Back to the LeaderboardThe Design Leadership Index

Jason Cyr

VP of Design for Security, AI & Platform at Cisco

ExecutiveLeads from the frontHybrid schoolAIEnterpriseSystems
A hands-on executive who builds with AI agents daily and uses adoption to elevate and reskill his team — the clearest 'elevate, not hollow' model of AI-era design leadership.

Signature win. Built and leads an AI-native design org shipping Cisco's security portfolio and design systems while reframing the designer's role from production gatekeeper to direction-setter.

The case

editorial · CCBEI · with sources
Craft20+ years B2B/enterprise UX; frames craft as judgment — the designer who says 'none of these, here's why' — and ships design systems that codify taste across Cisco Security.8
CommunicationProlific, clear thought leadership (Substack 'The Human in the Loop', YouTube walkthroughs, 3Pillar podcast) translating AI-native practice into legible direction for design leaders; clarity-thesis aligned ('garbage in at 10x speed').9
BusinessVP leading design for Cisco's security portfolio (XDR, platform); GOAT 'Give Outcomes A Try' process and design-maturity measurement tie design to enterprise outcomes at scale.8
EducationExplicitly pushes upskilling over deskilling, names overreliance/deskilling risk, advocates designers 'become beginners again', and externalizes teaching via Substack/video — strong people-protection axis.9
InnovationBuilds with AI agents daily as working practice (not demos), repositions leader from process-protector to process-innovator; elevates the team rather than shedding it — passes the elevate test cleanly.9

Endorsed by peers

illustrative · opens with verified accounts
OverallI'd work for them108
CraftRaised my craft bar102
CommunicationMade the case for design114
BusinessMade design matter to the business102
EducationTaught me something I still use114
InnovationShowed me a new way to work114

Verified peers only — one tap with LinkedIn. Names stay private; we show role and industry. Bars are illustrative until the participation backend is live.

Stories

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