“I had tried for many years to get jobs in the tech sector, only to be told that I could not get a job because I did not finish the degree. I was never tested on my technical skills. I never made it past the first interview."
LaShana grew up in East St. Louis, where she developed an early interest in computer science and volunteered with local IT professionals who introduced her to the basics. She was accepted into a strong computer science program at a technical university in Michigan, but when her mother got sick, she had to drop out. Confident in the skills she had already developed, LaShana spent the next decade pursuing technology jobs, only to be repeatedly turned away because she lacked a bachelor’s degree. She worked in call centers, drove buses, and even found part-time work as a substitute tutor for a computer class. When the full-time tutor left, LaShana applied for the role. Despite knowing she could do the job, the school told her they couldn’t hire her without a degree. “But you know I can do it,” she said. “We do,” they replied. “It’s such a shame.”
Things began to change when LaShana connected with LaunchCode, which helped her demonstrate her skills and land her first tech job as a software engineer at Mastercard. She flourished in that role. Since then, she has served as Chief Technology Officer of a startup in St. Louis and founded her own consulting company, where her work has expanded beyond technology to include workforce strategy, organizational change, and advisory leadership. She even developed an idea that led to a patent filing at Mastercard.
LaShana’s journey has come full circle with Opportunity@Work. She now serves as Chair of Opportunity@Work’s STARs Advisory Council, where she continues to advise the organization and advocate for workers Skilled Through Alternative Routes. She also hosts Paperless Pathways, creating space for STARs to share their experiences and challenge traditional assumptions about talent and opportunity.
LaShana brings skills, passion, and ingenuity to the workforce. Today, she is based in Los Angeles and continues to work at the intersection of technology, workforce development, and skills-first opportunity. She is also exploring how emerging technologies, including AI, can expand access to information and resources for people who have historically been overlooked. Her journey highlights her resilience despite the barriers she faced and demonstrates not only the often-overlooked potential of STARs, but what becomes possible when STARs are given opportunities to lead.
