Her Story
About Me'chelle
Me'chelle Degree is a dynamic leader, certified coach, international speaker, and entrepreneur dedicated to helping individuals and organizations navigate change with confidence and resilience. As a Customer Program Manager at Cisco and the founder of Third Degree Solutions, she has spent more than a decade equipping students, professionals, and emerging leaders with the skills needed to thrive in today’s evolving workplace. Her passion for professional development was sparked by a desire to bridge the gap between academic achievement and workplace readiness, leading her to create transformative programs focused on leadership, communication, networking, personal branding, and career success.
Over the years, Me'chelle’s influence has expanded from college campuses across North Carolina to statewide internship initiatives, high school development programs, and global speaking engagements. Through Third Degree Solutions, she has empowered countless students and professionals to discover their leadership potential, strengthen their professional presence, and pursue meaningful career opportunities. Her work has contributed to the success of individuals who have gone on to secure roles with organizations such as NASA and other leading technology companies. Recognizing the need for deeper, individualized support, she became an ICF-certified coach, enabling her to guide professionals through career transitions, leadership challenges, and personal growth journeys.
A number-one Amazon best-selling author and creator of the Resilience Compass™ framework, Me'chelle is widely recognized for her expertise in resilience, leadership development, and personal transformation. Her signature approach centers on four pillars—purpose, passion, people, and practice—helping individuals build sustainable resilience rather than simply recover from setbacks. Through keynote presentations, workshops, coaching engagements, and published works, she inspires audiences to overcome uncertainty, strengthen self-belief, and create bold futures. Whether speaking at corporate events, women’s leadership forums, educational institutions, or international conferences, Me'chelle remains committed to empowering others to lead with confidence, embrace change, and achieve lasting success.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Me'chelle
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to God and my family, without question. But I also have to acknowledge my tribe, because my tribe is my vibe, and that tribe changes according to circumstances. I couldn't do any of the things I'm doing without the women who were in my corner and whose shoulders I've been standing on and continue to stand on. You have to have good mentors surrounding you. My parents instilled in me from a young age that I can do anything. When people ask if I feel like I can hit the glass ceiling, my answer is no - I'm going to be in the stratosphere. There is no ceiling. I had a pastor when I was a child who showed me an Atlas and told me the world was bigger than my small-town dreams of just going to Charlotte for Krispy Kreme. He said I wasn't going to just go to Krispy Kreme, I was going to see the world. Before he passed, I had been all over Latin America due to my job with Ericsson and Sony Ericsson, I had been in Europe, and now I've been all over Africa as well. On my map at home, it says 'she's going places,' and I truly believe in dreaming big. The world is bigger than the East Coast, bigger than just DC or New York or Miami. My faith, my family, and the incredible women who mentored me have made all the difference.
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