In 1995, he succeeded John Morgridge as CEO just as the Internet was leaping out of the starting blocks. Chambers expanded its vistas to include networking products for everything from voice to broadband. Like a master builder, he fashioned his empire by gobbling up smaller competitors and promising startups. Until Cisco came along, the conventional thinking was that growing by acquisition was an iffy proposition loaded with pitfalls. Chambers has not only proved them wrong, but he's inspired a wave of similar activity from other technology companies.
Chambers is known as a demanding leader, but one who is willing to take chances.
Having shown what it takes to forge an Internet powerhouse, Chambers is now imparting some of that wisdom to other aspiring executives. The Internet revolution will be about economies of skill, and how you empower people. Of course, it also helps if you have John Chambers at the helm. Fill in this form for your free trial issue. U.S. indexes are real-time.