Title: Director of Certifications and Lab Delivery
Company: Cisco Systems, Inc.
Location:  Duncanville, TX United States

Known for being calm and fearless, Chris Jacobs is fearless in the pursuit of opportunity. Her journey has taken her to Cisco Systems, Inc., where she is currently the director of certifications and lab delivery. The multinational technology company provides networking equipment with the goal of shaping the future of the internet.  In her role, Ms. Jacobs is responsible for overseeing a staff of 77, and managing the design, development, delivery, operations and maintenance of all written certification exams and lab expert practical exams across Cisco’s associate, professional, specialist, and expert certifications. Additionally, she handles more than 264 exams in production, which cover more than 35 certified programs.

Ms. Jacobs became involved in her profession after originally picking up skills as an art teacher. After a year, she felt unsatisfied, so she changed directions. Nonetheless, Ms. Jacobs credits her success in the IT industry to her art background, which gave her a keen sense of discipline and the ability to work in grey areas. She also believes her hard work, sincerity, and ability to tell a story have been key factors in her achievements.

To prepare for her career, Ms. Jacobs earned a dual bachelor’s degree in business administration and art from Olivet College in 1977. She has been inspired in her endeavors by her parents, who are successful entrepreneurs, and her brother, who has a successful career in real estate. Looking forward, Ms. Jacobs hopes to carry the legacy of the brand and continue to make great changes in the Cisco certification world.

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