To Help Build a More Inclusive Future, Develop Yourself Julia Cummings

An organization’s success comes down to its people, and fostering diversity in the workforce amplifies a business’s ability to navigate complex challenges. Women bring unique skills and perspectives that contribute significantly to a company’s effectiveness. From innovation and effective communication to adept problem-solving and inspiring leadership, women enrich the professional landscape with a diverse array of talents.

I am proud to be the global president of WIZE (Women in Zscaler Engage), Zscaler’s women-led employee resource group. This week we kicked off our month-long celebration for Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day.

We are continuing to engage in tough conversations both regionally and globally with our allies to elevate women’s voices. There is still a great amount of work that must be done both today and for future generations of women and girls.

As Kavitha Mariappan, EVP, Customer Experience & Transformation and WIZE executive sponsor said in her opening remarks at our IWD celebration, “You all are role models to so many in our industry. This is important. Studies show Gen Z girls are 20 percent more likely than boys to say they won’t pursue a STEM career because they don’t feel they would be good at it.”

As a woman in tech and mother of five, stats like this push me to expose girls to the importance of STEM and encourage our allies to use their voices. We need everyone involved in this effort!

Dr. Gena Cox joined us for our virtual celebrations to share her valuable insights on spearheading inclusion within the organization and the significance of respect, with an emphasis on those who are underrepresented. Dr. Cox shared her model on how everyone should feel valued, seen and heard.

As I reflected on Dr. Cox’s keynote, I thought about ways I can, and should, be modeling respect in my professional and personal life. What could I do or say to impact someone’s day, life, or career? We all have a voice and platform, we just need to be shown how and when to use it. I am standing up for women’s rights, for equality in the tech industry, and as a mother I will always stand behind my children and seek to positively impact their future. I believe that, in 2024, we are another step closer to creating a more inclusive environment for future generations, and each individual act matters. This doesn’t just mean in our professional careers, it means taking it into our personal lives.

I am invested in myself. I am dedicated to my personal growth and self-improvement to create the best version of myself.

I am invested in my children and my family. As a working mother, I am continuously learning to skillfully balance the demands of my professional career while being active in my childrens’ lives. I am committed to showing each of them that they are valued, heard, seen, and loved.

I am invested in my community. I am passionate about community engagement in my personal and professional lives. I will continue to empower others and reinforce among allies the importance of collaboration through education while leading by example.

Zscaler’s WIZE International Women’s Day celebration also recognized 28 women from around the world with a WIZE Award for their commitment and dedication to making an inclusive workplace through mentorship, community engagement, leadership, going the extra mile, and serving our customers. Thank you to all of our winners and our greater WIZE community for your continued support and efforts to create a safe environment where we can bring our authentic self to work.

We hope you join us in celebrating Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day 2024! To learn more about the amazing women of Zscaler, watch this video and explore the content below: