Kate Roberts

Kate Roberts - Senior Manager of Partnership Development within Corporate Responsibility - Cisco Systems.

"As Senior Manager of Partnership Development within Corporate Responsibility at Cisco Systems, Kate Roberts leads Cisco's Networking Academy Program partner development efforts that accelerate the advancement and sustainability of IT and Internet knowledge in developing countries. The Cisco Networking Academy positively transforms individual lives and communities through Internet-based learning and educational opportunities, giving people the skills necessary to find employment and make a better life for themselves and their families.  Working with partners such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the State Department's US Agency for International Development (USAID), as well as corporate sponsors such as HP and Panduit, Ms. Roberts orchestrates the strategy, funding and deployment of Networking Academies in the world's most impoverished areas.  She also oversees the global gender initiative for the program, ensuring that women are not left out of this empowering educational opportunity.

"Previously, Ms. Roberts drove key initiatives with several of Cisco's largest strategic alliance partners, HP, KPMG and IBM, blending business acumen and relationship building skills to produce outcomes that were jointly beneficial and profitable. An 18-year veteran of the high-tech industry, prior to joining Cisco she led sales and channel management efforts with Adaptec, Cardinal Technologies, Global Village and Western Digital.

"Keenly interested in women's issues, she currently serves on the board of Laura's House, a domestic violence services agency in southern California, and volunteers with Save the Children, where she recently organized and led a women's empowerment delegation to Ethiopia and Uganda.

An avid photographer, linguist, and traveler, Ms. Roberts' adventures can be followed on her website: www.thewiredwoman.com.“


 * Director, NetAid