Cisco Podcast Network

AB sits down with Akshay Bhargava, Cisco's VP of Product Management, AI Software and Platform, to chat about AgenticOps, how Cisco is providing guardrails to keep AI safe, and the risks modern businesses face if they fail to adopt AI quickly.

AB chats with Anthony Grieco, Cisco's SVP & Chief Security & Trust Officer, Security and Trust Organization. and Eric Wenger, Cisco's Senior Director, Technology Policy, Global Government Affairs, about how Cisco is revolutionizing product security by removing insecure protocols, updating defaults, and strengthening authentication across our portfolio.

In this month’s episode of The Cisco AI Insights Podcast, hosts Rafael Herrera and Sónia Marques explore the evolving landscape of sentiment analysis with Cisco machine learning engineer Joan Rossello. The conversation centers on the research paper from Imperial College London, “FinDPO: Financial Sentiment Analysis for Algorithmic Trading Through Preference Optimization of LLMs,” which proposes a new way to train large language models to better interpret nuanced human language.

By comparing output quality, this preference-based training improved generalization and helped models interpret complex financial language without relying on simple memorization. Additionally, the discussion explored how sentiment scores derived from model probabilities were used to rank companies based on the strength of their news coverage, yielding promising results.

A special thank you to the team that developed this month's paper. If you are interested in reading the paper yourself, please visit this link: ⁠ https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.18417

In this episode of Shift Happens, Jeff Edwards sits down with Mario Castro, the executive leading Cisco's $2B+ AI Infrastructure business, for a candid conversation on what it really takes to build AI that works at enterprise scale.
Everyone is talking about AI. Far fewer are prepared for what it actually demands.
Mario breaks through the noise to explain why successful AI adoption has very little to do with flashy demos-and everything to do with infrastructure, security, readiness, and execution. From building what he calls a Secure AI Factory to helping organizations shift from experimentation to measurable outcomes, Mario shares the lessons leaders need now if they want to stay competitive.

Why listen:
🚀 The AI Readiness Gap - Mario explains why many organizations are still underprepared for enterprise AI and what separates the builders from the observers.
🛡️ Why Secure AI Matters - Learn why infrastructure, trust, and security are becoming the non-negotiable foundation for every serious AI strategy.
📈 From Experiment to Impact - Hear how businesses can move beyond AI pilots and start driving real operational and revenue value.

Mario also shares the leadership framework that has guided him through every major technology shift of the last three decades: Listen. Learn. Act. Measure. Celebrate. It's practical, proven, and especially relevant as organizations navigate today's AI acceleration.

Because AI isn't just about moving fast-it's about building something that lasts. Let's Make Shift Happen.

Ian finally finished his book, so naturally it is time to deep dive into it... "Be the Unicorn" by William Vanderbloemen, exploring what it truly means to be a unicorn at work—the rare, top-performing individual who goes beyond their job description.

Ian and Kat unpack several of the habits that set unicorns apart, such as being highly responsive (even when you don’t have all the answers). The hosts share candid stories from their own experiences, including the importance of seeking feedback, building relationships, and staying curious. Along the way, they discuss how trust and communication underpin many of these traits and reflect on the balance between work ethic and personal priorities.

Expect plenty of laughs, real-world examples, and the usual commentary from Ian’s dogs. Whether you’re aiming to level up your leadership skills or just curious about what makes a unicorn tick, this episode will help you stand out without trying too hard.

As always...give us a click: https://www.cisco.com/site/us/en/solutions/small-business/index.html#tabs-a107e9a621-item-b27a5c1e52-tab