Wanda Wilson

I've been in the technology field for about 26-27 years now, and it's been quite a journey. I've always been crazy about technology, even though I started out doing civil engineering at ITT Tech. I was very young when I started, and being the only woman and the only Black woman in the company scared me a little bit, so it took me off that path. But full circle, I'm actually right back where I started. Currently, I'm working as a client support specialist in technology, supporting clients with system issues, data analytics, and reporting to keep everything running smoothly. I've spent most of my career in leadership roles, but when I join a new company, I always start at entry level so I can see all the aspects of the business and learn how everything works. Then I move around year to year, learning and understanding exactly what the company does and how I can position myself within it. I'm almost in my second year with my current company and was just recently promoted. Before this, I was a manager at Wells Fargo for the longest time, and I worked closely with technology systems there. What I'm most proud of is my ability to coach adults and get them to think outside the box. I believe respect isn't just given because of a title - anyone can have a title, but will someone respect you and actually want to come to work every day? I focus on learning what drives individuals, what they look forward to, and making sure they have the support and tools they need. I've had amazing mentors like Michelle Dungy Brown, Nyla, and Kimberly Jordan who helped me never forget where I came from and stay true to myself. They kept me humble and helped me maintain my beliefs about how I move and how I want to motivate others.