Is your AI strategy stuck in the "science fair" phase, or is it ready for the factory floor?
In this episode of ZKast, Zeus Kerravala sits down with Jim Kavanaugh, CEO and co-founder of World Wide Technology (WWT), at the Cisco AI Summit in San Francisco. With nearly 35 years at the helm of WWT, Jim shares his unique perspective on how the AI landscape is shifting from experimentation to high-stakes production.
Cisco is making a massive pivot toward Silicon One and AI-ready Ethernet, and as their largest global partner, WWT is at the center of this evolution. Zeus and Jim dive deep into the strategic partnership between Cisco and NVIDIA, the reality of "Shadow AI," and why the "fear of missing out" is currently a bigger driver for CEOs than the fear of security fallout.
Key topics covered in the video chat:
- The Cisco Pivot: Why Cisco's focus on silicon and infrastructure is a game-changer for enterprise AI.
- The WWT Proving Ground: How a $500M investment helps customers navigate the complexity of hundreds of AI vendors.
- Beyond Technology: Why AI is a "people transformation" and the importance of leadership, culture, and upskilling.
- Data Readiness: Is 2026 finally the year companies get their "data house" in order?
- The Power of Ecosystems: Integrating Cisco, NVIDIA, Pure Storage, and more into a cohesive AI architecture.