Gladys Kline, Chief Executive Officer, LEAD Above

As the CEO for LEAD Above, I lead a group of technology and business leaders with a proven track record of innovative success. Our Mission is to empower individuals and organizations through our innovative enablement programs, consulting services, and managed solutions. We address complex challenges and drive sustainable growth through AI enhanced Services. LEAD Above is a premier consulting firm with a focus on transformative outcomes. We help our clients navigate the complexities of the tech and sales industries, leveraging cutting-edge solutions to foster growth and enhance profitability.

 Prior to my current role, I was the Global Director of Adoption Engineering for Cisco ThousandEyes. I had the privilege of leading a team of Engineers who are the postsales, customer consultants to the ThousandEyes Network Intelligence Platform. They are tasked with optimizing adoption and utilization through best practice recommendations. The engineers, working in tandem with the Customer Success team, will serve as technical experts throughout the customer’s adoption journey. The team is accountable for ensuring the success of ThousandEyes customers’ adoption.

 I was also the Director for Business Development at Cisco for US Public Sector CX and Vice President of Presales Engineering and Cisco Alliance at Core BTS, a Cisco Gold Partner. In this role, I functioned as Core BTS’ lead presales and technical architect contact to our customers nationwide. I was responsible for managing the solution architect/presales team and for serving as a technology advisor to sales and senior management across the company. The Vice President of Cisco Alliance has primary responsibility for Core BTS’ strategic relationship with Cisco and, ultimately, the growth of the Cisco practice and business. In this role, I served as the primary point person in the overall relationship with Cisco and took primary responsibility for the business plan and strategy specific to Cisco and all associated partnerships and solutions. I was also a Systems Engineer and Systems Engineering Manager at Cisco for 8 years prior to joining Core BTS and functioned in the same roles at Nortel Network for 10 years before that.

 I am the proud daughter of two immigrants from the Philippines, where my sister and I were born, and I am honored to be the mom to two daughters. My eldest daughter, Ariana is a graduate from the University of Connecticut, where she received a bachelors degree in communications and played division 1 lacrosse. Ariana is now enrolled at Clemson University to pursue her master’s degree in Corporate Leadership and continue her lacrosse career. My youngest daughter, Gabrielle just finished her freshman year at the University of Delaware where she is in a 6-year, Physical Therapy doctoral program.

 I am also an active participant in STEM programs, and I have presented to multiple organizations on the value of science, technology, engineering, and math in the elementary and high school curriculums, especially for members of marginalized communities. I am honored to have recently been invited to join the STEM-UP Networks’ Advisory Board. At Cisco, I have been an active member of various Inclusive Communities and recently I served as a regional co-lead for the Americas with the Connected Black Professionals organization. I am currently an Executive Sponsor for the Filipino Professional Network. I am passionate about diversity, equality and inclusion and I am eager to contribute to organizations and indicatives that focus in these areas.