Source: wkrn.com

Dr. Fallon Wilson defied the odds stacked against her and took a roundabout way to a career in the technology field. Now she’s making a splash in Music City as the CEO and co-founder of Black in Tech Nashville, which helps develop people of color as leaders in the tech world. Wilson’s success in life comes despite an underprivileged upbringing in inner city Houston, Texas. Bucking all statistics, Wilson graduated as the valedictorian of her high school and was accepted into the honors program at Spelman College, which is where she says she found that sense of identity. Dr. Wilson took that notion, and a full scholarship, to the prestigious University of Chicago, where she received a master’s degree. She then focused her PhD research on how schools address gender-based violence against girls. She made the transition to tech through the Black in Tech Nashville organization. It helps cultivate careers in technology through networking and workforce development, funding for startup companies and public policy efforts.