Cisco chief found a 27-year-old ex-founder ‘buried away in the organization doing something unstrategic’—now he’s upgrading 98% of its code

Cisco president and chief product officer Jeetu Patel has challenged the assumption that young workers are being sidelined as artificial intelligence reshapes entry-level employment. He promoted a 27-year-old former founder after finding him working five levels below him in the organization.

A hidden talent inside Cisco

Patel described the employee as someone who had been “buried away in the organization doing something unstrategic.” Rather than leaving that talent in an overlooked position, Patel gave him one of Cisco’s biggest jobs.

The young executive is now upgrading 98% of Cisco’s code, according to the source headline. The account does not identify his name or specify the job title he received.

A different message on young workers

The move comes as Gen Z faces growing pressure in the labor market. Entry-level jobs are disappearing, while around 40% of bosses reportedly expect to hire fewer graduates because artificial intelligence can perform some work at a lower cost.

Young workers have also faced criticism over punctuality and reluctance to work unpaid overtime. Patel’s decision offers a contrasting example: instead of judging a young employee by broad workplace stereotypes, he recognized potential within Cisco’s existing organization.

Why the move matters

The case highlights how internal placement can affect the use of talent at a large technology company. It also shows the scale of responsibility that can be given to a young former founder when senior leadership identifies a stronger strategic fit.

Cisco’s decision places the employee at the center of a major code-upgrade effort, although the source provides no further details about the project’s timeline or expected outcome.