Her Story
About Alocka Amber
Alocka Amber Stephens is a Senior Technical Analyst on Verizon's Critical Response Team within Business/Government Tech Ops, a role reflecting more than two decades of dedicated service to the telecommunications industry. Having entered the field in 1998 and joined Verizon in 2002, she has built an extensive career supporting large federal and government accounts, managing break/fix operations, and leading technical projects. Her professional toolkit is backed by an impressive range of credentials, including a Six Sigma Greenbelt certification, a finance certification, Google AI certification, and a Spanish certification from Renton College, alongside her ongoing pursuit of the CompTIA Network+ credential.
Beyond her technical contributions, Stephens is deeply engaged in shaping workplace culture at Verizon, serving as a regional lead for her Employee Resource Group, a GCO lead, and a leader within her organization's Culture Crew. She extends this same spirit of service into her community through volunteer work at foster and group homes, as well as charitable support tied to causes close to her heart, including brain cancer (GBM) research and liver illness awareness. Her leadership extends into her personal interests as well, where she serves as admin for the New Rock flag football team, reflecting her lifelong connection to sports and team-oriented pursuits.
What distinguishes Stephens most is the way she blends professional resilience with personal purpose. She credits her mother, a trailblazing NASA engineer, as the foundation of her drive and composure, having learned early on the importance of moving forward with grace regardless of circumstance. As a single mother of six, she has navigated career growth alongside significant family responsibility, shaping her strong belief in work-life balance as a guiding principle. Her approach to leadership, rooted in curiosity, preparation, and genuine care for others, has earned her recognition as an upcoming feature with Influential Women, representing Covington, Georgia.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Alocka Amber
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my mother, who was a NASA engineer and someone I've always admired deeply. I watched her get ready every morning with quiet determination, and I remember her telling me that it's okay to have a hard day, but you get up and do better the next one with a smile. She never let anything shake her composure, and that lesson has stayed with me my entire career. Balancing my path as a single mother of six has meant I've had to build my own success a bit later in life, but her example taught me to keep moving forward and never look back.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I've received is to know your audience. Having worked through three different CEOs during my time at Verizon, I've learned to always research the people I'll be speaking with so I understand their background and can prepare the right questions and approach. You can't walk into a meeting without knowing who's in the room or what it's really about, so research has become second nature to me.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice is to ask questions and understand your formal chain of command. My father served in the military at the highest officer rank, and from him I learned the importance of going through proper channels. You can't make assumptions when you don't fully understand something, so it's essential to ask questions and know exactly who to turn to within your organization.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field is the ongoing uncertainty caused by layoffs. Verizon recently underwent a reduction of 15,000 positions, and many of the people affected were colleagues I'd worked alongside for years. It's difficult watching strong leaders and friends leave the company, and it creates real anxiety about job security. On the opportunity side, I've focused on earning as many certifications as possible, including my Google AI certification, to stay competitive and prepared no matter what changes come next.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Work-life balance is the value I hold most important. As a project-based engineer, I have the flexibility to manage my responsibilities as long as my work gets done, and that matters because life doesn't pause for deadlines. I've recently had to step away to support loved ones through personal losses, and I believe strongly in making space for those moments. Being able to set my schedule around what truly matters, whether that's family, community, or personal wellbeing, is something I never take for granted.
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