CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Technology mogul John Chambers encouraged West Virginia legislative leaders to take some chances to catch the next wave of development.
“Have the courage to take those risks to truly make it happen,” Chambers said.
Chambers, former chairman and CEO of Cisco Systems — and a West Virginia native — was beamed in to speak to the House of Delegates’ newly-established tech caucus.
Chambers spoke via a video conferencing system while lawmakers of both parties listened intently in a committee room.
He grew up in Charleston and got a business degree from West Virginia University. Chambers went on to join startup Cisco in 1983 and rose along with the company, becoming CEO at age 46.
He left the company a couple of years ago, remaining in the role of chairman emeritus of the board. Chambers remains involved at home, where West Virginia University’s business school was renamed in 2018 the John Chambers College of Business and Economics.
Chambers also helped WVU establish a start-up engine called Vantage Ventures.
On Wednesday morning at the state Capitol, lawmakers from all over the state asked Chambers for his advice on encouraging an entrepreneurial spirit in West Virginia.
“How does the government stay out of the way while still promoting and encouraging this startup economy that we’re seeing define a new generation?” asked Delegate Moore Capito, R-Kanawha, one of the founders of the tech caucus.
Chambers responded that economic changes are likely a 10-year journey. He said government, business leaders, universities and citizens need to buy into the the vision. He credited WVU President Gordon Gee and Marshall University President Jerome Gilbert for willingness to encourage change.
“The point that I’m making is the ability to teach people to learn and to give them a chance for the American, the West Virginian dream. I agree with your comments on entrepreneurism. I think it’s deep in our roots in this state,” Chambers said.
He suggested West Virginia has spent too long yearning for the heyday of the coal and chemical industries.
“We lived that way too long. We didn’t move to where the market was going,” he said. “Now, I think, it’s actually easier to come from behind to overtake the incumbent and to leapfrog our peers and be a model for other states.”
Delegate Shawn Fluharty, D-Ohio, another founder of the tech caucus, said he was encouraged by Chambers’ remarks.
“Incredibly impressive, and we learned a lot from his history as an entrepreneur, a successful businessman, and more importantly a successful West Virginian,” Fluharty said.
“What he told us is we have relied on being the same state decade after decade, and it’s time we move our state where the market is going. We have failed to do that, and the time is now to act.”
Fluharty said he was pleased to see a bipartisan crowd of lawmakers at the presentation by chambers. He believes legislation will follow.
“We must do that, and John Chambers made it crystal clear today. We must diversify our economy or you’re simply going to get taken over by everybody else. And we’ve seen that for too long in West Virginia.”