EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGIST
Turning big ideas about work into conversations that matter.
I’m Anna Bassham, an executive communications strategist at Cisco. I help leaders turn complex ideas about people, business and technology into clear, human communications that build trust and inspire action.
ABOUT ME
Communication that keeps people at the center of change.
I’ve always been curious about what helps people connect: to an idea, to one another and to the work they do.
That thread has followed me throughout my career, from managing online communities that helped employers and freelancers work together to joining Cisco Collaboration (Webex) in 2020, as the pandemic transformed how people worked almost overnight. Although I was initially hired to support social media, my role quickly expanded into executive communications. A passion project to improve onboarding ultimately helped me discover how deeply interested I was in employee experience and the people side of the business.
That realization led me into Cisco People & Communities, where I now manage executive communications for Chief People Officer Kelly Jones. I help shape conversations about leadership, culture, employee experience, AI and the future of work.
As AI and rapid transformation reshape the workplace, I believe communication has an essential role to play: helping leaders move change forward while keeping people at the center. Technology can enable transformation, but people are the ones who turn it into progress and determine whether it succeeds. The tools will keep changing. The need for clarity, trust and human connection won’t.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Where strategy, storytelling and leadership meet.
Executive Voice and Thought Leadership
I help leaders define their point of view and express it through clear, authentic narratives across social media, articles, interviews, speaking opportunities and internal communications.
AI, Work and Culture Storytelling
I translate complex ideas about AI, skills, employee experience, culture and the future of work into accessible stories that build understanding and trust.
Employee and Leadership Communications
I create communications that clarify strategy, support change and connect employees to an organization’s purpose, priorities and leaders.
Integrated Content Strategy
I connect internal communications, executive thought leadership, social media and external opportunities around one consistent narrative, tailored for each audience and channel.