It is no secret that we’re better when we work together. Learning from and working with individuals who come from different backgrounds and have varied experiences inevitably expands our own experience and allows for a broader point of view—whether personal or professional. Mentorship, in this way, is an incredibly useful tool for career growth, which is why Zscaler has launched the new Zscaler Elevate mentor program.
Personally and professionally, mentorship has been invaluable to me. I’ve been fortunate to have many mentors over the course of my career, who come from all different types of backgrounds. They’ve helped me navigate career decisions, difficult projects, colleague relationships, and more. Taking a presidential approach to career development — by surrounding yourself with advisors — is a great way to learn and grow. I genuinely believe I would not be where I am today in my career without mentorship, so I know it’s important to offer the same opportunity for the brilliant minds at Zscaler.
Suruchi Sharma, Director, Digital Marketing at Zscaler, shared that in her experience, mentorship often provides a much-needed outside perspective.
“A great mentor elevates and inspires you to go above and beyond,” she said. “We often can’t see ourselves the way other people do, so it is valuable to have mentors who can listen, guide, reflect, and hold you accountable as you grow. My mentors have been pivotal in helping me make sound decisions that not only propelled my career but also supported me in my personal growth. And for that, I am forever grateful.”
Marcus Johnson, South Area Director at Zscaler said that mentorship has made all the difference to him.
“A trusted mentorship relationship enables both the mentee and mentor to reach their full potential,” he said. “As a people leader at Zscaler, I attribute past mentors for providing unbiased advice, critical insights, and relevant knowledge, which has had such a profound effect in my life. Throughout my career, mentorship has taught me the importance of feedback and that ‘all feedback is a gift.’ Without question, mentorship has driven me to find greatness in every opportunity life presents."
According to a study from Olivet University, more than 75 percent of aspiring leaders want to have a mentor, yet only 37 percent have one. At Zscaler, we’re aiming to change that. The new Elevate mentor program, piloted by our internal employee resource groups (ERGs)—WIZE, B@Z, and AAPI, leverages an intuitive SaaS platform to facilitate mentoring at scale. It connects Zscaler’s best mentors with those looking to learn and grow, based on skills and development areas. The platform then guides its users through their mentoring relationships; tracking progress, skills, and feedback.
The key goals of the Elevate program are to:
- Define and develop pathways to career goals
- Hone leadership and self-advocacy skills
- Encourage connectedness in a digitally dispersed working environment
- Expand professional network
- Foster generosity and giving with professional development
The easy-to-use platform powered by Guider, provides Zscaler mentors and mentees simple sign up, mentor matching based on profile, skills, and development areas, seamless scheduling through calendar integrations, and guides and information on how to get the most out of Elevate.
At Zscaler, we prioritize our people and are always searching for ways to enhance each employee’s experience to help foster growth, learning, and inclusivity. Some of the Zscaler core values include teamwork, open communication, and passion, and as the company grows, it’s important to uphold these values by connecting people. We are excited to see how our values will be supported by the Zscaler Elevate mentor program.
Now is the perfect time to make the move to Zscaler! For more information, explore our culture and careers.
