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“Accept challenges. Life is boring without challenges.”
That’s according to Nathan Howe, vice president of emerging technology at Zscaler, a cloud security company based in San Jose, Calif.
ITPro Today spoke to Howe about his advice to technology professionals, whether they’re just starting out or already established. Howe has over 20 years of experience in digital transformation and telecommunications. Before joining Zscaler, where he provides strategic direction, Howe worked in security roles for Verizon and Nestlé.is it.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
What made you decide to focus on a career in technology?
In fact, it was my school’s third-grade Apple Macintosh that ignited the fire. I loved playing. Oregon Road. I grew up in a very urban area in Australia, so games and computers came to us a few years after the rest of the world.
kick off Oregon RoadBut the real explosion of interest was when my father bought an IBM clone. I think it might be IBM XT. I learned about BBS. [bulletin board systems]networks and crack games.
Nathan Howe
I wouldn’t say I “chose” technology as a career. I was really into sports (like all Australian kids), but tech was always how I spent my spare time. Hardware, instruction manuals, etc. that I collected as a child. My parents will confirm.
What certifications and/or educational experiences have made you successful in your career?
I have done many certifications – for example, CISSP [Certified Information Systems Security Professional] – And each of them helped me. But it’s always experimentation that allows me to solve a problem. Try it, play and break all you can! The most valuable lessons I learned happened at 3am when I realized what I did wrong and before 6pm I knew I had to rebuild A, B, C or D.
Learning never ends. Certifications only build on your knowledge. I encourage anyone to find subjects they love, get excited about them, and move on to the next one.
What’s the most important piece of advice you’ve received?
Accept challenges. Life is boring without challenges.
Who were your mentors? What made them influential?
I have a few mentors. I tend to find mentors in the roles I get.
My cybersecurity advisors were my colleagues Ben Smith and Brendan Laws. They scared me after I found a root shell in one of their Qmail servers.
When I think of innovation, I think of my mentors Mayur Apte and Patrick Foxhoven. I felt I could talk to them at any time. They were very helpful in talking me out of the cliff.
Australia’s great basketball player Andrew Gazem is also a great source of inspiration. He coached me when he was 12 years old and benched me because I couldn’t shoot with my left hand. I spent the next year perfecting that just to show him.
What are the pitfalls to avoid for people who want to work in technology or are just starting their careers?
Locking yourself down to just one area – such as development or networking – limits you. Don’t ignore the basics.
If you’re not trying and breaking things, you’re standing still. Even if the next new thing seems silly to you, learn about it so you can understand its impact.
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