Career advice can be invaluable, and good advice is sometimes hard to come by. For Georga Waldron, an associate systems engineer at Palo Alto Networks, a small nugget of wisdom that she received from a mentor changed her entire outlook on networking.
“Never eat lunch alone and you'll always have a job,” Waldron says. “That’s the best career advice I’ve ever received, and it didn’t come from a book or a seminar, but during a casual chat with my mentor.”
At first, Waldron didn’t think too much of the comment, but the more she thought about it, the more profound it became. “It wasn't literally about lunch,” she says. “It was about never missing an opportunity to build genuine human connections.” Waldron realized that each interaction—those lunches, random conversations in the break room, and virtual coffee chats—was an opportunity. Those are the moments where unexpected collaborations happen; where you find mentors you never knew you needed; where work friendships that sustain you through tough projects and life changes begin.
“I’ve really taken this to heart, making a conscious effort to reach out to people across different teams and departments,” she says. “And honestly, it’s changed everything. I’ve found my people, and those relationships have become the bedrock of not just my career growth, but also my day-to-day happiness at work.”
Here, Waldron shares some more advice she has on networking, talks about how she approached pivoting careers, and explains why she thinks taking risks is worth it.
Tell us about your career journey and what inspired you to pursue a career at Palo Alto Networks.
I began my professional journey in chemistry, but it wasn’t long before I became captivated by the magic of technology. As a technical support engineer, I dove deep into troubleshooting API errors, quickly honing my skills as an integration expert. My knack for untangling complex issues, and my love for working with data naturally propelled me into roles as a business systems analyst and an IT consultant.
While I enjoyed those roles, I found my true passion as a product manager. I became a strong advocate for my customers, striving not just to meet their needs, but to truly exceed their expectations. My passion drove me to create custom applications and integrations that deeply resonated with our users; however, during my time at Palo Alto Networks, I realized how much I wanted the technical depth and thrilling challenge of cybersecurity.
With a little nudge from some amazing mentors (and maybe a late-night career epiphany), I took the leap to become a systems engineer for Palo Alto Networks and be part of their Systems Engineering Academy (CAMP). Now, I will get to blend my customer-whisperer skills with my inner tech geek!
You’ve gone through various pivots over the course of your career and recently transitioned from an IT Product Manager position to a new role as an Associate Systems Engineer. Tell us about your journey and how you got to where you are today.
My journey began with a chance encounter—a watercooler chat with a coworker I’d never met before who happened to be getting water at the same time. When I asked about their role at Palo Alto Networks, they told me they were a systems engineer. After chatting for a while, they said, “You should look into it. If you’re able to connect with me this easily, you’d be great with our customers—and you’re already at Palo Alto Networks.” I discussed this opportunity with my mentors, who encouraged me to pursue this more technical role. I applied, completed all the interviews, and was accepted. The selection process was incredibly competitive—only twenty to thirty candidates are chosen from a pool of over 1,500, so I was understandably nervous. Getting that acceptance call was incredible, and it meant I would be relocating to Plano, TX, for the next two years to begin this exciting new journey!
What are the core responsibilities of your role as an associate systems engineer?
As a new Associate SE, I’m immersed in the Cybersecurity Advanced Mastery Program (CAMP). This is where I’m learning to be that technical expert who works alongside the sales team to show clients that our solutions truly address their security challenges. My job is to earn that critical “technical win” by demonstrating real value. I’m becoming a solution architect, trusted advisor, and constantly growing my expertise. I’ve learned to deeply understand each customer’s unique security environment and design solutions that actually solve their problems. I build on those genuine relationships with technical teams at all levels. My role is to translate complex cybersecurity concepts into language that shows clear business value, helping clients make sense of today's evolving threat landscape. And there’s always something new to understand! One of the aspects that I’m most excited about is being that crucial bridge between customers and our product teams. I get to channel real-world feedback directly to our engineers, knowing I’m helping shape solutions that will make a real difference.
What I’ve found most meaningful about this role is that my success isn’t measured just by deals closed, but by the trust I build and the real security challenges I help solve. That alignment with my values is what makes this transition so rewarding.
Why does the work you’re doing at Palo Alto Networks excite and inspire you?
Every day brings a new challenge! I troubleshoot my firewall to understand what’s happening, documenting every step along the way. I ride the emotional rollercoaster of breaking things, fixing them, breaking them again, and finally fixing them for good—all to develop a deeper understanding so I can be a true subject matter expert for when my customers face issues. It’s about developing empathy and refining soft skills, being ready with a notepad and pen to solve problems for my future customers, and sometimes being their therapist too! These are just a few things that make me excited to wake up for work every day. I’m also thrilled to work alongside the smartest colleagues possible; truly, Palo Alto Networks hires the best minds. Everyone I’ve worked with has been genuinely inspiring, and I’m continuously amazed by them!
In what ways has Palo Alto Networks empowered you to take control of your career and encouraged internal mobility? How else does the organization nurture and develop talent?
I’ve seen firsthand how most companies view career growth—you pick a lane and stay in it. Want to switch paths? That’s often met with raised eyebrows or concerns about your commitment. But Palo Alto Networks actually embraces these pivots; when I expressed interest in transitioning to a systems engineer role, it wasn’t just tolerated, it was celebrated. My managers didn’t see it as abandoning my current path; they saw it as me finding where I could truly thrive. They asked about my passions, where I saw myself making the biggest impact, and how they could help me get there. It wasn’t about filling a slot, it was about helping me grow in the direction that felt right.
The support system here is incredible too. Through our mentorship platform, I connected with two mentors who’ve been absolute lifesavers. They’ve helped me navigate the ups and downs of this career change, talked me through moments of doubt, and helped me see possibilities I hadn’t even considered. And I can’t forget to mention our Early-in-Career Employee Network (yes, I’m part of the leadership team in Plano, but I rave about it anyway!). We’re creating this amazing community where newer employees can find their footing, make connections, and have fun with our weekly Slack challenges complete with actual prizes! It’s these little things that make a huge difference when you’re taking a big professional leap.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your career, and how did you overcome it?
My biggest challenges have been on opposite ends of the spectrum: being the youngest team member with leadership responsibilities, and also being the oldest contributing team member.
For the first challenge, earlier in my career as a business systems analyst and product manager, I was responsible for ensuring smooth development of new applications. This meant leading developers and designers without having direct authority. Being the youngest person while holding others accountable was difficult! Though challenging, this experience strengthened me and helped me recognize I am capable of leadership.
For the second challenge—and this one’s real, trust me—I’m the oldest person on my team right now. At first, I felt completely out of place. I’m naturally social and crave those personal connections with colleagues. It took some time and a few heart-to-heart conversations with my mentors to realize I was overthinking everything. Now, I’ve dropped my mental barriers and found that I can absolutely connect with teammates a decade younger while also bringing my unique perspective to the table. The age gap that once seemed so huge now just feels like another interesting dimension to our team dynamic.
What advice do you have for others who are thinking about changing the course of their career the way you did?
Take the leap! Look, I won’t sugarcoat it: changing careers is terrifying. I spent countless nights second-guessing myself, wondering if I was making a huge mistake. You’re risking financial stability, maybe even relocating your entire life. But here’s the truth: I’ve never met anyone who regretted pursuing work that genuinely excited them.
Will the transition be messy? Absolutely. I still have days where I feel completely out of my depth. But those moments of struggle pale in comparison to the satisfaction of building something new. The growth happens in the discomfort.
Please don’t try to navigate this alone though. Find your people. My mentors saved me from giving up multiple times when things got tough. Talk to friends who’ll be honest with you, connect with others who’ve made similar pivots (seriously, my DMs are open), and build that support network before you jump. The right encouragement at the right moment can make all the difference between pushing through or turning back. And if you've read this far, I’m guessing there’s something calling you toward change—you just might need help figuring out the first step.
What’s one thing most people would be surprised to find out about you?
Most people are surprised to learn that my greatest lessons in empathy came from my time working in fast food during high school and college. Nothing humbles you quite like fast food customer service. I’ve had melting ice cream cones thrown at me, been yelled at over supposedly mixing up regular and decaf coffee, and faced the wrath of parents whose kids got the “wrong” toy.
In those moments, I'd keep my professional smile intact, but I won’t lie—there were definitely times I retreated to the bathroom stall during breaks just to cry it out. But looking back, those challenging interactions taught me something invaluable: how to truly listen to frustrated people, find the real issue beneath their anger, and work toward solutions that left them satisfied. That foundation of empathy and problem solving has been my secret weapon throughout my entire career, especially when navigating complex customer needs or difficult technical conversations.
