Millisent Fury Hopkins
Millisent Fury Hopkins is a seasoned Staff Business Systems Analyst based in Hartford, Connecticut, with a strong track record in information technology and business systems. She graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems and has been building her career in IT ever since. In her role, Millisent ensures that technology systems accurately reflect the needs of business users, documenting detailed requirements and validating that final implementations, whether developed internally or by external vendors, meet expectations. Her expertise spans enterprise systems analysis, emerging technologies, risk management, and cross-platform integration, enabling organizations to leverage technology effectively and efficiently.
One of Millisent’s most notable achievements occurred while working on the digital side of a grocery retailer, where she helped organize an in-person summit connecting multiple vendors and highlighting emerging retail technologies. The initiative showcased frictionless shopping solutions, including smart shopping carts and AI-driven consumer analytics, while collaborating with local and international partners, as well as a university, to create an immersive and informative experience. Her ability to coordinate these complex projects demonstrates her strengths in vendor management, event planning, and bridging technology with operational needs to improve customer experience.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Millisent is deeply engaged in her community. She serves as a community engagement co-chair for an activist organization, participates actively in her church, and brings her leadership skills and analytical expertise to volunteer initiatives. Her career reflects a combination of technical proficiency, strategic insight, and a commitment to service, positioning her as a trusted advisor and collaborator in both professional and community settings.
• Worcester Polytechnic Institute - BS, Management Information Systems
• 2013 Stratton Faxon Fairfield Half Marathon Finisher
• 2012 Hartford Marathon Finisher
• 2012 Hyannis Half Marathon Finisher
• Graduated with Distinction
• 2024 Digital Women of Distinction Award
• Activist work through community engagement
• Church participation
• Alumni Board Member,
Summer Search
What do you attribute your success to?
I'm very hard-headed, and I know what I want. I attribute my success to finding the most diplomatic way to express that and to help move things forward, whether it's something personally for me or for an affinity group that I'm advocating for. I think that's my strongest quality - being determined and knowing what I want, while also being able to communicate that effectively to help achieve goals.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received came from my mom's mom, my grandmother who raised me. She told me just keep learning - that if you show interest, and you want to advance, and you want to move forward, you want to move up, just keep learning. There's always somebody that's going to be available to teach you if you just ask. It wasn't from somebody along my career path, but from my grandmother, and that advice has stayed with me throughout my professional journey.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't be afraid to get it wrong. I actually started out as computer science, and I felt very hard-headed that I was gonna be a programmer. But my professor, who was also my advisor at the time, told me 'you don't like this. You struggle to get here on time, you don't really seem to grasp all of the concepts, you struggle with the work, you don't seem to enjoy this - you don't have to do this. You should switch to management information systems.' And she was absolutely right. So my advice is: don't feel like you have to do something in order to prove somebody else wrong, or to be the first woman, or to increase the numbers. You're gonna find a lot more joy in doing what you feel is right, and what you're comfortable with, and what you feel good at.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I would say it's the numbers - there's a consistent struggle for equality, and not so that everybody has the same level playing field. There's been a change more recently, probably in the last 10 years or so, where there's not as much of a push or allyship in order to elevate all voices in the room, including women in tech and women in the sciences, in order to make it a level playing field and to make it equal for everybody, which just disadvantages women. So I feel like that's something that's a great opportunity for a lot of companies in order to uplift and elevate the strength of their voices in their companies.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I would say diligence and never giving up are the most important values to me in both my work and personal life. These values guide how I approach challenges and opportunities, and they reflect my determination to keep pushing forward no matter what obstacles I face.