The Magic of Connections
What an incredible week at Cisco Live EMEA at the RAI Amsterdam! As I always say, it’s not the walking that makes you tired at these events, it’s the talking. Every conversation is worth it. From deep technical discussions with Product Managers and VPs to sharing insights on Cisco Live TV, each interaction strengthens our professional community.
One of my most memorable moments was meeting Oliver Tuszik. It is what I like about Cisco Live: stay open to new connections and you never know who you end up talking to.
Technical Highlights
The breakout sessions were strong this year. George Kovanis, Yurii Ulianov, and Bryan Morris provided in-depth technical insights on Webex Contact Center that left me with pages of notes and fresh ideas to implement.
William Mills’ session on RoomOS customization and AV over IP integration was particularly impressive. His live demonstration (truly living on the edge!) showed capabilities far more powerful than I had imagined. Who would have thought integrating Webex Device workflow into Webex Connect could be achieved simply using webhooks? I wanted to go straight back to the lab and try it.
2025 Innovations Unveiled
At Cisco Live EMEA 2025, Cisco unveiled a series of innovations across Webex, Contact Center, Calling, Collaboration, and AI, aiming to enhance both employee and customer experiences.
Webex and Collaboration Enhancements
The new Cisco Room Bar BYOD caught my attention with its seamless laptop connectivity via USB-C, providing high-quality audio and video experiences designed specifically for small to medium-sized rooms. Sustainability was also front and center, with energy-efficient features across devices, including an impressive deep sleep mode in the Desk Phone 9800 series, all managed via the Webex Control Hub.
Contact Center and AI Innovations
One of the most exciting announcements was the general availability of the AI Assistant for Webex Contact Center, offering automated guidance, context, insights, and summaries to optimize customer interactions. Features like Transfer Context Summaries, Dropped Call Summaries, and Agent Wellbeing tools highlights the important positions of the agent. Personally I like to stay away from the word “agent” as a lot of employees have a part time “agent” role, also answering customer questions. Whether using a voice call or any other channel.
The Webex AI Agent also made waves as an advanced IVR system that understands natural language, enabling seamless task completion without human intervention. Its integration across systems and support for multiple languages (even Dutch!!) makes it usable for real customer contact. The conversation feels live, which is more than I expected.
AI Defense: Securing the Next Frontier
At Cisco Live EMEA 2025, Cisco introduced AI Defense as an extension to Cisco XDR, an end-to-end security solution designed to protect enterprises as they develop and deploy AI applications. This initiative addresses the growing risks associated with AI, such as data leakage, unauthorized access, and sophisticated cyber threats.
AI-Ready Infrastructure
For the infrastructure specialists, Cisco introduced the N9300 Smart Switches with Hypershield, which embed services directly into the network for AI data centres. The Cisco Hybrid Mesh Firewall also impressed with its zero trust segmentation and protection for application vulnerabilities in modern and AI applications.
Hidden Gems: Interactive Breakouts
The Interactive Breakout (IBO) sessions were among my favorite discoveries this year. Two formats particularly stood out:
- Johannes Krohn’s interactive approach to Webex Calling migration, where participants learned from each other by sharing stories and reflecting on ideas.
- Peter Jones and Dave Zacks’ “Talking With Giants” session featuring Cisco Fellows. The openness and approachability of these technical visionaries was remarkable. Sitting with people who are part of the team invented protocols like AES-CCM and shaped technologies through IETF and RFCs was truly inspirational. Thank you to Nancy Cam-Winget and Mark Townsley for sharing your stories!
I also caught Nicole Wajer’s IPv6 masterclass, where she broke the IPv6 stack down into digestible chunks. No small feat, and she made it accessible.
Exclusive Fireside Chat: The Future of Webex UI Design
One of my most valued experiences was participating in a fireside chat with Travis Isaacs, Vice President and Chief Design Officer for Webex Collaboration at Cisco. Joining a select group of fellow Cisco collaboration savvy Cisco Champions, we had a relaxed and open discussion about where collaboration is heading.
The conversation explored how user experience and design shape the Webex ecosystem, making tools more intuitive and inclusive for modern teams. While some insights shared during this candid conversation were covered by an NDA, it gave a real look at how Cisco approaches design for Webex. Sessions like this are why the Cisco community is worth the time.
Stepping Outside My Comfort Zone
Five years ago, if you’d asked me to join the Cisco Live keynote livestream with millions of viewers, I would have refused for sure! But watching fellow Cisco Champions made it seem possible, and somehow I grew into it.
There I was, not for the first time: mind racing to translate Dutch to English in real time, searching for the right answers, legs shaking just below the camera angle. But I was doing it, and it was fun. Robb Boyd’s calm energy made everything smoother, and the backstage crew ensured everything ran perfectly.
Not just that, as a Solution Architect and consultant for the Dutch Government, I was also invited by Amey Parandekar for an interview.
Kilted Monday: Creating Inclusive Communities
Perhaps the most exciting development was introducing Kilted Monday to Cisco Live EMEA 2025! Thank you to Jonatan Thor Jonasson for joining me. The conversations it started and the heads it turned made for great memories. It’s all about creating an inclusive atmosphere where everyone feels welcome to be themselves, whether in a kilt or any other skirt!
These moments of connection, sharing the idea behind the idea, transform strangers into friends. When we say “the bridge between technology and possibility is people,” this is exactly what we mean, even in this AI-driven era.
Recognition Beyond Technology
Working closely with Cisco over the years and witnessing our collaborative efforts work out has been extremely rewarding. This relationship reached a new milestone when our organization was honored with the prestigious “Best Loyal Customer from the North” award. It’s great to be part of this government team.
Cisco Live Pre-tour
As members of the Cisco Insider program, advocates and champions enjoy the exclusive privilege of a behind-the-scenes pre-tour while the event is still being set up. You get to see the final preparations at the Cisco TV studios, the Showcase, and the rehearsals at the Cisco shop.
Looking Forward
My voice may be tired, but my mind is energized with new ideas and connections. The World of Solutions provided plenty of opportunities to meet friends and like-minded professionals between sessions.
Let’s make #KiltedMonday even bigger next year! Who’s with me?