Life at Fortinet: The Value of Teamwork

Our “Life at Fortinet” blog series features conversations with team members from around the world to discover how each individual’s education, experience, and enthusiasm help make Fortinet one of the top cybersecurity providers in the world.

We recently talked with Sujith Sudhi, Fortinet’s director of embedded software development in Bangalore, India, and learned why he thinks Fortinet is a great place to work, how he feels about his role at the company, and what he believes is unique about Fortinet’s culture, built upon three core values: teamwork, innovation, and openness.

What led you to a career in cybersecurity at Fortinet?  

Fortinet had established itself as a leading cybersecurity solutions provider. When I began my career journey with Fortinet, I found it compelling that the company was continuing to see growth.

What are some common misconceptions people have about working in cybersecurity? 

The most common misconception that people have about cybersecurity is that it is a domain solely for engineers and technical roles. In today’s connected world, cybersecurity is an integral part of our day-to-day lives much more than we realize.

What do you find most rewarding about your job? 

The privilege of working with outstanding engineers and managers. Being with them has helped me expand my horizons and deliver a product that brings immense value to our customers.

What skills do you draw on in your role?

Being able to organize and prioritize engineering efforts and aligning them toward the singular goal of customer satisfaction is a key skill in my role. Technical expertise in designing features, troubleshooting issues, and explaining complex engineering concepts across all levels of abstraction, ranging from the C-suite to newer engineers, are also skills I rely on.

Can you share a recent project or initiative you’ve been involved in at Fortinet that you’re particularly proud of?

My current project is a cloud-based network and edge management solution. I have been associated with this project since its inception and have been a part of scaling the team. This continues to be a fantastic journey for me and my team and we all carry a great sense of pride and ownership for the product.

How does your work at Fortinet contribute to our core values of innovation, teamwork, and openness?  

Teamwork is a cornerstone of my role at Fortinet as it requires extensive collaboration with multiple teams, including engineering, the technical assistance center, customer support, operations, product management, legal, compliance, and sales. Openness is the binding thread in our interactions with other teams, as it helps us understand each other better and collaborate to achieve a common goal.

What do you like about the culture at Fortinet? 

The degree of autonomy and ownership that each engineer is provided is exceptional. It helps individuals become much better engineers and develop a product mindset.

What role has training and mentoring played in your career?

Training and mentoring have been instrumental in shaping my growth and success. Technical training modules accessible to all Fortinet employees have helped me develop and hone my technical skills and management techniques. Through mentorship, I have gained valuable insights on navigating complex challenges and making strategic decisions as required in my role.

How have you grown professionally while in your role? 

My tenure with Fortinet has given me rich exposure to both the engineering and management career ladders. This helped me make better decisions, with a balanced view that incorporates both technical as well as project management considerations. I have had opportunities to work with geographically diverse teams, and this experience has been invaluable in appreciating the cultural diversities that we encounter as a global company.

What advice would you give to your high school self after working in cybersecurity?

The cybersecurity field is here to stay and has become as fundamental a need for the industry as computer networking was a couple of decades ago. Upskilling in this area will provide a significant advantage to any engineer. The mindset needed to cover cybersecurity requirements for a product is significantly different from the approach taken by fresh engineers toward feature and product design. Developing both these viewpoints is a critical skill to be successful in the cybersecurity field.