Forty computer science students traveled to Silicon Valley January 6 through 9 to get a taste of careers at some of the world’s biggest tech corporations. Palo Alto Networks was the primary host, organizing a variety of interactions and experiences.
The first presenter, Brian Lee, is a threat analyst who researches cyber-attacks around the world and publishes his findings through an organization called Unit 42. Students were able to have a discussion with Palo Alto Network’s CEO/President Amit Singh.
When Edgar Melendrez asked what skill was the most valuable one to learn, Mr. Singh answered, “The ability to stand in front of people and deliver compelling arguments." He also predicted that the most important field to pursue would be data analytics, a thought echoed by the engineers at Google.
Panels were also held by employees hired within the last year and interns visiting the headquarters from the company’s Amsterdam office. These discussions helped students learn what to expect as they transition from high school to college and then into the workplace.