Video conferencing as a method of working, learning and communicating is not just a fad, Zoom CFO Kelly Steckelberg told Bloomberg Markets Tuesday. "[It's] extremely sustainable, and will be part of our lives forever," she said.
Steckelberg's remarks follow Zoom's second quarter earnings report, released Monday, which reported a total quarterly revenue of $663.5 million, up 355% year-over-year, a 458% increase in customers year-over-year, and a 2,000% increase in free cash flow.
"We indicated coming into the quarter that we really expected strong growth to continue, and we saw that across all industries and geographies," Steckelberg told CNBC Squawk Box Tuesday. "Our international business grew 600% YoY, and we saw strong performance in education and nonprofit spaces."
Taken together, the quarterly results indicate that Zoom has earned a seat at the table. "Enterprises have realized this is a way they can keep their employees safe and extremely productive," Steckelberg said. "And employees want that flexibility. Even if, someday, we can go back to a more normal work environment, [that will] be a hybrid approach."
During the pandemic, Steckelberg and her team have seen how effective virtual events can be at replacing in-person gatherings. As a result, she doesn't think the country will return to the pre-coronavirus level of travel and commuting.
The conferencing software hired 500 new employees in the second quarter, a record high, Steckelberg said. "It's easier for applicants to hop on an hour-long Zoom interview than it is to take the day off to come into our office," she noted. "We're really pleased with the amazing level of talent we've added to our team during the pandemic."
Steckelberg's team has also been capitalizing on the opportunity to expand and diversify. They've partnered with Amazon Web Services and Oracle to meet capacity and increase demand. They also recently introduced Zoom Phone, a calling service, in 40 countries, and Zoom Room, its integrated product suite.
"We're excited about the momentum we're seeing," she said. "We also had our largest deal to date in the second quarter, with Exxon Mobil."
Additionally, Zoom is investing in additional engineering talent within the U.S., including tech centers in Arizona and Pennsylvania.
Steckelberg has her sights set high for the company's next steps.
"We believe video is the future of communication across all aspects of our lives, the way we work, day-to day-meetings, and virtual events," she said. "We've had a strong foothold in universities, as well as with K-12 education. Even healthcare and nonprofits are all turning to Zoom to continue engaging patients and donors."
Steckelberg said Zoom leadership is "always" looking for opportunities to continue augmenting its team and product.
"We will always look for opportunities for M&A, technology or teams that could really augment our platform and continue driving our topline growth," she said.
