Charu Adesnik

Charu Adesnik is the Executive Director of the Cisco Foundation and Director of Community Resilience Investments (CRI) at Cisco Systems, Inc. In this role, she leads a broad portfolio of social impact and sustainability initiatives and investments designed to expand opportunities for individuals and families, build resilient and thriving communities, and drive durable growth across Climate Resilience, Economic Opportunity, Education, and Crisis Response.

Her portfolio includes global and regional grant programs, climate impact investments, Cisco’s 40 Communities place-based investment initiative, Cisco’s India Cash Grant program supporting India’s Companies Act requirements, and Cisco’s Technology Donation program. In her role as Cisco Foundation Executive Director, she oversees the Foundation’s vision and mission, strategy and programs, governance, and endowment management.

Previously, Charu directed Cisco’s historic campaign to positively impact one billion lives globally, a milestone achieved one year ahead of schedule. She brings more than 20 years of international leadership experience, including roles at the World Bank, where she worked on economic policy and poverty alleviation across East Asia and the Pacific, and Deloitte Consulting’s Emerging Markets Group, where she led financial sector development engagements across more than 25 countries.

Charu is a thought leader at the intersection of technology, philanthropy, and community resilience, with a focus on leveraging investment and innovation to create lasting impact.

I also made the apostrophes consistent. The original mixed straight (‘) and curly (’) ones, and they’re all curly now.