In honor of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day on March 8, we’re recognizing influential women at Zscaler who have made a significant impact within their careers, teams, and on the Zscaler family as a whole.
Nicole Martinez joined Zscaler in 2016 and is currently Sr. Manager, Cloud Operations at the company. Throughout her career journey, she has seen significant technological evolution, learned important lessons about navigating tech as a woman, and dedicated herself to encouraging and empowering women in the industry.
“I started my journey in technology many years ago directly out of college working in IT support,” she said. “I worked for a female executive who led her team with grace and encouraged the growth and development of all her employees.”
“I've carried with me the grace and patience of that first female leader I had at the start of my career,” she said. “She taught me that even if you don't know how to do something, don't let that stop you—dive in and explore every opportunity, find your interest, and learn all you can about it. I've also learned that it's OK to be thought of as nice or ‘the quiet one.’ You don't have to be the loudest voice in the room to make the biggest impact.”
“Technology is constantly changing and we should be changing with it, growing, and exploring,” she said. “I choose to continue to support the growth and opportunities in tech for women by always being supportive of other women and sharing what I’ve learned in my journey.”
Q: What are you most proud of in your career?
A: Building a team from the ground up, of which two-thirds are women.
Q: What advice do you have for women wanting to get into tech?
A: Do it, educate yourself, seek the knowledge, and take the leap. It's very rewarding to see the impact of your work in the world.
Q: What professional advice would you give your younger self?
A: It's going to be OK, say yes when opportunity presents itself. If you make a mistake, learn from it.
Q: Who was your greatest inspiration when you were growing up and why?
A: My mom. She was always supportive and from a very young age she told me I could do anything if I apply myself, work hard, and never give up.
Q: What do you like to do outside of work?
A: Help others. I sit on the board of a non-profit that provides services to Veterans and others in need. We do this by pairing them with Service Dogs taken from shelters and rescues. I am a founding member of this non-profit and we are celebrating our 10 year anniversary this year. https://operationfreedompaws.org/
For more about how Zscaler is celebrating International Women's Day and Women's History Month, read this blog: Fostering Corporate Inclusivity: Honoring Zscaler Leaders on International Women’s Day.
Further reading:
Celebrating Women at Zscaler: Wendi Lester and Marina Ayton
Celebrating Women at Zscaler: Melissa Balentine on Professional Growth and the Evolution of Zscaler
Celebrating Women at Zscaler: How Jey Govindan Empowers Future Generations of Women in Tech
