Navigating the fast-paced landscape of technology sales requires empathy, collaboration, and strong communication — skills Christina Pulley honed early in life.
“I come from a large, extended Italian family of mostly boys, which has served me well in my career in tech,” Christina laughs.
From helping her family whip up a large Italian dinner to supporting a team of sales professionals, the through line in Christina’s life has been a desire to build connections and help others. And as Senior Director of Americas Channels at Netskope, she’s able to bring this passion to her work as a mentor.
We caught up with Christina to hear more about why she believes mentorship is essential for the next generation of leaders at Netskope, along with her top tips for how you can find the right mentor for your career.
Tried & true: The power of mentorship
Christina had her own transformative experiences with mentorship, which is why she believes in paying it forward.
“I’ve had the privilege of having several mentors along my journey who have helped shape me into the leader and teammate I am today. Mentors have the ability to inspire you to be your best self and to also change your work life in such an influential way.”
Throughout her career, Christina absorbed learnings from professionals who once walked in her shoes, including lessons on how to avoid pitfalls and develop one’s leadership style.
“The mentors I have had in my career have inspired me, believed in me, challenged me, pushed me outside of my comfort zone, and helped me become the leader I am today. I’ve been blessed to have had mentors in different functions within our business as well, including in channel, sales, and engineering. This is important because it provides varying perspectives and ultimately helps you become a more well-rounded leader.”
Inspiring the next generation of Netskope’s leaders
Christina found her way to Netskope through the guidance of a past colleague, another fitting illustration of how relationships can transform our careers.
“One of my former managers was brand new at Netskope and I called him for a manager reference. I was planning to join another company. When I called him, he insisted that before he gives the other company my reference, I should speak to several folks at Netskope first,” Christina recalls. After a series of lightning-fast interviews over 48 hours, Christina no longer needed a reference for the other opportunity — she had her heart set on Netskope.
She describes her past five and a half years with Netskope as witnessing a “rocket ship.” “We have only scratched the surface of our potential and what the future holds for us,” Christina adds.
Central to that future? The next generation of leaders.
“I tell my new team members all the time how important their fresh perspective is. I love when new people join us and bring new and cool ideas. While we’ve grown significantly, one of the elements I try to maintain on my team is our openness to change, collaboration, and reinventing ourselves. This allows us to learn from one another and be the best we can be as a team.”
Approach to mentorship
To guide the up-and-coming leaders on her team, Christina finds the root of their goals.
“I like to ask questions to get a foundational understanding of the mentees’ goals, strengths, and areas for growth. What do they want to accomplish in our time together? What are they aspiring to be or overcome? Really get an understanding of their ‘why.’”
She’s also a member of Netskope’s Awesome Women of Netskope (AWON), an affinity group that, through a mentorship program, aligns senior leadership with AWON members at various levels who aspire to become leaders.
“I believe wholeheartedly that life is about sharing our experiences and helping one another be better in all aspects, both personally and professionally.”
3 ways to find the right mentor for you
If you’re searching for a mentor in your career, Christina leaves you with these three tips.
- Find someone you connect with and feel comfortable sharing your strengths as well as your desired areas for growth with.
- Find someone who is in a role you aspire toward. As you grow, you will expand outside to other areas of the business that are influential and collaborative to your role.
- Once you’ve identified this person, make the ask to ensure they also have the desire and time/bandwidth to mentor you.
“Build your peer group of trusted advisors who can help support you and the goals you are setting out to achieve,” Christina adds. “In most organizations, you will want their input and advice to ensure your goals as a leader align with their goals as a leader. Don’t go it alone.”
Join the next generation of leaders at Netskope! They’re hiring and would love to hear from you. Explore the career opportunities here.
