Technology Leadership Expert & Former CEO at Cisco Systems; CEO at JC2 Ventures; Author of "Connecting the Dots"

Palo Alto, CA, USA
Live Event: Please Contact Virtual Event: Please Contact More Fee Info

John Chambers Biography

John T. Chambers is a technology executive recognized for his leadership at Cisco Systems, where he served as CEO, chairman, and executive chairman. Chambers played a key role in expanding Cisco from a company with $70 million in revenue and 400 employees to a global corporation with $47 billion in revenue and 75,000 employees. He pioneered the use of acquisitions to drive innovation, overseeing 180 acquisitions during his tenure and positioning Cisco as a leader in networking technology and digital transformation.

Chambers has spoken publicly about overcoming challenges such as dyslexia and a fear of public speaking, which influenced his approach to leadership and communication. Before joining Cisco, Chambers began his career in sales at IBM and later contributed to marketing strategy at Wang Laboratories.

After retiring from Cisco, Chambers founded JC2 Ventures, where he serves as CEO. Through JC2 Ventures, he supports startups focused on disruptive technology, entrepreneurship, and business growth. Chambers also promotes startup ecosystems globally and advocates for gender equality and new business creation. He serves as chairman of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum and as global ambassador of the French Tech, appointed by President Emmanuel Macron.

Chambers authored the book "Connecting the Dots: Lessons for Leadership in a Startup World," outlining his management and business principles for navigating the technology industry, driving innovation, and building resilient teams.

Chambers has received recognition for his contributions to business and technology, including being named CEO of the Year by Chief Executive Magazine, ranking among the Best-Performing CEOs in the World by Harvard Business Review, and receiving the Edison Achievement Award for Innovation. He has also been honored with the Outstanding Civil Service Medal by the U.S. Army, France's National Defense Gold Medal, the Padma Bhushan from the Government of India, the U.S. State Department's corporate social responsibility award, the Clinton Global Citizen Award, and the Woodrow Wilson Award for Corporate Citizenship.

BOOK John Chambers

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 10/29/2026.

John Chambers Videos

John Chambers - The Montgomery Summit

John Chambers - The Montgomery Summit

Interview with John Chambers about what he is excited about in 2024-25.

John Chambers to Address the AI Revolution at Time Machine 2019

John Chambers to Address the AI Revolution at Time Machine 2019

Time Machine is an annual global AI and future technology summit put on by SparkCognition. At Time Machine 2019, we will have top leaders including...

Connecting the Dots for the Future

Connecting the Dots for the Future

Diane Brady, Award-Winning Writer, Author, Consultant John T. Chambers, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, JC2 Ventures, Former Chairman and Chief...

  • How do I book John Chambers to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like John Chambers for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for John Chambers, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for John Chambers or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for John Chambers

    Speaking fees for John Chambers, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book John Chambers are available upon request for live events and available upon request for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire John Chambers, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does John Chambers speak about?

    John Chambers is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Artificial Intelligence, Business, Business Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Innovation, Technology, TED
  • Where does John Chambers travel from?

    John Chambers generally travels from Palo Alto, CA, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is John Chambers’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like John Chambers for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book John Chambers for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host John Chambers or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

John Chambers is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book John Chambers for your event is available upon request. John Chambers generally travels from Palo Alto, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Ray Kurzweil, Salim Ismail, Mike Walsh, Peter Diamandis and Hemant Taneja. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling John Chambers for an upcoming live or virtual event.

Tell us about your event!

During normal business hours, we respond to most inquiries within 4 hours.
Please Select Event Budget
Please enter your message
Please Enter Your Name
Please Enter Your Email
  • Customized Service

    Our agents find the right fit for your event

  • Unparalleled Database

    Full access to all speakers & celebrities

  • One Stop Shopping

    A reliable and unbiased point of contact

  • Logistics Management

    Your personal Logistics Manager who takes care of all event details

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

TOP