Today we’d like to introduce you to Mea Hampton.
Hi Mea, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
My love for information systems and technology started in 2007 as I was trying to determine my career choice. As a young mother attending college, I knew I wanted to work in building and managing business systems, but I still did not have an industry in mind. With so many options, I wanted to do something that allowed me to help businesses grow, challenge myself, and teach others. While constantly bumping my head on the subject, it was only when my computer died that I realized what I wanted to do.
During one of my class assignments, my computer decided to crash and shut down repeatedly. Aggravated and worried about falling behind, I took my computer to multiple shops to see how much it would cost to repair it. Finding out it was an issue with my power supply, insufficient space on my RAM, and a virus, I quickly discovered that fixing my computer would cost more than it was worth at the time (my computer was a bit old).
Seeing that I was working on a tight budget, I could not afford to pay someone, so I had to do the next best thing: try DIY computer repair. As a result, I bought all the parts myself over the next couple of weeks. After a few days of figuring out how to troubleshoot my device and visiting the library to research solutions, I eventually got my computer back up and running. Even though it was frustrating at times, I felt very accomplished. I managed to fix my device while on a budget, learn more about computers, and grow interested in the IT industry.
To continue growing, I started repairing my family and friends’ devices while finishing my bachelor’s degree. Gaining experience as a beginner technician taught me the basics of computers and their common issues, but I grew to appreciate the teaching, managing, and customer service aspects. I enjoyed teaching clients about their devices and, if they had a business, offering recommendations on how they could use technology to be more productive. Over time, I decided to transition from fixing computers to helping people understand computers and showing them how to use them to improve their business or productivity. This desire led me to get my master’s degree in Information Systems Management and eventually pursue a career in the IT industry. Since then, I have constantly worked on ways to gain education, training, and experience to help me understand Information technology, current information systems, and their impact on businesses and end-users. Thus far, it has led me down the career path of IT Instructor and Director of Global IT Service Delivery.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been smooth?
It would be far beyond the truth to say it was a smooth road. Although some would look at me and say that I have succeeded, there were many times that I dealt with stress, anxiety, and doubt. Getting into IT (a male-dominated industry at the time) initially intimidated me, especially as a woman of color. There were many times that I doubted my abilities and avoided challenges out of fear. I did not know what to call it at the time, but I later found out that it is called “Imposter Syndrome,” a form of anxiety that makes you doubt your accomplishments and see yourself as a fraud. This was a struggle that I constantly dealt with, but with a combination of my determination and my support system, I kept moving forward.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Regarding my career, I am currently the Director of Global IT Service Delivery at Webster University. In this position, I work closely with my team and colleagues to implement IT service management (ITSM) systems and solutions and deliver IT services to campuses across the globe. In this role, I specialize in IT service management (ITSM) and IT operations management (ITOM). As an educator, I teach various technical courses in areas such as Microsoft Office, Hardware & Software Infrastructure, IT Management, Project Management, and more. In this role, not only do I enjoy teaching in the classroom, but I also enjoy using my social media profiles to teach micro-IT lessons to non-technical users as well. I aim to expand my lessons to other platforms and create fully-fledged online courses. Overall, I am proud of my IT leader and educator accomplishments. Still, I am most proud that by accomplishing my goals, I am inspiring my children and motivating other minorities and women to pursue careers in the IT industry. If I could pick two things that set me apart from others, it would be my drive and that I am a tenacious sponge to loves to learn.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I was a very quiet and observant person for the most part. If you didn’t know me, I was almost antisocial at times. I didn’t speak much because I was very subconscious and became somewhat nervous around new people. When things became uncomfortable, I had no problem disappearing to spend time alone. However, I revealed more of myself once you came to know me. I would be warm, caring, loyal, and supportive of my family and friends. Growing up, I had many different interests, but the one thing that I was very passionate about was art. I loved being able to draw what I was feeling at that moment; honestly, it helped me through some tough times. As I continued growing, I eventually found my voice and learned to become more of an ambivert. Now, I am more comfortable and confident while meeting new people, but I also maintain my alone time when needed.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://meahampton.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meahampton/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mea.hampton
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/meahampton
- LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/meamhampton
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@meahampton
Image Credits
Inocencio Boc – Headshot Christine Arteaga – Picture by whiteboard Mea M Hampton – Desks picture
