Pam’s Bio
Pam Dyson is responsible for the strategic planning, Information Technology (IT) governance, and provisioning and delivery of technology services to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. In her role, she also contributes to advancing technology thinking, strategy, and execution across the Federal Reserve System.
Pam Dyson has more than 30 years of experience in IT, including enterprise infrastructure and operations, customer relationship management and business solutions delivery. She has led large-scale transformations across the technology stack, including application development, IT infrastructure and operations, and cyber and data management. Prior to joining the Bank, Pam Dyson served as the Chief Information Officer and Director of the Office of Information Technology in the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC.) Ms. Dyson has been a mentor and speaker for STEM program activities for many years and holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland.
WITH GROUPS CREATING PROGRAMS TO ENCOURAGE FEMALES TO CONSIDER STEM, WHAT IS THE BIGGEST BARRIER TO ENTRY THAT IS STILL PREVALENT TODAY?
That is indeed a great question. One would tend to think that by creating new programs we would increase the number of females in the STEM fields, but the reality is that it is not that simple. For one, we need to start at younger ages to overcome the social obstacles that make girls not "see" themselves in a STEM field. That is why I have been a mentor for many years. Girls need relatable female role models that show them how to get the seat they deserve at the table. Girls need to be afforded the chance to try new things and fail, because more often than not, that is the biggest deterrent to encouraging females to consider STEM. Take, for instance, programming: If we create classes in which we show young girls that programming is a science that can be learned though practice and personal effort, we will be erasing their internalized voice that they are "not smart enough" to pursue a STEM career. To be in STEM, you don't need to be a genius, but you need to be passionate about what you are doing. I don't believe in failure; I believe in lessons. That is why I personally admire and support organizations such as Girls Code, because they demystify the world of coding and empower young girls with knowledge and, most important of all, confidence.
WHAT OR WHO INSPIRES YOU?
For the what, positivity, creativity, and humility all inspire me. Additionally, I am inspired by those who are willing to put in the hard work it takes to succeed. I have a quote that I carry on my cellphone that reads “The dream is free, but the hustle is sold separately.” That keeps me grounded and focused.
For the who, I will always credit my parents. They were the biggest influence and source of inspiration of my life. Neither my mom nor my dad had a formal education beyond high school, and yet both were two of the wisest, most pragmatic, most determined and accomplished people that I‘ve known.
WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST MOMENT/ACCOMPLISHMENT?
I’ve always believed that teamwork is essential to an organization’s success, and throughout my career I’ve worked hard to build and maintain high-performing teams, while also encouraging individual excellence. For that reason, I was very proud to be cited for “exceptionally good managerial and leadership skills” in an organizational behavior textbook for college business students. It also meant a lot to me because the praise came from one of my long-time mentors and colleagues at the SEC, whom I still value and stay in touch with.