Strategy and Planning Manager MBA (Intern) - United States

Location: San Francisco, California, US; San Jose, California, US; Austin, Texas, US; RTP, North Carolina, US; Atlanta, Georgia, US

Please note this posting is to advertise potential job opportunities. This exact role may not be open today but could open in the near future. When you apply, a Cisco representative may contact you directly if a relevant position opens.

Applications are accepted until further notice.

Meet the Team

We are Cisco Operations, the organization that drives accelerated growth by powering the company to securely deliver high-quality products and experiences. Our vision is to power a secure Cisco with simplicity, speed, and growth, so customers, partners, and employees choose us every time.

Your Impact

Our MBA Strategy & Planning Rotation Program offers the opportunity to work on high-priority, enterprise-wide strategic initiatives at a global technology leader. You will partner closely with senior leaders to solve complex business problems and drive meaningful impact.

You will lead cross-functional work from concept through execution, translate data into clear, actionable insights, and guide senior-level discussions that build alignment and momentum. By taking ownership, anticipating risks, and communicating effectively, you will deliver measurable outcomes while strategically integrating AI solutions into business processes, analysis, and decision-making.

In this program, you will lead a strategic initiative tied directly to Cisco’s near-term business priorities. Responsibilities may include:

Owning a high-impact project from problem definition through recommendation

Developing business cases, metrics, and KPIs to evaluate program effectiveness

Synthesizing insights into clear, executive-ready presentations

Partnering with cross-functional teams to drive alignment and execution

Presenting findings and recommendations to senior leaders

Past rotations have included

Driving the design, implementation, and measurement of a new global distributor planning motion

Building the strategy, operating model design, and change management plan for a new global customer support coverage model

Leading Cisco’s 5-year Supply Chain readiness strategy

Identifying opportunities to improve Cisco’s  GTM capabilities in Cloud Marketplaces

Supervising a pilot offer launch program and communicating recommendations to senior partners based on findings

Minimum Qualifications

Currently enrolled in an MBA program or a related graduate-level business program.

Qualifying education should be in business strategy, strategic planning, management consulting, business operations or a related field.

Expected to continue enrollment in degree program following completion of the internship.

Ability to analyze quantitative and qualitative data, develop actionable recommendations, and lead complex, cross-functional initiatives from definition through execution in ambiguous, fast-paced environments.

Proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint, with strong written and verbal communication skills to synthesize complex information, deliver clear recommendations, build stakeholder alignment, collaborate across functions, and influence without direct authority.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in technology, management consulting, or corporate strategy.

Skilled in developing business cases, financial analyses, and KPIs to evaluate opportunities and measure business outcomes.

Demonstrated experience applying AI and automation to solve complex business problems and streamline workflows.

Proven ability to develop recommendations for senior executives and support high-impact, enterprise-level initiatives.

Demonstrated capacity to manage multiple priorities, navigate ambiguity, and drive initiatives independently with limited direction.

Why Cisco?

At Cisco, we’re revolutionizing how data and infrastructure connect and protect organizations in the AI era – and beyond. We’ve been innovating fearlessly for 40 years to create solutions that power how humans and technology work together across the physical and digital worlds. These solutions provide customers with unparalleled security, visibility, and insights across the entire digital footprint.

Fueled by the depth and breadth of our technology, we experiment and create meaningful solutions. Add to that our worldwide network of doers and experts, and you’ll see that the opportunities to grow and build are limitless. We work as a team, collaborating with empathy to make really big things happen on a global scale. Because our solutions are everywhere, our impact is everywhere.

We are Cisco, and our power starts with you.

Message to applicants applying to work in the U.S. and/or Canada:

Individual pay is determined by the candidate's hiring location, market conditions, job-related skillset, experience, qualifications, education, certifications, and/or training. The full salary range for certain locations is listed below. For locations not listed below, the recruiter can share more details about compensation for the role in your location during the hiring process.

U.S. employees are offered benefits, subject to Cisco’s plan eligibility rules, which include medical, dental and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability coverage, and basic life insurance. Please see the Cisco careers site to discover more benefits and perks.  Employees may be eligible to receive grants of Cisco restricted stock units, which vest following continued employment with Cisco for defined periods of time.

U.S. employees are eligible for paid time away as described below, subject to Cisco’s policies:

10 paid holidays per full calendar year, plus 1 floating holiday for non-exempt employees

1 paid day off for employee’s birthday, paid year-end holiday shutdown, and 4 paid days off for personal wellness determined by Cisco

Non-exempt employees** receive 16 days of paid vacation time per full