On the road: Melissa Nacerino, Zscaler

Join Rick in a captivating discussion with Melissa Nacerino, VP Global Partner Marketing at Zscaler, as she unveils her unique journey from politics to partner marketing. Tune in to discover her bold leap into the tech realm, adeptly building channels and nurturing essential relationships across varied landscapes. Melissa reflects on leading global teams and embracing the non-linear trajectory of her career. Don’t miss out as she imparts valuable insights on harnessing brand awareness, engagement, and enablement for impactful pipeline growth.

Navigating the path of partner marketing with Melissa Nacerino

Welcome to another exciting episode of On The Road, the podcast where we dive deep into the world of tech partner marketing. I’m your host, Rick Currier, and today, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Melissa Nacerino, Vice President of Global Partner Marketing at Zscaler. Despite a groggy start from a late-night outing with my team and an early morning flight, Melissa’s energy and insights invigorated me, and I believe they will do the same for you.

Prosecco and progression

Our conversation began in an unconventional but delightful manner with a bottle of Prosecco. As Melissa mentioned, “I love it. My home state, my home city here and in your beautiful office right outside of Bryant Park.” This set a festive tone as we delved into her career journey.

Melissa currently spearheads global partner and alliances marketing at Zscaler. Though new to the role, she is already making significant strides. “It has been an amazing first few months…a phenomenal partner ecosystem,” she shared, highlighting the dynamic environment at Zscaler. But her journey into tech wasn’t straightforward.

From politics to tech

Initially, Melissa’s career trajectory aimed towards politics. With a political science degree and an internship at the New York State Assembly, she was well on her way to law school. “I was planning to go to law school…I loved the work I was doing,” she recalled. However, a serendipitous opportunity arose when her boss, recognizing her talent, recommended her for a role in a tech company. “Take a chance, hire this person whose resume doesn’t look like it’s going to match,” he had said. This leap of faith marked Melissa’s entry into the tech industry.

Learning and mentorship

Melissa’s transition into tech wasn’t without its challenges. “I knew nothing about technology… but I had great mentors,” she recounted. These mentors played a crucial role in her learning curve, fostering an environment where she could thrive and adapt. Her initial role involved working on corporate communications for a data center company, a stark contrast to her political work but a foundational experience that honed her skills.

Building from the ground up

One of the pivotal moments in Melissa’s career was her time at a regional reseller where she made her mark in partner marketing. “We developed our own software to monitor quality of voice,” she explained, illustrating her role in building a channel from scratch. Her advice for those embarking on similar journeys? “It comes back to relationships,” she emphasized, underscoring the importance of trust and connections in the partner ecosystem.

From reseller to cybersecurity giant

Melissa’s career continued to evolve as she joined Palo Alto Networks, a major player in the cybersecurity space. This transition brought new challenges and opportunities. “I was the very first dedicated partner marketing manager hired,” she said. Despite the initial step back to an individual contributor role, Melissa’s foresight and dedication paid off as she built and led a global team.

Embracing challenges and mentorship

Throughout our conversation, Melissa highlighted the importance of mentorship and taking calculated risks. Her journey from political science to tech marketing is a testament to the power of adaptability and the impact of supportive mentors. “Every step of the way, I feel like I have had these amazing mentors,” she reflected.

Conclusion

Melissa Nacerino’s story is one of resilience, adaptability, and the power of relationships. From her beginnings in politics to her current role at Zscaler, she has navigated diverse challenges and opportunities with grace and determination. For those aspiring to carve a path in partner marketing, her journey offers valuable insights and inspiration. As Melissa aptly put it, “There’s hard work, there’s proving yourself… but there’s also something to be said about spotlighting your own work and having an ally.”

Stay tuned for more inspiring stories and insights from the world of tech partner marketing on On The Road. Until next time, cheers!

Melissa Nacerino is the Vice President of Global Partner Marketing at Zscaler.

About Zscaler

Zscaler accelerates digital transformation so customers can be more agile, efficient, resilient, and secure. The Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange™ platform protects thousands of customers from cyberattacks and data loss by securely connecting users, devices, and applications in any location. Distributed across more than 150 data centers globally, the SSE-based Zero Trust Exchange™ is the world’s largest in-line cloud security platform. Learn more at www.zscaler.com.