Cloudflare's Michelle Zatlyn on Adapting to AI: Focus on 'Build and Sell'
Michelle Zatlyn, co-founder of Cloudflare, emphasizes adapting careers in the age of artificial intelligence by focusing on skills that involve both building and selling. She notes how automation is already reshaping roles within cybersecurity firms like hers, with layoffs affecting areas such as finance, marketing, and HR last May. Zatlyn expects AI to handle 95% of cyberattacks within five years, reducing the need for manual intervention in security operations. Despite short-term challenges, she believes this shift will ultimately make systems more secure by design. To prepare future professionals, Cloudflare is investing heavily in its internship program and fostering a workforce that bridges technical development with sales. Zatlyn advises students to embrace roles where they can both create solutions and communicate their value—skills less likely to be automated. This approach aligns with broader industry trends as AI blurs traditional job functions across sectors.
Topics: AI corporate strategy cybersecurity internships layoffs