News Story

Hill Whiting-Turner Lecture Online

Kathy Hill, Cisco Systems

On December 7, Kathy Hill, senior vice president and general manager of Ethernet and wireless technology for Cisco Systems, delivered the second Whiting-Turner Business and Entrepreneurial Lecture of the academic year titled, "Continuous Innovation."

Hill's thesis was that such innovation is needed in a market in which consumers drive demand, as in the wireless industry. She said continuous innovation is achieved through three methods: astute development of technologies (including fundamentally strong protocol design and close involvement of engineers with customers); acquisition of companies with short and long-term advantages (including immediate “good chemistry” with acquired personnel and shared vision about the importance of specific technologies); and the creation and maintenance of an empowering culture all employees support and further.

Hill’s lecture can be viewed online.

The next Whiting-Turner lecture will be held on March 29. The speaker will be AOL's Ted Leonsis.

December 13, 2006