Early Life and Education
Michelle Zatlyn was born in July 1979, in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada. Growing up, she was an ambitious student with supportive teachers and family. She attended Carlton Comprehensive High School, where she was the captain of the basketball team. Zatlyn graduated from McGill University with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry in 2001. She furthered her education by obtaining a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School.
Rise to Success
Zatlyn's career began with internships and product management roles at Google and Toshiba. These experiences provided her with valuable insights into the tech industry, which she later leveraged as a founding team member of the global employee rewards program Achievers. In 2009, she co-founded Cloudflare with Matthew Prince and Lee Holloway, two classmates from Harvard Business School. Cloudflare's mission is to help build a better internet by providing security, performance, and reliability services. Under Zatlyn's leadership as President and COO, Cloudflare has grown significantly, with 20% of the global web traffic passing through its infrastructure.
Key Business Strategies
Cloudflare's growth is attributable to several key strategies. The company's focus on improving internet performance and security has resonated with a large customer base. A pivotal move was making Universal SSL free in 2014, which reshaped expectations about built-in security. Additionally, Cloudflare has expanded its offerings to include edge computing and developer tools. Zatlyn has also emphasized a collaborative dynamic with co-founder and CEO Matthew Prince, driving innovation and expansion.
Philanthropy
While specific philanthropic amounts are not readily available, Zatlyn's involvement with the Aspen Institute's Cybersecurity team indicates her commitment to digital trust, privacy, and inclusion. Furthermore, her participation in the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader demonstrates her dedication to global initiatives.
