Cisco’s Rebecca Simons on how human connection shapes tech and space exploration
Rebecca Simons shares her framework for simplifying complex topics.
Rebecca Simons lets curiosity lead the way. It’s guided her from energy policy to defense and space, and now to her role as external communications manager at Cisco.
Simons has crafted executive narratives for companies like Lockheed Martin during key moments like the Artemis I Mission. Now leading external communications at Cisco IT, she’s sharing stories during the AI revolution at the world’s largest networking company.
From Lockheed Martin’s Artemis I Mission to shaping stories at Cisco, how do you make tech and space seem exciting for everyone—whether it’s a C-suite exec or a global audience?
Zoom Out: Space isn’t just “out there”—it impacts life here on Earth. When I was at Lockheed Martin, gearing up for comms around Artemis I, headlines were dominated by billionaire “joyrides” to space. Meanwhile, people on Earth were navigating incredibly challenging times (think back to 2021 and 2022). The question was: How do you make space exploration missions resonate in that context?
How I Do It: Start by identifying your audience, their pain points, and what’s happening at both macro and micro levels. Then, tie innovation to everyday realities.
GPS, for example, began as US military tech but now powers precision farming, supports climate research, and even helps you find your new favorite coffee shop. Simply put, what happens in space can make life on Earth better.
The Key: Always start with the human connection. Technology resonates when it solves real problems, inspires people, or makes life better.
As someone who’s navigated everything from defense to AI at Cisco, what’s the most unexpected story or angle you’ve had to craft that surprised you?
When The Wall Street Journal sought a Cisco executive’s perspective on Europe’s landmark AI regulations, my role wasn’t about crafting a response — it was about connecting the dots across teams — regional government affairs, legal and technical.
The Outcome: By aligning viewpoints and enabling a narrative that highlighted Cisco’s leadership, we positioned the company as a trusted voice in a complex, shifting landscape. This also led to additional speaking opportunities for our executives at key industry forums.
The surprise? Communications isn’t just about creating content: it’s about advising at a strategic level and connecting people, ideas and insights to shape a conversation that leads to real impact.
Tech can sometimes feel overwhelming. Any tips for turning complexity into something everyone can understand?
Here’s my framework:
- Define the problem in one sentence.
- Connect it to something familiar.
- Highlight the human impact.
Example: Quantum computing.
- Problem: Regular computers have limitations when it comes to solving really hard problems.
- Familiar connection: Imagine a regular computer flips through pages of a book one by one to find a word, while a quantum computer sees all the pages at once and finds the word instantly.
- Impact: It could lead to big breakthroughs in medicine, networking, transportation and other areas.
I’ve applied this approach in various communications opportunities at Cisco, ensuring that even the most complex technologies are accessible and engaging for our audience.
Clarity builds trust. Simplify the story.
If you could pick one tech gadget or innovation to communicate about for the rest of your life, what would it be — and why?
The internet: because it’s always changing, and it’s where we spend a huge portion of our lives (for better or worse).
AI has been part of search engines for years, but now it’s reaching new heights. At the same time, we’re seeing the rise of niche communities: think Substack newsletters or Instagram Broadcast Channels. The internet is in a constant state of evolution, always offering something new to navigate.
In this context, success depends on being aware of your environment. If you’re on TikTok, you don’t distribute a white paper. If you’re briefing analysts, memes won’t work.
The advice I give leaders: Always zoom out before you zoom in. Ask: Who is your audience, where are they, and what do they need from you?
Looking ahead, agentic AI will take personalization to a whole new level, transforming how insights are delivered and how communicators engage with audiences.
For communicators, adaptability is key. It’s not about mastering one trend; it’s about understanding the dynamic flow of the internet. How do you reach audiences who crave personal connection while navigating an AI-driven world? The answer lies in balancing human authenticity with strategic innovation.
Moral of the story: Adaptability wins. If something is always changing (like the internet), it can never get boring. As communicators, we face its challenges daily, and for me, it’s one I enjoy tackling every time.
How do you recharge in your free time?
Wellness is my reset button. Pilates and Lagree keep me grounded, and I’m always exploring new biohacking experiments like red light therapy, sauna, and neurofeedback. I’ve been fascinated by how neurofeedback helps optimize mental performance and focus: it’s like training your brain the way you’d train your body. It sharpens my ability to connect dots, stay calm under pressure and think strategically — all essential for effective communication.
I’m also known for dragging my friends along on the wellness hacking ride. Whether it’s a new wellness trend or a challenging workout, I love sharing the journey (whether they like it or not is another question for another day).
It’s all about testing, learning, and adapting. Whether it’s wellness or communication strategies, curiosity drives everything I do: it keeps me learning, growing, and ready to tackle whatever’s next.
Rebecca Simons is a speaker at Ragan’s upcoming Employee Communications 101 Virtual Conference on Thursday, Jan. 30th. Attend from wherever you are for more insights around storytelling and AI.
Isis Simpson-Mersha is a conference producer/ reporter for Ragan. Follow her on LinkedIn.
