us for a special conversation with Dave West, President for Cisco Asia Pacific, Japan, and Greater China (APJC), a 20-year Cisco veteran, as he discusses his role leading the organization to deliver innovation and transformation for Cisco’s customers in the fast-moving competitive market.

The Japan Society of Northern California is proud to present this program as part of the ACCJ/NAJAS Business Leaders Series, a collaboration with The American Chamber of Commerce in Japan and the National Association of Japan-America Societies. The series highlights the Japan-based businesses of global corporations, focusing on business strategies in Japan, successes and challenges, and current perspectives from Japan. This is a fourth of the series following the programs by the Japan-America Society of Indiana with Eli-Lilly in October 2020, by the Japan-America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth with Boeing in January 2021, and the Japan-America Society of Georgia with Aflac in February 2021.

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Date

U.S. — Tuesday, March 2 at 4:30-5:30pm (Pacific Time) / 7:30-8:30pm (Eastern Time)
Japan — Wednesday, March 3, at 9:30-10:30am

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Price

$10 for the Japan Society members
$15 for non-members
Zoom link will be sent upon registration

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Agenda (U.S., Pacific Time)

4:30–4:35 — Opening Remark, Peter Kelley | President, National Association of Japan-America Societies & Laura Younger | Executive Director, The American Chamber of Commerce in Japan

4:35-4:45 — Dave West | President for Cisco Asia Pacific, Japan, and Greater China

4:45–5:05 — Fireside chat with Thomas Jeng | Global Business Development and Strategy, 500 Startups

5:05-5:20 — Q&A

5:20-5:25 — Closing, Takahide Akiyama | President, Takahide Akiyama, Japan Society of Northern California

Our Amazing Speakers

Dave West | President for Cisco Asia Pacific, Japan, and Greater China (APJC)

This group comprises seven organizations operating across a diverse set of markets: Australia and New Zealand, ASEAN, India and SAARC, Korea, Japan, Greater China, and Service Provider. In this role, he is responsible for developing Cisco’s strategy, accelerating business growth, and ensuring Cisco APJC is the most trusted and relevant IT solutions partner and provider in the industry.  Dave is a 20-year Cisco veteran with over 25 years of experience in the ICT industry. His most recent role was President and General Manager for Cisco Japan, where he managed all aspects of the Japanese market, and before that, led Worldwide Sales for Enterprise Networks, with responsibility for the sales, solutions, and engineering motions to deliver innovation and transformation across Cisco’s core portfolio.

Moderator: Thomas Jeng | Global Business Development and Strategy, 500 Startups

Thomas leads the expansion of 500 Startups throughout the world, with a particular focus on building relationships with corporate, government, and university partners. He previously led the firm’s business development efforts in the Asia-Pacific. Prior to joining 500 Startups, Thomas was CEO and Founder of Junction, a marketplace for innovation and digital talent. Thomas previously led advisory services for the financial services industry in the Asia-Pacific for CEB (now Gartner). He began his career at the Boston Consulting Group. Thomas holds an MBA from the Yale School of Management and a degree in International Politics from Georgetown University.