Alumna Makes a Name For Herself in Technology Industry

Over the course of 32 years from global leading cybersecurity companies like Symantec, to McAfee, HP and IBM- 1984 College of Business graduate, Tamela Gates May made a name for herself in the technology industry. Making numerous top influencer lists for the premier publication in technology, CRN Magazine named her “Channel Chief” in 2019, a “Woman of the Channel” in 2015 and one of the “Top 100 Women in the Channel” in 2009. Now recently retired, May spent most of her career leading critical business teams, but what lead her to such a successful career was no stroke of luck.

“Working my way up was challenging as a rare female in a typically male-dominated industry,” said May. “Being willing to outwork others, taking any ball thrown at me while consistently over performing and delivering excellence, helped me break through that glass ceiling.” May said once she broke through, she no longer had to look for opportunities, “companies came to me.” May’s tenacity is a trait she took with her throughout her education at Idaho State University.

Originally from San Mateo, California, May chose to make her way closer to the Midwest in pursuing her education, landing at Idaho State. “I was self-funding my college [and was] only 17 when I arrived on campus. It was challenging to take on the responsibility of putting myself through school.” As a student, May said it wasn’t just her time in the classroom that had an impact on her. “I think the emotional intelligence I honed while surviving putting myself through school impacted who I am significantly.” May also found two great roommates, Cynthia Tibbs and Elizabeth Roberts who also went on to lead successful careers- Tibbs as an entrepreneur in health and wellness and Roberts in the mortgage industry. “None of us were the type to hitch our wagon to someone else’s star. We were focused on breaking our own trail.” May added that, surrounding herself with people who share that “inner-grit was critical” to her success. Still, May was unsure of her path. “In the late 70s, early 80s when I was at Idaho State, women were just starting to pour into business schools. I didn’t know what path I would take; none of us did. We just put one foot in front of the other, got our degrees and pioneered our way through.”As a junior, May was becoming worn down by the burden of balancing an education and finances on her own. “I found out about a scholarship [which I] ended up being selected for. That was the shot in the arm I needed to keep going. It was so impactful that I have never forgotten it.” May’s career actually began at the local classifieds newspaper, the Thrifty Nickel, where she worked during school and after earning her degree. “When I moved to Boston, that experience helped me to get a job in advertising for a magazine focused on the technology industry, which eventually led me to working with cybersecurity manufacturers advising them on their overall marketing strategy.”

As her career progressed, May realized her ability to not only get through difficult situations, but to lead highly talented teams. “Honestly, the most personally fulfilling accomplishment was having several individuals seek out the opportunity to work for me,” May said that as she moved from company to company, there were several individuals that followed. “To me, that is a strong indicator of whether or not you are a respected, viable and effective leader.” In concluding her career, May found herself reflecting on the impact her education and the college experience had on her life. “I visited Idaho State in November for the first time in over 30 years.” During her visit, May established the Tami Gates Scholarship Endowment Fund for Fearless Pursuit of Personal Success, a scholarship aimed at assisting students in their junior or senior years that are struggling financially, much like May was. “[I wanted to] give them the same encouragement I received to continue on.” May also sought to honor the many professors that she said helped her chase her own success. During her visit back to campus, May was faced with a lot of emotion. “What kept running through my mind as I traversed the campus paths I had crossed so many times in decades past, was a bit of a poem I authored from the emotion of the visit, ‘For a time it was ours, now it is theirs and the tomorrows of ISU will go on forever.’” It is scholarships like the one May received, like the one she established, that keep so many Idaho State students going or make it possible for them to earn an education. And the impact of that education is profound.