featured alumni
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Alumna makes a name for herself in technology industry Over the
course of 32 years from global-
Originally from San Mateo, California, May
know what path I would take; none of us did. We
leading cybersecurity companies like Symantec,
chose to make her way closer to the Midwest in
just put one foot in front of the other, got our
to McAfee, HP and IBM- 1984 College of Business
pursuing her education, landing at Idaho State.
degrees and pioneered our way through.”
graduate, Tamela Gates May made a name
“I was self-funding my college [and was] only
As a junior, May was becoming worn down by the
for herself in the technology industry. Making
17 when I arrived on campus. It was challenging
burden of balancing an education and finances
numerous top influencer lists for the premier
to take on the responsibility of putting myself
on her own. “I found out about a scholarship
publication
Magazine
through school.” As a student, May said it wasn’t
named her “Channel Chief” in 2019, a “Woman
just her time in the classroom that had an impact
of the Channel” in 2015 and one of the “Top 100
on her. “I think the emotional intelligence I
Women in the Channel” in 2009. Now recently
honed while surviving putting myself through
retired, May spent most of her career leading
school impacted who I am significantly.” May
critical business teams, but what lead her to such
also found two great roommates, Cynthia Tibbs
a successful career was no stroke of luck.
and Elizabeth Roberts who also went on to lead
“Working my way up was challenging as a rare
successful careers- Tibbs as an entrepreneur in
female in a typically male-dominated industry,”
health and wellness and Roberts in the mortgage
said May. “Being willing to outwork others, taking
industry. “None of us were the type to hitch our
any ball thrown at me while consistently over-
wagon to someone else’s star. We were focused
performing and delivering excellence, helped me
on breaking our own trail.” May added that,
break through that glass ceiling.” May said once
surrounding herself with people who share that
she broke through, she no longer had to look for
“inner-grit was critical” to her success. Still, May
opportunities, “companies came to me.” May’s
was unsure of her path. “In the late 70s, early
tenacity is a trait she took with her throughout
80s when I was at Idaho State, women were just
her education at Idaho State University.
starting to pour into business schools. I didn’t
in
technology,
CRN
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