Michelle Lynn Chesnut

I attribute my success to the consistency of effort I put in when no one is watching. I measure success not only by how far I’ve grown from where I started, but how far others have grown because of me. My main goal is to always strive to be better and to leave a positive impact on everything I encounter while pursuing that goal. By surrounding myself with positive hearts that lift me up, I am able to succeed in whatever I set out to accomplish.

The best career advice I've ever received is that there is always someone out there smarter, faster, or more experienced then you. Instead of feeling discouraged, I've learned to use that as motivation to keep improving on myself, to continue learning new things, and to never give up. It allows me to focus on ways to grow and how to teach this to others along the way,

Information Technology used to be an industry dominated by males. I recently came across a nonprofit organization called Women Who Code. They provide opportunities for women learning to code, develop software, or work in technology-related fields. They offer workshops, coding resources, job boards and industry partnerships in over 60 countries. It's a fantastic platform for women to lean, grow, and thrive in the technology industry.

The gender gap is closing in IT, and I would advise women, young and old, that if they are interested in this field to go for it. I would advise them to research the industry for resources they need to help achieve this.

It's never too late to achieve your dreams!

Although the gender gap is closing, I believe one of the biggest challenges for women in the Information Technology field today is simply our lack of presence in the field. Women are just as technically skilled and capable as men, but they face unequal access to scholarships, mentorships, and general resources. To overcome challenges like, women need support, fair rules, and opportunities to grow in all positions.

On the other hand, one of the biggest opportunities for women right now is a growing demand for women to work alongside men in the Information Technology field. Companies are seeing that working with both men and women helps everyone learn new ways of thinking that leads to a stronger team.

In work and in personal life, I value honesty and trust at the top of the list. I am driven by curiosity and commitment to learning new things allowing for growth and adaptability. I value compassion, showing empathy and care toward others, understanding their challenges, and supporting them in meaningful way. I also highly value accountability, taking ownership of actions, decisions, and results. When mistakes happen, you acknowledge and work to correct them.