What We Learned from the Wizards of Wiz

Over the past decade, through Adallom, Microsoft, and now Wiz, we’ve had a front-row seat to the inner workings of a founding team that consistently rewrites the rules of business, marketing, and hypergrowth. We’ve been in the room for some of the most pivotal decisions – not just as PR partners, but to our luck, as close collaborators and observers of a company that sets a new bar for what leadership
looks like in tech.

With Wiz reaching yet another incredible milestone, we took a moment to pause and reflect. The lessons we’ve learned along the way go far beyond public relations; they’ve reshaped our understanding of how great companies are built. Here are ten of the most powerful ones.

• Set Bold Goals: Wiz didn’t try to carve out a brand-new category in cybersecurity – instead, it deliberately chose to enter one of the most saturated and competitive. On paper, it might seem overly ambitious. In practice, it was a strategic conviction. Set goals that feel like a stretch; they force you to think bigger, act smarter, and aim for true market leadership.
• Differentiate Relentlessly: In a sea of “same-but-better” solutions, standing out requires more than great tech. From its cloud-native architecture to its distinct pink-and-blue aesthetic, Wiz made itself instantly recognizable. Every detail was intentional – built to signal a different kind of company, with a different kind of thinking.
• Know Your Market: Wiz almost launched in network security – its early name was Beyond Networks. But thanks to early team members like Raaz Herzberg (now CMO), the company pivoted to cloud security – a space the founders knew intimately from their previous endeavors. The lesson? Play to your strengths, stay close to what you know – but at the same time, remain agile enough to constantly shift when the market signals a better direction.
• Think Scale from the Start: Many startups play it safe early on – refining the product, tightening operations before going big. Wiz flipped that logic—selling to some of the world’s largest enterprises within its first year and scaling sales rapidly across geographies. Growth was the mindset from day one. For us, it’s a reminder that expansion isn’t the reward for success – it can be the path to it.
• Move Fast, Always: Speed runs deep in Wiz’s DNA. The team flattens hierarchies and acts with urgency – fast decisions, fast execution, fast iteration. As a result, momentum isn’t something they wait for, but something they generate.
• Hire Where the Talent Is: Rather than hiring only when roles open up, Wiz builds around people. Great talent doesn’t always come in neat packages or from expected places – and the team has consistently made some of its best hires by simply being open to possibility. It’s not just about hiring well – it’s about empowering well, too.
• It’s all about relationships: At Wiz, the lines between business and partnership blur in the best way. Whether working with investors, employees, or vendors, there’s a sense of shared purpose and genuine care. That kind of connection doesn’t just support growth – it fuels it.
• Be Generous: Wiz competes fiercely, but collaborates just as generously. From mentoring other founders to sharing insights with the community, there’s a consistent willingness to give back. It’s a quiet confidence – a belief that helping others only strengthens your own foundation.
• Stay Calm, No Matter What: Startups are rarely smooth rides – and Wiz certainly wasn’t one. But through every twist and surprise, Wiz’s leadership stays centered. There’s a calm decisiveness to how they move – no overreactions, no spirals. Just a steady commitment to navigating forward.

The wild ride that is Wiz just reached another high point with a landmark acquisition – one that marks not an end, but the start of an even bigger chapter of global scale and ambition. We’ve had the privilege of growing alongside this team for years, building trust, momentum, and a whole lot of noise together – and we’re excited to see what the future holds.