Inside Look: 4 Must-Know Facts from an Early-Career Product Manager at Palo Alto Networks

Tell us about your role at Palo Alto Networks! 
My name is Mark, a Product Manager in the Product Management Academy. This unique role allows me to rotate through various teams, giving me the opportunity to understand the customer’s cybersecurity needs to create innovative solutions. I began my journey in the Data Security team, focusing on enhancing the contextual understanding of sensitive data using large language models. Currently, I am part of the Strata Logging Service team, where my work revolves around improving and innovating how customer network security log data can be integrated and utilized through various partnerships.

How do you feel that the work you are doing is making an impact?
I take immense pride in my work at Palo Alto Networks, knowing that it helps companies take a more proactive stance towards cybersecurity. It is deeply fulfilling to see customers feel more at ease during product demonstrations, confident that their security outcomes are being exceeded. Additionally, having our products receive awards and external recognition is a testament to the significant impact we are making in the cybersecurity landscape.

Could you elaborate on the specific skills and qualities that you have developed or refined during your time at Palo Alto Networks?
During my time with the Data Security team, I developed a keen sense of customer empathy by actively listening to their challenges and devising data-driven, creative solutions. By conducting customer interviews and thorough data analysis, I was able to identify problems that customers might not be aware of and through collaborative effort with the UX and machine learning teams it resulted in the industry's first fully unsupervised data classification solution. 

My current work in the Strata Logging Service has further enhanced my ability to collaborate across functions and teams. Driving initiatives that span multiple product areas, such as enhancing branch security capabilities for SD-WAN devices, has been instrumental in integrating our products into a broader platformization strategy. These experiences have culminated in a holistic approach to product development, from problem identification to innovative solution delivery.

How has your dedication to leveraging technology for the greater good translated into your work at Palo Alto Networks, and in what ways have you seen yourself evolve as an individual in pursuing this mission?
My journey into technology began with contributing to open-source solutions where I first saw a situation where people with a shared purpose working together could achieve a great outcome. At Palo Alto Networks, working alongside the brightest minds in cybersecurity has further deepened my curiosity and appreciation for using technology to stop bad actors. I have come to realize that we cannot do everything ourselves but be a small part of something larger that innovation can be realized. So every collaboration with different teams to release products contributes to the larger mission of making the digital world a safer place.