This post was written by guest blogger Lori Biesen, CSR Consultant, Corporate Affairs Marketing, Cisco.

FY18 was a significant year for CSR in many ways – Blackrock’s CEO Larry Fink came out strong in his annual letter titled, “A Sense of Purpose,” emphasizing the importance that business considers their impact on society and the environment.

"My father always told me to focus on my vision and passion, and I’ve found that when you focus on something you’re passionate about — and are clear about your mission — you’ll be able to define your path, navigate the worst, and build your dream.”

Mary Elizabeth McCulloch’s life changed on her first trip to Ecuador as a 17-year-old exchange student. It was there she started volunteering in an orphanage for children and adults with disabilities, many of whom had cerebral palsy and were unable to speak.

Cisco Live US 2018 may be over, but it was only the continuation of our collective efforts to positively impact people, society, and the planet. Thanks to the more than 26,000 attendees and 350,000 online viewers who took part in Cisco Live this year, we saw global problem solvers come to life in Orlando, Florida.

Today, at the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) 2018 conference in Chicago, we’re pleased to introduce Global Problem Solvers: The Series (GPS: The Series), a new Cisco corporate social responsibility (CSR) educational initiative. The new animated series and supporting activities for middle schoolers are available at no cost in English, Spanish, Hindi, and French at www.gpstheseries.com.