In the Customers’ Corner
In my role as a Consulting Engineer with the Security Operations, or SecOps, team, I work with the sales account teams in the field. The SecOps team consults with customers about their security programs and how we can help them achieve better security outcomes. We also help account teams extend the relationships from the network security team into the Security Operations Center, or SOC. This helps drive the need to consolidate tools and adopt more of the Palo Alto Networks platform and best practices.
This is unlike any other team I’ve worked within this industry. We’re security people and are focused on security, but we’re more driven by successful customer outcomes and how we can apply our technologies. We’re not looking for ways to shovel tons of our products at them — instead, we’re looking for ways to make them more successful and confident in using our products, protecting their systems.
My team also educates and engages with the Systems Engineers and partners in the field on the various SOC use cases and trending security topics that are top of mind to our customers. What I enjoy about the role is that my day to day is rather dynamic. Every customer interaction is unique, and each one provides insights on how security concerns can vary based on industry. We are truly working to partner with customers as technical advisors.
Although many who work in cybersecurity come from a variety of backgrounds, I actually studied systems engineering in college and began my career in network security. In previous roles with other companies, I worked to help safeguard data for the financial services and insurance sector, and that’s where I first encountered Palo Alto Networks’ products. But more than the quality of the technology, what I was hearing increasingly from competitors and colleagues was about its great company culture. That gave me the confidence to take the leap and pursue a role with the company.
Family Feeling
Now that I’ve been with Palo Alto Networks for over three years, I can see what those people were talking about. If I had to pick one word that describes the company culture, I’d pick “family.” The family feeling here is what sets this company apart. Even though I work remotely, I work on a small team of just four consulting engineers, so we’re an intimate, close-knit group. I knew them all before coming to work here, and we already had a great rapport. I have the flexibility to work on my own as well as with the team in our offices when I need that camaraderie and exchange of ideas, so it’s the best of both worlds.
I really enjoy the fact that people in this company, at all levels, are encouraged to engage in dialogue and offer feedback, and that the managers have an open-door policy. But especially within my team, there’s a real openness and a sense of moral support. If they feel I’m struggling or if I need help, they have my back. All I have to do is show up and raise my hand; there are no dumb questions. Being that we’re a team of technical engineers, we’re the throats you choke when things go bad, so having people support you — whether it’s management, your peers, or the president of the company — show up at your meetings, try to kick down doors for you, and celebrate your successes, that is so important, and it’s what I love about working here.
That company culture is a big part of coming to work here too. You need to be someone who has the right aptitude and attitude, to learn and challenge yourself and be receptive to feedback. That’s part of why the interview and hiring process can be long; the company has really grown in the last year, with new acquisitions and larger staffs, but they’ve still successfully maintained that family-oriented feeling, so it’s important to be patient during that process because it’s part of what makes this company special, and it has paid off.
And it’s also important to know that this company values diversity. The leaders here recognize that the more people we include, the more cultures and backgrounds we have offering perspectives, and the stronger and more approachable we make the security community. It used to be that cybersecurity was viewed as a man’s world, but I’ve seen that changing, so my advice is just to show up. Ask questions. Stay curious. There is opportunity in this industry if you’re willing to work hard for it.
Dare to Dream
I am a dynamic, creative, energetic, passionate woman and mother of two, and I have worked for the last four years as a Sales Representative for Palo Alto Networks, in the Asia Pacific, or APAC, region. In my role, I’ve been mainly selling to clients in the banking and finance sector. Because I have consistently exceeded my targets and set sales records within APAC, I’ve been given the exciting opportunity to lead the Enterprise team in Singapore to begin taking on new challenges in sales.
Sales is the frontline of technology — it’s where we present solutions to the clients. When we’re selling, we need to know our products well so that we can cater our solutions to appropriately address our clients’ problems. It’s a goal-oriented role in which we’re measured by how well we meet our targets. But it’s also quite fun in that we’re meeting many new people and building relationships with them. There’s a lot of flexibility in how we manage our work. I find that the greatest sense of achievement comes from helping clients to fend off their digital adversaries and protect their digital way of life.
From my years of working in this role, I’ve learned that I need to constantly think outside the box to find solutions that disrupt our competition in the marketplace and win over new clients. I’ve learned the importance of always staying positive when taking on challenges and accepting rejection. I also need to be open to changes in mindset in order to drive my team members forward to achieve our desired results.
Following My Heart
I come from a family with a background in the food and beverage industry, so I used to believe my career path in that industry was set. Fortunately, I have supportive parents who encouraged me to pursue my interest in technology — a much more specialised field than simply “Business Studies.” I chose to earn a degree in information technology and to work in technology sales, specifically, because it is ever-changing, like a chameleon. It is so important for every facet of our lives, and there are so many distinct roles within the field that contribute to our digital lives. Much like the fashion industry, I see technology as a very colourful trade. I’ve enjoyed my career in tech ever since I embarked on it almost a decade ago, and I’ve never looked back.
I’ve noticed that there seems to be an association between computers and the male gender, particularly having to do with gaming or coding. There seems to be the impression that technology is very complex and binary, and for some reason they believe that men are better “wired” to work in the field. This may be why fewer women work in tech than men. However, I don’t see gender as predisposing anyone to be “better” at technology. In fact, the diverse perspectives and approaches toward solving problems that come from having a blend of backgrounds, genders, and cultures contributes to a healthier organization and technology sector.
This can be a demanding career, though, which is why I find it important to maintain work-life balance. I do this by incorporating a weekly exercise regimen at the gym, keeping a weekly schedule for keeping up with friends and spending time with family, and taking holidays at least twice a year. I enjoy going out for a great meal and cocktails, taking drives by myself to explore new places and experiences, and shopping. I try to live by the motto, “Work hard, and play harder.”
I think whatever career you choose, you should find it satisfying and enjoyable. A job is where you spend time every day for most of your life, so it should be something that you care deeply about and find enjoyment in. Start with the right attitude, and don’t let your first impression of any industry turn you away. Know that there are numerous careers outside of the typical coding or tech support within the technology sector, so if tech is something that interests you, it’s worth exploring roles within it that suit your interests and talents. Be yourself and dare to dream!
The Future of Work
“I love my job because I get to play a small part in securing our future way of life. I look after those working tirelessly to make that happen. ”
I was approached to join the Workplace Resources team in Singapore when I was running a think-design co-working space. Being amongst start-ups and entrepreneurs, I loved the high energy, dynamism, and collaborative spirit. At first, I was hesitant at the idea of joining a more mature work environment in the highly technical space of cybersecurity. I felt nervous as I came from the hospitality industry where I was a wellness specialist, and I knew nothing about cybersecurity. That very quickly was put to rest as I found myself working with a dream team and every single person that I came across from day one has been welcoming, helpful, and smart. I can count on my colleagues to give me honest feedback when something is not working, and at the same time, I can always count on them for help.
Joining Palo Alto Networks, I was excited to learn about the products and to educate myself on cloud services and solutions. It could not be more different than what I was trained in but I wanted to stretch myself and to grow out of my comfort zone so the learning got easier. There are online modules that I can take to help me learn about our products and services, as well as webinars and workshops that I can attend to improve myself. This knowledge has helped me tremendously in crafting the work experience and enhancing employee’s engagement through targeted amenities, events and CSR activities. Another thing that stood out is that there are many opportunities for cross-functional projects here and there is an amazing amount of internal mobility to broaden your scope and experience.
I love my job because I get to play a small part in securing our future way of life, by looking after the people who are working tirelessly to make that happen. My goal is to create spaces that are high-performing to enable collaboration, creative ideas and productivity. This is the future that I am building at Palo Alto Networks.
Growing my Career with Internal Mobility
I joined Palo Alto Networks in May of 2016 as a Major Account Manager. I was so excited to join the cybersecurity industry, one that drew me because of its global mission and vision. The leadership team in this region was compelling, looking at how the strong management team in Greater China would help my professional career and knowledge. Building my reputation, gaining experience, and deepening my knowledge under the tutelage of Adrian Chan’s and Wickie Fung’s leadership has provided me with so many opportunities. It’s hard to explain how grateful I am for this opportunity, and how much I have learned from them since joining almost four years ago.
It wasn’t just about learning new things when I joined here. My managers and support system know both my strengths and weaknesses, helping me develop my strengths, and mitigate weaknesses to make me a stronger sales professional. With Wickie’s advice, I built my industry knowledge, while he partnered with me to close deals that supported our client’s infrastructure and goals for protecting their data.
It wasn’t all work, though. The leadership team builds an environment that created a sense of fun, momentum, challenge, and appreciation. All of us are work-hard play-hard, but underlying this is our commitment to integrity and execution. When I was working for HK team, Wickie also assigned me to be “CEO” of the team – Chief Entertainment Officer. If you focus too heavily on work every day, especially in an industry as high pressure as ours, it becomes heavy. The burden can be difficult – the threats we face each day get bigger, more difficult. But that doesn’t mean we stay serious – in fact, it’s so important to create an environment that lightens the burdens we all face in our drive to the mission. After every quarter, we find a way to connect more personally with each other, and my role as Chief Entertainment Officer is to find a way to connect us on this level more often.
Apart from working for the Hong Kong Team, the leadership team with individuals like Adrian Chan help us build momentum within Greater China. Because of the retail industry and customer business needs, I am often pulled across Greater China and surrounding APAC countries. It’s given me exposure to new cultures, experiences, and professional capabilities. I’ve been driven to collaborate around the region, identifying the best possible solutions for our customers seeking answers to the complex cyber threats facing them around the world.
Starting my 16th quarter at Palo Alto Networks, with management support, I joined the Globals team here, now working as Regional Global Account Manager for Greater Chinese global accounts. In this transition, I can feel our company’s commitment to inclusion, knowing that they care about our career development, progression, and incorporation of more voices at every level and background. Each new opportunity I earn, I feel as though there’s an entirely new job to learn. This position is a lot different from my previous role, giving me exposure to new opportunities and people who can build my own capability and development.
Today, Palo Alto Networks has already been an industry market leader and I’m proud to be a part of the team. It’s truly a disruption driven environment, and it’s amazing what we can accomplish together, with our incredible coworkers and products.
But my success wasn’t an accident. I have been successful for a lot of reasons – and some of the keys to my success are many. For me? It comes down to communication and collaboration. These skills are so important to the team, and through that comes the feeling of inclusion, and the opportunity to identify the best strategy and solution. No solution is created without contributions from different perspectives. Success is never attributed to an individual, instead, it’s the strengths of a team that create the best result.
My Palo Alto Networks Journey
I started my journey with Palo Alto Networks in April 2019, and I can, to this day, remember the feelings of excitement and gratitude I received the call from HR telling me I was being offered a role to join the Sydney sales team. Not only was I excited to be joining the fastest growing, most innovative cybersecurity company in the world, I was also looking forward to joining a team whose values I knew would align with mine.
My background
I grew up in a very multicultural environment – my mother is Swedish, my father is British but spent the majority of my childhood in Brussels, Belgium before moving to the UK to study. I graduated with a law degree and spent some time working in the legal industry before I gained a few years experience selling legal services to law firms. With limited experience selling Cybersecurity technology, I often get asked why I got into cybersecurity and how I managed to secure a role as a Territory Sales Manager role with Palo Alto Networks in Australia, especially as I had no local sales experience and what this transition has been like.
My journey to joining Palo Alto Networks
When I arrived in Australia early 2019, I was determined to find a role within a company I could see myself working at for the foreseeable future. Deciding what is right for you is not always easy, but I knew, especially after my law degree, that I wanted to work in cybersecurity. Not only did I have a good understanding of governing privacy laws and the consequences of not adhering to these laws, but I also understood how the threat landscape was changing and the challenges this presented to organisations around the world.
Palo Alto Networks was an organisation I had been following for a while, and making each day safer and more secure than the day before was something I wanted to be part of. As soon as I touched down in Australia, I applied for a “Customer Success Manager” role through the Palo Alto Networks careers page. I was not a good fit for that position, but I nonetheless received a call from the recruitment manager who wanted to discuss a sales role she thought I was more suited to. I was nervous when I started the interview process as I had previously been rejected by another organisation due to my lack of local sales experience. In essence, concern was that I had no existing relationships or customer base I could leverage to hit the ground running.
I was however, pleasantly surprised when I was told that Palo Alto Networks actively look to hire personnel with different backgrounds and experiences as diversity brings new ideas to the organisation. The recruitment team here at Palo Alto Networks recognise that people buy from people and that successful sales professionals are likeable, hard working, passionate individuals who align to the organisations’ values. Having gone through a lengthy interview process, the local management team felt that my legal and previous sales experience made me a good fit for the role and believed in my ability to build a fruitful territory without an already established network.
Working at Palo Alto Networks
As a nontechnical person, I knew that embarking on a career in a fast-paced, security-focused, male-dominated industry would be challenging and remove me from my comfort zone. It was, however, the challenge I was looking for when I applied to Palo Alto Networks and it has been the best career move so far!
The daunting first month of learning was made fun and easier thanks to the amazing onboarding process and ongoing training provided. It was clear from day one that culture and diversity are so important at Palo Alto Networks – the team comprised of people from different walks of life which was something I really loved. Everyone was so welcoming and I immediately saw a collaborative working culture where everyone would be happy to help whenever they could. The team I joined was, and still is, led by a supportive, passionate manager who wants nothing more than to see his team succeed and enjoy success together. Happiness at work is fundamentally essential and working with positive, collaborative, reliable peers makes the Sydney office a happy place to walk into on a Monday morning.
Having had no experience selling to the Australian market before joining Palo Alto Networks has not prevented me from being successful in my role. In essence, reality is that selling in Australia is very similar to selling in the UK and whether or not you will be successful has more to do with your work ethic than having an established network of customers you can approach. If you see a job you want to apply for but feel like you might not be a perfect fit, then still apply. You have nothing to lose and it may result in a job offer.
Work Hard, Play Hard
Nitzan Peretz
Software Engineering Manager, Tel Aviv, Israel
My role in Palo Alto Networks is leading a team that develops Cortex XSOAR, a cutting-edge solution for the Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR) market. This technology is all about enabling our solutions to complement the customers’ efforts in securing their organizations. In this role, I work to continuously improve our products and help organizations become much more efficient when protecting their data.
Palo Alto Networks is the world’s leading cybersecurity company, which means that every day I work with a team of professionals that are, hands down, the leaders in the industry. We work with and develop top-notch technology, which is something that I love about my work: I learn every day, and I face new challenges all the time. And most of all, I’m super happy to see my clients enjoying the product that my team and I are creating. Working in cyberdefense, you feel you are working for the good guys, helping to protect data, shaping the future, using leading technology, and expanding the possibilities of cyberdefense.
The most meaningful and important part for me is to hear feedback coming from the field, to hear that our product is life-changing for them. I consider myself lucky to work in a role that’s both my hobby and my passion, where I can build a product that helps so many people.
Seriously Fun
Anyone who’s interested in working here has to love being in a dynamic environment. We are moving fast and making progress within a short time, driven by the evolution of the industry. We’re always in front of the newest emerging technology, which is an exciting opportunity for a software engineer.
But you should also know that just because cybersecurity is a serious business, it doesn’t mean we can’t lighten the pressure by having fun with our coworkers. You have to want to work with hardcore professionals who LOVE what they’re doing. We are having fun every day! For instance, we started using Demisto internally, not only for security purposes, but for other things such as employee onboarding, managing clients requests, and tickets, keeping track of platform bugs … and take a look at this: One of the employees even organised his wedding with Cortex XSOAR! Super cool, right?
Plus, this dynamic ambiance is perfectly balanced by a culture that is inclusive and believes in a healthy work environment. Our offices in Tel Aviv are stunning, with lots of extra perks! For instance, I love sports, and I get to play for Palo Alto Networks’ own basketball team, go to the gym, and even do some yoga right here in the office. We work hard but also play hard.
Growth Opportunities
You don’t have to come from a security background to work here — I didn’t! Diversity in backgrounds and perspectives is an important part of our work, and no matter what your previous experiences might be, if you raise a valid point, your voice will always be heard.
Palo Alto Networks knows how to get the most of its people by encouraging innovation and ensuring a comfortable environment for learning, growing, and implementing. In our team, we have the chance to explore and choose the best technologies, build the best design, and implement according to high coding standards in order to accomplish the company vision.
As a Software Engineering Manager, I get to experience so many aspects of the product — sales, customer success, and, of course, engineering. All of that leads to a comprehensive understanding of the company that can open my career path as I develop professionally and my interests evolve.
In my role, I get to grow in a number of ways: in my applied engineering skills, in working with great technology, and in learning every new technology that is relevant for us. This enablement will remain a valuable asset for me in the future, whatever my next step is. I’ve gained management skills by learning from all the opportunities a big and agile corporation has to offer. For instance, we have been attending most of the industry’s conferences around the globe, allowing us to meet face to face with our customers and develop relationships across the board with prospects and other vendors. That is one of the perks of working in a larger company that pushes you to continuous improvement!
In all, this is a place where each individual feels he or she can make a difference. I absolutely love what I do and the team I work with, and I’m excited to come to work every day!
For the Aspiring Women in Technology
Sonal Sethia
There are times that I believe women are held to a higher standard than men. We’re expected to juggle multiple roles every day: a great mom, a loving daughter, a supportive spouse, a career ninja, just to name a few. And with all of this, we’re expected to balance the rigors of the workplace: upcoming deadlines for projects, acing battle cards with a competitor, and driving results at every customer interaction.
On days that I’m struggling to keep it all under control, I remember the advice offered by Indra Nooyi, former CEO of PepsiCo. She points to a strong network of support from others in your life as the key to success. But she also famously disagrees with the idea that women can “have it all.” She believes we’re always going to be making sacrifices, either at home or at work — and that’s OK. I am mindful of my own choices and know that there are sacrifices behind each choice I make. And my own community of support makes it easier to wear my various hats and accomplish as much as I do.
Equally important is finding an employer that supports women in the workforce. I’m fortunate that I work for a high-tech company that not only actively recruits women and values the diverse perspectives women bring to the industry, but also encourages a healthy work-life balance because they know this balance ultimately results in happier, more productive employees. Not every company operates this way, and it makes me appreciate my job even more.
The Winding Path to Happiness
As a young teen, I was always interested in technology, and the desire to pursue computer networking as a career option got stronger over the years. I started as a Technical Support Engineer for a telecommunications giant. It seemed I was on the fast track to success, but I soon encountered difficulty on my career journey when I was laid off from one of my first jobs.
I still remember that day vividly: Our entire department had been outsourced, and the newbies, myself included, were the first ones to be let go. Devastated, I spent an hour in my car, crying my eyes out. But after that initial shock, I got my things together, drove home, and immediately planned my job hunt. Within a month, I landed my next job, the one that helped me identify my passion for operations and defined my career.
I spent the better part of my career delivering customer-focused services to large technology organizations. When I had the opportunity to apply my expertise and experience in the cybersecurity industry, it felt like the natural next step. Today I’m with a company that values my contributions and fulfills me every single day. When I look back, I feel grateful to have been faced with that difficult challenge early on. I learned an important life lesson through that experience: We rarely unlock our true potential unless we are challenged with some kind of obstacle or are forced to overcome adversity. What’s more? I think it’s there for each of us. When you look at someone across the table, you might see someone successful. But what you forget is that they might have had their own moment in their own car, crying their eyes out.
Bringing More Women to the Table
There is a massive shortage of cybersecurity professionals today, and the fight against bad actors, who come from disparate backgrounds, demands a wider variety of people to better our chances of success. Encouraging people from diverse backgrounds and with varying levels of expertise will increase creativity and lead to better business outcomes. Women are natural multitaskers and bring such highly valued traits as empathy and team building to the workplace. Augmenting our workforce with women at the decision-making table will make us better at what we do.
Women should know that their skills and perspectives are wanted and needed in technology, and although it can be challenging at times, it also can be very rewarding. For me personally as the mother of small children, I know that the work I’m doing in cybersecurity will affect their lives as they grow older, and I find that enormously satisfying.
I also can attest to the guilt of passing on “mom duties” to take care of job responsibilities — it’s very real and can be all-consuming. I recommend that any woman interested in a career in technology should find a supportive group of other moms who are in the same boat — women struggling with work-life balance — with whom they can share common experiences and seek advice. This can be hugely therapeutic.
For women just starting out in technology, I know how it feels. It’s not the easiest of paths, but it’s getting easier. Here’s what helped me:
- Identify a mentor or mentors, and don’t be afraid to reach out to them for direction. Make it a two-way street and offer your own assistance and feedback when it’s appropriate.
- Periodically do a self-analysis. Jot down your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, just as any company’s marketing department would. Read a lot, and seek ways to enhance your skills in order to convert those weaknesses into strengths.
- Keep an eye out for opportunities that showcase your potential. Women can be extremely self-critical and are more likely to underestimate our own impact. Advocate for yourself and brush up on those negotiation skills.
The strongest asset in my career is my ability to solve problems. I am a fixer and an extensive planner, and I’m persistent in reaching my goals. I am also highly competitive and want to be the best version of myself. Identifying my strong suits early on has helped me navigate my career and excel. I’ve also been fortunate to have worked with other strong women who have exemplified that work-life balance and have been career champions, guiding me along my journey.
It can sometimes feel like you have to be a superhero to succeed at home and at work, but when things get rough, I remind myself of these words from my favorite superhero, Wonder Woman: “You are stronger than you believe. You have greater powers than you know.” And when you’re feeling like everything is falling apart? Know there are others here waiting to lift you up.
Cream of the Crop
Eric Baum
Regional Vice President, Cortex (West)
I’ve been with Palo Alto Networks for a year, and I already know this is the best possible move I could have made for my career. I’ve worked in cybersecurity leadership positions since 2001, with seven different organizations, but none of them compare to Palo Alto Networks in terms of the quality of its products, people, and market position.
Career Growth
Since joining, I’ve held two different job titles, both within the Cortex business unit, which is part of the company’s efforts to secure the future by detecting and proactively responding to cyber threats. Within five months of starting with this company, I received an opportunity to move from my senior director position to a Regional Vice President role.
I’m by no means unique in my ability to achieve career growth here. I’ve been with several companies that would talk the talk — touting their commitment to helping their employees’ career growth — but in reality, those companies didn’t walk the walk, and as a result, people’s careers became stagnant. For example, in my current role, I’m responsible for filling open sales positions, and I recently promoted an internal candidate into a senior sales position. In my experience, that kind of thing doesn’t happen often with other companies, but it happens quite a bit here. When people express their goals and work hard, there are a lot of opportunities to grow, and any time an internal candidate applies for a position with me, no matter where in the company they’ve been working, I take that seriously.
It’s very possible for someone in an entry-level role to move quickly up through the organization. We’re relentless about helping our customers achieve success and staying ahead of cyber threats. There’s constant innovation here and never a dull moment — everybody’s moving. If a person demonstrates that kind of initiative, agility, and enthusiasm, no matter where they are in the organization, they will get the chance to be heard and supported.
One Team
One of the things I love most about working for Palo Alto Networks is the collaborative culture. We don’t do silos here. If the job has to get done, we’re all jumping in to help. We don’t play politics or backstabbing, and we don’t focus on hierarchy. You’ll never hear, “That’s not my job.” Everyone’s simply working toward the same goal — to protect our digital way of life — with healthy urgency, and that’s an environment I find truly satisfying.
From my experience in sales, many organizations focus only on individual accountability, so when people don’t achieve their numbers, for example, there’s a lot of finger-pointing about how that person isn’t good at his or her job, or it’s someone else’s fault because the product doesn’t work. But what I’m finding out at Palo Alto Networks is that we have mutual accountability. So a salesperson may have a quota, but the supporting departments work in a collaborative way, without jumping to blame, to rectify any issues and work toward the common goal together. And when everyone works together for the betterment of the company, their own individual brands rise to the top as well.
No one here is above stepping in and helping out, no matter what their title, which is an attitude that comes from the top down. In fact, our president recently set up a District Manager Advisory Board, where frontline sales managers can collaborate and share important information with each other and other departments throughout the organization. The company president, having been in that role himself, understands the importance of a frontline manager, and for every call, he rolls up his sleeves to personally help. This level of collaboration and leadership is not typical, and the benefits of it for those involved as well as the company as a whole are compelling.
It’s nice to wake up and want to go to work. Given my passion for cybersecurity and a healthy workplace culture, there is no better place that I feel I could have landed.
Stay Ready
Laramie Mergerson, Majors Account Manager, Cortex
When I joined Palo Alto Networks, I honestly didn’t expect to stay longer than a year. But the opportunities that have been offered to me and the investments made in me by some of our current and former executives showed me that the people here valued my abilities and wanted me to succeed.
When I first started here, I was an inside sales rep, which was new to me after years selling in the field. I needed to learn about cybersecurity and master our products and market in order to move up. But my commitment to learning and taking on new responsibilities led to my being able to continually move up inside the company. That has inspired loyalty to the brand that has allowed me to see many different parts of the cybersecurity industry that I didn’t expect to encounter.
For example, I was given an opportunity to stretch my abilities and was the first employee to take on a special assignment with our current Vice President of Business Development, which revealed many different aspects of the business to me. After that, I was selected in the first cohort for a new hybrid position working with Palo Alto Networks’ Major and Global Accounts. After a very successful year in that role, I was promoted as the first sales rep covering Major Accounts in Texas for Cortex, our detection and response platform that utilizes collected data to stop cyber attacks. That’s a lot of firsts! These opportunities have not only given me a high level of work satisfaction, but they’ve shown me that there’s still plenty of room for me to grow and learn with this company.
Something else I’m really proud of and personally enjoy is having the opportunity to take some of my black customers to events that are tailored to their interests — many of which received a response and attendance rate of around 90%, which is almost unheard of in sales. To see the smiles and appreciation from my customers and watch our relationships grow over the years has been exciting and fulfilling. I look forward to nurturing these relationships for years to come.
Keys to Success
I ran a marketplace startup for a few years before coming to Palo Alto Networks. I believe it was this experience, more than any other prior role, that prepared me for working here. In fact, I’ve found that wearing different hats in order to achieve results has been a tremendous asset to me throughout my career because it has made me versatile and demonstrated my willingness to take on new responsibilities.
Additionally, I spent time in the military early in my career and played basketball at high levels. I believe both of these experiences have contributed to my success as well because they taught me about working with teams and having a “no excuses” mentality that is all about results, both of which are key to success in sales.
At the end of the day, I feel any experience can be valuable if you are always looking for opportunities to learn and challenge yourself. Some of the best advice I’ve ever received was to be ready when your number is called. You might only get one shot to prove yourself. The black community has a saying, which I fully believe: If you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready. I’ve made it a priority to stay ready, and I believe that has helped me to achieve career success.
Head in the Cloud
Vinay Venkataraghavan
Cloud CTO, Prisma Cloud, R&D
I started working in security when it wasn’t glamorous. I just love math — so much so that I earned my degree in math and computer science at Southern Methodist University. I went on to earn my master’s degree in computer engineering, specializing in security protocols because I was fascinated by cryptography and how it involved using math to solve real problems. My thesis actually dealt with the validation of security protocols.
I graduated and got a job in Silicon Valley for a security company. That was 14 years ago, in a time when no one really thought all that much about cybersecurity. Now companies are investing a lot into this industry, and there are so many careers opening up that didn’t exist before.
For a few years, I worked for a startup that built large-scale, distributed storage systems for enterprises. I got to help the company reinvent I/O virtualization, which was groundbreaking at the time and was really exciting for me. From there I joined another firm that built a Software as a Service (SaaS) application that would allow enterprises to move their workloads from on-premise environments into the cloud, which, again, was ahead of its time. So I’ve been fortunate to have worked for forward-thinking companies and help develop what we now know as the public cloud. The work I have done throughout my 15 years is what I get to leverage at Palo Alto Networks today.
I actually had an opportunity to join Palo Alto Networks right from the beginning, when it was a brand-new startup, but at the time I was enjoying the work I was doing and I wasn’t ready to go. But while I loved that work, if I had it to do over again, I would have joined Palo Alto Networks sooner, without question. We’re working on technology that is going to change how enterprises function. It’s going to be part of their core, a crucial piece of the puzzle, and that’s not something many companies can say. For someone just starting out in their career, to be part of that journey is just incredible.
But job satisfaction and the ability to come in every day and make an impact are what’s most important to me. The ability to learn new technologies, build products, and have them actually be used by customers to secure our future is what drives me. It’s what I’m passionate about. And that’s why I come to work every day. I can achieve all that at Palo Alto Networks.
The Importance of Cybersecurity in the Cloud and the Careers that Come With It
I am the Principal Cloud Architect at Palo Alto Networks, but I think of myself as the cloud-native and container-native security evangelist. Pardon the pun, but in this role, I’m developing cloud security products from a “high level.” My goal is to make our products more cloud-native, which involves working with many of our products, including Prisma, our cloud security platform, which includes RedLock, a threat-detection and security analytics platform, and Twistlock, a software suite for securing cloud-native applications.
In the last couple of years, many chief information security officers (CISOs) and IT departments at major corporations around the world have been mandated by their top executives that large percentages of their business need to be migrated to the cloud within a couple of years. What we often see is that these are well-entrenched enterprises that up to this point have stored information in on-premise data centers. They see migrating to the cloud as an opportunity to be far more agile and have infinite capacity, just a few clicks away. But they don’t realize how much complexity is involved with making sure their assets stay secure — they understand the need for cybersecurity in the cloud, but they frequently take for granted that the cloud is secure, and that isn’t always the case. And with the proliferation of smart devices consuming more of our daily lives — and the cloud — every day, that’s an assumption we cannot afford to make.
That’s where Palo Alto Networks comes in. Our employees act as security advisors to educate our customers about why they need a partner like us to provide security in the cloud, and help them understand the full range of tools we offer through our platform to help address their security needs. I also work with cloud service providers to ensure that our products not only integrate seamlessly with theirs but that we adhere to a shared security model that enables enterprises to confidently transition to the cloud, and that our products can be smoothly integrated with theirs.
I develop prototypes and proofs of concept and demonstrate them for our marketing team so they can understand and highlight the work we’re doing. And at times I’m writing white papers or presenting webinars about our products and cloud security. While this may not all be in a day’s work, I am fortunate to be part of the entire lifecycle of our products, from conception to creation and beyond, and my job is never dull.
Whether you’re seeking a new career, contributing to the migration and security of the cloud, or building the architecture to get us there, now’s the time to start exploring.