In honor of Women’s History Month, Pragmatics is proud to celebrate the unique stories of our outstanding female employees who are supporting missions of national importance.

Meet Women in Information Technology. Explore their profiles and get personal with women from a diversity of backgrounds, expertise, and experience who are essential to our growing team at Pragmatics.

How did you get started in your field? What was your journey to Pragmatics like?

My career started as a data entry operator with on-the-job training from two women who later became my mentors. These ladies help set the path for me to become a computer operator. Then I decided to attend Computer Learning Center (CLC) in Alexandria, Virginia. While still taking courses at CLC, I landed my first technical job as a mainframe computer operator. Several positions later, I transitioned to a new role as the service desk manager. This title became my career title for many years until being hired at Pragmatics in my new role as a Problem/Project Manager.

What is your current role at Pragmatics? Tell us more about your proudest achievement from your time at Pragmatics.  

At Pragmatics, I manage two areas. I'm the Project Manager for the Center for Medicare project and the problem manager on the contract that supports the Affordable Healthcare Act. My proudest achievement was recently receiving the Pragmatics Chairman Leadership Award for my work.

As a woman in tech, what problems have you noticed that hinder women from success? 

As a woman of color, I find very few women in senior executive positions in the technology industry. I've noticed that one of the problems that hinder women from success is that our technical credibility is continuously questioned versus that of our male counterpart. 

Since men have dominated the IT field for a long time, it can be difficult for a woman trying to compete. As a woman of color, I find very few women in senior executive positions in the technology industry. I've noticed that one of the problems that hinder women from success is that our technical credibility is continuously questioned versus that of our male counterpart. We must be very confident in our skills and not shy away from challenging fields such as technology.

What more can women do to motivate each other in the workplace?

I spent many years in local and state government. As a woman in the male-dominated technology field, I served as a mentor to the many ladies I managed. In today's technology-dependent world, I try to motivate young ladies to select the technical field.  Many high schools are now offering specialized training programs, and I encouraged my daughter and friends not to shy away from this field. I talk to young ladies and tell them about my own experiences and success that I have had in this field.

What advice would you offer to females looking to grow their careers in the IT field?

Continue to build your confidence, avoid listening to the stereotypes, believe in yourself, and take charge of your career.

I would say continue to take classes to maintain your skills. Continue to build your confidence, avoid listening to the stereotypes, believe in yourself, and take charge of your career. I continue to take classes to keep my technical and management skills up to par. I'm on target to receive my MBA this summer of 2021.

Outside of work, how do you describe yourself? 

I am a member of an organization, Sisters of Unity; we are committed to participating in projects of interest to women in Prince George's County, Maryland. We volunteer our time and work with the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Center in Prince George's County and several other organizations for women.