A message from Francine Katsoudas From CSR to purpose For decades Cisco has been evolving and expanding the way it positively impacts people and the planet. These efforts have been described by many names—CSR, ESG, social impact—but at the end of the day, the core of all these efforts has centered around our larger purpose. As such, for the first time we’re publishing our Purpose Report, bringing together our CSR report and the purpose work we’re mapping and operationalizing across the company. This report serves as a way to connect our purpose to the environmental, social, and governance efforts so valued by our internal and external stakeholders. In early 2020 we put words to this mission, establishing our purpose to Power an Inclusive Future for All. We’ve been driving towards this inclusive future for many years, but defining our purpose has helped us operationalize it and instills it as part of our business, not something that sits alongside it. Defining and mapping our purpose efforts also allows our employees to identify their role in powering this work. In the same way that every employee at Cisco is responsible for our Conscious Culture, so too do we want every employee to feel responsible for—and contribute to—our purpose. This is as much a commitment from the company as it is from our employees. Our people often ask the toughest questions around how we are impacting society for the better, from addressing homelessness to combating climate change. And often the best ideas for how we can do even more come directly from them. Future employees expect it too. More and more talent want to work for a company where their work has meaning, where they feel they have purpose. Prospective Cisconians show up to interviews having read about our impact and ask questions about how they can be a part of it. This isn’t just a fad; it’s the future. Cisco is one of only a handful of companies in the Fortune 500 that has stood up a formal Purpose organization focused on operationalizing this work, but I see that changing very soon. Purpose will only become more relevant and central to companies in the years ahead. And we’re excited to build partnerships across the private sector to drive progress on this journey. In the past year and a half we’ve achieved a number of milestones on our purpose journey. From establishing our Social Justice Beliefs and Actions to announcing our net zero commitments, these milestones will contribute to how we positively impact the world. This report provides details around these efforts and so many others. There’s more to come on this journey. As the digital divide continues to exclude individuals and the most vulnerable bear the brunt of climate disasters, we have a long way to go. But with our employees, our customers, and our partners, we can build ecosystems of impact to power a better future with, and for, all. Francine Katsoudas Executive Vice President and Chief People, Policy and Purpose Officer In the same way that every employee at Cisco is responsible for our Conscious Culture, so too do we want every employee to feel responsible for—and contribute to— our purpose. ” FUTURE INTRO POWER INCLUSIVE 4 2021 Cisco Purpose Report | csr.cisco.com | ESG Reporting Hub