ABOUT
Michelle

I'm Michelle - Throughout my journey, I've noticed a lack of advice catered to help women of all levels who utilize technology for business purposes.

 

By the age of 29, I earned a VP title in cyber security of a Fortune 50 global bank. It began to become more apparent that the women leaders around me were few and far between. As I attended meetings and conferences, I noticed that the women leaders who were present, unfortunately weren't always the best role models.

As women in STEM, we are the best influences to bridge this gap, empower women around us, and do some great work in our fields along the way. Our experiences can help guide our peers, the next generation, and even the generation before us (reverse mentoring!).

 

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My interest in technology, specifically computers and video games, began when I was relatively young but it wouldn't occur to me until much later that it would be my chosen career path. In middle school, I began to take general computer classes expanding into Photoshop, as they were growing rapidly at this time and I had a profound love of art. Fast forward to high school, I was torn between my two passions of art and technology while taking advanced art classes, programming classes, networking classes, and AutoCAD.

Eventually I decided that I wanted to be an architect. I wanted to design and create but using my technology experience. Research and college tours ensued for architecture schools. During my last college tour, still set on being an architect, I visited a booth that caught my eye. A graduate student in the computer science program had built a programmable-robotic hand (if you've seen The Addams Family, I kept thinking, "He created Thing"). I spent the next hour barraging this poor guy with questions about how he built it, controlled it, programmed it, etc. I was hooked. I made the decision that day to apply to the Computer Engineering Department and haven't looked back. The kicker? He probably doesn't even know that his senior project completely changed the trajectory of my career. Powerful stuff right?

Since then I've worked hard for the career I have and continue to develop new goals. My first job out of school was for a Fortune 500 company in the IT department where I engaged with customers and engineers to ensure delivery of hardware and software. During those early years, I was invited to do  new-hire recruiting and I also began my involvement speaking at schools about STEM as well as other groups, such as Girl Scout troops. After a few years learning the ropes and earning my MBA while working full time, I discovered a passion for process implementation and improvement. In turn, I earned my Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and Green Belt certifications and was selected to be part of a new process improvement team. Of course, I constantly looked to learn and grow and in 2015 I was offered an opportunity in one of the fastest growing technology areas today: cyber security. Every day is a new adventure with innovative technology, threats, and opportunities - and I absolutely love it.