Technology hums at the core of everything these days. It weaves through nearly every moment of modern life. And standing at the intersection of it all is Manish Krishnan, a tech expert and advisor whose fingerprints can be found on some of the industry’s biggest breakthroughs. From Cisco to Google, Juniper Networks to Nokia, Krishnan has been at the helm of ambitious projects as he charts a path that could be described as a personal expedition through the evolving landscape of the Internet itself.
Krishnan drives movements. His efforts have always leaned toward expanding the web’s reach, pushing what’s possible with network technology, and fortifying connections that are both reliable and secure. Whether working within established tech giants or guiding industry standards, he keeps in mind that technology should evolve with purpose.
With an influence that extends into advisory roles, Krishnan has helped draft foundational Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) standards and guided mentorship programs that inspire the next wave of innovators. For him, leadership is about building community and passing knowledge forward.
In problem-solving, Krishnan’s approach is surgical. He dissects technical challenges with precision: navigating the tangled responsibilities of network technologies like someone flipping switches in the dark. He sees trends coming before they hit and uses that foresight to shape strategic initiatives that leave their mark. His growing portfolio of patents reflects a mind tuned to both invention and impact.
image of Manish Krishnan
Working in tech can feel like walking the same hallway day after day, but Krishnan refuses to let the grind dull his creativity. He’s poured that originality into every corner of the industry, whether at Google, where he orchestrated infrastructure for AI and ML applications, or at Cisco and Juniper Networks, where he led the design of routers and switches that set new standards and rewrote the rules of efficiency.
Beyond the boardroom, Krishnan steps into the role of mentor, where he breaks down the complexities of tech for entrepreneurs and apprentices alike. His work with IEEE and NANOG is as much about leadership as it is about building a culture where knowledge flows freely, sparking innovation at every level.
The coming decade presents its share of challenges, but Krishnan’s expertise in advanced protocols and data center technology makes him a key player in shaping what’s next. His work continues to focus on crafting networks that can weather disruption while anticipating the unknown. Projects like RFC 9161 for the IETF, paired with his pioneering patents in network automation, illustrate the depth of his vision and the urgency of his mission.
Krishnan’s commitment to sustainability runs like a current through everything he touches. His initiatives lean into energy adaptability. His goal is to shrink the environmental footprint of network operations without sacrificing performance. For him, technology is part of a global responsibility to create systems that serve both people and the planet.
In every chapter of his career, Krishnan displays leadership that feels less like command and more like stewardship. As he moves forward, balancing the promise of connectivity with the reality of sustainability, his story becomes one of influence, creativity, and impact—an ongoing contribution to a world that runs on ideas, networks, and innovation.
