Post by Swamy Kocherlakota

Many fathers, mostly unknowingly, create moments that shape the lives of their children immensely. I want to share an experience that transformed how I view the world. As a boy, I remember my father taking on a second job selling life insurance after seeing how a friend’s family struggled financially following his death. This was India in the 1970s, when not everyone saw the value of insurance. But my father did. Creating an economic safety-net to families became his purpose. Like any other sales person, he had a sales quota, and our whole family knew when he was behind his annual goal. Sometimes, I would go with him to new prospects and to existing clients as he was pitching. I knew how the conversation starts, the landing pitch etc., I would eagerly wait to see the reaction of the client—only I know how important that deal is for him. And It’s not uncommon to hear a “No Sir, I will wait for next quarter/year”. My heart would break on a rejection. He would gracefully switch the conversation to other matters and close the conversation leaving it open for next year. In all cases, he remained cheerful, determined, and resilient. As a young boy, I never understood how one can be like that. I understood, much later in life, that if you believe in something hearing a no shouldn’t break your heart, but use it as an opportunity to pivot and reinforce as needed. I learned more from my father’s actions than from his words. That is why I feel so fortunate today, especially in my new role on the sell-side. AI is changing the world around us, and at Zscaler, I get to build and advocate for something I truly believe in. Not every customer will say “yes” every time, but my conviction in our architecture and in the importance of protecting AI remains steady. Thanks to my Dad and to all other Dads who creates many such moments of learning. Happy Father’s Day! ❤️🙏