MBA Strategy & Planning Rotation Program

Job Description

Strategy & Planning Manager III | Cisco

The Tone:
This is a full-time role within an MBA Strategy & Planning Rotation Program at Cisco, located in the United States. Cisco is a global technology leader, innovating fearlessly for 40 years to create solutions that power how humans and technology work together across the physical and digital worlds, providing customers with unparalleled security, visibility, and insights. This program, within Cisco Operations, offers the opportunity to work on high-priority, enterprise-wide strategic initiatives, solving complex business problems and driving meaningful impact for a company that powers secure, high-quality products and experiences with simplicity, speed, and growth. You will strategically integrate AI solutions into business processes, analysis, and decision-making.

The TL;DR
• Role: MBA Strategy & Planning Rotation Program
• Type: Full-time
• Location: United States
• Pay: $143,600–$238,300 yearly
• Team: Cisco Operations
• Mission: Lead cross-functional work, translate data into actionable insights, guide senior-level discussions, and strategically integrate AI solutions into business processes and decision-making.
• Tech Stack: Excel, PowerPoint

What You’ll Actually Do
• Own: A high-impact project from problem definition through recommendation, tied directly to Cisco’s near-term business priorities.
• Develop: Business cases, metrics, and KPIs to evaluate program effectiveness and measure business outcomes.
• Synthesize: Insights into clear, executive-ready presentations suitable for senior leaders.
• Partner: With cross-functional teams to drive alignment and execution of strategic initiatives.
• Present: Findings and recommendations to senior leaders, guiding discussions that build alignment and momentum.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Recent graduate or in your final year of studies towards an MBA or a related graduate-level business program, with qualifying education in business strategy, strategic planning, management consulting, business operations, or a related field.
• Experience: Demonstrated ability to analyze quantitative and qualitative information and develop actionable recommendations, strong structured problem-solving and project management skills including the ability to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives from definition through execution, and a demonstrated capacity to manage multiple priorities, navigate ambiguity, and drive initiatives independently with limited direction.
• Skills: Proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint, with the ability to synthesize complex information and communicate clear, concise recommendations. Strong written and verbal communication skills, with demonstrated ability to collaborate across functions, build stakeholder alignment, influence without direct authority, and operate effectively in ambiguous, fast-moving environments.
• Bonus: 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.