Lean In stories: Cheryl Hyman on embracing challenges

I set my sights higher – on a degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology, a four-year college in Chicago with a strong computer science program. After meeting with an advisor at the school, however, I recognized I wasn’t financially ready. So I decided to go to City Colleges, where my grandmother had gone years earlier to become a nurse. I earned my associate’s degree and then transferred to the Institute of Technology, where I completed a bachelor’s in computer science. By going to community college first, I saved thousands of dollars on my degree.

These challenges, successfully conquered, have become a source of strength for me and created a well of confidence that I have often tapped during competitions in the classroom and the boardroom.

After college, I was hired by a major Chicago utility company, and ultimately became one of the company’s youngest executives. The climb up the corporate ladder was not always clear, but I worked to maximize every opportunity. I showcased my leadership in volunteer activities the company supported. I sought out responsibilities I was passionate about. I continued to learn, earning two master’s degrees. I raised my hand, and had the confidence to speak up and seize opportunity, in part because of the challenges I had already overcome. I worked hard, and when that was not enough, I worked harder.

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