Influential Woman · Workforce Development and Life Skills Training
Lisa Armstead
Founder, Academic Manager, Escambia County Public School District
Pensacola, FL
Her Story
About Lisa
I have been working in education and workforce development for over 15 years, and I absolutely love what I do. My background is in business finance, but I knew there was something more I wanted to do with people. My journey began when a principal reached out and asked me to be a mentor at a school. This led to teaching at an alternative school for girls, where I was promoted to academic manager, overseeing all the teachers, their training, and development. I then transitioned into the public school system as a CTE (Career and Technical Education) teacher, which aligned with my business background. I started working with people with disabilities and eventually founded Momentum Network in 2024, a nonprofit organization. Today, I work with the Escambia County Public School District on work-based learning programs at four hotels on the beach for students with disabilities, helping them develop job skills. Through my nonprofit, I provide workforce development and life skills training to people with disabilities, ex-offenders, and people who are unhoused. My goal is to provide wraparound services so people are successful not only with getting a job, but keeping the job. My 16-hour days are spent helping people in the community achieve better opportunities and a better life. I also have a computer lab that people can use for job training and life skills training, and I take the lab out into the community so people can follow along with whatever curriculum and training we're doing.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Lisa
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the fact that I've been blessed with great opportunities, and I want to help other people who may not have had some of the same opportunities, or may have had a setback in life, achieve a level of success based on the potential that's within them. I believe everybody has potential, and that's really what works hand-in-hand with that whole idea of purpose. Everybody has potential, and my job is to help transition that potential into purpose for their life. Sometimes people just need a little bit of help to bring that potential out, whether that's encouragement or resources. But we all come with potential, and that is my job, is to transition that potential into purpose. And through that purpose, people have an opportunity for a better life and better opportunities by achieving that life.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I live by is a quote from Albert Einstein that I use on my email tag: 'Strive not to be a success, but rather of value.' That really motivates me and keeps me grounded. It's about making sure that I am of value to the people that need services. It drives for me the concept of equity, not equality, but equity - giving people what they need, not giving everybody the same thing, but what they need to be successful.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
You have to love the people and believe they are of value. Be willing to invest in them and help bring out the value in them. When you do that, everybody wins.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I see tremendous opportunities in my field. There are a lot of people that do want to have a better life, and I consider that an opportunity to help meet the needs of those people. I also consider the community a great opportunity, because I am able to partner with others in the community that are doing exceptional jobs. As I say, iron sharpens iron, and we're able to collaborate and work together to help meet the needs of individuals.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I would say purpose and being intentional are most important to me. I believe everybody has a purpose in life, and part of my goal is to help people reach that purpose in their life through understanding what they are able to do and understanding that there's a reason for them to be here, and that they can be successful. I am just foolish enough to believe that everybody can be successful, and I love being a cheerleader and equipping people with tools and resources to be successful. Purpose and potential are like the bedrock for me. Everybody has potential, and my job is to help transition that potential into purpose for their life.
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