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A Career I Didn't See Coming. A Life I'm Proud to Live

From uncertainty to empowerment, this journey chronicles a single mother's transformative career at WWT. Initially seeking a job, she found purpose, growth and leadership. Embracing challenges, she now inspires others, embodying resilience and hope. Her story is a testament to the power of redirection and self-belief.

How I Got to WWT
Five and a half years ago, I came to WWT simply because I needed a job. I hadn't worked in five months after stepping away from what I believed would be my long-term career with the Illinois State Police. As a single mother of two with a mortgage and no clear direction, I was unsure how I would continue to provide for my family and keep our home.

At the time, I was still processing what felt like a personal and professional failure. My confidence was low, and hope felt distant. Around the second month of my unemployment, my younger brother—already a WWT employee—suggested I apply for a role at the NAIC. I declined, holding on to the belief that one of the places I had applied would eventually call.

By month five, with no callbacks and my options dwindling, I decided to give WWT a chance.

Looking back, those closed doors weren't rejections—they were redirections. They led me to the one door I was meant to walk through. Taking that step changed everything. WWT didn't just offer me a job—it gave me a fresh start, a renewed sense of purpose and a place to grow.

Career Progression
Like many of our Production Technicians at the time, I started at WWT as a contractor through Aerotek and was hired full-time after seven months.

In my first few days, I was introduced to WWT's Core Values, and I immediately felt aligned. Having served in the U.S. Navy and grown up in a family business, I understood the importance of teamwork and stepping up to get the job done. From the start, WWT felt like home—it had my work heart.

I spent two years as a technician in L4, cabling racks for our customers' data centers, then moved into a Production Lead role for a year. For the past three years, I've been a Production Supervisor. Every step forward came with fear and self-doubt. I often questioned if I was smart enough or capable enough.

That's where leadership made all the difference. Dustin Rivera, John Paslawski and Kyle Melton, among others, believed in me when I didn't believe in myself. Their support helped me build confidence and see my own potential. When I struggled, they reminded me, 

Because of their example, I now strive to help others believe in their own worth and capabilities. Before WWT, no one had ever asked me about my strengths or growth opportunities. I didn't even know to look for growth. But now I see how even the hardest moments shaped me and prepared me for where I am today.

Thanks to WWT, I'm no longer just working—I'm growing. And I'll keep looking for ways to grow, both for myself and those I lead.

What I'm Looking Forward To
Last October, I had the privilege of giving Cohort 5 of the Associate Academy a tour of L4 at our North American Integration Center (NAIC), showing them how their future careers could connect to our work here. During their visit, I found myself curious about the Associate Academy. I asked questions, listened closely and started wondering if this path might be right for me.

By January, I attended an informational session. I kept thinking and praying about it, and by the end of March, I applied. When I was accepted, I was excited—and nervous. This marks a complete career and life change for me. While fear is there, so is courage—even if I have to remind myself of that sometimes.

I'm looking forward to building new relationships, diving into the technology that's shaping our future, and learning how I can help meet our customers' needs. I welcome the challenge and the growth—not just professionally, but personally.

There are still moments when I question whether I'm good enough or smart enough for this opportunity. And honestly, I don't always feel deserving of it. But I've learned that with every challenge I face, I grow more confident, more comfortable with being uncomfortable, and more proud of how far I've come.

Just like the leaders who helped me believe in myself in the past, I'm now grateful to be working with Guy McDonald, Rhoda Hamilton, Mike Rockwell and Ashley Schrage. Their passion for people and for living out our Core Values inspires me, and I know I'll learn so much from them on this journey.

Future Goals
As for my future—honestly, it's still hard to fully imagine. This opportunity wasn't something I saw coming, and at first, I wasn't sure if I should go for it. But as I've said before, WWT is where I belong, and no matter what role I grow into, I will continue to give it my all.

What I do know is this: 

I want to be someone who brings joy to others, who helps people believe they're capable of more than they think, and who keeps striving to become the best version of myself. We all send ripples out into the world, and I want mine to leave a positive impact.

I can't take credit for this quote, but it beautifully captures what I hope to live by and leave you with.