Jen Kirkpatrick
Vice President of the Americas Specialists
Cisco Systems
Jen Kirkpatrick brings invaluable sales experience to the technology solutions industry and
is recognized for championing best-practice solutions, building lasting relationships with
her teams and customers, and executing strategies that deliver impactful results.
Consequently, Jen is a passionate thought leader and speaker who has the unique ability to
articulate complex technical topics to diverse audiences and key stakeholders.
Over her career at Cisco, Jen has redefined industry standards and played a critical role in
numerous transformative initiatives. In her most recent role as the VP of Americas
Networking Sales, Jen was instrumental in converging the Cisco Meraki and Cisco
Enterprise Networking teams into one, high-performing sales team in the Americas.
Similarly, the Cisco Software and Services Transformation, along with the Sales Customer
Experience Program, are past initiatives that reflect Jen’s positive influence as a leader.
As the recently named Vice President of Americas Specialists, Jen works alongside her
team of specialists across all Cisco architectures to deliver the One Cisco platform to
customers looking to scale, simplify and secure their environment in today’s AI era. This
change in go-to-market strategy for Cisco is one of the most significant changes in Cisco
history and it’s no surprise that Cisco leadership named Jen Kirkpatrick to lead the
Americas through this evolution.
Jen is deeply committed to fostering diversity and inclusion at Cisco and is proud to
champion OneTen, Girls in Tech and serve as the Executive Sponsor for Women of Cisco
US. Jen is also passionate about supporting various charitable organizations in and out of
Cisco, with American Heart Association, Blood Cancer United and Covenant House being
at the top of her list.
Jen is a lifelong Ohioan and a graduate of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Outside of work,
Jen enjoys cheering on Ohio State and all of the Cleveland professional sports teams,
beach vacations, family time, and gardening at her home in Cleveland, Ohio, where she
resides with her husband and two daughters, Kylie and Keira.
UPCOMING TALK
Leading Through Transformation
Transformation has become a constant of modern professional life, yet the announcement of one is still met with hesitation. Drawing on nearly three decades in the technology industry, this Cisco sales leader has led teams through reorganizations, integrations, and new operating models of every scale. The transformations that shaped her most, however, extended well beyond the organizational chart. In this keynote, she presents three of them. The first is the transformation she was called to lead: integrating two global teams, each with its own culture and convictions. The second is the transformation she chose: a deliberate, step-by-step commitment to her own health. The third is the transformation that chose her: a sudden family medical crisis that demanded every ounce of her strength.
Each story reveals a capability that is seldom taught in leadership programs but is essential to navigating change. Women develop these capabilities at every stage of life and career, often without recognition, including from themselves. Attendees at every point in their professional journey will leave with a renewed understanding that they are already fully equipped to lead through transformation, and with an invitation to learn to love it.