I’m a nontraditional student based in Tennessee, currently pursuing a degree in Business Administration with plans to specialize in Management Information Systems and Project Management. I’m also the founder of The Notary PM, a business that merges notary services with project management consulting to support small businesses and underserved communities. My passion for leadership comes from a deep desire to create what I didn’t see growing up, Black women in decision-making roles who lead with empathy, clarity, and strategy. Leadership, to me, is the act of building what’s missing and inspiring others to do the same. One example of this was during my time as a retail manager. I noticed our store was suffering from high shrink rates, leading to lost revenue and confusion during audits. There was no effective system to track inventory in real time, so I created a manual stock count process from scratch. I trained the team, built a usage guide, and incorporated it into daily operations. Within weeks, we had accurate reporting, and our district leader scaled my process across multiple stores. That experience taught me that leadership doesn’t wait for permission, it solves problems, takes action, and shares success. Now, I’m applying that same proactive mindset to my business and studies. Whether I’m organizing payroll data in a system migration project or supporting community partners through notary services, I lead by listening, identifying inefficiencies, and building sustainable systems. I’ve also taken on leadership within professional groups like the Urban League Young Professionals and PMI Nashville to stay engaged, visible, and impactful. I plan to continue motivating others by mentoring new professionals, hosting leadership workshops, and expanding The Notary PM into a resource hub for emerging Black entrepreneurs. Leadership is an ongoing practice; and with this scholarship, I’ll continue building toward a future where others don’t just follow me, but rise alongside me.

My name is Brystal Pearson, and I’m a non-traditional student currently pursuing an A.S. degree in Business Administration, with plans to transfer to the University of Memphis to major in Management Information Systems and minor in Project Management. While my journey has taken unexpected turns—beginning in retail management, transitioning into national consulting, and now launching my own business—each step has brought me closer to where I truly belong: in the STEM field, at the intersection of technology, systems, and people. I’m deeply motivated by transformation. Whether I’m restructuring workflows for a major payroll implementation or helping a legal office digitize client intake, I thrive in roles where I can bring clarity, creativity, and strategy together to make operations—and lives—better. If I could do anything with my life, I’d build a career and a business that help people navigate complex systems with confidence. I imagine myself leading a firm that consults on digital transformation for underserved communities, small businesses, and public agencies. I want to help others use technology not just to survive, but to scale and thrive. At the same time, I envision mentoring other women—especially Black women—who are interested in tech, showing them that your past doesn’t disqualify you from a bold, purpose-driven future in STEM. That vision is why I’m drawn to STEM—particularly the “T” in technology. To me, information technology is more than just software. It’s a universal language of access and possibility. What excites me is that IT offers a way to solve real-world problems at scale. When implemented thoughtfully, technology closes gaps, increases efficiency, and can make society more equitable. That possibility motivates me daily. My time as a business project manager for a global SAP SuccessFactors implementation confirmed that. When systems aren’t set up with care, people suffer—paychecks are missed, data is misreported, trust is eroded. But when systems are built with intention and empathy, they can uplift entire teams. That experience inspired me to become the kind of IT project manager who not only leads implementations, but also advocates for the people those systems are meant to serve. My long-term goal is to work on government and public-sector digital transformation projects, ensuring technology is not just efficient, but ethical and inclusive. I am proudly pursuing a career in STEM through the field of Management Information Systems and IT Project Management. My focus lies in process design, data analysis, and automation—using tools like Excel, Power BI, and Smartsheet to improve systems in sectors like healthcare, education, and public services. I bring a human-centered approach to every project I touch. Whether it’s a spreadsheet or a workflow engine, I don’t just see lines of code or cells—I see lives that will be impacted by how well we do our jobs. Of course, getting here hasn’t been easy. One of the greatest challenges I’ve faced was rebuilding my confidence after a career disruption, while managing ADHD, returning to school after a decade, and launching a business. This year, my consulting contract with Deloitte ended unexpectedly due to restructuring. I had been excelling in my role and took pride in my impact. When it ended, I felt unmoored and unsure if I had the credentials or capacity to continue on this path. What made it harder was navigating ADHD symptoms like task paralysis and racing thoughts. But instead of letting that stop me, I used what I knew: I built systems for myself. I created Trello boards, weekly reflections, accountability check-ins, and used project management methods to keep myself on track. I enrolled at Nashville State Community College and launched The Notary PM, a consulting and notary business that brings operational structure to small businesses and legal professionals. I also joined PMI Nashville and the Urban League Young Professionals to stay connected to purpose-driven peers and mentors. Overcoming this season wasn’t about pretending everything was fine. It was about being honest, resourceful, and resilient. As someone who has self-funded my education, launched my business with limited resources, and often juggled multiple jobs to make ends meet, I understand the weight of financial pressure—but I’ve never let it stop me. I’ve learned how to build structure under stress and pursue excellence with whatever tools I have. Success doesn’t always look like a straight line—it looks like showing up when things are hard, building even when resources are limited, and believing in your purpose even when others can’t yet see the vision. Receiving this scholarship would not only ease the financial pressure of continuing my education, but also validate my belief that people like me—Black women, adult learners, systems thinkers—belong in STEM. I’m not just studying information systems to land a job. I’m learning this field to change systems from the inside out. I want to be a voice at the table, a bridge between complexity and clarity, and a builder of better, more human-centered processes. And someday, I want to inspire the next woman who’s unsure if she belongs in STEM to know that she absolutely does.

My journey into technology has been anything but traditional. As a Black woman navigating career transitions, I’ve worn many hats—from retail management to project coordination for major system implementations at Deloitte. Today, I’m a certified CAPM professional, enrolled in community college, working to complete my bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems, and preparing to sit for the PMP exam. What guides me through each chapter is the belief that technology can do more than streamline operations—it can change lives. And that belief has been made personal by my own experiences with ADHD, career reinvention, and the pursuit of equity in tech spaces. Growing up in a rural part of Tennessee, I never imagined I’d be working on high-level payroll system integrations and data analysis projects. My earlier career centered around operational excellence in retail environments. I knew how to manage people, solve problems under pressure, and optimize systems with limited tools. What I didn’t know was that these were foundational skills in tech—specifically in project management. When I stepped into tech through the lens of business process improvement, I realized that I didn’t have to be a coder to contribute to innovation. Still, the path hasn’t been easy. I was diagnosed with ADHD at age 30, after years of silently struggling with forgetfulness, time management, and focus—especially during my first attempts at college. The diagnosis was a turning point. It didn’t just give me answers; it gave me tools. I now manage my ADHD with medication, structure, and self-compassion. This has made returning to school at NSCC not just possible but empowering. I plan to transfer to the University of Memphis to earn a BBA in MIS with a minor in Project Management—credentials I intend to pair with real-world consulting experience through my new business, The Notary PM. Technology has opened doors that once felt sealed shut. I’ve built dashboards in Power Query, managed CR logs across international teams, and advocated for process transparency—all while mentoring others through the Urban League Young Professionals and managing committee operations. I’m also the first in my family to pursue tech formally, and I take that responsibility seriously. I want to build systems and pathways that help other Black women enter tech without needing to follow a linear path. I want to create platforms that merge notary services, data analytics, and business operations consulting—spaces that uplift small business owners, real estate agents, and healthcare professionals. Receiving the Empowering Black Women in Tech Scholarship would relieve financial pressure and accelerate my ability to complete my education while continuing my business and community work. More importantly, it would represent something I rarely saw growing up: investment in Black women with unconventional stories. Women who don’t fit the mold, but who build better ones. This scholarship would allow me to scale my vision faster. With support, I can finish school, earn my PMP, grow The Notary PM, and continue mentoring. My long-term goal is to develop tech-enabled programs that support neurodivergent professionals and elevate operational efficiency for minority-owned businesses. I believe tech should be built by people who understand struggle, because they’ll build systems that are accessible, inclusive, and transformational. I represent the very need this scholarship was created to address. I’m not just trying to enter tech—I’m reshaping what it means to belong here.

I never imagined I'd be pursuing a career in I.T.—not because I wasn't capable, but because I didn't see women like me represented in the field. For years, I thrived in retail leadership, where I developed strong skills in team management, problem-solving, and process improvement. But deep down, I knew I wanted more. I wanted to build systems, streamline operations, and solve complex challenges using technology. That realization led me to a bold pivot: returning to school to major in Management Information Systems and launching a tech-enabled notary and project management business, The Notary PM. As a Black woman in Tennessee reentering the academic and professional world in my 30s, I represent the very change I want to see in tech. I recently earned my CAPM certification, and I'm currently preparing for the PMP while balancing school and contract roles. My mission is to make tech feel accessible, approachable, and transformational—especially for women, small business owners, and underrepresented communities. When considering the most impactful tech innovation of the past decade, I'm drawn to cloud-based collaboration platforms. During my retail career, I witnessed how siloed information created inefficiencies. Now, as a project management professional, I leverage these platforms to break down barriers, enabling seamless collaboration regardless of location or technical expertise. What makes these platforms revolutionary isn't just their capabilities but their accessibility—creating pathways for non-technical professionals like myself to enter the technology field. I serve on the Urban League's Operations & Information Committee, where I contribute to projects that uplift my community. I want to show young girls that you don't have to code to have a place in tech. You can lead, design, analyze, manage, and innovate. You can change lives. My goals center on creating similar pathways for others. I aim to establish a tech-enabled consultancy helping small businesses implement affordable digital solutions. I'm passionate about creating educational content that demystifies technology for women and underrepresented groups. By learning AI and data analytics, I plan to become a more data-driven project manager who can help organizations make informed decisions. Dynamic Edge's commitment to empathy, innovation, and community mirrors my own values. To me, being a "Dynamic Woman in I.T." means using tech to empower others, not just yourself. It means being agile, curious, and unafraid to reinvent yourself. And it means bringing your whole self—your lived experience, your voice, your vision—to the table. Representation isn't a buzzword for me—it's personal. When I walk into a room and share that I'm building a tech-forward business, studying MIS, and working toward my PMP, I know I'm changing the narrative for women like me. The statistic that only 27% of the STEM workforce identifies as women isn't just a number—it's a call to action. With support from the Dynamic Edge Women in STEM Scholarship, I will continue my education and build a career that advances my goals while creating opportunities for others. Like Dynamic Edge's commitment to supporting local communities in Ann Arbor and Nashville, I believe in using technology to strengthen community connections. By supporting my education, Dynamic Edge would be investing not just in one woman's STEM journey, but in the ripple effect of knowledge-sharing and empowerment that will extend to countless others through my business, educational content, and community engagement. Technology has transformed how we work, connect, and solve problems. As a Dynamic Woman in I.T., I'm committed to ensuring these transformative benefits reach everyone—especially those historically underrepresented in STEM.