Debra Valentine

Honestly, I attribute my success to the guy who came in to my high school. He gave me the shot, and he gave me the chance. I mean, you've gotta start somewhere, right? And it obviously worked for me. I believe everything happens for a reason, and I feel the reason that opportunity was introduced to me was honestly the difference I was able to make about 5-6 years ago with my research that positively impacted the general population.

The best advice I've received, both personally and professionally, was to always reach out, always network, and don't be afraid to ask questions. A person who had been doing this for 15 years told me they still have questions, and that how you succeed is you just ask. My grandpa also used to tell me something that I didn't understand until I got older: the dumbest question is the question never asked. I heard that all through my childhood and would brush it off, but when I received similar advice professionally years later, it finally clicked. That professional even reminded me of my grandpa saying this, and he told me that when I got older and was in the field longer, I'd understand what he meant. Now I get it - you have to be willing to ask questions to succeed.

You're gonna get knocked down, and don't give up. This field is all about perseverance and understanding. Just try, try, try, and always reach out to others in the field, because they are the most supportive. If you have questions, if you're unsure, even if you've been in the field for 10 plus years, there's something that always comes up that you don't understand. So always reach out, always network, and it'll work out.

The biggest challenge in my industry currently is that there are too many people and not enough jobs. However, the biggest opportunities lie in networking and education. Networking helps a lot, but beyond that, getting education and understanding - even if you just get a certification - helps you out tremendously. It gets you much farther than if you were just to Google how to do something.

The two main values that are most important to me are honesty and being willing to help others. Even if I don't like the answer, I'd rather hear the truth. That's why I'm in this field - I make it so that people who either have a hard time reading can understand their devices and websites. I'm very honest about what needs to be done to get projects to succeed. These values guide both my work and my personal life.