Pamela F. Porter

3 things > My “Mother, my DNA & my Brand”! 

“I get it from my momma”! I am truly my Mother’s child! My Mother, Geneva is a faithful Christian, classy women, loving mother, devoted educator, and loyal friend. She’s definitely a ‘people-person’ who loves to entertain (family & friends) at her home. These attributes I get from my Momma has allowed me to be an excellent communicator, teamplayer, collaborator, and a servant leader who encourages and inspires those who I encounter.

My ‘DNA’ includes all the characteristics that make up who I actually am, and contributes to the success in life. I realize what I am personally is also what I am professionally.  

My ‘brand’ is that of a servant leader who is driven, passionate about work and authentic. The leadership model I support, thrives to exceed customer requirements, looks at all aspects before making key business decisions, embraces continuous improvement, demonstrates strong technical leadership, and delivers optimal results.

The focal point of my success has shifted to creating meaningful impact in environments where innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement are valued. I’ve become more focused on ‘People-Strategic Alliances’, solving complex problems, supporting strong teams, and helping drive intentional results. I understand that Information Technology is not just about system execution, it’s about people, outcomes, and vision, I consistently deliver on all three.

Ten (10) things:

• Never Doubt Your Potential! Not only are you ‘good enough’, you are ‘more than enough’. 
• Do not allow anyone to define you. Be the author of your own dictionary.
• Don’t bring me any problems without a recommendation or solution. 
• Difficult roads often leads to beautiful destinations. Your only limit is YOU! 
• Success is something you attract because of who you are.
• Turn your obstacles into opportunities.  
• Elevate people instead of always evaluating them.
• A setback is a setup for a comeback!
• Life and your career begins at the end of your comfort zone.
• With failures……some people need a ‘helping hand’ instead of a ‘pointing finger’. 

Ten (10) things:

• Pursue your dreams with resiliency, passion, persistence, and perseverance’.
• Remember, the 5 P's: “Perfect Planning Prevents Poor Performance”.  
• With jobs…….your first location, is not your final destination. 
• Never compromise your faith, body, mind and integrity.
• As women, we are ‘Queens’ and we are ‘Unstoppable’! 
• It doesn’t matter where you start, only that you begin!
• Choose a college major, career and job you love, and you will ‘never have to work a day in your life’.
• If there’s not a seat at the table for you and your innovations, create your own table!
• There’s no ‘elevator’ to success, you have to take the ‘stairs’! 
• The best way to predict your future, is to create it!   

Challenges: Women being Unemployed! 

Securing employment in a male-dominated (IT) profession can really be challenging.  

In 2025, approximately 300K African-American women were out of work. Unfortunately, in 2026 this number has doubled to approximately 600K African-American women out of work. African-American women have faced record job losses, unemployment rates, and demographic disparities.

Rejective moments, events or a decision point that caused me to change my path or beliefs:

• In full transparency, the turning point came when.......the Fortune 500 Company I worked for performed some restructuring to the IT Infrastructure Department and I along with half my Voice Engineering Team were impacted. It was unexpected, and it forced me to pause and reevaluate the direction I was headed. That moment challenged my sense of stability, but it also opened the door to a deeper level of clarity about what I truly wanted next.
• I began to feel like; this wasn’t just a setback—it was a signal! I realized I had been operating on autopilot, doing good work but not necessarily aligned with the kind of meaningful impact I wanted to make in life. That experience pushed me to reconnect with my strengths, my ambitions, and the environments where I thrive. 
• I am now a ‘Transitional Woman going through Transformation’! My moment of truth arrived when I recognized that I had a choice: I could view the ‘corporate restructuring’ as an ending, or I could treat it as a transition point. I chose the latter. That shift in mindset helped me move forward with purpose—seeking roles that challenge me, align with my values, and allow me to contribute at a much higher level.

Opportunities – Transitional Woman:  

The decision I made that helped support my move to what's next in life

• When seasons change and you face difficult times, (regardless of your circumstances) I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason: 

I know that challenges are not sent to destroy or break me.

They are sent to Promote, Increase and Strengthen me. 

• Ultimately I decided.....to take control of my next chapter rather than wait for circumstances to shape it for me. I committed to pursuing roles that align with my strengths, challenge me in meaningful ways, and offer room for longterm growth. That decision helped me move forward with clarity and intention.
• An unforeseen opportunity.......emerged when I began exploring paths I hadn’t previously considered. What initially felt like a disruption actually opened doors—to new industries, new skill sets, and new ways of contributing to truly be a blessing to others. That shift allowed me to see my experience from a broader perspective and recognize how transferable my incredible abilities truly are.
• In pursuing what's next, I'm spending more time with my family, being intentional with my friends, volunteering at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, working on MOCCME church projects, and various business boards.  
• I'd like to share my Affirmation 7 P's - I will remain 'Prayerful & Praiseful' during this ‘Pause’ in my Life. Teach me to find ‘Peace’ and ‘Purpose’ through this ‘Process’, because I know that God will ‘Provide’! God has a plan for my life that is far greater than anything I could ever imagine.....it's worth the wait!

The following values are of significance to me personally and professionally:

• Integrity 
• Passionate
• Authentic
• Enthusiastic
• Trustworthy/Loyal
• Dependable/Reliable
• Accountable
• Knowing when to be Assertive vs. Aggressive