Women in Technology: The Inspiration of Aditi Pasupulati

cancel
Showing results for 
Show  only  | Search instead for 
Did you mean: 
Announcements
Please sign in to see details of an important advisory in our Customer Advisories area.
Retired Member
Not applicable

Aditi Pasupulati is a Palo Alto Networks Web Focus Team Lead in Global Customer Support. Seven years ago, Aditi was chosen as the first customer support woman in Plano, Texas. The TAC team quickly identified her as a strong technical asset to the team, and just recently moved her to a Team Lead role. She has been tasked to identify and mentor new hires to be successful Technical Support Engineers.

 

Aditi and Sugar, her beloved Maltese dog, enjoying some quality time at home. Aditi finds a work-life balance perfectly manageable working at Palo Alto Networks.Aditi and Sugar, her beloved Maltese dog, enjoying some quality time at home. Aditi finds a work-life balance perfectly manageable working at Palo Alto Networks.As a young girl born and raised in Hyderabad, India, Aditi enjoyed learning and understanding mechanical things and concepts.

 

“I was always good at science and math in school and I loved the science projects. I enjoyed building things, so being an engineer was a natural progression for me,” Aditi said.

 

With a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas, she is currently working on her MBA from her alma mater.

 

Her role models growing up were her mother, sister, friends and work colleagues. Prior to Palo Alto Networks, she worked at Cisco TAC in the university intern program.

 

Aditi said, “As I developed my skills in computer networking, I grew confident in my ability to become an engineer. Believing in yourself and having confidence in what you are good at was an important factor in me being here.”

 

Aditi does wish there would have been more women in leadership roles when she started, stating that “Women tend to focus more on one-on-one relationships and communicate differently – as a woman, I try to build my personal relationships and enjoy adding that personal touch."

 

When asked if it’s been difficult being a woman in a male-dominated field, Aditi explains, “Palo Alto Networks is a very inclusive and positive environment and open to all realms of talent, so I have never felt different. However, there were times when I had to work hard to gain the customer’s trust and show them my skillset to solve their problems.”

 

Aditi believes building relationships with peers and management make it easier to find valuable resources that have assisted her in breaking social barriers. When asked how she balances work and personal life, Aditi states it’s difficult sometimes, but it’s important to work for a company that helps promote a work life balance. Fortunately, Palo Alto Networks is good at allowing that life and work balance. 

 

When Aditi isn’t working, she tries to read something every day to relax and unwind, she loves to garden, work around the house and spend time with her 6-year-old Maltese dog, Sugar.  Since she lives so far from home, she tries to talk to her parents at least once a day over the phone.

 

The future looks bright for Aditi. Her plans are to stay relevant and continue growing in the field of science and technology, become a mentor for other women, make a difference, and make lives better for those around her.

 

If she were to give advice to women just beginning in engineering, Aditi suggests to “realize what interests you, and trust in your abilities. It can seem like a hard subject to conquer, but don’t give up. It’s a great career to have, forget the stereotypes and make your own path.”

 

By Andrea Simon

  • 4965 Views
  • 0 comments
  • 5 Likes
Register or Sign-in
Labels
Top Liked Authors