Arvind Satyam

Managing Director, Global Public Sector, Cisco

Arvind is a global tech leader, investor, board advisor, speaker and avid traveler. He is passionately exploring the opportunities and implications of scaling technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), internet of things (IoT), big data and their impact on the quality of citizen life – ranging from public health, smarter cities, environmental sustainability, financial inclusion, skills training and employment.

As, Managing Director, Global Public Sector at Cisco, he leads the development of Cisco’s critical infrastructure strategy and portfolio for city, state and national governments. He is also in charge of sales and public private partnerships financed by international development institutions including: the World Bank, IFC, IDB, European Commission, US trade institutions and private equity funds. Previously, Arvind led Telco Service Provider sales, strategic partnerships and venture investments for Cisco’s IOT and Smart City business. Prior to this, Arvind had roles executing venture investments, acquisitions and strategic alliances for Cisco’s $10B services and solutions business.

Arvind has undergraduate and masters degrees in computer science and finance from University of New South Wales, and is an alumnus of Harvard Business School. In 2019, Arvind completed the Harvard John F. Kennedy School’s Global Leadership and Public Policy for the 21st Century Program. Arvind also studied at the Kenan-Flagler business school, University of North Carolina, where he now serves as an Adams advisor, committed to developing the next generation of student leaders. Additionally, Arvind is committed to leveraging technology for social impact efforts and helping organizations prepare for implications of new technologies. Arvind is also on the technology board for Companions in Courage, a nonprofit that collaborates with children’s hospitals, connecting patients with their heroes, favorite athletes, and other children overcoming illness and life-threatening obstacles. He is on the advisory board of fast-growing startups, World Sensing, EQITII and Urbanise, and is a member of the Governor of Illinois's technology advisory board.

Arvind is a passionate speaker on topics related to Internet of Things, Smart Cities, smart regulation, and big data, and has spoken at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, IOT World Forum in London & Dubai and the World Economic Forum AMNC meeting in Tianjin. He has contributed to articles for The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg Finance, The Atlantic, The New York Times, Fortune, ZDNet, Harvard Business School Alumni Magazine and L’Atelier. Arvind was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2018 and a Young Leader by World Cities Summit in 2016.

“I am honored to be a part of the Global Teacher Prize, to raise awareness for educators and to celebrate the magnificent roles teachers play in our lives. Teachers have been some of the most influential people in my life, starting with my grandfather, who taught math and sciences.  I believe great teachers go beyond filling the minds of students with facts, rather they teach them to think and dream for themselves. This is particularly important in today’s world which is changing at a rapid pace, and we expect to hold many jobs during the course of our working lives.”