Cisco president Jeetu Patel assigned Paddy Krishnamurthy to refactor 98% of its legacy code. Paddy is a 27-year-old ex-founder of EzDubs, acquired by Cisco in 2025. Patel gave him unlimited AI tokens and four weeks to prove the approach. The goal is to complete the refactor within 24 months. Patel found Paddy five levels down in the org chart doing unstrategic work. He now seeks more young hires to challenge the status quo. Patel argues Gen Z should teach veterans, not do data entry. He welcomes the tension this creates in teams. He also treats interns as reverse mentors. Patel’s team is split into three groups: experienced operators, systems thinkers, and AI-native founders.
What changed
Paddy was buried in the organization doing unstrategic work.
What it unlocks
Refactoring Cisco’s legacy code with a two-person team using unlimited AI tokens.
- 98% of Cisco’s legacy code
- 24 months to refactor
- 4 weeks to prove the approach
- $429B Cisco market cap
Sources