Her Story
About Donita
Donita Jones is a Lead Business Analyst with more than twenty-five years of experience spanning the IT and healthcare IT industries. Her career path began outside of technology, as a bank teller, but a turning point came when the bank declined to fund her continued education. That setback pushed her toward a certificate in computer programming, which opened the door to her first full-time role as a programmer and eventually led her into business analysis, where she has built the bulk of her career. Along the way, she completed a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, graduating summa cum laude while balancing full-time work, and went on to earn certifications in project management and business analysis.
Today, Jones leads a team of business analysts drawn from a wide range of backgrounds, overseeing business processes, participating in frequent cross-functional meetings, and working to support the growth and success of the people she manages. Her approach to leadership is shaped by empathy and intentionality; she strives to give clear, actionable direction while remaining attentive to the personal circumstances of the colleagues she works alongside. Honesty and authenticity guide how she communicates, both with her team and across the organizations she supports.
Throughout her journey in a field still largely dominated by men, Jones credits her faith and a thirteen-year journey of salvation as the foundation of her perseverance and professional growth. She encourages young women entering the industry to pursue further education, invest in themselves, and be deliberate about building their networks and positioning themselves in the right rooms at the right time. As artificial intelligence increasingly reshapes the IT landscape, she remains focused on staying relevant, demonstrating her value, and continuing to grow as a leader in an ever-evolving profession.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Donita
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my faith and my relationship with God, which has been central to my thirteen-year journey of salvation. That faith continues to guide me and gives me peace in my work.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I've received is simple: don't stop. I try to stay focused on what's in front of me while keeping a short memory of setbacks from the day before. Keeping my eye on the end goal and persevering without losing focus has carried me through my career.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I encourage young women to pursue their education and invest in themselves. It's important to be intentional about where you show up, making sure you're in the room at the right time with the right people, and to actively expand your network and sphere of influence rather than waiting for opportunities to come to you.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field is keeping pace with AI, which now factors into roughly thirty percent of company goals and has the potential to reshape or even eliminate certain jobs. Staying relevant and continuing to demonstrate my value in a fast-moving industry is a constant priority, as is proving myself as a woman in a male-dominated IT field.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty and authenticity matter most to me. I believe in being straightforward rather than telling people what they want to hear. My faith in God remains a core guiding value, and I try to lead with empathy and intentionality, staying mindful of my team members' personal lives. Perseverance and staying focused on my goals round out the values I hold closest.
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