From PA to Sales Leader: Jo’s Machine Identity Security Journey

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Jo

Senior Sales Development UK&I
Machine Identity Security

Career Development | Career Advice | Innovation & Impact

Tuesday, July 21, 2026

From PA to Sales Leader: Jo’s Machine Identity Security Journey

Jo’s journey to cybersecurity is a testament to the power of mentorship and transferable skills - starting her career as a personal assistant before evolving into a successful entrepreneur and a seasoned sales leader. Now, Jo is a Senior Sales Development professional within our Machine Identity Security team and is at the center of one of the most exciting phases in cybersecurity.

Read on to learn how Jo is helping customers navigate the machine identity security landscape, her advice to professionals looking to enter the industry, and why she believes the momentum at Palo Alto Networks is creating a unique opportunity to become the world’s most trusted cyber partner.

Please tell us how your experiences led to your career in cybersecurity.

I began my career in my late teens as a personal assistant. My director recognized my skills and, to my surprise, arranged an interview for me with our Head of Marketing. The interview was on a Friday, and I was a member of the marketing team by Monday morning! It was my “career-changing moment” and I am forever grateful to him for supporting me.

My new role was the springboard into my sales career where I succeeded as an Account Executive with global organizations in media and telecoms. After the birth of my third child, I established a successful home business providing niche, C-Level business development for Professional Service sectors and Government organizations.

I always planned to return to the corporate world and entered the cybersecurity industry when I joined Venafi in 2020. Subsequently, Venafi was acquired by CyberArk, and then by Palo Alto Networks. This next phase is by far the most exciting phase of my career. I am ready!

You support our machine identity security team - what makes you passionate about your work? What are you most excited about for the future?

Through digital transformation, machines are outgrowing humans on enterprise networks, and bad actors know this. The threat will increase further with AI and PQC. My passion for this team comes from knowing we can be fearless in protecting our customers' non-human identities - removing risk, providing visibility and control, and keeping their networks safe and compliant.

Given Palo Alto Network's leading market position, my message is to listen to and understand our customers' threat landscape into which we directly map our platform-based solutions. This way, we will become a trusted advisor who reduces real cyber risk. I enjoy making strong business connections and creating a sales experience which is enjoyable for everyone involved.

Palo Alto's acquisition of CyberArk has created a unique position within cybersecurity. We have a significant opportunity ahead of us: Machine Identity Security + Strata Cloud Manager with NGTS creates a compelling conversation and we are uniquely positioned. For our customers, this will mitigate many risk factors they might otherwise face. You can feel the momentum and excitement when you speak with our customers.

What advice would you give to a young professional looking to enter the cybersecurity industry?

I think apprenticeship and graduate programs are an amazing way to start a career and experience different areas within an organization: sales, marketing, technical. Be curious, be aware of your skillset and if you are not sure what they are, ask someone you trust. Skills are transferable, which helps you understand and articulate your value. In the first instance, I would research and apply to market-leading organizations. Finally, wherever you land, make sure you feel seen, heard and look forward to waking up each day.

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